Air Serbia plans to further expand its network next year when it marks the centenary of Serbian aviation. Speaking at the Belgrade Tourism Fair, the carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “Air Serbia will mark its centenary next year, and in 2027 we expect to introduce new additions to our route network. With more than 100 destinations already served, including charter operations, every new route is another milestone for us. We are constantly seeking new passengers and carefully assessing which destinations can help us attract them, as well as what additional benefits and services we can offer to enhance their travel experience”.
Commenting on potential new services, Mr Marek noted, “With more than 100 destinations already in our network, the number of untapped markets is becoming increasingly limited, yet for this year we have identified seven additional routes set to be launched. People sometimes think that we throw darts at a map to decide our next destination. However, that is not the case. We select destinations carefully, based on detailed analysis of market potential and demand. Aviation has always been a driver of economic growth. When the economy performs well, demand for air travel increases, and each year we continue to expand in order to help foster new cultural ties and strengthen connections between people”.
Air Serbia has previously said it is also considering dedicated charters in 2027 to support the specialised Expo exhibition, which will be held in Belgrade from May 15 until August 15. “In the lead-up to the specialised Expo 2027 exhibition, Air Serbia and Expo 2027 have launched a partnership. This cooperation opens a new chapter in connecting Serbia with the world and further strengthening its international visibility. The event formally announcing the collaboration between Air Serbia and Expo 2027 will take place on Thursday, February 26 at noon at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport”, the airline said.
Mr Marek noted that Air Serbia will place a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience in the period ahead. Alongside the introduction of a new frequent flyer programme, the airline will also roll out onboard activity packs for younger passengers, featuring toys and games to keep them entertained during the flight. During the first two days of the Belgrade Tourism Fair, Air Serbia sold more than 800 tickets, marking a 40% increase compared to the same period last year. The airline has been offering a 25% discount on all tickets to any destination and for any travel period, provided they are purchased in person at the fair.


Hopefully Middle East expansion is on the cards for 2027.
ReplyDeleteCairo and Beirut should be returned.
DeleteΙ don't see them returning to the Middle East any time soon.
DeleteAll that traffic is being flown through IST and SAW now and JU seems content with it.
They said last year Middle East will return with time. The issue is these are low yielding transfer only routes.
DeleteTLV is not low yielding transfer route.
DeleteI don't see them expanding to the ME while the political situation in that region is fragile.
DeleteWhat also has changed at JU is that their early morning arrivals are no longer timed to arrive just before 6am rather between 5am and 5:30am. JU could either time them at 1am and have the aircraft back by 8-9am or at 8:30pm to arrive around 5-5:30am but they then are missing either arrivals before or departures afterwards.
100 destinations + charters. Will we see new charter destinations in 2026?
ReplyDeleteDon’t think so.
DeleteAll three A330 are on the ground this Sunday PM.
DeleteAirplane doesn't make money on the ground
Yet Air Serbia is profitable.
DeleteHow many bright and shiny in OU are on ground, not only Sunday afternoon but most of the time since their arrival? It's February for God's sake, the lowest of lowest season
DeleteMeanwhile a few days ago BT's third A220 came to BEG because so many of JU's planes were out of service. Maybe fix your maintenance first.
ReplyDeleteYU-ATB has been under maintenance since the beginning of December. Why do they need more than 3 months for such a thing considering that the plane recently joined the fleet?
DeleteBecause if a spare part is missing, you have to wait months for it, especially because of a lack of available Embraer aircraft and spares on the market. Same way one of Air Montenegro's Embraers has been undergoing maintenance for months in Poland.
DeleteSo there is a high probability that the plane will not be ready by the start of the summer season?
DeleteNo there is not. But you can always hope.
DeleteI guess YU-ATD will take off soon.
Delete@anon 09:51
DeleteHahahah , perfect answer!
What is perfect about that answer? He could have answered the question normally especially since summer starts in a bit more than a month from today. Some people on here...
DeleteWill be good to see charters to Thailand or Vietnam. Like Belavia for example they have flights amid sanctions. Serbians traveling more than belatusians.
ReplyDeleteI think that in one moment we'll hava a dozen of new exotic charters Zanzibar, Phuket or Oman.
DeleteMiami is exotic toute. But not for tourists.
DeleteBTW we have good numbers of indirect passengers to routes like Bangkok or Seoul with possible dirct flights in near future. In my opinion one day we'll see direct flights to South Korea. There a lot of chinese tourists in Belgrade why not and from Korea or Japan?
DeleteI think that Seoul and Tokyo are confirmed by Marek. I see long haul charters to Thailand, to BKK we need two full A330 weekly (not possible).
DeleteNot possible? Around 50% of pax in FZ, QR are to Thailand, Maldives, Zanzibar or other exotic destinations.
DeleteIt's strange that serbian tour operators don't organize charters to new exotic destinations, we all see the boom in outbound travel from Serbia.
DeleteAll is with Flydubai or Qatar or Tk.
DeleteWhich are gonna be more comfortable and flexible than a longhaul charter on a JUa330 or some leased 767
DeleteFor a travel agency committing to a series of charter flights with an A330 it's a huge gamble for a small market like Serbia.
DeleteBetter for them to use TK, FZ, QR, a lot of options almost no financial risks shall the destination underperform.
Serbia a small market ? You just need to look at the statistics and no need to go any further. Serbs are travelling more then anyone in the neighborhood, and I am not talking bcs they are booking cheap discount low budget airlines, they got money and they go places. Let's stop pretending.
DeleteNone of those airlines are a good choice for Caribbean charters. LOT is operating charters to Punta Cana. With Cuba out of the picture, that would be a good choice to test the waters for long haul charters. Air Serbia might consider own tourist agency, for example Air Serbia Travel or somerhing similar
DeleteThat's right. The number of trips of serbs and like the entire countries of Eastern Europe or the Balkans is already such a large amount in western european countries. Facts that the negative balkan person never dares to admit, he remains with the thinking that he is something inferior to the western european. Serbia is small market with with 10 000 000 passengers via its airports, ok....
Delete@13:53 while the market has grown greatly we cant escape the fact that there are cities in Europe larger than Serbia. Its not a huge market like it or not.
DeleteAir Serbia is not limited to passengers from Serbia. Many use them for transfers in wide area including exyu and beyond
DeleteIndeed. But routes need a degree of rational for the Serbian market too.
DeleteSpecial livery would also be nice!
ReplyDeleteIf they want to avoid JAT since they seem to be allergic to its legacy unless they have overtaken some record from its time, at least they could do an Aeroput livery.
DeleteJat Airways released a series of special liveries some 15 years ago. They never got painted but they looked great.
DeleteCan we see pictures somewhere?
Delete^ https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-jat-airways-unveils-commemorative-liveries-for-80th-anniversary/74172.article
DeleteNice. Thanks!
DeleteCairo, Helsinki, Yerevan, Manchester, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Miami
ReplyDeleteTel Aviv will work and on daily basis or ok 4 weekly from 2026 and daily in 2027 😁
DeleteA lot of Israeli tourists in Serbia including Zlatibor.
DeleteAnd of course MUC.
DeleteDUB too.
Delete^ Dublin
DeleteThe Baltics are also a hole in the JU network.
Delete@14:19 for a reason...
DeleteWhat reason?
DeletePoint to point demand is very limited making them long thin routes. Its not like JU would bring significant connectivity for those airports even. A passenger from Vilnius heading to the Balkans has LOT with high frequency.
DeleteAnd yet Air Baltic is back at BEG. I presume for a reason
DeleteSomething to Spain?
ReplyDeleteSomething. MAD, BCN, PMI, AGP, ALC, TFS...
DeleteIt's 2012: only Barcelona is on the timetable.
And SVQ!
DeleteIbiza is on the table if they catch slots.
DeleteIf…
DeleteThat excuse again?
DeleteHow come every other airline in Europe can get as many slots in IBZ as it likes but JU can't? 🤷♂️
It has been explained many times but you can't get it through your head. They got slots at Ibiza but they can't get the time that suits them for transfer traffic because the airport is chronically understaffed and can't accept more flights. But it's no use. You will ask the same question again.
DeleteDo they really look for transfer traffic to Ibiza - seems like a point to point route almost totally to me? But yes the airport is very congested - even at night!
DeleteYes they do. And they have said that on record. Many routes in Spain are transfer heavy. Even Barcelona which has the most P2P traffic.
DeleteGirona,Gran Canaria
DeleteThey fly to Barcelona and you want them to fly to Girona?
DeleteLike Sevilla and Malaga
DeleteAnd Alicante -Valencia
Delete@10:56 not sure connections will be key. This is an extreme seasonal leisure route
DeleteBravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteBWK
DeleteThey should seriously consider from Niš to Malmö, Berlin or Milan (maybe Bergamo). Of course, it should be in the PSO package.
ReplyDeleteI think INI market is mature eniugh for BCN 2pw seassonaly. If not JU, FR or W6 could give it a try.
DeleteThey could also partner with some foreign travel agency and make charters for ski holidays to Kopaonik?
DeleteI agree. Now someone will write that there are enough flights from Belgrade. The problem is that passengers from Niš will not fly from Belgrade, but from Sofia or Skopje.
DeleteBased on Nis's passenger numbers and load factors across all routes, including LCCs, it seems very few people fly in general from Nis.
DeleteWhere are they flying from?
DeleteNowhere. People have to understand it’s a poor country, especially eastern and southern Serbia.
DeleteThat airport doesn't only serve the people of Niš. So they can still remain "poor" and yet there are those who are interested in flying from Niš.
DeleteYes there are. Over 90% of them are from the diaspora.
DeleteEvery arrival of the diaspora is a plus for southern Serbia. They leave more money than the average tourist.
Delete10:09
DeleteInteresting point of view, but very wrong. SKP and North Macedonia are way poorer, but still it have more than 3 million passengers last year. And no transfers at all
Whilst North Macedonia is poorer than Serbia its per capita flight score is greater refelcting its location. The leading states in ex-yu per capita are:
DeleteCroatia 3.64
Montenegro 3.49
Kosovo 2.59
N. Macedonia 1.69
Serbia 1.52
BiH 0.74
Slovenia 0.71
For comparison Albania and Greece have the higest per capita aviation ratio refelcting their tourism. Bulgaria and Romania are relatively low.
So the comment about north Macedonia doing well without transfers is fair.
If they don't retrofit their long haul cabins it would be a disaster
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteAir Serbia will expand to five long haul destinations this summer. Record passenger numbers will be recorded on long haul services. New records for Ait Serbia, disaster for you.
Delete^ you must be so tragicly thin skinned that you find justified ciritiques some kind of 'attack' on air serbia. Grow up
Delete@16:31 I see that literacy is a problem in your world I don't hate on air Serbia i am saying that when someone pays 2k for a business class ticket they should expect a 2k dollar seat not a 20year old product. Hope this helped you develop as an individual instead of immediately hating on someone you should grow up
Deletejustified ciritiques? ZamaScholars dont need justification. They are also unable to provide constructive criticism as they don't want JU to get better.
Delete@19:26 if new seats were available in stock right now, with installation available tomorrow, JU would very likely already have them. But they are not, and they don't teach that at your fake academy. Other airline CEOs complain about that, for example Air Baltic CEO recently said it would take 4 years to get new seats if ordered now. But again, this is not something you would know
Delete19:26
DeleteStop spreading lies. All business class seats are functional perfectly, as well as 98% of economies. And they have been fixed daily, depending on harshness of passengers. Since planes are not completely full, passengers are almost never affected by broken seats. Maybe in the peak of the summer, sometimes. So, nobody believes your every day "criticism", you are just trying impossible. And keep trying, it's very funny reading you daily
@19:33 what is zama? You really must be very strange to not like people giving criticism to a company. Not you, not your country, but a business. So really take a look at strange reactions to very valid points. Everyone wants JU to get better. But probably you are not worldly enouch to understand that.
Delete@19:58 you seem to think this is one person? Which it is not
Delete"People sometimes think that we throw darts at a map to decide our next destination" hahahh, I thought this guy is serious
ReplyDeleteReading some of the comments on here for years, I think that's what many people think.
Delete+1 ^ I'm surprised Cluj guy hasnt commented yet.
DeleteAnd Lagos guy 🙂
DeleteVia Addis if I remember
DeleteSo this 25% discount is on the fare portion, or the entire ticket incl tax?
ReplyDeleteHow can they give a discount on taxes when they are not the ones setting the rates?
DeleteI wish to see JU grows from INI and KVO next year as well. There is potential from INI for at least 5-10 new routes. KVO could get 5 new routes as well. JU- order more planes and base 2-3 Embraers in INI and one in KVO. Grow!
ReplyDeleteWhich 5 routes would you consider out of KVO?
DeleteFor most of the routes refuelling in KVO would be needed in order not to impair the payload by carrying fuel, that is a key element for KVO to be attractive.
Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk are good option for new routes. City breaks and transfers.
ReplyDeleteIdemo dalje....
ReplyDeleteHey, Admin, do you have any news about the loyalty program?
ReplyDeleteAgain bragging about passenger experience while nothing really is getting done...
ReplyDeleteThings are being done, but you are unable to read beyond headlines 🤡
DeleteSure he is bragging, JU's breaking pax records month on month
DeleteAnyone know what airport is on the pic?
ReplyDeleteBerlin. They sent the A330 2 weeks ago because of high cargo load.
Delete