The European Commission has confirmed it is reviewing amendments to Serbia’s Regulation on Issuing Approvals to Foreign Air Carriers for International Public Air Transport, introduced by the country’s Civil Aviation Directorate. The review follows a complaint filed by Wizz Air, which argues the new rules undermine competition and could force the closure of its Belgrade base from November.
Under the amended regulation, EU carriers exercising third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights would only be permitted to operate flights originating and terminating within the European Union or their home state. According to Wizz Air, this would effectively prevent the airline from maintaining a base in Belgrade and operating services originating from Belgrade. In a statement, the European Commission said, “The Commission is in contact with the Serbian authorities on the matter, with a view to checking the compatibility of this Regulation with Serbia’s obligations under the European Common Aviation Area Agreement”.
The European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreement, commonly referred to as the Open Skies Agreement, was signed on June 29, 2006, by Serbia, the European Union, Iceland and Norway, and was ratified by the Serbian Parliament on May 13, 2009. Its implementation is one of the conditions tied to Serbia’s accession process for joining the European Union.
While the ECAA Agreement contains no explicit provision granting foreign airlines the right to establish operational bases, station aircraft or maintain crew bases in another member state, it does guarantee the freedom of establishment for companies and nationals of ECAA countries, including the right to set up branches and subsidiaries. In practice, this means Wizz Air would be free to apply for a Serbian Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), which the country's aviation authorities would likely be required to approve if all regulatory conditions are met. However, Wizz Air has already ruled out pursuing such a solution. The airline has not publicly detailed its reasons, although obtaining and maintaining a Serbian AOC would likely increase costs and offer limited commercial benefits for a base comprising just four aircraft.
On the other hand, EU and ECAA law is generally interpreted broadly in favour of market liberalisation. Furthermore, Serbia’s Civil Aviation Directorate had no objection to Wizz Air maintaining a base in Belgrade from its establishment on April 1, 2011, until the latest regulatory changes, despite strong opposition from the flag carrier, then known as Jat Airways. At the time, Jat argued that the ECAA Agreement contained no explicit provisions granting foreign airlines the right to establish operational bases in Serbia.
The European Commission has consistently assessed Serbia's alignment with EU aviation legislation positively. In its annual progress reports on countries aspiring to join the European Union, published each November, the Commission has, over the past two years, stated that, in the field of air transport, “Serbia maintains a good level of alignment with the EU acquis”.
The key question is whether the regulation complies with the ECAA Agreement. If Serbia signed up to Europe's common aviation market, it can't selectively apply the rules when they become inconvenient.
ReplyDeleteIncompetent people doing incompetent things
Delete+1
DeleteAir Serbia management and the ministry absolutely hates the fact that W6 has a base here that hires locals as pilots and cabin crew.
DeleteThey loath the competition it provides for the services of these aviation professionals.
JU is forced to compete by having to offer better wages and benefits than it would like to.
Absolutely, you wrote it perfectly.
DeleteIt's not competition. ULCC like wizz air and Ryan air make their money from taking advantage of airports and nations. Without using the same rules and regulations that all other airlines follow. Does Lufthansa have a base in Belgrade or KLM or OU or SAS. No why are people making the fake and false equivelance of competition when whizz air has an unfair advantage over everyone else if all other airline cannot open a base in Belgrade without a Serbian AOC and JU cannot open a base in other countries without their APC then whizz air having the exact same limitations like everyone else is 100% fair business practice. It's time the cheating practices of Ryan air and whizz Aire stopped throughout Europe just because they cannot compete following the same rules like everyone else
DeleteWasn't Croatia arguing the same thing when JU started ZAG flights and Croatia refused JU the right to sell tickets beyond BEG. I remember Serbia and JU were jumping up and down at the time. Is Serbia arguing what Croatia was arguing then?
Delete@12:26 never heard such rubbish.
DeleteWell a quick google search would have helped you unearth such “rubbish”: https://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/03/air-serbia-croatia-expansion-unlikely.html?m=1
DeleteJU didn’t base any plane at ZAG, nor hired Croatian crew. So it’s incomparable, unless you’re wizz bot
Delete@13:10
DeleteNot the same situation. Wizz without a Serbian AOC is operating flights out of Serbia from a base in Serbia. JU on the other hand is operating as a Serbian airline on a Serbian AOC out of it's base in Serbia, not out of Croatia.
The appropriate comparison for what you were thinking of would be Serbia trying to block LH, TK, LOT, LX, KLM, A3 etc from selling tickets from BEG via their hubs to other destinations, which isn't what is happening here.
I am saying - both times an incorrect interpretation and very strict non-conforming approach to the Common Aviation Area is being used to deny competition.
DeleteWizz Air operated a base in Belgrade for over fifteen years without objections from regulators. What exactly changed now? The authorities need to explain why a practice that was acceptable for so long has suddenly become an issue.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteElections in Hungary happened
DeleteRegime change in hungary my friend.
Delete^ it has literally nothing to do with it since the Directorate adopted this measure in March and it has been in the works since last year.
DeleteHaha youre funny, you could smell the changes happening miles ahead in budapest. You think our goverment is stupid and passive?
DeleteThe government is stupid and passive, and if you know the backround of this it has nothing to do with Orban. Plans for this have been in the making for some time regardless of who is in power in Hungary.
DeleteHungary could care less about this. It hasn't even gained a mention in any Hungarian media.
DeleteSo, what was it then? Why is it suddenly not acceptable anymore for Wizz to base aircraft in Belgrade?
DeleteBecause they are posing increasing competition to JU. They are opening the same routes JU already flies and if you look at the article from the other day about Spain routes, they are obviously feeling it.
Delete@ Anonymous 09:12
DeleteYes, yea I do!
And Wizz is a multinational company, primarily owned by US investors and traded in the London Stock Exchange.
The Hungarian government has zero share of it.
We should accept the fact that all this is happening because JU can not compete against them.
Why suddenly? This has dragged way too long. This should of been regulated long time ago . I am sure many have expected Serbua to become EU member by 2025, since that has not happened and might not happen for a long time, they need to stop EU registered airlines to base their aircraft in Serbia . As simple as that .
Delete@09:23 well you clearly want the Serbian traveller to pay more and have less selection. Whicj is not only selfish but small minded.
DeleteWould it be solved if Wizz register a company in Serbia and get Serbian AOC for those 4 based aircraft? I know the chances are next to zero but still...
Delete^ Why not read the text? It explcitly mentions that.
DeleteThat solution is not necessary because Serbia has a legal obligation to allow Wizz to base aircraft there without an AOC.
DeleteBy your logic, this is valid too:
DeleteEU has a legal obligation to allow JU to base aircraft there without an AOC somewhere in the EU.
Right?
There is no legal obligation. In fact the ECAA does not explicitly state that Serbia is obligated to grant rights to EU carriers to open bases in Serbia at this stage, which is actually written in the article as well, had you bothered to read it.
Delete@Anon 10:21: Nothing and nobody is preventing Air Serbia to establish bases in the EU, with the only provision being that they can only operate flights from the EU to Serbia.
DeleteNow, whether it makes financial sense to establish a base in FRA, so you can only fly to BEG and INI, that's a different question.
Now show us where in the ECAA is it allowed for Air Serbia to establish bases in the EU. Stop making things up.
DeleteShow us where it says JU is not allowed. Stop making things up.
DeleteNext.
Where does it say it can't?
DeleteThe base of the aircraft is irrelevant. As long as you have the relevant traffic rights, it doesn't matter where the aircraft spends the night.
^ Ok thank you for confirming you were making nonsense up.
DeleteThe reason why the administration in Serbia allowed wizz to have a base in BEG is one reason. The first is weak government institutions with poor management. Now the EU is pushing Serbia to improve their rules and regulations and government institutions and this is the result. The Serbian administration is now following European union laws and regulations to the letter. And whizz air can no longer get a free ride. Like they do in BiH especially and what they did to the airport in Tuzla
DeleteWell if they don't like the Open Skies agreement and wants to leave - then Serbia can try to negotiate separate bilaterals with each EU country. Good luck with that!
DeleteWhy do they need to explain?
DeleteJU would literally lose most of its European network if they go back to pre 2009 rules and seperate treaties with 27 countries.
DeleteWell, JU may base a plane at ZAG and fly to LIS. It’s free air agreement, right?
DeleteNo it can't. Not at this phase of implementation of the agreement. You have been told this numerous times.
DeleteEveryone complaining that somehow the aviation authority of Serbia is going against the open skies agreement yet to provide any sort of logic or clear factual and rational evidence for the nonsense they type. The sir authority is following the open sky agreement to the letter. The only ones complaining are whizz like the other ULCC Ryan air as usual. These two cannot compete with fair and equal rules. They want special rules just for them. They want extra subsidies just for them. They want to take customers money and fight their hardest to deny them a refund that they are entitled to. Whizz can get a Serbian AOC just like everyone else that would want to have a base in BEG. They don't want to. They can't compete following fair rules and business practices.
Delete@14:20
DeleteIt wouldn't, however it would make JU's easy expansion into the EU more difficult. No more agility to market conditions if you have to apply for rights and wait for approval each and every time. A good example is how quickly JU launched MUC.
However, Serbia isn't showing issue with the Open Skies agreement and this isn't the topic of discussion.
Yes it is because the EU can suspend Serbia from open skies if it finds it has not been applied correctly. Bye bye European expansion. It would be disastrous for JU.
DeleteI am hoping Wizz will continue to operate its base but if you read the ECAA Wizz really has no case. There is obligation for Serbia to allow the base.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThere seems to be a legal grey area here.
DeleteThere is precisely zero grey area here.
DeleteLet's call it what this really is: an unnecessary embarrassment for Serbia.
ReplyDeleteI think the EU won't make any official ruling but they will tell Serbia to drop it. Once Serbia drops it Brussels will just say that the matter is closed since Serbia gave up on the idea.
This move damaged Serbia's reputation and has somewhat damaged the position of SNS. I wouldn't be surprised if some heads will roll in JU. I guess Marek and Malovic will have an unpleasant talk with people like Mali and Vucic.
Stop with your political comment as this is an aviation portal and you are making falls accusations.
DeleteI am not making 'falls' accusations, I am making assumptions based on available facts.
DeleteAnd this is a highly political topic because JU used politics to chase away a competitior which is beloved by Serbs!
'Beloved'. Please stop applying your generalisations and assumptions to the entire nation. You can love them and that's fine.
DeleteBut they are beloved, just look at their rapid growth over the years. Take their Sicily flights. JU launched them and could barely fill E90/95.
DeleteWizz Air shows up with their high density A321neo and the first year of operations they have to boost flights. If they are not beloved then I don't know who is.
Their rapid growth? It took them 15 years to get to 4 based planes.
DeleteHahh rapidly growing? Wow you are calling a base of 4 aircrafts huge? People on here are unreal.
Delete@09:13 politics and aviation have always been interlinked and should be discussed in open democratic forums such as this.
DeleteBEG would be struggling this and last year without Wizz Air.
DeleteA base with 4 planes is a big base.
DeletePeople often descibe JU as 'big' which is a generous term also
DeleteHaving well over 20% of the airport's passengers is big.
DeleteInstead of trying to chase them away the GoS should have been trying to get them to add more capacity.
Just my2cents
+1
DeleteIt’s beloved by YOU and YOU only. We all know that your only argument is Palermo with FOUR (4!) by next month.
DeleteOtherwise, W6 is one of the worst European companies with largest number of delays and cancellations without any possibility of compensation or rerouting. People are using them as a highest possible gamble, when they are not timely tied.
"But they are beloved, just look at their rapid growth over the years. Take their Sicily flights. JU launched them and could barely fill E90/95."
DeleteTake you zama degree and...
@14:42 broken record argument there mate
DeleteSerbia is not EU, which means none of Serbian own aircraft can be base in one of the EU countries. Therefore why would one of the EU own airline be able to do so in Serbia? This law is totaly needed and should be implemented ASAP. They can freely fly to Belgrade but under the same regulations that JU gets in EU.
ReplyDeleteOr at least under the same rules that other EU carriers operate to Serbia. Don't understand why Wizz is such a special case.
DeleteWhat economic benefit does Serbia have from that? Air Serbia won't step in and fill the void, they will just increase their prices and brag about record profits.
DeleteSerbia needs Wizz Air which keeps its market competitive.
I have to agree, altough i am pro EU and wish serbia joins but until then. Same rules should apply.
DeleteHow about both of you read the Open Skies Agreement first and then comment?
DeletePlease enligthen us
DeleteSince you read it Anon 09.14 why don't you show off and tell us what you learned?
DeleteAirSerbia has more then fair prices compare to other countries and their airlines.
DeleteAnon 09.14 link to back your claim?
DeleteDoes your open skies agreement for example allow Airserbia to open a base in any od EU country? If you do not know what the open skies mean just do not comment on here.
DeleteMy claim is very simple, for example go on line and price the JU flight between Belgrade and Larnaca and do the same with Austrian or Lufthansa and I can guarantee to see the huge difference.
Delete"... including the right to set up branches and subsidiaries. In practice, this means Wizz Air would be free to apply for a Serbian Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). "
DeleteThis says it all. Wizz Air has the only right to apply for a Serbian AOC and certainly not to set up a base, which ain't covered by the EASA agreement.
@09:16 No, it does not allow JU the same conditions, but the aim of this agreement is for Serbia to become EU member soon and to fully practice law.
DeleteI mean, if we do not plan on joining the EU soon, then let's just step out from ECAA and sign individual agreements with every single country.
Doesn't matter what JU can or can't do. Serbia has the right to make an exception and they did it with Wizz Air.
DeleteNow they want to walk back on their decision because SNS people working at JU can't run the business and beat Wizz Air fair and square.
@09:28 you realise Serbia is completly dependent on the EU economically and for its aviation freedoms? Grow up and realise where Serbia's future rests
DeleteAbsolutely agree, you don't have to explain it to me.
DeleteThe level of "analysis" here is impressively low, bordering more into the embarassing.
Delete1. The OpenSkies is a bit grey zoned, but that doesnt matter in legal circles, since our "gledali smo Wizzu kroz prste" doesnt count after 15 years of "looking past" - at this point its precedent, and we may as well be fully implemented into the agreement in pratice. As article also says, we are according to EC fully alligned, again meaning, in practice DCV has no ground on Wizz - should have thought of that 15 years ago.
2. Adding onto the above, rules are equal for all - JU has the full right to open a base in any EU country and to fly to any airport in Serbia, same as Wizz opened a base in Serbia and flies to its own home country (the entire EU, applies to all EU airlines but to Wizz esp. since it has the EASA AOC)
3. "JU cant fly (insert intra-EU route), why should the Hungairan Wizz be able to fly BEG-BCN for example and not pay for taxes in Serbia bla bla bla" argument - holds no water. If you think about it, literally for just 10 seconds, you will remember entire EU (well, Schengen) is a single market, i.e. for air travel, a single country. Intra EU flights are considered domestic, as is well known. Thus JU flying intra EU would be something called CABOTAGE, which is also prohibited by Serbia, same as on 99% of the globe. Same as EU airlines cant fly BEG-INI/KVO.
Is it the same to compare that to for example FCO-VLC or any other route? Yes, despite the attempts of "patriots" here. Also Wizz pays taxes in Serbia by flying here, paying for overflights, and employing a few dozen highly paid individuals, making a better per-person contribution then our beloved flag carrier that keeps losing captains to Wizz.
"JU has the full right to open a base in any EU country and to fly to any airport in Serbia,"
DeleteIt does not.
JU has the right, it just needs to apply first. There are many airlines which operated 5th freedom flights in the past.
DeleteAlso, look at Morocco, they have a magnificent legacy carrier, Open Skies with the EU and yet they allow easyJet and Ryanair to have bases there.
Serbia should be more like Morocco and care more about the economy than its SNS staff at JU.
I'm glad people are finally starting to admit what the deal here is - it's a colonizer-colony type of relationship we have here and it doesn't matter if Serbian CAA is in the right, the colonizer will not allow its economic interests to be put in danger.
DeleteYou have nailed it with this response. It clears up all the lies spouted on here by people who know nothing
DeleteThe issue is, a lot of what he wrote is not correct.
DeleteNo JU does not have the right to open a base in an EU country. Please stop making things up and presenting it as some truth and fact. JU has the right, to apply for an AOC in that EU country. In order to apply for an AOC in a European country, but it must be over 51% owned by an EU company in order to even be considered.
DeleteJU can open a base anywhere it wants in the EU. It just can't fly intra-EU. Just like Wizz can open a base in Serbia but not fly to Podgorica.
DeleteThat simply is not true.
DeleteThe rules are literally the same, but you don't understand that legally the EU countries are one entity and Serbia is one entity.
DeleteYou literally have no idea what you're talking about.
How is it not true??
DeleteYou making things up as you go along does not make it correct. In the current transitional phase of the ECAA agreement, Air Serbia does not have the right to open a base somewhere in the EU. Serbia has not implemented the full ECAA because the EU has not given it approval to implement the full ECAA yet.
DeleteI'm not the person who wrote the long comment (and others above), but I looked it up and you're indeed correct. I didn't know this.
DeleteEnlighten us where you looked it up. Give us a direct quote where this is allowed. Stop making things up.
DeleteI didn't make it up, I spent ten minutes looking for it and found all I needed. The 10:17 comment is correct, the ECAA is not fully implemented. Probably because of excessive state aid to Air Serbia? The details on why the transition is not complete yet are not available.
Delete@09:47 Why is it a strategic aim of Serbia's government to join the union with the colonizer?
DeleteOk, now show us the part of the ECAA where it says Serbian registered airlines can open a base in the EU.
DeleteColonizer comment makes no sense. Wizz Air is originally from Hungary and its first base was in Poland (Katowice). It doesn't come from a colonizing country but from one that was economically colonized.
DeleteJust goes to show that JU has no excuse and should stop complaining and focus on being a better business.
They mean the EU. Strange nationalistic world view
Delete"Ok, now show us the part of the ECAA where it says Serbian registered airlines can open a base in the EU."
DeleteI just told you, it does not say it.
So what was the point of making it up?
DeleteThe ECAA multilateral agreement doesn't cover the basing of aircraft at all. Airlines can base the aircraft wherever they want, but ultimately they can only fly the routes, for which they have the traffic rights. And the traffic rights make it more sensible for an EU airline to base aircraft outside of EU than the other way around.
DeleteFor example Wizz Air Hungary could base 50 aircraft in the UK, but they couldn't operate flights from Luton to Glasgow, since they don't have traffic rights. But they could operate flights from Luton to elsewhere in the EU, despite the aircraft being registered in Hungary, operated on a Hungarian AOC.
Simply not true.
DeleteJU could operate FRA to ZAG if it chose to. It is an open skies agreement and base aircraft in ZAG or LJU. It chooses not to. Stop complaining JU and just compete.
DeleteNo it absolutely can't do that. First you claimed they can fly from any EU country but only to Serbia, now you claim they can fly intra-EU routes. In both cases you are wrong. Stop making nosense up.
Delete@09:41.
DeleteSeveral point and arguments need to be corrected that actually don't hold water and need to be corrected. Saying the air authority of Serbia has been allowing it for 15 years so it should just be accepted because that's not things work. Doing something wrong even with a certain authority not complaining about does not make it acceptable and it cannot be fixed retrospectively. That's why so many airlines since this is about aviation have been caught by inspections and punished after breaking the rules with help and assistance of that nations authority they are based and after legal procedure and decision goes against them they are forced by the EU to rectify it.
Second, parroting the EU decision and quoting them that Serbia is in compliance does not mean that what wizz air was getting is not unfair and a free ride. Why would anyone on the planet punish their own company and the money that they get by admitting that their company in Serbia has an unfair advantage. That's of you think about it for 10 seconds. The EU inspection was to investigate if Serbia was breaking the agreement. Not if an EU airline was taking advantage and doing something they shouldn't that's not their job. That's for the authority in Serbia to complain about and take to court of they want . Or like they are doing fixing the law.
Next point. The flights in the Schengen zone are not nation flights or intra territory flights. That would mean each nation is not it's own sovereign nation. People confuse this. The Schengen zone allows for easy travel without checks and visas. But that doesn't mean a flight to Italy from Spain is flying to the same country. They just made special rules to make it easy.
Proof of this is that each nation has their own AOC which leads to the next point. There is not a European AOC, the EASA is the institution to make each nation have the same standards. Yes it's a technical distinction but legally desperate.
So in the end this is the civil authority of Serbia following the law and agreement made with the EU correctly
Of course he's making things up. Just look the number of his hysterical comments around those topics. Every other is his. But only thing he learned at zama academy is that W6 is growing to four pw in Palermo soon
DeleteWhat are on earth are you talking about? Who is he? What is zama? Dont make silly comments that dont contribute. Its crass and provincial.
DeleteI'm sorry for my language but it is beyond stupid actively trying to reduce air connectivity to a land locked country AND less than a year before the EXPO starts!
ReplyDeleteNo one is trying that. They can still fly from their EU bases (they don't serve any market from Serbia outside the EU anyway), although they'll be a bit less competitive.
DeleteThey are trying to reduce connectivity. And its both stupid and narrow midned
DeleteThey are trying to limit competition to JU.
DeleteAll they care about is protecting JU and its failing business model.
They have zero interest in things like affordable air travel, options or tourism revenues.
Everything has to be about JU which is Vucko's baby.
"They can still fly from their EU bases (they don't serve any market from Serbia outside the EU anyway)"
DeleteMost destinations from Belgrade are not Wizz bases. Therefore almost all of the flights would stop.
They operate many W rotation flights, which they could do in this case too.
DeleteSad for Serbia in that case. What a tragic tragic situation
Delete"Most destinations from Belgrade are not Wizz bases. Therefore almost all of the flights would stop."
DeleteThat's their problem. The demand is going nowhere.
^
DeleteActually the demand will simply switch to buses, cars, not travel at all because of the higher costs or in the case of foreign visitors to other countries.
OK, flights should not be cheaper than bus or train tickets or taxi to the airport. W6 business model is over, as well as FR's. They are enjoying EU protectionism for decades, but that story is over. They have to comply the rules, rise ticket prices and work as all other companies. Everything went up over the years, but only they are trying to keep prices same. Impossible
Delete^ your views are noted. Terrible argument and embarrising views. But noted nontheless.
Delete@16:32
DeleteQuick, somebody notify Europe's LCCs and the tens of millions of passengers that choose them every month that the low cost business model is over! 😂
And instead the successful business model is that of state owned national carriers! 🤣
We love you Wizz Air! Please stay strong.
ReplyDeleteYesss agreed
DeleteDisagree.
DeleteWhy didn't you ask for W6 to send planes for repatriation flights when virus outbrokes in Europe?
Why did JU went to pick up Dubai stranded people when war started? Where were Wizz in those situations?
And risk aircraft - sorry but no privately run company does that. JU is an extension of the state because it is 100% owned by it.
DeleteNajvažniji uslov bezviznog režima sa EU je otvoreno nebo- u punom smislu i bez ograničenja.
ReplyDeleteIli je neko u Srbiji " zaboravio" na ovaj uslov uslova, ili je odlučio da se ispiše sa bezviznog spiska.
Ovo drugo me ne bi iznenadilo.
Nonsense , on so many levels
DeleteSedi i gledaj.
DeleteState owned enterprises and their managers hate competing with private companies.
ReplyDeleteBut we read praises regarding JU management... how come they ran to cry to mama the monent Wizz Air beat them.
DeleteWhat a nonsense by zama disciple. Wizz came crying to EU mamma here. Or you didn't read article again? Of course you didn't.
DeleteWeird weird world view you must have.
DeleteWizz Air is anything but cheap from BEG. On the majority of routes it actually has legacy airline prices and is usually has double the fares than it does from Sofia.
ReplyDeleteThat's because BEG is more expensive than SOF, very simple.
DeleteAlso compared to JU and other legacy carriers, Wizz Air is very cheap from BEG.
Air Serbia is actually cheaper on most routes it competes directly against Wizz Air.
DeleteAnd why do you think that is?
DeleteWell as Marek said it: we will be Wizzier than wizz.
ReplyDeleteThey obviously failed.
Of course not. JU have only 10 times more planes and 5 times more routes. And all with W6 having 3 years headstart. Wizz failed miserably, now asking EU help. But that can't be learned at expert's academy
DeleteWhat a silly comment.
DeleteThis is all so pathetic to watch. Good luck wizz
ReplyDeleteCan Air Serbia open a base in EU? No. Case closed.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia can open base in EU, and you have no authority to decide on case closure or continuation
Delete^ no it can't. You repeating it like a parrot does not actually mean it can.
Delete^ even if JU couldnt open bases in the EU wizzair is very welcome in Belgrade.
DeleteNot more than any other airline. Just send them to fucking Nis or Kraljevo as an "exception".
DeleteThey do enjoy being in Kutaisi in Georgia 😤.
What does that mean? Usless comment
DeleteNot good
ReplyDeleteYeah. Embarrising
DeleteIt will be embarrassing for Wizz fans once news from EU arrive confirming new rules are legal.
DeleteAnd you think EU will side against competition? You clearly don’t know the EU. Everything is about more competition. Everything is interpreted with that in mind.
DeleteOr it will be embarassing for Air Serbia fans once news from EU arrive confirming new rules are illegal and opposed to EU acquis communautaire
DeleteIt will be embarissing when the EU asks Serbia to pay back all the help its given it.
DeleteIt is unreasonable to expect any major changes. New rules seem aligned with ECAA.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine Palermo guy meltdown when he finds out...
DeleteI see no one's even mentioned it yet, but there's no way VINCI would be on board with taking away the wizz base or a possibility for a different EU LCC to make one in the future. If the new regulations get wizz out of BEG or to reduce operations, that's millions in lost revenue. Plus VINCI probably has grounds for a lawsuit against the government or at least hefty compensation for changing market rules that would make the remaining years of concession less profitable.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's be honest VINCI is many times bigger and more influential in EU than wizz and has leverage through France. A phonecall from Paris to Andrićev venac will quickly change the tune of the Serbian government.
Also let's not forget tha last time JU tried to flex its muscles through government regulations was with Turkey and look at where we are now and who dominates that market...
Wizzair should also take Serbia to court.
DeleteWizz Air is enjoying a PRIVILEGED and not legal position in Belgrade.
ReplyDelete- Belgrade is one of the few European capital cities where Wizz Air has an actual base at the city's primary airport
- Even in Georgia, they couldn't secure a position in Tbilisi, so they fly from Kutaisi and they're very happy with it
- Outside of London and Italy, Wizz Air has NO bases in Western Europe, this is why this is going to hurt them so much, cause they can't compete price wise - we may be left only with the routes to Italy and the UK, with few exceptions
- Whilst transporting millions of pax, Wizz pays NO corporate tax in Serbia, how come? 🤔 Unfair competition anyone? How much has Serbia lost already?
- Wizz Air brought literally zero for Serbia's connectivity, 96% of their lines are a copy of JU and other airlines, they behave like parasites/scavengers
So they have two choices:
1. F*uck out of BEG and fly EU-SRB-EU like ALL other airlines with no preferential treatment and base your pinky pest a/c wherever you want to outside of Serbia or
2. Get the Serbian AOC, start paying taxes and start opening lines that would bring any actual benefit for Serbian connectivity
Or
I would personally give them a third/hybrid choice:
3. Under the carpet keep everything as it is but start paying Serbian corporate taxes in Serbia (maybe even retroactively for all the previous years), or just move them to Kraljevo (Belgrade-South) and leave everything as it is.
You can't have it both ways (oh, won't quote the song "it's just the way i am...").
PS: Also not worried much about them pulling out, the demand is there and the market will fix itself,, but i really want to notice how unlike Budapest or some other cities, Belgrade is almost never promoted on their website as a tourist destination, so they're basically just scavenging from other airlines organic traffic/VFR in SRB without creating any new market like they did in Hungary.
DeleteAre you a serbian tax payer?
DeleteWhat mad arguements @Aeronologic
DeleteYeah, he must wear pink glasses. 😎
Delete