Allegations concerning aircraft maintenance arrangements at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport have sparked a dispute between Serbia’s aviation regulator and Wizz Air, with the low cost carrier strongly rejecting claims that it failed to comply with local regulatory requirements. It comes days after the low cost airline said it would be forced to close its base in Belgrade after the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate redefined how foreign carriers can operate services from the country.
Media reports have emerged over the past few days alleging the Directorate found Wizz Air had contracted aircraft maintenance providers at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport that lacked the approvals required to operate in the country, with the matter subsequently referred to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The issue reportedly came to light during a routine inspection conducted by the Directorate. One of the companies identified was Bulgarian firm Global Maintenance, which Wizz Air had engaged to perform day-to-day line maintenance on its Belgrade-based fleet. Although the company held general technical certifications and advertised maintenance services at airports in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia, it allegedly did not possess the specific approval required by the Serbian regulator to carry out line maintenance activities in the country. According to reports, the Directorate gave Wizz Air thirty days to rectify the situation and bring the arrangement into compliance, however, the deadline is said to have passed without a resolution.
Media reports, citing unnamed sources, further claim that Wizz Air subsequently engaged a second maintenance provider. However, the company allegedly failed to satisfy all regulatory requirements necessary to operate in Serbia, and its licence was later suspended. Following the breakdown of both contractor arrangements, Wizz Air began deploying its own technical personnel from Hungary to carry out aircraft maintenance in Belgrade, a measure said to have significantly increased the airline’s operating costs. According to the reports, the matter was ultimately referred to EASA.
Wizz Air responded to the media reports yesterday, rejecting the allegations. “Wizz Air firmly rejects inaccurate claims that have appeared in certain media reports suggesting the airline is not operating in compliance with local regulations or lacks approved aircraft maintenance services. Safety remains Wizz Air’s absolute priority and is never compromised. The airline operates in full compliance with all applicable aviation safety requirements and regulatory obligations. Every aircraft in the Wizz Air fleet is maintained in accordance with the highest international aviation standards, using approved maintenance procedures and certified personnel”, the company said.
It added, “Following unexpected changes to local regulatory requirements introduced by the Civil Aviation Directorate, Wizz Air took proactive measures to ensure continued regulatory compliance and operational safety by deploying its own highly qualified, professionally trained and appropriately authorised engineering staff. This approach ensures that all maintenance activities continue to meet the airline’s stringent safety standards and regulatory requirements at all times. Any suggestion that Wizz Air operates aircraft without proper maintenance oversight or outside regulatory requirements is categorically false. The airline maintains a robust safety management system, works closely with relevant aviation authorities, and remains fully committed to providing safe, reliable and compliant operations for its passengers”. The airline added that it will pursue all necessary legal action against what it described as defamatory statements.
Yeah, they are leaving soon for sure.
ReplyDeleteLets see
DeleteIf they decide to leave they will do it , they will transfer all airplanes to other base , nothing is complicated ;)
DeleteJudging by their actions so far, it does not seem they are willing to leave without a fight.
Delete09:06 Nis
DeleteThe rule applies to all of Serbia, they can't transfer it to Nis.
DeleteWizz is not going out of BEG! Reason is simple, Ryanair has pressured them on nearly all bases. Air Serbia is kind of competitor they want, FR is killing their yields! Look at TIA, SOF, OTP, BUD, MXP I feel sorry for this guys!
DeleteObviously they don't want to leave Belgrade as they are doing well there. But there is a cost to doing business is countries like Serbia, and this is it.
DeleteIndeed. What a grubby situation this is.
DeleteThat's my impression too.
DeleteEven the Russian market is more liberal than Serbia.
DeleteHardly.
DeleteAre you sure about that?
DeleteI love those "dušebrižnici".
DeleteThere are a lot of foreign carriers in Russia this is because they no parts, sanctions but...
DeleteWhatever the outcome is, the damage has been done. Im sure some people are now afraid to book with Wizz since the flight could be cancelled. Their bookings are probably already down. In my opinion this is like chasing a huge investor out of the country. Its diabolical
ReplyDelete98% of people in the country have no clue this is even happening.
DeleteI tend to agree, the shitstorm on ex-Twitter seems to be contained within the hardcore pro-opposition accounts which while very loud are a minority. On top of that, there was that SNS poster that covered some nesting spots for birds, so the entire Wizz story got diluted as the opposition was operating on too many fronts in a short span.
DeleteAnd today Wizz launches Belgrade-Pisa
DeleteYou think this is a drama created by the opposition for political gain?
DeleteThis is so tragic to watch from the outside.
DeleteIn my company of 50 people everyone was talking about this and mentioned they will wait with Wizz booking for winter before they see what happens with the flights. So I wouldnt say that 98% of the people did not hear about it. Even if this affected 10% of the people, it is still a damage.
DeleteYes I am sure the travelling public is hesitant about a EU certified maintenance provider and instead trusts the local authorities who totally not trying to reduce competition to JU! 🤣
DeleteNo, I am sure DCV should take care only foreigners to earn as much money as possible and neglect all security protocols. W6 planes are 3-4 years old, no need to bother with some outdate retrograde rules
DeleteI really dislike Wizz Air. It is the only airline I avoid flying with regardless of the price. But it is absolutely absurd to claim that there is any kind of a safety issue with them. They are 100% safe.
DeleteSafety in aviation is ensured by following of procedures. Wizz has been shoddy there it seems.
DeleteCompared to an airline from Serbia? Wizzair is just fine
DeleteNoone said that planes are broken nor that Wizz is doing poor maintenance, nor that those companies are not qualified. Quite opposite, it's stated that they possess all the technical certificates, but they don't have work/ operating licence in Serbia.
DeleteAlthough I am very much against bureaucracy, the one being against requests to strictly follow the procedures are the same one called for death penalty over the ones who also thought they don't have to fallow all the procedures and obtain all the permissions in Novi Sad.
This is sad reality of Serbian society nowadays!
This is likely to have happened. I just don't see such a big deal since the issue was rectified. Can guarantee that the same Bulgarian firm they are using in Macedonia also does not have a national permit in Macedonia.
ReplyDeleteN Macedonia does have an alternative for Wizz, Serbia does, it can and should insist on legal procedures
DeleteThe legal procedures are, in fact, illegal.
DeleteHaha what a stupid comment, anon 11.57
DeleteI mean I read the article on the "other" Serbian aviation portal and it goes into extreme details - I'm leaning toward the CAA.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteI was for Wizz in the begining, they releasie a strong media campaign, bots on social networks...
so i start to suspect, probably there is something here, lets wait for other part and hear their stori
Thank you. Everyone should read that article. Left a sour taste in my mouth about Wizz.
DeleteSo don't fly them. The rest of us will.
DeleteYes I am sure the travelling public is hesitant about an EU certified maintenance provider and instead trusts the local authorities who are totally not trying to reduce competition to JU.
DeleteSMFH
Well Marathon was also an EU-based airline and we saw how that story played out.
DeleteMarathon was not certified by the EU but by Greece. There is a HUGE difference
DeleteMarathon was allowed by the Serbian authorities to operate in the country.
DeleteAbsolutely not! Serbian aviation authorities should follow only their own protocols, because EU proved not to be reliable. Every foreign company should be fully inspected in order to keep safety at BEG
DeleteDoes Wizz fly from Skopje and Tirana under same conditions as currently in Belgrade?
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth does this question mean
DeleteYou know what it means.
DeleteThe other countries are developing their air connectivity. We are trying to reduce it.
I don't know what it means, that is why I asked
DeleteConditions should be the same.
DeleteAnd what is the connection between aircraft maintenance and regulatory changes to the third and fourth freedoms of flight?
ReplyDeleteIt's underalted. They are just trying to tarnish Wizz Air's image and get the public onboard for booting them out since it hasn't gone down very well so far.
Delete*unrealted
DeleteThe pink ribbon lol
DeleteLast time i remember it was a scheduled flight operated on behalf of another company that last casued a major safety issue at the airport.
DeleteComparing Wizz Air to some random no-name ACMI white-airplane operator is quite the mental gymnastics.
DeleteNo matter how hard they try to spin it, WizzAir is sadly in the wrong this time. The evidence is starting to stack up.
ReplyDeleteLOL what evidence??
DeleteWizzair must stay and this tragic political attack against it speaks volumes of the regmie that has run the country for years.
DeleteAir Serbia is unable to compete and instead run to the government to chase the competition away!
DeleteHow yes no. They have 10 x planes more and 5 x routes more than W6. They are really in critical danger, but only in your mind
DeleteThe government cannot control Wizz the way they can control AirSerbia.
DeleteApparently they are since they are trying to throw them out of the country!
DeleteStill only in your wishes and prayers. Not to forget your only argument: Palermo is growing to 4 per week!
DeleteAir Serbia will be bumping their prices up shortly!
ReplyDeleteNot so fast... ko drugome jamu kopa... we all know where this whole thing started in the first place... and now they're just digging themselves deeper and deeper using all means and all institutions available to salvage their original plan. Been tried elsewhere before and failed spectacularly... like I said... ko drugome jamu kopa
DeleteOperating the same routes to leisure destinations and you call it kopanje jame…
DeleteIs this a liberal market or not, what you tryna say?
I think 09:46 was saying that JU shouldn't start with their celebrations just yet.
DeleteDefiantly. The real challenge and struggles for JU against LCCs and outside companies is really yet to begin.
DeleteThey should follow the same rules and regulations as all other carriers operating out of Serbia, instead of spinning the situation and making unnecessary noise about it. Of course, they will never admit that there is an issue with the approval of their maintenance organisation at BEG, as this would raise concerns about their safety standards and how they maintain their aircraft.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if Wizz Air truly cares about offering choice at BEG, even if they are forced to close the base as we know it today, they can still operate flights to and from BEG from their other bases. All the stories about base closures and their supposed impacts on the economy, people, and so on are exaggerated. They have been closing bases frequently, relocating aircraft, and the resulting gaps are typically filled by other carriers.
So, if Wizz Air wants to continue operating from BEG, they still have options to keep their loyal customers happy, myself included.
Air Srbijo, jesi li to ti?
Delete"even if they are forced to close the base as we know it today, they can still operate flights to and from BEG from their other bases"
DeleteMost Belgrade flights are to destinations that are not Wizz Air bases. How can you even write such stupid questions
"They have been closing bases frequently, relocating aircraft, and the resulting gaps are typically filled by other carriers."
No they are not, and they certainly will not be in Belgrade.
would they be allowed to fly A (base in EU) to BEG to C (not base), C to BEG, BEG to A (base)?
DeleteOf course. That is open sky till C is in EU or Norway and Swiss space.
DeleteTo prove your statement is stupid, they can fly BUD/SKP-FMM-BEG-FMM-BUD/SKP.
DeleteAs for closed bases, search the internet first.
Interesantno kako je Direktorat revnosan u vezi Wizz air a nije bio takav kada je Air Pink lažirao svu moguću dokumentaciju
ReplyDeleteKao i Maraton incident koji je prosao neprimetno na kraju. Pilot nije sankcionisan, spicio iz zemlje.
DeleteDirektorat je zatvorio Pink, on vise ne postoji. Ovde direktorat kasni, videcemo ko ce snositi posledice, osim Wizz Aira
DeleteZatvorio je nakon što su EU vlasti to tražile, tj otkrile malverzacije. Takođe je Direktorat ćutao o tome i nikad se nije oglasio
DeleteAko odu iz BEG,vidim 3. bazni avion u Tuzli.
ReplyDeleteTuzla barely needs 2 Wizz planes. The utilisation is about 60% and we are in the month of June.
Deletedream big xD
DeleteČut ćemo se na kraju godine sa 3 baznim :)
DeleteMore likely they will move to Zagreb and continue entire BEG network from ZAG. They could even open some kind of shuttle service ZAG-BEG-ZAG, to connect to ex-BEG network, with no extra costs for passengers on originally BEG flights. People in Serbia know what inat is. But Hungarians know to do inat better. Even with initial losses
DeleteAre you serious in thinking a low cost airline is going to open a shuttle serivce? lol
Delete1424: it is summer and Wizz is selling flights for 15 euros from Tuzla one or two days in advance. Get real please.
DeleteWhy would anyone travel through Zagreb and connect on wizz? Lmao
Delete14:35, erm? Im a big defender of wizzair but they wont do that mate
Delete@anon 15:01 pa pogledajte brojke Wizz Aira iz Tuzle molim vas,u nedjelju je bilo preko 2000 putn8ka u danu.Pa ako lazem ja ne lazu brojke
DeleteAir Serbia really can't compete with Wizz.
ReplyDeleteThey've been competing with them for years and its been healthy competition. Don't see how your point makes sense at all lol...
DeleteEvidently they can't anymore despite all the support and subventions from the state.
DeleteSo they know try to kick them out of the country,
Yes, but they growing Palermo to four (4!) per week. Air Serbia can’t compete them. LOLLL !!!
DeleteAir Serbia cried to mommy to close W6's base!
DeleteIt's W6 crying to EU mommy 😭.
DeleteI know which mummy I would rather have.
DeleteThen go to her, she is waiting
Delete@12:16 childlike mentality. Says loads about you
DeleteAs an example, airlines like Austrian, KLM and Lufthansa operate early morning flights out of Belgrade without having a base in Belgrade. They fly in late, shuttle crews to hotel and fly out early in the morning. Nothing stops Wizz from doing the same, but it looks like it's Wizz that CAN'T COMPETE with other airlines doing it.
DeleteIts almost fun watching this drama in Serbia. Bizarre in the extreme. Pass the popcorn.
DeleteWhere is this hostility towards W6 coming from?
ReplyDeleteIn a society where hostility towards anything and everything domestic is the norm, we simply cannot compute scenarios where anyone dares to show hostility towards something foreign.
Delete'In a society where hostility towards anything and everything domestic is the norm' Wow you inhabit a different space than I do. Hostility to foreign capital is as strong a trait in Serbian history as that is, if not more.
DeleteWizz is the one being hostile, according to expert consensus regarding Euro ULCCs vs small airports and airlines. Wizz does not want to pay corp taxes in country where it operates a base. They got Al Capone for less tax evasion than that. Any other questions about hostility?
Delete"In a society where hostility towards anything and everything domestic is the norm, we simply cannot compute scenarios where anyone dares to show hostility towards something foreign."
DeleteEXCELLENT, EXCELLENT comment!
#stockholmsyndrome
"In a society where hostility towards anything and everything domestic is the norm, we simply cannot compute scenarios where anyone dares to show hostility towards something foreign."
DeleteThis comment just underscores some of the huge issues people in Serbia have. Serbia should show far greater willingness to embrace the outside business world and to find its place in the European economy.
^ You do realise that Serbia subsidises foreign companies to open factories and do business in Serbia. You do realise that foreign companies, most from the EU, use these policies widely so they can employ cheap labour for production?
Delete^ I do. And the country needs more of it and an open and cooperate attitude towards foreign airlines basing aircraft in here.
DeleteExcellent. I hope in the European Union there will also be an open and cooperate attitude towards airlines from Serbia basing aircraft there.
DeleteI feel some people need to a get and realise where Serbia is precisely located. As an outsider it all seems so sad tbh. Good luck Belgrade wizzair users.
DeleteThose foreign companies getting subsidies registered their companies/subsidiaries in Serbia and obtained licenses required for their fields, for example food production. Did Wizz register company in Serbia, register Serbia based planes, get Serbian AOC and is paying corporate taxes in Serbia? Rhetorical question.
DeleteGood luck Serbia. Gonna need it
DeleteSo what is next in the menu?
ReplyDeleteBan all airlines with blue and purply livery?
Ban the inflight use of Starlink?
Ban all A321neos with 239 seats?
😄😄😄
hahahah good one.
Delete+1
DeleteLess seats on the A321 doesn't sound bad at all to me since I'm 1.84 but I don't want to pay more for my tickets.
Plus I doubt the directorate cares much about seat comfort.
Dude!
DeleteThey realy want them out. I stil dont want to believe it
ReplyDeleteASL management did zero fuel hedging. Meanwhile the cost of jet fuel has doubled over the last 3 months. So they are struggling but I doubt they will ever say how bad.
Deletethe thing from the first sentence i didnt know, means JU and GP.A were sleeping.
Deletenow we all know why V said: OU is clever to reduce the amount of flights
"the thing from the first sentence i didnt know"
DeleteIt was openly said by the airline
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2026/05/air-serbia-says-no-plans-to-cut.html
“Our biggest issue at the moment is that we are not hedged. However, we have been profitable for the past five years, so we have certain measures and buffers in place. As a state-owned airline, hedging is ultimately a gamble - you can either win or lose. The purpose of hedging is to lock in budgeted costs. Until now, the question was always when the right time was to hedge, because fuel prices had been declining, whereas now they are rising. Nevertheless, we will get through it. It’s all about cost control”, Mr Marek said.
Marek or the CFO should be fired for this.
Deleteso basically he said they lost the "gamble"
DeleteWhen, in twenty years time someone comes to write the history of Serbian aviation in the 2020s, I think this will be regarded as a significant point and perhaps not in JUs advantage.
DeleteYes I'm sure. The launch of 4 new long-haul routes and over 40 destinations for a total of over 100 destinations, almost 5 million uplifted passengers annually, over 1000 employees had absolutely no impact on Serbian aviation but 4 Wizz Air planes did. Get a reality check.
DeleteI don't think the person above ever said that JU had "no impact". Why do you feel you need to change their argument to get your point across?
DeleteThis is not only economically sad. Its really embarrassing regarding Serbia's general approach to aviation.
ReplyDeletePodgorica inviting Wizz to essentially obliterate Air Montenegro is "economically great" then?
DeleteComparing Montenegro with Serbia? You should rather compare TGD with ZAG, two markets with home carriers but stagnating numbers...both opted for a LCC to give them a boost.
DeleteThe story of Serbia was a different one: the home carrier is so successful that Wizz is only having a statist role with their few aircrafts ...
until last week
Focus. I didn't compare countries of Montenegro and Serbia in this particular case.
DeleteAir Serbia as a home carrier in the past 5 years experienced growth in passengers at BEG, number of aircraft based at BEG and number of destinations from BEG - beating Wizz in all of those categories.
Its not about 'beating' its about Serbia not behaving like an isolationist state (Again). JU is only doing well because the Serbian economy is relatively open. If Serbia wants to walk a more protectionist route (and its very welcome to if it wishes) then I think the Serbian consumer will be the ones who pay the price as always. Not wizzair's shareholders, not the EU, not the bankers in London who trade it, but the everyday consumer in Serbia who already have some of the worst deal regarding fuel and food prices in the whole of Europe.
DeleteBut hey ho, stranger things have occured.
For discussion about taking more protectionist route, see comment 12:14 below regarding two Tuzla examples. Discussion is over until you accept reality.
DeleteDo you really think Wizzair wants more choices for passengers, more destinations and competition? Required reading for you:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/07/ryanair-blocked-at-tuzla-airport-over.html
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/09/wizz-air-ends-tuzla-base-operations.html
It can be argued those events led to less competition, destinations and less choice for passengers.
As someone from the south all I can say is: Thank god for Sofia airport
ReplyDeleteBelgrade has more passengers than Sofia, also more destinations and countries served. From Nis by car it takes almost the same time to SOF and BEG.
Delete@16.17 SOF has cheap Wizz and Ryanair flights plus there is SKP for folks thet live further south
DeleteNone of that is response to 16:07. BEG also has cheap Wizz flights and will continue to have them regardless of current Wizz drama.
DeleteAfter all these years the DCV made this discovery.....
ReplyDeleteProbably without fuel hedging and the issues around NIS, Air Serbia is having an cash hemorragia.
Too many summer tickets sold at action during the fall and winter, so now all means have to be put in place to save the balance sheet.
Not many room left inside the company as salaries, various costs were already to the bare minimum.
LOL. Clueless. You do know Air Serbia is now the official supplier of fuel at BEG? Yes, Air Serbia.
DeleteHow about,
ReplyDeleteIn order to work in Serbia, as a foreigner, someone should:
a) working permit- that among many other papers asks for contract with company based in Serbia- i.e. allowed to work on Serbian market
b) upon receving working permit- at least 30 days, you may apply for red card- to enter airside to perfom work.
Those two steps are not possible without fully recognition of qualification of person who applies- and that is done both by apropriate authority and/ or proffesional association. There also might be requirement from Nation Employment Agency- is that type worker is available from local citizens market or we need foreigners....
Simple, but seems that someone screw it up little....