Wizz Air said it has contacted local stakeholders but has no positive developments to report. “The CAD [Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate] can reverse this change and keep Serbia aligned with the rest of the European community. Our aim is to remain based in Belgrade, grow, secure the thousands of direct and indirect local jobs. By operating inbound flights only, many Serbians would lose their jobs. We've reached out to several local stakeholders but cannot report on any positive developments at this stage”, Wizz Air said.
The carrier accused the Directorate of amending its regulations fifteen years after it opened its Belgrade base with the sole purpose of targeting Wizz Air. “We're the only foreign airline that wanted to invest in the Serbian market, because we believe in connecting the Serbian people to the rest of the world. For the last 16 years, any other airline could have done the same as us, but they chose not to. This rulebook change was specifically targeted against Wizz Air to try to limit competition for the domestic state-owned airline, plain and simple”, the airline noted. A petition calling for Wizz Air’s base to remain in Belgrade has so far generated close to 5.000 signatures.
Last week, the European Commission confirmed it had been contacted by Wizz Air. “The Commission has been contacted by Wizz Air regarding recent changes made by the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia to the Regulation on Issuing Approvals to Foreign Air Carriers for Performing International Public Air Transport with the Republic of Serbia. 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 Commission told EX-YU Aviation News.
They weren’t commited to Serbian market when they withdrew planes from BEG and reducing capacity, while growing on other markets. Seems that check is due now
ReplyDeleteThe have 20% of the capacity at the airport what do you mean no commitment.
DeleteWhat are you going on about? They cut BEG when they cut everything else. For two years now they were the engine of growth at BEG.
DeleteThey cut BEG in 2014 too.
DeleteYes after the first round of Serbian protectionism. They realized the market was there so they agreed to pay normal charges.
DeleteFYI JU has also cut BEG many times so why support them with such protectionism?
Btw since you mention 2014, why didn't the Serbian government do this back then? Why did they care more about W6 revenue than them supposedly breaching law? What changed since 2014 beause the law didn't.
Delete@9:04 Air Serbia also cut capacity in 2024, I guess they're not committed to the market either and should be chased out?
DeleteAir Serbia increased its capacity by 6.2% in 2024 compared to 2023.
DeleteOverall on a yearly basis but in winter 2022/2023 they cut capacity.
DeleteIn the winter of 2022/23 compared to winter 2021/22 capacity increased 32%.
Delete9:14
DeleteThat’s a lie, like a most of your comments. They moved plane from BEG to BUD to grow on Hungarian market
@09:32 lets stick to the importance of wizzair in Belgrade
DeleteAnon 09.35
DeleteDo you have a source for that claim?
Admin, I'm very surprised to see you take sides
DeletePointing out that the statement is incorrect is not taking sides. This is the eighth article relating to the Wizz Air base.
DeleteIt is kind of funny to accuse someone of taking sides because had they taken a side I assume they would not have published this article in the first place.
DeleteWizz Air's East European bread and butter is oversaturated by Ryanair. With yields trashed in most bases, they can't do a Ryanair-style "I'm out"—so instead they fight the Serbian government for good yields at Belgrade, rather than go to other airports where Ryanair is waiting.
Delete@10:17
DeleteIt's not taking sides proving you are writing lies. Most of the people do that whole day.
Less competition never helps consumers.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYes. And I, as a Slovenian, cannot understand why Serbia would want an even higher unemployment. So much diaspora looking for jobs across the EU, and the country seems commited to even less jobs. Why? And people in Serbia are praising this “strel v koleno”. It’s like Brexit - boxing in helps no one.
DeleteNot many unemployed nowadays in Serbia, though.
DeleteBut I`m pro Wizz here, anyway.
There's nothing about employment here, but about taxes and disregarding safety. Wizz may close base next morning, like they did in Abu Dhabi, Vienna or Tuzla. And without turn their heads back. All they do care is profit. Employment is just a pathetic argument no one is falling for.
DeletePS. We import labor force from Africa and Asia. No employment problems in Serbia
Which shows that they are making serious money in Serbia if they are fighting so hard for their BEG base.
DeleteTo Annon 14:12
DeleteAre you for real?? Disregarding safety?? By this post you simply show that you have 0 connection to the aerospace industry, because if you did, you would know that Wizz Air is not disregarding safety, quite the opposite. It is because aerospace sector in Serbia is full of bots like yourself that it is in a state it is. Pilot training….. terrible… Flight school offering “pay less fly less” programs, but on the paper you get all the hours, not to mention that student pilots never actually fly solo. This is actually why you can no longer convert Serbian license to EASA. Good job to DCV for amazing oversight. Commercial aviation…. terrible…. I mean when a national airline manages to convince CAA to change FTL in their favor so that they could squeeze even more juice out of their crews. I will not even go into their maintenance program and the things Air Serbia does… simply because I don’t have to. Again, props to DCV for an amazing job. General aviation….. almost terrible….. lots of shady things going on, maintenance terrible if any. We (Serbs) keep thinking that whole point of general aviation is to become rich and seek to make business out of everything which is where we are fundamentally wrong… Again great job to DCV for an amazing oversight…. And now you want to tell me that an airline with EASA AOC (not HUN like many mistake) whose maintenance is approved by EASA, an airline with digital maintenance system, an SMS, safety and just culture is disregarding safety because they are not approved by DCV (same DCV from above). Should I mention that AirSerbia at one point also had line maintenance approved only by EASA? You are either uninformed, or deeply misinformed or simply on the SNS payroll.
The last one
Delete@Anon 14:12
Deletewizzair is disregarding safety?? Those are heavy words,don' t forget they were allowed to fly all the time till now, with all those "safety issues"...who is guilty for that, allowing them to transport serbian citizens in "unsafe planes"? If that is true, we passengers should sue our country immediatelly ( and its public enterprises)..
14:59
DeleteDude, wasn't Marathon also "an airline with EASA(!) AOC"?? Weren't those two idiots inside "pilots with EASA(!) licence. Wasn't OY-GDB plane registered for years by EASA(!) without proper documentation and shady service intervals/parts? So, spare us your tirade please. Easa and it's safety protocols have to be overridden here, in order to survive their negligence and carelessness.
Full support for wizzair from me!
ReplyDeleteAnd zero from me
DeleteFrom me too!
DeleteLets have a poll and see wich side is more popular
DeleteI support them as well, for one reason, to support the Serbian economy.
Delete+1
Delete+1.
DeleteIn addition I might as well say, as a regular Luton-Belgrade-Luton user, should that service be affected or discontinued I'll switch to Swiss via Zurich or any other available connecting option regardless of the fare price. ASL won't get a penny out of my pocket ever again, that's how strongly I feel about all this.
There is 0 chance of Luton being impacted. It is operated by UK-based aircraft with UK AOC.
DeleteYes I'm well aware of that. However the service is already significantly tapered - only a couple of years ago it was a daily rotation even out of season, whereas next winter it will be operated only 4 times a week. Flights are packed to the rafters though, which is encouraging.
DeleteThem decreasing frequencies on LTN is not related to this dispute. They also decreased LTN-SKP too.
DeleteLTN Skopje is traditionally a weak route for Wizzair. London Belgrade goes through cycles when its been daily and then 4/5 times a week. I use the route a lot too and its always full, however the timings have (at times) made JU's longstanding flight in Heathrow far better for my needs. However KLM provide the best offer for me because they fly from regional airports - but it comes with a cost.
DeleteAnyway losing any wizzair route from Belgrade would be tragic for the Serbian consumer. Really really sad that so many bots and obsessives seem to support this silly move of the government.
Why wasn't this issue addressed back in 2011 when the base was opened? That's what I still don't understand.
ReplyDeleteBecause they were favourized.
DeleteLaw changes over time. Never heard about that?
DeleteYes but this particular law has remained unchanged since then so what gives you wise Anon 14.13
DeleteWhat exactly you wanted to point? If this law changed 2 years ago, you would write the same thing 2 years ago.
DeleteI hope both sides find a compromise. Serbia needs Air Serbia, but it also needs competition and foreign investment.
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand what are you trying to say? There are 23 other companies at BEG.
DeleteThere are 2 companies based at BEG. And one, state owned, wants to squeeze out the other one, which is the biggest competitor. As simple as that and everyone sees it except those blinded by political propaganda
DeleteAnd that squeezed one is from Serbia?
DeleteNo. The not yet squeezed but soon to be one is from the Open Skies aerea, which Serbia signed to be. Sad you can't get that
DeleteWizz Air has every right to challenge the decision legally if it believes it breaches the ECAA Agreement. That's what courts are for.
ReplyDeleteYeah, courts are super fast.
DeleteBon voyage
ReplyDeleteBon voyage to low fares and affordable traveling.
DeleteBon voyage to Serbia's reputation as a open aviation market
DeleteLol. Sure. Like Serbia is the first market some random low-coster threw a hissy fit over. The demand is there and will be filled by competition.
DeleteSerbia is the random throwing a hissy fit in this game. Not wizz. Wizzair can definatly live without Serbia, but Serbia depends on the good will of the outside world for its aviation, so lets remember that.
DeleteThere is no guarantee that someone will step in. Why change something that works and something which has worked for over a decade?
DeleteWhy they left TZL in an afternoon, when they are so committed to markets? They will do same in Serbia, if they find more attractive market. Nothing to be sorry about them. They will follow rules or go out. Simply as that
DeleteAre you seriously comparing BEG and TZL? For starters in BEG they have all the equipment they need. They left Tuzla because of inadequate lights and equipment at the airport.
Delete@15:00 Not true, number of published articles revealed true motive for TZL retreat.
DeleteSure it can be compared. There were 2 based planes at TZL and 4 at BEG. It's a very small difference
DeleteI will repeat what I already wrote. No one besides JU would profit from this. With less flights by Wizz Air there will be less ethnic travel, less tourism and it will become extremely difficult for most Serbs to travel abroad. Just look at the way JU treats INI and KVO. They simply do not care about Serbian passengers. All they care is to charge €400 to fly around Europe, that is why Wizz Air is a problem for them.
ReplyDeleteI really hope the Serbian government reconsiders this since voters and your average Serb won't profit.
+1
DeleteDon't write nonsense. I have never paid a ticket with JU 400 eur. I travel an average of 7-8x a year.
DeleteProbably because you book months in advance, like 6 or 7. If you book a month, two or even three fares are extremely high. So please don't accuse others of writing nonsense especially when there is no way to check if you are really flying that often.
Delete+1
DeleteBTW I checked the first week of August for BEG-PAR, JU on average charges between 20.000 and 25.000 one way to CDG.
DeleteWizz Air to BVA is roughly 9.000 RSD one way.
You still think we don't need Wizz Air in BEG?
No. On the contrary. I have never booked 6-7 months before a flight. Sorry, but that's my experience. In over a decade of flying with JU, I have never paid so much.
DeleteThats great. But so what? Doesnt mean wizzair should lose their base in Belgrade now does it.
DeleteI am sorry but the post about CDG flights proves that your experience is not the norm Anon 09.32
DeleteWell, I bought a BEG-ZAG ticket with Air Serbia weeks ago for 250 EUR, so they are no low cost. Stop spreading the lie that they are, and that they are enough for the demand there is out of Belgrade!
DeleteBelgrade needs both a strong JU and a strong Wizz hub.
DeleteOf course. Belgrade needs as much airlines and passengers as possible. But there are also some rules to follow.
DeleteWhich change overnight after 15 years?
DeleteNever too late to correct what was wrong in the past. Speed limit was recently reduced in my neighbourhood. What was okay in the past is no longer acceptable.
DeleteLaws do change but when it effects business people can and should sue.
Delete@15:20
DeleteIt could be changed 3 years ago or in two years from now, but you would always write same nonsense argument.
@17:09
Sure, DCV should pay fine because W6 can not earn money as they used to.
Four years ago Air Serbia was vilified for flying to Moscow and other destinations in Russia, and after much pressure from Brussels the airline reduced the number of flights. Political pressure is nothing new.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if they actually sue the Serbian government. Beogradska Arena just sued them for 53 million RSD. I wonder if W6 would get any damages from them when they win?
DeleteThe Europeans even sent us bomb threats because of those flights.
Delete@09:33 that is an outrageous comment that should be removed
DeleteAir Serbia was going to corner that market and the EU airline companies couldn't have it.
DeleteWhy?
DeleteWhy? It happened, even the countries from which the bomb threats came from.
DeleteSerbia has daily bomb threats in schools, hospitals, and other public places sent regularly from email addresses in Poland, the Baltic states and other "like-minded" regions.
DeleteThe amount of flights hasn't reduced but increased ever since, both in frequencies and destinations.
DeleteSure, because Serbia is one dependent country
DeleteDependent on Geography as we all are.
DeleteWhat a tragic state of affairs. Good luck Serbian consumers.
ReplyDeleteNothing tragic about this. Wizz will find a way to stay relevant in the Serbian market and Air Serbia needs the space to grow. Circumstances are different now from when the Wizz opened its base at BEG many years ago.
DeletePoor Air Serbia grew to 40 planes and more than 100 destinations. And Wizz grew to 4 planes and 25 destinations
DeleteIt's not a tragedy. Wizz wants to earn as much as possible. It's all about profit, they don't care about passengers, the same like all other airlines.
DeleteThis dispute is becoming embarrassing. Hopefully the Commission's review provides a clear answer
ReplyDeleteLow cost airlines come and go. Belgrade survived before Wizz and it will survive after Wizz if necessary.
DeleteSure, the airport will survive, but folks will pay higher fares!
DeleteAirlines such as JU come and go too. Just to add some balance to your statement.
DeleteJU had been around for 80 years and didn't dissapear even during the hardest day of its business. Wizz Air has closed multiple bases throughout its relatively short existance.
DeleteCzech airlines had been around quite a while. I would bet on LCCs being more important in the European aviation market in 2040 than airlines such as JU.
DeleteI have no issue with Wizz and hope they keep their base. But JU is certainly more important to BEG than Wizz.
DeleteWhen the day comes that JU begins to decline, and decline all airlines do, perhaps this will be an interesing part of the history.
DeleteAnd what will happen when Wizz begins to decline? Since you say that "all airline do". Will this be an interesting part of the history?
DeleteWhen wizz declines another LCC will grow in its place. We have enough evidence of this over the past thirty years.
Delete@13:40 We know those are your wishes and prayers. But gladly I have to disappoint you again. Air Serbia past a long way and it is only getting bigger and stronger. On the other hand, W6 is a loss making company, whose business model is finished, more or less. People will not be able to fly for 20-30 Euro any more. Taxes, leases, salaries, fuel etc. is growing constantly everywhere. And with a ticket prices going up, ULCC is done.
Delete@14:23 not at all. I use JU often and like them. Unlike your small-minded attitude i dont wish any airline ill. You really need to calm your nationalist sadness down mate. Get a grip
DeleteYou don't fly with JU and you are not from Serbia. My "nationalists sadness" have nothing to do about ULCC dying business model. That refers to FR as well. LCCs like U2 or EW will survive
DeleteIm not from Serbi but do fly JU often. And i enjoy my flights with them. No nationalist sadness fro me, nothing to do with that region.
DeleteHello to everybody in this blog . I am from Greece and just saw this article . In my opinion wizz air must not leave . I have to travel 4 times a year to the island of Kalymnos from Athens with Sky express the sole operator . Even with pso they get from the state never found a ticket under 230€ return . And we are talking about a flight distance of 183 miles .
ReplyDeleteInstead of loosing time writing ridiculous statements, appeals and press conferences, they should better prepare documentation for Serbian AOC
ReplyDelete
DeleteLOL as if they will give them. The home carrier has problems to compete with 4 W6 planes yet you want them to start flying to the most lucrative markets Montenegro abd Russia. Cant be for real
How yes no. Home carrier outgrew poor W6 few times so far. It's a just a pebble in JU's shoe
DeleteThey need no AOC
DeleteIf it was a pebble in JUs shoe then there would be no drama like this.
DeleteDrama is created by Wizz, look back at recent articles about this topic.
DeleteI still think common sense will prevail. It would be a shame to lose one of the biggest airlines in Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is just negotiation through the media. Both sides are trying to gain public support before reaching a compromise.
DeleteHonestly it will end as silently as Č-land ended. As if nothing happened .
Delete12:34 where did You found any reaction from Air Serbia? You state both sides... Please, enlighten us.
DeleteWhere is VINCI in all of this? They have been very quiet.
ReplyDeleteOf course. No one will support law breaking company.
DeleteSerbia cannot expect to become an aviation hub while making it harder for airlines to invest.
ReplyDeleteWell its never going to a hub on the size of Budapest etc due to other issues such as infrastructure and overall economic out. But yeah i agree.
DeleteIt is actually on track to catch up with Budapest in the future.
DeleteNo it isnt.
DeleteWizz doesn't have a "hub" at BEG and never operated hub in a traditional, connecting flights "hub and spoke" sense.
Delete^ you know what they meant.
DeleteBelgrade is Air Serbia hub and has been for many decades.
DeleteYes.. and?
DeleteDefies thread starter post.
DeleteAir Serbia has grown despite Wizz Air being based in Belgrade. I don't understand why anyone would think it needs this kind of protection.
ReplyDeleteWell, that is as simple as it gets: with no wizz, they will be able to sell more expensive tickets. And that increases revenues, and allows for a sustainable long-term bussiness.
DeleteBut only unrealistic people could think JU would be able to cover and take over 2 million W6 pax.
DeleteMaybe this is some complex plan with Michal O'Lery so that FR can come in and show the amaters how to really make money flying lol
DeleteNot JU but JU and 23 other airlines, yes.
DeleteI mean even JU could do it, they'd just need to add few A321's.
JU could not afford a321neos in a month od sundays and you know that. Their business model is different.
DeleteRyanair would also not be interested in getting a Serbian AOC.
DeleteNo airline would. However FR do have pockets so deep they could flood any market they wish with cheap seats to transform it. One day I'm sure they will arrive and then the usual 'idemo dalje' gentleman will get his finest hour :)
DeleteWe hear Wizz's version almost every week now. I'd like a detailed explanation from the Directorate explaining why this amendment was necessary.
ReplyDeleteWhat baffles me is why is Wizz continuing to sell tickets past November if they think the base will close?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the chances that Serbia actually wants Wizz Air to set up a Serbian AOC so they can collect additional corporate taxes? Maybe that’s what the whole scandal is really about, just done in a very Balkan way. At the moment, as far as I understand, only the staff pay taxes through their local employment contracts. But if Wizz Air opened a Serbian AOC, the airline itself would also become subject to corporate tax, which would bring extra revenue into the state budget.
ReplyDeleteThe main downside of a Serbian AOC would mostly be for Wizz Air. Right now, Serbian crews are licensed on EASA-registered aircraft (like HA or 9H), which allows a lot of operational flexibility. For example, during the summer peak, they can support other bases such as Budapest, Warsaw, or elsewhere, and crews from bases like BUD, OTP, or SOF can also temporarily help out in Belgrade when needed. If Serbia had its own AOC, that flexibility would end because of the national registration framework. That’s probably one of the reasons why Wizz Air isn’t interested in a Serbian AOC-both from an operational and tax perspective.
Wizz Air Malta itself was originally created largely to optimise tax and regulatory costs compared to Hungary. I hope Wizz will stay. For everyone hating them how they cut capacity throughout the years-yes, identically to other bases, so such arguments don’t hold up. They are not perfect, but let the passengers decide who should stay in BEG and who shouldn’t. Not corporate(JU) or State games…that’s what the free market is about.
Very well said.
DeleteWell, passengers will block the runaway.. so nobody can spread a wing 😛
DeleteDoes Belgrade need Wizz base for growth? It has more than 8% growth this year, and had 5.5% in 2024 when Wizz made drastic cuts. With BEG having 9.8M this year, and with only 5% annual growth after, it will have 11.9M in 2030 and 15.2M in 2035, which is ahead of actual capacity.
ReplyDeleteBelgrade will not reach 15m if it limits expansion of airlines basing aircraft there. This is a cut throat world and Belgrades growth is not guaranteed.
DeleteExcept for pandemic 2020, BEG didn't have growth below 5% since 2016. If Wizz closes base, other LCC and international airlines will jump on that opportunity to increase existing capacities or launch new routes to Belgrade, so at least 5% annual growth is all but guaranteed for BEG in the next 8-9 years.
DeleteLike they jumped in when Jat Airways was at its lowest level? Like they jumped in LJU after Adria ceased operations? Much more complex for non-based companies to cover for what based company has, especially LCC
Delete@15:26 Government attempted to privatize Jat Airways in 2008 and 2011, so was a known fact that airline would be saved in some way, unlike what happened to Malev. Other airlines did increase their presence during that period, including Wizz. Lufthansa Group or KLM for example grew significantly at BEG since then. They fly in at night and fly out in the morning. If they can compete than Wizz needs to adapt to compete like that.
DeleteDo you think KLM or Aegean adding a few flights here and there would
DeleteCompesation for now wizzair? If you think so you're mad. Gosh so many people are really blind on this issue. Tragic.
Calling me mad for presenting evidence that dismantle your conspiracy theories about BEG not being able to grow at least 5% and reach 15M in the next decade if Wizz closes base? Wish you all the best in your recovery.
Delete@17:45 your comment is full of holes and therefore wrong. If wizzair leave Belgrade airport the figures will take a beating for a long time. And people like you (who I assume) obsess about size will be very frustrated.
DeletePlenty of numbers and facts presented @12:47 and @14:52 to support the assumption about BEG growth post Wizz base. You countered with absolutely 0 figures and facts. If you had any you would present them, but you don't have them.
DeleteNot the first or only one frustrated by success and growth of BEG (and JU). Just like those before you, nothing you can do to stop them.
I'm not at all frustrated by JU or Belgrade's growth. I welcome it and for you to instantly accuse anyone who finds the governments actions bad speaks volumes of your level of intellect and small world view. The figures presented are all but meaningless because they depend on 'other airlines jumping in' which is about as unacademic an argument as it gets.
DeleteDetailed look at growth of other airlines (other than W6 and JU) in BEG over the past decade shows other airlines did grow even when those two are growing. Do your homework for once. If W6 makes a mistake and leaves BEG altogether (highly unlikely), others will jump in as two million vacated seats is tempting for many. Even in absolutely extreme case where no one else increases a capacity or adds a new route, Air Serbia most certainly would. They already acted quickly post pandemic, using a drop in lease rates (same as nowadays) and engaging wet leased aircraft to instantly grow.
DeleteStill no numbers from your side to back up your "Belgrade figures will take a beating for a long time"? As expected. In line with typical zamanalysys that unmistakably leads to "bad for BEG/JU" conclusion. We have seen it a million times, and it invariably fails.
Airlines will not replace more than 2 millions seats overnight. Stop with these fairytales.
Delete@21:07 Being based outside the region i have no idea what Zamanlysys means. Perhaps you could utilise terminology that is understandable to an international audience for your rather trite comment.
DeleteYour argument assumes that if Wizz Air leaves, other low-cost carriers (LCCs) and international airlines will automatically "jump on the opportunity" to claim those (up to) 2 million vacated seats. This ignores basic aviation economics. Airlines do not deploy millions of euros in assets just because space opens up; they deploy them where they get the highest yields. Non-based airlines cannot simply replicate the volume of a based carrier. More importantly, legacy carriers (like Lufthansa or KLM) target premium hub-and-spoke traffic, meaning the ultra-low-fare passenger segment would not be absorbed—it would simply vanish, the market would need to be reformed.
The claim that Air Serbia would easily step in using wet-leased aircraft, just as they did post-pandemic, is highly unrealistic. Wet-leasing (renting aircraft with crew) is an incredibly expensive, short-term operational plaster. Forcing a network legacy carrier to use high-cost wet leases to fly low-yield, ultra-low-cost routes would obliterate its profit margins. Air Serbia cannot act as a bottomless dump for millions of cheap point-to-point seats without destroying its own financial health.
Your argument relies on the fact that Belgrade has rarely dropped below 5% growth since 2016 to claim that future 5% growth is "all but guaranteed." This is a classic charting error: past performance does not guarantee future results. Belgrade’s historic growth occurred precisely because it had the dual engine of a rapidly expanding national carrier and a heavily invested Wizz Air base. Removing one of those primary engines and expecting the same mathematical trajectory to continue uninterrupted is a statistical fantasy.
The comments brush off the loss of a base by suggesting other airlines will just add capacity. There is a massive structural difference between a based airline and an increase in existing capacity from foreign carriers. A based airline owns the highly lucrative early-morning departure wave, keeps aircraft overnight, and builds a stable, localized network. Foreign carriers flying in and out can cut frequencies at a moment's notice if their own home hubs require the aircraft. Relying on them leaves Belgrade's growth entirely dependent on foreign boardrooms.
Anyway. I'm sure you will be a valid customer of Belgrade airport. Happy flying.
Thank you. We'll see the outcome by November.
DeleteYep. Doesnt effect me much, but if i was a serbian traveller i'd be pumping for wizz.
DeleteLoving the photo and especially the big red JAT neon sign still shining on the hangar.
ReplyDeleteIf Wizzair rapidly downsize and Vinci is forced to lower fees or to attract another LCC it might ultimately mean Ryanair enter the market and undermine JU even faster. Be careful who you invite into your house is an old adage. I'm a massive FR fan, but i suspect many of the Bots and infrastructure nationalists are not...
ReplyDeleteFR is based at ZAG but OU is now key capacity driver.
DeleteCapacity, yes. Capacity utilized, no
DeleteI don’t understand why people are so brainwashed to believe everything they read. Wizzair’s operations are not illegal and never were. The point of the common aviation area is that companies do not need to get an Air Operators Certificate in every country they operate. It is about more competition not less. If Serbia does not like the common aviation area it can choose to simply leave - it is not part of the Common Market - it can do whatever it wants - but that has consequences. However, stop the games around needing an AOC. The Serbian consumer will ultimately suffer and don’t be surprised if Vinci also sues the Government because it probably assumed that the common aviation area would apply and was counting on carriers like Wizz to drive passenger growth.
ReplyDeletePeople are not brainwashed, they know Wizzair if free to operate flights to and from Belgrade. But not the base.
DeleteI really hope those who oppose Wizzair in Belgrade are rich and never use it. Because they are dumping upon a useful aviation assent simply out of some blind sad patriotism towards JU they really low lives.
DeleteExactly. If those rich people don't like Wizzair, let them fly first class on Emirates or Singapore.
DeleteSo is Lufthansa, Austrian and KLM overnighting a plane in BEG a base? What about when JU does the same in the EU - does it need an AOC to do that? Ne može se i jare i pare.
ReplyDeleteOf course not, Lufthansa, Austrian and KLM overnighting is not a base. Wizz is free to do the same.
DeleteWhy isn’t it a base. Crews are sleeping in Belgrade on a regular basis. That’s a fixed base. But thanks to the Common Aviation Area - it is allowed.
DeleteYou obviously don't know what a base is.
DeleteDozens of times, maybe even hundreds, I was praising Air Serbia for their business model, fleet and network growth and development, prompt response to market changes, creating decent hub at BEG, good marketing and pricing policy, and many more, basically everything and I was pointing it as an example for Croatia Airlines, lost in time and space.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think Wizz is the worst of bigger LCC's and I avoid them whenever possible.
However, this time I believe Wizz is right. I also believe that Air Serbia, which is way above it, was not the one to ask for closure of Wizz BEG base. I think it's only and solely the politics. And what politics can make when interferring with economy and business, and especially aviation, we can see in Croatia Airlines as the best example. That's why I want to believe both Air Serbia and Wizz will continue with their bases in BEG and with their growth and success caused by healthy competition and politics would draw back, the same they should do in Croatia in case of OU
100% agree. Wise observation as always sir.
Delete