Air Serbia has signalled that it could unveil additional new routes for the upcoming 2026/27 winter season as it continues to pursue network expansion. The carrier has already launched seven new destinations this year, with three more scheduled to commence later in 2026 - Seville and Tenerife in September and Tromso in December. Alongside expanding its destination map, the carrier has said boosting frequencies o strengthen connectivity through its Belgrade hub remains a priority. Commenting on the airline's growth plans, Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek said, "There may be some new developments for the winter season, but our growth will primarily continue on medium-haul routes, particularly across Europe, Central Asia and similar markets".
Mr Marek noted that Air Serbia's fleet has reached a record 40 aircraft for the first time in the airline's history, providing the capacity required for further expansion. Commenting while touring ongoing expansion work at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, the CEO noted, "Even with a very conservative annual growth estimate of five percent, that means adding two aircraft every year. That's why we are very pleased to see the airport expanding, and we are confident we will continue growing year after year, not only by introducing new destinations but also by increasing flight frequencies. This will further enhance connectivity and strengthen Belgrade's position as a regional hub”. He added, “There can be no Air Serbia without the airport, just as there can be no airport without Air Serbia. It is a truly symbiotic relationship. As the airport expands its capacity and Air Serbia continues to grow, it creates mutual benefits for both parties”.
As the carrier's fleet continues to grow, Air Serbia recently noted that its mix of Airbus, Embraer and ATR aircraft has enabled it to preserve its network despite rising operating costs. The airline has increasingly relied on deploying different aircraft types based on passenger demand and load factors, allowing it to maintain frequencies while avoiding the higher operating costs of using larger aircraft on routes with weaker demand.
They will have a lot more aircraft this winter than last. If I’m not mistaken they have 2 extra A320s and an extra E195. Yes, they did get rid of one A319.
ReplyDeleteYerevan and Bangkok are very likely.
Delete50dinar Bet Bangkok is not launched by 2030
DeleteSounds like a lot.
DeleteWhy not Bangkok? Many travel there during winter, and this year many will choose not to fly there over the Gulf.
DeleteIt was dicussed alot a few days ago.
DeleteThey should make Toronto year round service
DeleteOr at least extend into the fall season.
DeleteMaybe Erbil?
DeleteI think Yerevan is a must due to many Iranians using it in this situation.
DeleteMy guess is that Cairo will be added.
ReplyDeleteI really hope so. It would be a good addition for P2P and transfers. They could even operate it with the Embraers.
DeleteHonestly I would prefer if Egypt Air started that one.
Delete+1
DeleteTLV is getting back for sure
DeleteWith the situation in the Middle East, TLV is definitely not returning anytime soon.
DeleteInteresting that he mentions Central Asia. Could a route to there be coming soon? And to where exactly?
ReplyDeleteAlmaty or Tashkent I would guess
DeleteLet the guessing games begin...again
DeleteWell I think for central Asia it is interesting to guess because I honestly don't see obvious choices.
DeleteNot sure where we would consider Yerevan, but it makes sense to add it as well. Kazakhstan and other Stans are tricky for the sector length. Those flights take a plane for a half of day or more
DeleteFor Yerevan it already seems to be a done deal. There was an article about a month ago where they confirmed Yerevan is next in the Caucuses but I don't think they consider it as central Asia.
DeleteThey have already said Yerevan will soon enough be launched so that would be a safe bet. The stans are very tricky given the flight times and the relatively low point to point demand. I can seriously see JU making more money on a flight to Gran Canaria. But who knows.
DeleteWell, Central Asia makes sense now, since there are enough planes in the fleet. And In the winter there will be extra spare capacity, when no charters.
DeleteAnd A 220 proves that they should not retire A319. It’s capacity is proving right. They should have better left 2 A319 in the fleet instead of taking 2 A220 wetleased. Fuel consumption difference can not redeem wetlease price difference for sure
Well, they still have A319's. The reality is the fuel difference between A319 and A320 is minimal, hence it makes no sense for them on the long term.
DeleteLOT used to fly to Caucasus for ages with the Embraers.
With your logic, fuel consumption difference between A320 and A321 is also minimal, so let’s change everything to A321
DeleteAsk yourself why almost nobody is ordering a319, neo or not, instead of trying to be smart.
DeleteBtw very surprised that today Air Serbia is sending A320 to destinations such as Istanbul, Lisbon, also Tbilisi a few days ago...
DeleteCentral Asia is pretty much stretching the limits of their narrowbodies. For comparison, Samarakand is just slightly further than DXB (~20km), Tashkent more (~130km). NQZ is pretty much the same distance from BEG as is DXB.
Delete@09:17
A319's are staying for quite a few more years to come however in smaller numbers. 3 purchased A319's are there to keep JU's Serbian AOC as a minimum of 2 owned and not leased aircraft is a minimum for maintaining a Serbian AOC. Their age allows them the flexibility with the fleet the B737's provided until retirement. Other than that, the A320 does all what they need and more at similar operating expenses however costs are spread out over more seats which is why airlines across the world prefer it over the A319.
A220 leases allows them to test the aircraft and it's features (Starlink internet for example) at a decent price compared to the A320's provided by Getjet. JU will definitely go for new aircraft at some point sooner or later so it's good that they have real time statistics before making that investment.
@10:08
DeleteThat's not true, of course. A319 have considerably less consumption that A320, as well as A320 than A321. Lufthansa and many other legacy carriers are still utilising A319 regularly, which means that plane have its economics. Buying new A319 NEO have problem with the price. Price of A319 is very similar to a price of A320. This way Airbus is promoting A320 production.
It will be interesting to see. Honestly I would not have thought something like Tromso could be launched in the past so I think anything could be at play with them in general. Would Reykjavik make any sense? Even as winter seasonal in 2027/28?
ReplyDeleteFanqtically expensive destination. This would essentially be a charter flight. I doubt it would work, but then again Tromso is probably the most left-field route they've openend. Lets see how it matures.
DeleteWhat would be the flight time for Belgrade-Reykjavik?
Delete5hours 15
DeleteThanks. That would be a very long rotation. Over 10 hours in the air, plus around an hour in KEF.
DeleteWizzair can comand prices of over 450euros return for Budapest-Keflavik during the summer. But i suspect its an element of Icelanders coming to Europe and wealthy Hungarians going there. I've seen Serbs and Croats on Iceland as tourists but connecting via Germany or Copenhagen is very easy.
Delete@09:22 its similar to Tenerife. If they did it (and i doubt it) they can have the crew sleep the night and fly the next day back. Its not very efficient but very workable.
DeleteDistance wise Iceland it's the same as Tenerife from BEG 3600km, but there is way more interest in flying to Tenerife on Serbian market then freezing, sorry flying to Iceland. + Iceland is way too expensive for average Serbian traveller, while Tenerife is cheaper then Serbia.
DeleteI would assume Tromso and Iceland would be similar price wise.
DeleteThere is huge Balkan diaspora in Norway, unlike Iceland. So Tromso makes sense.
DeleteHuge is a very relative thing here. Its not 'huge' especially in the north.
DeleteCould be some opportunities, if what the CFO of Ryanair suggested plays out and many carriers in Europe have big reductions in capacity over the winter period.
ReplyDeleteWe need more long haul destinations in winter from Belgrade: Miami, Bangkok, Maledives, Havana, etc.
ReplyDeleteDo you?
DeleteWhy stop there, Caracas, SF, Ponta delgada, Cape town..
DeleteBe real, no agency would go for expensive JU semi product when they can block premium product at Turkish or Qatar for lower price..
@09:46 don't you follow situation development over Gulf region? Again bombing...Would you go on vacation via Doha?
DeleteBangkok should be launched as seasonal this winter..High ticket prices in the last few years and Middle East carriers out of the game can give an advantage for European carriers...Yield is not low any more on that route...Air Serbia has 2 extra planes doing nothing during winter anyways..
Delete9:46 don't forget Lagos :)))
DeleteOh yes!!!! Via Addis.
DeleteFolks brag about Gulf situation, meanwhile Qatar flies regularly. Manga, Jungletribe, Globetrecker, etc are ones to mention that use either Turkish or Qatar on weekly basis.
DeleteJU is expensive for BKK. Period
@16:31 I didn`t know Air Serbia started selling tickets for BKK? Tourists don`t go to Thailand just with agencies anyways...Tourist group in Jungle or Manga is usually around 12-15 pax...They have no more than 80 rotations each per year to Thailand, including those circular trips that combine 3-4 countries in neighborhood...So around 200-220 tours with 15 pax is around 3000 people in total. We had 13000 visas issued for Thailand only in Embassy in Athens..
DeleteHow manny of those 40 aircrafts are wet leased?
ReplyDelete4 embraers from Bulgaia air?
2 A220 from Baltic,
and what else?
This allows them real flexibility of operation and has proven really good for their bottom line.
Delete4 E190s from Bulgaria Air and 4 A220-300s from Air Baltic.
DeleteI would rather them focus on having their own planes and not foreign ones.
Deletewould you indeed?
DeleteThere was an GetJet A320 flying for AS a few days ago.
Delete^ it was just short term until the A320s arrived which they have. They have 8 wet leased planes in total - 4 from Bulgaria Air and 4 from Air Baltic. They have 32 of their own aircraft.
DeleteThey should consider regional routes as well and not only medium-haul routes. Romania absolutely deserves more attention. Cluj is a destination that would fit well into Air Serbia's network and the ATR is the perfect plane for that route.
ReplyDeleteNot just Cluj but Kosice, Chisinau or Iasi, Lublin, many places actually to look at...
DeleteOh good morning Cluj! Welcome
DeleteIts been a while..but he's back
DeleteThe Cluj metropolitan area has a population of over 420.000 people and it is one of the most important business, industrial, academic, and cultural centers in Romania. The destination has potential.
DeleteDon't forget sports. Cluj has a basketball team that competes in the ABA League with other teams from ex-YU, Austria, and Romania. That alone will generate some passengers on the route.
DeleteIasi can also work
DeleteFew thousands people from Serbia visit St Petka relics every year
LO thrives in secondary Romanian airports, why wouldn't JU?
DeleteMore transfer routes like Cluj are needed in the region. It's long overdue.
Deletebroken record observations.
DeleteAlthough CLJ is served by some legacy carriers such as LO, TK, and LH I still believe that there is room for JU on the market.
DeleteOf course. Only one JU hater oppose any possible new route for Air Serbia. Don't bother with him.
DeleteEspecially that JU would use the Atr.
Delete@17:04 pointing out that Romania is not really a very workable market for JU does not make one a hater. But clearly you are a bit obsessive. Calm down. Literally its not cool.
DeleteDubrovnik should also be extended into winter, but it's not official yet
ReplyDeleteCould the staff of this forum possibly provide occupancy data for regional, medium, and long-haul flights (for the first three months) of AirSerbia?
ReplyDeleteEx-Yu is a one man show.
DeleteYerevan is no brainer, only missing piece in successful Caucasus expansion.
ReplyDeleteBEG has so much potential in launching new routes all around Europe. Even though the network is pretty good, but countries like the UK (Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham), Ireland (Dublin), France (Bordeaux, Nantes), Poland (Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan), Romania (Cluj Napoca, Iasi), Finland (Helsinki), Spain (Bilbao, Zaragoza, Ibiza), Italy (Lamezia Terme, Turin), Moldova (Chisinau), Portugal (Faro, Madeira) are still underserved in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why many of them are not workable.
DeleteNo demand for any of these.
DeleteThey've tried to launch Ibiza the past 2 summers but getting appropriate slots is an issue. JMK last year and JTR this year were the back up destinations.
DeleteMAN was apparently short listed just before the pandemic and a slot request for 3 pw was submitted for summer 2019. MAN is currently BEG's busiest unserved European route at roughly 10.000 O&D pax. JU have started a few routes with less demand. Anything more in the UK would need visa free access for Serbian passport holders as well as increased frequencies on the regional routes.
France outside of CDG and NCE hasn't gone well for JU. MRS failed big, LYS did well but seems like not enough for JU.
I'm surprised HEL didn't return this year now that the Ejets are a larger presence in the fleet.
Helsinki is the most reasonable on that trawl of European airports. Zaragoza? I mean nope..
DeleteI think all airports in the proximity of Ukrainian border would make sense. Especially ones within ATR reach. Chisinau, Iasi, Debrecen, Kosice, Lublin, Rzeszow, Bialystok take a lot of transfers.
DeleteI am not sure why Finair did not start HEL-BEG. The codeshare on the route would be perfect
Delete@17:12 Białystok has no airport. Whilst this list of cities seems fun its just not workable that JU operate to places like Drebrecen. Just because cities with airports exist does NOT mean Air Serbia can attract sufficient transfer passengers to make routes work. Get a grip. Its rather cute you list this airports with such zeal but it will be unlikely that JU ever fly to places like Lublin or Rzeszów.
DeleteChišinău - strongest contender on Cluj-boy's list.
DeleteKošice - marginal chance of working given its a short distance.
Cluj- weak case, tiny demand and dominated by carriers to places romanians actually what to go (which is not Belgrade tbh)
Lublin/Rzeszów totally unviable and markets dominated by LOT.
Maybe Gran Canaria, Maldives, Bangkok? Balkan people love to travel
ReplyDeleteHeathrow route is so expensive. Still going with Wizz via Luton.
ReplyDeleteOcassionally one finds deals into Heathrow. But I find KLM often offer better prices if one is willing to transit.
DeleteYou will find that due to the Aviation fuel prices rising again, like all major Airlines, Air Serbia will be forced to cancel flights later in the year, especially now with their new ageing Airbus A320's that they have just taken delivery of. They are very thirsty Aircraft!
ReplyDeleteI remember when earlier this year you wrote how massive Air Serbia "route cuts" were around the corner and that they would decimate their network like other airlines. Unfortunately for you, it just neverr happened.
DeleteWe are all finding out nothing after 6 months of your expectations and annoucements. Just keep on hoping and praying.
DeleteWhy do you speak as if you know who Anon comments are from? Its weird.
DeleteThe airline should bring back some destinations it has dropped over the years like Helsinki and Cairo
ReplyDeleteEntire Middle Eastern network was dropped. Even at the start of Air Serbia flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv for used for generating transfer traffic. Caucusus have showed them that JU is big enough to go into untapped markets and get positive results. I think it is truly the time to go back to TLV and CAI. As long as Aegean keeps flying to TLV so can JU.
DeleteInteresting that Marek specifically mentioned Europe and Central Asia but not long-haul. Perhaps the new winter long-haul destination isn't ready to be announced yet.
ReplyDeleteIts unlikey there will be one.
DeleteThe Embraer fleet has probably been the smartest investment Air Serbia has made. It allows them to serve markets that an A320 simply couldn't support year-round.
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion : a wet leased airplane no matter if it's all white or not can not be consindered a part of your fleet .
ReplyDeleteIt is part of your fleet becauwe you are developing your network with them.
DeleteAnon 14:40 , technically not .
DeleteWell you are.
DeleteWet leased aircraft operate under JU flight numbers and are, just like everywhere else on this planet, Air Serbia flights operated by another airline. They are not part of the same fleet, but this will hold true in any court in the world: Air Serbia (JU) flights are operated by a total of 40 aircraft, 32 owned/leased, and 8 wet leased.
DeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteDelays are once again significant, almost all flights depart home base with 30- 60 min delays, specially in the second wave. They better sort that out rather than thinking about new expansions since that eats out pure profit in terms of compensation. Needless to say that it hurts reputation as well.
ReplyDeleteLooked at fr24's Europe airport disruption map for both yesterday and today, and Belgrade was not in the Top 10.
DeleteAs for profit, how exactly do you know their compensation "eats out pure profit" and how much of it?
HEL,RMO,CLJ are a must
ReplyDeleteCLJ boy round 2
DeleteDifferent read on this: Air Serbia could be looking at Wizz discontinuing some routes this winter and could, as a result of Wizz retreat, consider additional new routes.
ReplyDeleteWizz isn't really offering much medium haul from BEG, especially not to Central Asia, which is the focus of the article. Something close to medium haul served by Wizz is all already done so by JU (MAD, LHR/LTN, ARN/NYO and ALC) if not recently (ALC) then decades ago (LHR, ARN).
DeleteThe take from the article is that JU is satisfied with recent medium haul additions such as KZN, TBS, GYD and GOJ and intend to launch more such routes. TFS being moved a month earlier furthers this sentiment.