Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is on course to welcome more than one million passengers this July, marking the first time it has reached the milestone during the month and only the second occasion it has handled over a million travellers in a single month. The achievement would come despite reduced capacity and weaker demand on Middle Eastern routes caused by the ongoing conflict in the region. The airport requires passenger growth of 2.7% to surpass the one million mark and is expected to achieve this on the back of a 5.9% increase in scheduled seat capacity, barring any unexpected circumstances. Although charter demand has been weaker, particularly on routes to Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, it has begun to recover in recent weeks, with additional charter flights to Egypt being added compared to the original schedule.
This July, Air Serbia will account for the largest increase in capacity in absolute terms, adding 43.416 seats on scheduled services, up 7.5% on last year. The growth will be supported by an additional 420 flights, including return services. Wizz Air will add 37.035 seats, representing an increase of 20.5%, alongside fifty additional flights. Other airlines contributing extra capacity include SCAT Airlines and airBaltic, neither of which was present in the market last July, as well as easyJet, which has introduced services from Paris. This will help make up for reduced operations by the likes of sun D’or, Qatar Airways, Nouvelair, Lufthansa and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the latter having ceased operations since.
Belgrade Airport handled more than one million passengers in a single month for the first time last August, when it welcomed 1.003.934 travellers. The milestone is expected to be reached again this year. During the January - May period, the airport handled more than 3.3 million passengers, while its June traffic results are due to be released next Thursday. However, the airport's performance in the fourth quarter remains uncertain. Its second-largest customer, Wizz Air, has warned it may be forced to close its base in the Serbian capital in November. Although the airline has confirmed it will not withdraw from Belgrade Airport entirely, it has said it would significantly reduce its operations, resulting in fewer flights.
That is good considering the circumstances in the Middle East and Lufthansa reductions.
ReplyDeleteNice
ReplyDeleteIf Wizz Air really scales back from November Q4 numbers could look very different.
ReplyDeleteVery bad indeed
DeleteThe airport's management should be focusing on securing replacement capacity now
DeletePass the popcorn..
DeleteIf Wizz really reduces operations it will be interesting to see whether Air Serbia expands further or another low cost carrier steps in.
Delete'Step in' do you realise its not that easy
DeleteIt was not easy replacing Marathon, yet JU did it within a year
DeleteIt won;t be easy at all tho get people to pay wayyy more for their tickets if all they have as a choice is JU after W6 leaves.So the number of passengers wiill suffer for sure.
DeleteW6 is not leaving. Read the text.
DeleteWe all read the text, they will greatly reduce available seats.
DeleteReducing and leaving are two very different things.
DeleteWizzair was not really cheaper from Basel to BEG. Often was YU around 20% cheaper, that's why many of us chose YU. I am not sure about other destinations.
DeleteJU don't fly to Basel
Delete^ What are you talking about? He flew such route and Ju ticket was cheaper than W6! 😂
DeleteHe probably meant JU from ZRH but JU is many things but cheap ain't one of them
DeleteWell JU does have reasonable fares sometimes just like other carriers sometimes do. JU and W6 compliment themselves well in Belgrade and I want both bases there for healthy competition and diversity. That is good for passenger numbers which is good for Belgrade and Serbia.
DeleteJU can be very cheap and I use them almost monthly. Service is also 3x better then Wizz. Get your tickets on time and you saving huge .
Delete^ Exactly, getting served a plazma biscuit makes all the difference!
DeleteIt's not so much about plazma but when they cancelled my flight from Berlin to Belgrade because of a technical issue with the plane this March I was rebooked for tomorrow morning's flight and was immediately given a hotel booking reservation with breakfast next to Berlin Airport. When Wizz Air cancels your flight, it is tough luck. Find your own way to stay at your destination, find your own alternate transportation.
Delete@13:12 in regards the service all I can say is LoL. But i agree that JU isn't always expensive, and sometimes it has really nice deals - furthermore its network is good. But that does not mean Wizzair must be driven out of town. Quite the opposite. It means the airport needs two strong airlines based there.
DeleteUnlike JU LCC airlines because they have very young fleets rarely experience technical issues serious enough to cancel a flight.
DeleteAnd soon W6 will be offering free Starlink internet on board.
In the 21st century that s far more important to passengers than a biscuit or a bag of peanuts.
I don't know if you are their ambassador but I'm allowed to have a different opinion than you. Wizz Air has had its fare share of technical issues and problems in Belgrade and they are known for bussing people instead when something like that happens.
DeleteW6 is always late. Widely recognized as a worst European airline.
DeleteThe Middle East conflict has clearly had an impact but the airport is still breaking records. That's encouraging.
ReplyDeleteWhat reductions did LH have in July?
ReplyDeleteJuly is yet to come. They have reduced Munich. It has been reported before
DeleteLast paragraph
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2026/05/lufthansa-suspends-skopje-service-for.html
When will the June numbers be published?
ReplyDeleteIf you read the article you could find out.
DeleteNo need to be bitchy, it will happen next week
DeleteIt's not bitchy at all. Just read the text. Is it difficult? It is not that long. It even says the day.
DeleteUnfortunately those that don't even read the articles are the first to comment.
DeleteI am guessing June will be over a million from next year too.
ReplyDeleteNot if you know what happens
DeleteNot if the government succeeds in driving away W6 in order to protect JU.
DeleteGovernment wants W6 to comply with the laws. If they want them out, they would just add passenger tax as per Bosnian recipe. W6 would withdraw in a day
DeleteEven if Wizz scales back, I don't think all that demand will disappear. Other airlines will eventually fill at least part of the gap.
ReplyDelete^ Wishful thinking is a great thing. But a view without basis
DeleteSame like W6 withdrawal.
DeleteLooking at the capacity figures, Air Serbia and Wizz together account for the overwhelming majority of the growth.
ReplyDeleteWell unless an outfit such as Easyjet or Ryanair decide Belgrade is the place for them its going to be slim pickings with new airlines.
DeleteEvery year someone says growth will level off and every year the airport surprises everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think more like disappoint them
DeleteThe real milestone will be consistently exceeding one million passengers every month during the summer season.
ReplyDeleteThat looks very realistic and possible for the coming years as long as Wizzair remains.
DeleteThe airport should attract more long haul airlines
ReplyDeleteI remember when 500,000 passengers in a month was considered a fantastic result. Times have certainly changed.
ReplyDeleteI remember when the airport dreamed of that! Yep times have changed.
DeleteThe Wizz situation is becoming a cloud hanging over every positive traffic story.
ReplyDeleteWell that is GOS' fault not wizzair
DeleteOne million passengers despite Middle East issues is an impressive achievement.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is not accurate! We learnt here from W6 bot that all BEG growth comes from incredible and indispensable Wizz air, wich is “growing “ 20% (TWENTY!) this year. So how’s possible that JU is adding more seats than this aviation giant??
ReplyDeleteWell they are growing 20%.
DeleteWell you could read herr that this year JU grew by just 2.9% so most growth at BEG was not generated by them
DeleteHow has it not been generated by them? They had growth, so they are generating growth. Do you understand the concept?
Deletehe’s incapable to understand that 7% of 4,5 million is bigger than 20% of 1,5 million. And that doesn’t fit in his narrative.
DeleteYou do realize that 7% is capacity, not passenger growth so it makes no sense to link it to 4.5 million. So far this year, JU contributed 2.9% GROWTH at BEG.
DeleteWizz Air is the real engine of growth this year. Also in the 10.19 it says: ...so most growth...
MOST, MOST is the key word. Please read more carefully. Ok?
Actually, sorry it's less than 2.9% because that number includes growth at KVO and INI as well. It's probably 2.7% to 2.8% at BEG.
DeleteBut you have no clue how many passengers Wizz Air added in Belgrade. You only have capacity.
DeleteWe can guess by their, on average, overall high LF.
DeleteBut you don't know their average load factor in Belgrade either.
DeleteJust like you don't know JU's but that's not stopping you from defending them so what gives? Why the double standards?
DeleteI know how many passengers they had, showing they certainly contributed to BEG's growth contrary to your claims.
DeleteYou have their overall numbers which include INI and KVO
DeleteAnd you have nothing for Wizz Air. 0.
DeleteI have their capacity in BEG and their average LF. So a bit more than you for JU my friend.
DeleteYou do not have their average load factor in Belgrade so do not make things up.
DeleteYet their 20% capacity increase in Belgrade is still less added seats than Air Serbia's 5%
As for the wizz 'replacement', JU starting (quasi) low cost flights, resembling those it had launched from Niš, comes to mind. Maybe even under Aviolet, Aeroput or some other 'low cost' brand.
ReplyDeleteThat would actually help avoiding largescale capacity reductions, which are not needed neither to Vinci, nor to the state (Expo).
I thought about this too. Maybe start an LCC subsidiary. I doubt they will but it's an idea.
Delete"Elevate Airlines" :D
DeleteJU does not have that kind of cash. Do you realise what is required to buy the ultra modern aircraft (738/A320neo) needed to efficiently run an LCC? It would ruin Air Serbia very rapidly to try such a thing.
Delete^ But JU is profitable and like any other airline on the planet won't have to pay cash for purchasing aircraft but instead lease them or pay a bank loan for them.
DeleteAnd with the proceeds of operating these aircraft pay the lease rates or the bank loan payments.
^ JU is not that profitable that it could lease the kinds of aircraft the likes of FR, U2 and W6 do. So if you think diverting funds to some shoddy LCC-knock off just so they can launch Malmo and Basel is a good idea i suggest you email them. Because its not a good idea, and therefore will never occur. JU found its place and is doing well. LCC in Belgrade is Wizzair's spot and long may it last.
Delete1.1 million is likely in August.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope some solution is reached with Wizz.
ReplyDeleteLooking unlikely
DeleteSolution is easy. W6 should apply to W7 Serbian AOC. If they fulfill all requirements, they may base planes at BEG
DeleteNeither W6 nor FR have local AOCs in Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Georgia, Morocco or Armenia.
DeleteThe only reason we are in this situation is because contrary to the PR by JU they can not really compete with Wizz.
@11:29 there he is again.
Delete@Anon 11:35
DeleteAlso Moldova, Norway, Iceland and the UK are very welcoming to foreign airlines establishing a base and offering more capacity.
We seem to be going the other way from the rest of Europe.
Actually the UK required all airlines to register a local AOC if they wanted to keep their bases after the UK left the EU.
DeleteAnd do you really think that the significance of UK is for LCC's the same like for Serbia?
DeleteSome people really need reality check.
I simply corrected one of your falsehoods which you are prone to making. Nothing else.
DeleteSo no answer about significance.
DeleteExpected.
There is nothing to answer. I didn't argue that Serbia is more significant that the UK. I simply stated you made a false statement in regards to LCCs in the UK.
Delete@12:25 why are you always lying? EU airlines can base their aircraft in UK but can only fly to EU. No need for local AOC.
Delete@13:00
DeleteExactly, they only need a UK AOC in order to fly to places like Turkey, Tunisia, Israel, Egypt etc.
Congratulations
ReplyDeleteAnd still - cafes, restaurants and new Air Serbia businesses class lounge are behind “work in progress” canvases. For more than 4 years. Waiting for usage permits. Mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
DeleteYeah its really symptomatic of the wider situation in the country and the lack of care shown by Vinci and the lack of accountability all round.
DeleteSome indications point to some Fire Safety dept at Ministry of Interior, responsible for issuing operating permits related to fire safety. Not sure if true, but apparently they are refusing to allow some foreign solutions. There have been mentions of regulations change that would allow those solutions when accompanied by additional documents.
DeleteWith more than a million passengers now passing through in a month, the A1 minibus remains one of the primary introductions to our city for inbound tourists. Frankly, I feel this is a letdown, especially since the overall experience at Belgrade Airport has vastly improved. In my frequent travel, navigating both arrivals and departures has been consistently fast and positive. However, forcing passengers into a minibus that becomes comically overcrowded during peak hours is a glaring flaw—and one that could be easily and quickly resolved.
ReplyDeleteTerravision, if you're listening: come to Belgrade! 🚌✈️
Railway will be open a few months and that problem will be solved
DeleteYou have 2 or 3 public transport lines, no need to take A1 if it's fully. Also isn't A1 private?
DeleteA coach between the airport and Trg Republike would be the best means of getting to the city for first time visitors. I'm sure 12:26 is a local? Am i right? I can assure you for first time arrivals the impression on the (often extremely crowded) buses and the A1 is a poor one.
DeleteRoute 72 is horrible. Too many stops, overcrowded and not enough frequencies. Moving the terminus from Zeleni venac to Republic Square would make the experience of using the line alot better.
Delete@12:26
The railway doesn't stop in the city centre while not much has been done in the almost 20 years of the reintroduction of BG:voz to adequately connect it with various bus lines. Im not convinced that this will suddenly change once the new line is complete.
@12:49 i agree the 72 isn't much fun. My point however is that introducing a coach transfer or at least larger bus (without standing) is extremely cheap to do either via private tender of the city government. And yet has not been done because those in power have not the slightest intention of fighting their way on the A1 at 23:00 during the summer heat.
DeleteThey are getting some new double-articulated buses for Expo. If the city authorities were smart they would just add some luggage racks and prolong the A1 line to 25. maj via Terazije, Trg Republike and Studentski Trg. By adding these extra few stops the line would pass by at least 30 hotels.
Delete860I is the closest to a larger bus that goes within the vicinity of the airport (Robni terminal) starting at BAS. 860MV also used to do a similar route before being rerouted.
DeleteLine 72 is perfectly fine. It's a free ride to the city center. You can always pay a taxi if you don't like it.
Delete@17:00 You might think its fine. But it really doesn't say 'welcome to a modern capital on the move'. And yes, most other ExYu capital airports (and I would add Budapest too) have rather rubbish public transport links - but it can be easily improved. IF some real attention was paid to it.
DeleteŠta sam naučio danas: Vizer se neće u potpunosti povući sa aerodroma Beograd. Jedna briga manje.
ReplyDelete