Air Serbia will launch flights from Niš Constantine the Great Airport to Vienna and Malta this coming winter season, following Ryanair’s decision to discontinue both routes due to fuel-related regulatory issues. Services will commence on October 25 and operate twice per week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The new routes will complement Air Serbia’s existing services from the southeastern Serbian city to Belgrade, Cologne, Hahn, Istanbul and Ljubljana, bringing its Niš network to seven destinations. With these additions, Air Serbia will have launched twelve new routes during 2026.
Commenting on the new routes, Air Serbia's CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “We continuously monitor passenger needs and opportunities to further improve our destination network. Through these flights, we want to provide passengers from Niš and the wider region with a reliable and high-quality direct connection to crucial European destinations. As the national airline, we strive to contribute to better connectivity between different parts of Serbia and Europe and to develop our offering in line with market needs. We believe that flights to Vienna and Malta will further contribute to the development of traffic from Niš Constantine the Great Airport".
The new service to Vienna will be maintained in the mornings with the ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft. Further flight details are available here. Similarly, the airline will have morning departures to Malta, on which it will deploy the Airbus A319 jet, with additional flight information here. With these additions, Air Serbia will maintain sixteen weekly services from Niš during the 2026/27 winter season. It will offer 6.912 seats on its Niš operations each week, which will put it well ahead of the airport's only other regular winter operator, Wizz Air, if existing schedules remain unchanged.
That was quick!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!! Great news!! Hopefully more routes follow!
DeleteI have no idea who would fly to Malta in the winter?? For Cyprus I would guess someone, but Malta...?
DeleteThere is a large Serbian diaspora in Malta and most are from the Nis region. That is why there are flights between Malta and Nis in the first place.
DeleteRegardless, Malta is very nice in the winter and is very affordable.
Remember there are also year round Air Serbia and Wizz Air flights to Malta from Belgrade.
Bravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸 for taking action in seconds, ATR 72 from VIE is perfect fit and a319 to Malta
DeleteYep. Malta has a large degree of migratant workers from the south. Makes perfect sense to maintin thr link.
DeleteUnless they are 50 eur return trip no thanks, they can go to hell. Ill spend my money in Sofia and wont support monopolists.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mindset lol
DeleteInstead of being happy that your airport keeps two routes it would loose because of Ryanair's decision, you are angry
DeleteChasing out a low cost carrier for a national monopolist with overpriced tickets and i should cheer them?
Delete^ how did they chase them out exactly? How do they have anything to do with fuel at Nis Airport. You really need a reality check.
DeleteDude Air Serbia is selling Nis-Vienna for 1900 dinars one way. 16 euros! Get a grip.
DeleteVienna route is selling for 22€ one way and Malta is selling for 25€ one way, so there's that...
DeleteRyanair to VIE wasn't cheap either
DeleteThey had two years to fix the fuelinf issue, but no they waited. As i said if the tickets are like FRs and cost 20 eur one way ill have no probs flying. If they plan to fly us on atrs for 250 eur il rather spend my money in Sof or Skp, then support monopolist practice in 21st cenutry.
DeleteYou do realize that the fuel issue is not with INI but it was due to Trump's sanctions?
DeleteYou know what, don't fly from INI go to SOF and SKP just stop crying why INI doesn't have more flights. Also FR was selling like 5 seats at €20. Most return flights were around €100.
Haha, nislija na aparatima!
DeleteThey found the solution through an intermidiory like in BEG. Ryanair rejcted it. What else do you want them to do?
DeleteHahaha my thoughts exactly. He must be having a stroke right now.
DeleteIf Swiss and Wizz Air don't mind the intermediary then Ryanair can leave.
DeleteWhat a stupidity
Delete??? Only trip to Sofia cost more than 50 euros. But, what to expect from classic domestic haters
> wont support monopolists
DeleteWell, before that Ryanair was the monopolist on these routes.
@ 11:22
Delete+1
But he support foreign monopolist and hate domestic ones
DeleteWow . What a terrible mindest. AirSerbia is not a low cost carrier. It’s important to have Niš connectins and not Sofia (another country). Reasonable pricing yes! I am all for Niš and Air Serbia.
DeleteI find it funny that someone thinks Ryanair was chased out. Airlines in Serbia are facing an issue with NIS for over a year now. The state has managed to offer an alternative through an intermediary but at the end of the day the fuel comes from the same source so some airlines don't want to keep doing that and risk their entire business. Even in BEG there are issues with several airlines not refuelling because of this (KLM, Norwegian...). Transavia cancelled plans to launch BEG because of this. It's an ongoing issue that won't be resolved until the situation with NIS is resolved.
DeleteRyanair would make it known if they were chased out by the state. They don't hide something like that and are very vocal and make noise.
KL & DY are refuelling now in BEG
Delete@anon 12.23
DeleteYou're explaining in vain, these are people that think in binary terms, no better than their political opponents. They want easily digestible headlines such as "Air Serbia chases Ryanair out of Niš" and that's that.
^ well easily digestable headlines are what fuels media nowadays on all levels.
DeleteHeadlines are not a problem. People unable to see through them, find the actual facts presented here and adjust own opinion based on them, are the problem. Easier for many to reject the truth and simply continue with existing bias and prejudice.
DeleteWizz Air being chased out of BEG because laws were suddenly decided to be followed after many years does certainly not help the bias and prejudices.
DeleteHow about EU law about hand luggage for LCC changed overnight after 17 years? They can not charge your small suitcases any more. EU is even worse than Serbian government!
Delete@14:31 But the reality you are rejecting is that Wizz is not leaving Belgrade at all, even they mentioned it. It will be confirmed as the fact in the coming period, but you will continue to reject the reality and live in own bias and prejudice. Sad
DeleteMonopolies are a problem. But to not see that the way Ryanair is behaving (and has been behaving since their day one) is much worse - that's intentional blindness. They just extort, want something for nothing, constant bullying, give us X or else we leave. If everyone told them to leave, that would be the end of them. Good riddance. Now, competition is good. Let JU figure it out in a competition with LX, or with OS, or with any other airline that pays the fees. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. In this case, they are simply calling Ryanair's bluff. Ryanair will be back next summer as bullies always do after their bluff is called.
Delete@14:35 Yes, they are charging you for small suitcase, I traveled few weeks ago with LCC, and have bought some tickets for November, paid for small suitcase every time
DeleteTickets on low-cost rate will be for a period of time. After will see triple digits prices. Same pattern as NIS - TIVAT flight on the first summer.
DeleteNow I can get frequent flyer points for Nis to Vienna! YES!
DeleteGood thing is that Nis will not loose connectivity.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. This is what Marek has been saying for ages, always on the lookout for new opportunities. This one came out of nowhere and there were ready. INI stays connected to Vienna and Malta.
DeleteThis is why Air Serbia is a success story, while Croatia Airlines isn't. Hats off from your neighbors!
ReplyDeleteYes, Croatia also says we’ll kick out foreign airlines so our state project can be the only option to travel.
DeleteWell OU did cry when FR launched ZAG.
DeleteNo what Croatia is doing is puting a PSO on a route that is fully booked and produces 200k pax a year
DeleteNis and Osijek are about the same size so OU has no excuse.
Delete@11:19
DeleteIn the summer, they can't guarantee regular flights from Zadar, Rijeka, and Pula without Munich. Here they should be attracting people, not just Split/Dubrovnik/Zagreb
11.06
DeleteAnother one from Croatia here, with hat off and big bow for Air Serbia, which grew to respectable and profitable company over short period of time, while Croatia Airlines, on much bigger market due to touristic travel, remains being humiliated midget and shameful feeder with multimillion losses every year
@PIR, it really is sad that country with that much passeneger cant be sustainable. It should be an easy money for them
Deleteturists *** :=)
DeleteGoing after Wizz and Ryanair...could we see JU set up a LCC soon?
ReplyDeleteNo. We could not
Deletewell the price to malta is 20€ one way, that's pretty lcc to me
DeleteIndeed. They will not establish an LCC branch, it would be a huge mistake abd costly.
DeleteIt might be more costly flying LCC routes with no LCC branch.
DeleteGoing just as planned. Next victim is Wizz
ReplyDeleteYou are implying JU encouraged Trump to put sanctions on NIS so that FR is forced to buy fuel through an intermediary? That's a stretch.
DeleteNo, you are next victim, than comes Wizz
DeleteJust ordinary blocked mind
DeleteLet's see if Wizz Air responds with BTS-INI.
ReplyDeleteDoes this means more BEG INI weekly frequenies?
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm thinking about is that if they open another route, maybe two, they could station wet leased E190 there...
DeleteRight now they have 12 rotations pw and 4 more to BEG. They probably need to double it to make stationing the plane viable.
DeleteI don't think they have enough planes for INI base
DeleteOne ATR stationed in INI should be something they could think about in my opinion. They can fly VIE daily, there is demand. FR had 5 weekly flights with a way bigger airplane.
DeleteThey wouldnt want to undercut themselves too much. So daily seems overkill.
DeleteGood additions and fast market response. But I also wish that there's a proper connection to the actual hub, not only ferry flights. Daily BEG-INI flights during the 13:00-16:00 wave would make sense.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia is an agile company that is quick to take advantage of changes in the competitive landscape. Bravo Air Serbia!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteTypical pozdrav. If this happened in Croatia he would start whining about how the evil state is protecting OU.
DeleteNo he would not. What a silly comment
DeleteLmao
ReplyDeleteFR will be back. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeletethey will not. They will not be allowed to laiunch the same routes (see Hahn)
DeleteThey'll be back. They are the airline that will outlive all others.
DeleteThey were not allowed to launch Hahn because JU has PSO on it. These two routes (VIE and MLA) are not PSO and anybody can launch them as well.
Deletethey sure love competition (see Belgrade)
DeleteWhy not see Zagreb? I don't see Ryan inviting competition from Wizz at that airport?
Deletei dont see that they are forcing to RyanIr to close their base there
DeleteToo bad there is no additional one, since the plane is already in Niš these days.
ReplyDeleteThere will likely be more if Wizz ends its routes from INI too.
DeleteI wrote this before it was updated that it will be two different planes. Anyway, my point was more to add more routes instead of just replacing the lost one. The same would be if Wizz goes. Hope not, because we had before only JU flying from Niš, until they don't.
DeleteI would much rather Niš had a large Ryanair presence, but if not having JU is fine. Its not about supporting domestic/foreign. People who view things like that are usually fools. But it is about supporting maximum connectivity. So JU responding fast is a good sign of the company's health and abilities.
ReplyDeleteBetter something than nothing.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe fares they are offering on these routes at the moment are dirt cheap. I really can't believe it. They are cheaper than Ryanair.
ReplyDeleteNo, Nišlije are writing on various portals that prices are 10x more expensive.
DeleteBravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteTo Vienna it is 2 ATR weekly flights instead of 3-4 A320 flights? That's quite a downgrade in capacity.
ReplyDeleteBetter than zero, no?
DeleteIf there is a demand, they will rise the frequencies, right? They like earning money
DeleteThey will not earn money on these flights.
DeleteNot completly true. Of course its better with FR or wizz but i think JU can make some money with this too.
DeleteHope to see more new routes from INI. This is pathetic to just replace some routes. Nislije deserves more connectivity
ReplyDeleteYou would have been happier if the routes were not replaced? Seems like it.
DeleteI would be, myself - as a taxpayer, as the lines will be loosing money.
DeleteProvided zero evidence line would be losing money. Taxpayers are not paying for Air Serbia. If you think Nis residents deserve more connectivity, what was the reply from Ryan and Wizz when you asked them to expand?
DeleteIt will burn money. JU operates under hub&spoke model, it is fairly dependant of transfers. I mean, LH does not even fly from Berlin, except to its hubs (Frankfurt and Munich). Low business demand atop of that. It`s a no brainer loss-maker.
Delete@15:05
DeleteI think you are mistken. I think JU trying this makes sense. Times change and if one day FR or whomever come back and they find it doesnt pay thats fine and nothing much lost. Times change and markets change. But JU has flexibility which is key, so i wouldnt be too hasty to declare this.
@12:41 Nišlije don't deserve anything. I read comments on various portals and I've never seen so much hatred. So much spitting at Air Serbia that they didn't even look at the prices.
DeleteAir Serbia rocks!
ReplyDeleteWell its an ok company yeah
Delete12 points goes to AirSerbia!
ReplyDeleteIs it only me who can not click on middle and right side of screen? I can open VIE page, but not MLA
ReplyDeleteWorks fine for me
DeleteSmart and nice. BCN for the next summer.
ReplyDeleteAnd SPU. With no service from Skopje (maybe even Sofia?) and no good slots for more of BEG service, with a mix of tourists, diaspora, seasonal workers, this could be nice short route from INI.
DeleteI doubt highly Split.
Deletemakes no sense
DeleteHats down to JU for reactions in this situations. Same as it was with BEG-MUC flights.
ReplyDeleteIs this PSO
ReplyDeleteNope.
DeleteHow on Earth is this OK with everyone? They are certain to loose money on these flights, as they are way off their business model, and also not PSO.
ReplyDeleteEver heard of dynamic pricing ? :)
DeleteAlso INI-VIE is 23eur, while VIE-INI 65eur - pretty much the same price you had with layover at BEG. Pretty good strategy for fending off bad press at home I'd say
DeleteOT. I flew Beg-Nis on Aug 8th, and there were 36 passengers on the atr72.
ReplyDeleteThats quite good!
DeleteAirSerbia, please launch KGD-INI with Ryanair prices, make Konstantin Veliki Niš a transit aeroport!
ReplyDeleteTransit to where? To Istanbul or Ljubljana?
DeleteNis to Kaliningrad? Now that would be a random lol.
DeleteTo 16:63
DeleteTransit to existing BEG & VIE + maybe AYT, BCN, FCO in the future
Idemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteNo one believed me when I said it haha
ReplyDeleteGood for you.
Delete