Ryanair will withdraw from the Serbian market during the 2026/27 winter season, which runs from October 25 until March 27 of next year, due to refuelling issues. The low cost carrier has confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News that it will suspend both its Vienna and Malta services to Niš over the winter, despite initially planning to operate the two routes. Ticket sales were discontinued this week. In a statement, the carrier said, "We will regrettably discontinue operations to/from Níš from winter 2026 due to fuel regulatory issues affecting the airport". During the previous winter season, Ryanair operated 314 Niš flights (both directions included) and offered 59.142 seats. Its absence is therefore expected to have a significant impact on Niš Airport.
Niš Airport operator, Airports of Serbia, said, "We are in contact with Ryanair’s management and expect an official response regarding how the situation will develop. In early July, Ryanair warned of fuel supply issues stemming from sanctions imposed on the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS). We believe these problems will be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction”. representatives of Niš Constantine the Great Airport said. The United States sanctioned NIS due to its majority Russian ownership, creating uncertainty over fuel supplies, as the company operates Serbia’s only oil refinery and supplies most of the country’s aviation fuel.
Ryanair entered the Serbian market on September 4, 2016, with the launch of flights between Berlin and Niš. Serbia became the airline’s 32nd country and its third market in the former Yugoslavia at the time, following Croatia and Montenegro. The airline expanded during its first months in Serbia. Flights from Niš to Weeze, Bratislava and Bergamo were introduced between October and November 2016, taking the network to four destinations and eight weekly rotations. Its arrival, alongside Wizz Air’s expansion, transformed Niš Airport, which had handled just 36.200 passengers in 2015. Traffic grew to 124.917 travellers in 2016 and more than doubled to 331.582 in 2017.
Further expansion followed in October 2017 with the introduction of a fifth route, linking Niš with Stockholm Skavsta twice per week. The airport’s highly competitive fee structure, under which airlines were charged just three euros per passenger for handling, landing and passenger services, was central to attracting the carrier. The first network reductions came several years later. Flights to Weeze were discontinued at the start of the 2019 summer season following what Ryanair described as a commercial and operational review. During the same year, the airline added Malta to its network, while a short-lived service from Hahn was scheduled to begin in early 2020. The changes coincided with the Serbian government’s takeover of Niš Airport and the introduction of subsidised Air Serbia flights from the city. Nevertheless, Ryanair remained one of the airport’s principal airlines.
Vienna was introduced in July 2021 as a replacement for Bratislava, while seasonal flights to Corfu were added. The Stockholm service was transferred from Skavsta to the Swedish capital’s main Arlanda Airport following the closure of Ryanair’s Skavsta base. Berlin and Bratislava subsequently disappeared from the network, while Bergamo was discontinued in March 2023. By 2023, Ryanair’s Serbian operations had settled around four routes from Niš: Vienna, Malta, Stockholm and the seasonal service to Corfu.
Ryanair has maintained that Belgrade Airport is too expensive for its business model. In December 2024, the carrier said Belgrade was “not an option” at the time, although it would continue monitoring the market and could reconsider if operations became commercially viable.
how is fuel not an issue for Wizzair?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the price is too expensive for Ryanair.
DeleteDifferent airlines have different levels of willingness to put up with inconveniences. Ryanair puts up with all sorts of problems in markets where it makes lots of money.
DeletePossibly different fuel hedging strategies?
DeleteVáradi is more than happy to treat Michael O'Leary's market cuts like a personal buffet
DeleteNot good
ReplyDeleteBravo BEG!!! Trash to the trash bin...
DeleteGood riddance Ryan
What a silly comment. Totally silly and usless.
DeleteIs that something related to NIS? Didn't BEG manage to resolve it somehow, why can't such model be applied to INI as well?
ReplyDeleteYes I assume it's related to NIS. I guess there is no other provider in INI. In BEG they did something where Air Serbia registered a company and started providing fuel I believe. In INI it probably isn't a priority.
Deletebut then what about Swiss and Wizzair?
DeleteNo, they were offered to go through an intermediary but they refused.
Deleteim buying this fuel story as fifty-fifty
Delete^ I don't think there is a reason for Ryanair to fabricate it. If it was any other reason, especially prices or being pushed out by the government they would scream at the top of their lungs.
Deleteit remains a mistery why only FR is affected by this
DeleteLike someone said above
Delete"Different airlines have different levels of willingness to put up with inconveniences."
its probably the second line from that post
DeleteBecause going through an intermediary costs more and FR doesn't want to pay up. They can probably serve INI via SOF
Deletehow come this become an issue after a year working in this specific conditions.
Deletefr is master (and that's why they are so successfully) in getting best deal for them, so i see this as one step in negotiations
That’s a pure lie. They don’t need to take fuel at INI at all, if that’s the problem. Actually they don’t, since their turnaround time is 25 minutes
DeleteLot of people here don't seem to understand how refuelling works, when you get it and why. Regardless of if you can get it elsewhere or not.
DeleteWell if you told us it would make the most meaningful post today. So please go ahead!
DeleteA 25 minute turnaround does not mean the aircraft is not refuelled. Ryanair itself lists refuelling among the activities carried out during its standard turnaround. While an aircraft may carry enough fuel for the return sector on some rotations, this depends on the route, payload, weather and required reserves and is not always operationally or economically practical. Ryanair aircraft do take on fuel at Niš when required so the turnaround time does not disprove the airline’s explanation. Ryanair’s own annual report explicitly describes aircraft being fuelled within its 25 minute turnaround.
DeleteRyanair could theoretically load enough fuel in Vienna or Malta to operate both sectors but the additional weight increases consumption and may restrict passengers or baggage, especially from Malta. Weather, delays, diversions and mandatory reserves also affect requirements. It may not refuel at Niš on every flight but you must have access to fuel for the operation in Nis too.
EU banned carrying fuel for the flight back because it hurts the environment. FR has to refuel in INI.
DeleteThey probably realized NIS saga will last.
No it didn't, I carry fuel 40-50% of the time because my airline manages to find good deals. Green my ass, as long as they're making money they don't care. That being said, they do a monthly review of how much was carried and where, and decide on actions next month - where can you carry it and to what extent. That's all. Also, to the guy above talking about 25 minute turnarounds and no refueling, buddy you have no idea what you're talking about.
DeletePlease dude, fairytales are one the second floor.
Delete@Anon 14:48: Look up ReFuelEU:
Delete"Aircraft operators departing from EU airports must refuel with the aviation fuel necessary to operate the flight. This avoids the excessive emissions related to extra weight and minimises the risks of carbon leakage caused by so-called ‘tankering’ practices (article 5)."
Exactly and anyway INI posted a statement saying FR announced this might be a problem last month. They just cut flights without informing them first, typical FR.
Deletethey also shortened the season for ARN for one month
ReplyDeleteThey are also cutting a few destinations from VIE, not just INI. From what I remember NAP, INI & MRS are gone. They are failing in Vienna
DeleteI can't believe they have already been flying for 10 years to INI. Gosh. Sad indeed.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if Wizz Air brings back BTS
ReplyDeleteOr if JU opens INI-MLA
DeleteTake the high speed train up to BG and get it.
DeleteHigh speed train to BG?
DeleteLol
DeleteNow Jasmin will jump in with Bright and shiny, and instantly open ZAG-INI and ZAG-MLA, of course with good transfer options both ways, hahahahahaha 😆
ReplyDeleteJasmin is leading the way. Next year, he will make OU so strong, they will buy OU and OS and make them fly A220 on all routes, even INI-BEG. :D
DeleteJasmin is the new Scott Kirby.
I'd rather see JU jump in the opportunity with the E-jets and launch these routes from INI.
DeleteYeah right
Delete^
DeleteIt makes far more sense than OPU launching INI.
What about after March 27?
ReplyDeleteIt will likely depend if a solution is found for the fuel situation.
DeleteJust like from Sarajevo
ReplyDeletebasically they fly only to ZAG this winter. tremendous success nema sta
ReplyDeleteWith the increased fees at ZAG since last month let's wait and see what they do with their winter schedule there.
DeleteI remember how they were bragging that they will become #1.
Delete*Laughs in Wizz Air*
Tremendous success nema šta
DeleteYou are being sarcastic but actually it is a tremendous success. Ryanair doesn't mess about with low-yield markets. That's why it's one of the most profitable airlines in the world.
ah the low yield expert?
Delete11.56 https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/05/ryanair-aims-to-overtake-wizz-air-in-ex.html
DeleteActually, FR is working only with low yields, so please stop playing smart. Their prices are 20-30 eur which is extremely low yield. I sure that TIA is high yield market
DeleteAverage Ryanair fare is just under 50 euros, so if you are seeing 20-30 euro prices then you are in a low-yield market.
DeleteYeah because €50 is high yield lol
DeleteRyanair flies only short flights from Nis, therefore they could buy fuel at an EU airport and not in Nis.
ReplyDeletei think fuel is only an excuse... they probably had mixed results last winter and it didnt pays off with the current circumstances
DeleteNo, the EU forbids carrying fuel for the flight back. It makes the plane heavier so it consumes more lol
DeleteINI is not in EU. Doesn’t apply
DeleteThere is no such rule in the EU either. He was just making it up.
DeleteThere is such a rule, look it up. INI might not be in the EU but VIE is.
DeleteGood opportunity for Air Serbia to launch INI-VIE with an ATR. But they won't care, and the government won't give them subsidies, even though (or precisely because) this route would make commercial sense.
ReplyDeleteIf the route makes commercial sense, why would the GOV subsidise it?
DeleteWhat a shame for the Serbian consumer. Hopefully one day they will return.
ReplyDeleteBeen flying INI VIE for years and this is a major hit for the airport and the surroundings. The planes were full and they had 4 flights a week during the summer. Incompetency of the govt is once again shown.
ReplyDeleteVratice se😂
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Thats how things work
DeleteThis is a major blow for Niš. Almost 60,000 seats disappearing in one winter season will be difficult to replace.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this is genuinely temporary and the two routes return next summer. Vienna in particular is important for southern Serbia.
ReplyDeleteIf the problem concerns fuel regulations rather than demand, there should be a realistic possibility of Ryanair returning once it is resolved.
DeleteIt is remarkable how quickly Niš grew after Ryanair and Wizz Air arrived. The airport cannot afford to lose the airlines that made that growth possible.
ReplyDeleteFuel problem when "the thing" happened on middle east, everybody said fuel will be only for 6weeks. From February until July they changed story to 10 weeks. Now Ryanair leaves NIS thank you SNS, now I will fly from Skopje and Sofia it's a little hassle.
ReplyDeleteThey are leaving because your country does not want to take the stake in NIS from Russia and a considerable majority supports that stance. I can guarantee you that on the streets of Nis at least 70% would say that Russia's stake in Nis should not be taken from them. These are the consequences of that. Perhaps one day Pobeda will fly from Nis.
DeleteRyanair is very open and would openly say if something else was the problem rather than fuel.
DeleteW6 has no problem using the intermediary so they will most likely increase flights. This is FR being difficult.
DeleteGood for BEG for never wanting them in the first place
First Berlin, Bratislava, Bergamo disappeared, then Stockholm mostly and now Vienna and Malta. Ryanair’s Niš network has gradually been reduced to nothing.
ReplyDeleteBuy buy, you won’t be missed !!!
ReplyDeleteNor will your silly comment. Dont comment such sillyness.
DeletePrevise puno nije dobro…
ReplyDeleteYour move Wizz Air
ReplyDeleteThis will be a huge problem for the government just ahead of the elections. It definitely works in W6's favor, government might be more flexible regarding their base now.
ReplyDeleteEurowings is also reducing flights this winter as shown in other news article today. Winter reductions are commercial, not political.
DeleteYes but during the election campaign anything is used against their opponenta.
Delete..svakoga dana u svakom pogledu sve vise napredujemo......promene ljudi,promene,opet se trziste zatvara,umesto da se otvara..back to 90's
ReplyDeletePa Rajaner je dosao u Srbiju za vreme ove vlasti...
DeleteDon't you know overall August exyu seat capacity is up 7% YoY, while fuel costs went up and geopolitical uncertainty increased?
DeletePerfect timing for JU with Embraer:
ReplyDeleteINI-VIE daily
INI-MLA 3 flights per week
INI-ARN 2 flights per week
INI-BGY daily
RyanAir, putnici su samo teret kopji se sam utovaruje. "Self loading cargo".
ReplyDeleteA rubbis company.
Da nije ovo povezano sa slučajem kada je srbin umalo ispao iz aviona pa sad tuži Ryanair, Boeing i CFM?
ReplyDeleteNarocito...
DeleteIs this anyhow related to the Wizz problem in BEG, the new Directorate regulations on foreign airlines?
ReplyDeleteNo and can't you actually read the first few sentences? Not to mention that Ryanair has no base operations in Serbia.
DeleteVeselje se širi na sve strane...
ReplyDeleteWizz is the next.
ReplyDeleteI wish OS would step in, three weekly with E95.
ReplyDeleteOS is cutting routes and frequencies too.
Delete