Air Serbia’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Boško Rupić, has held discussions at the carrier’s headquarters with the Ambassador of Thailand to Serbia, who is based in Athens, Sathana Kashemsanta Na Ayudhya, as well as with Zoran Djukanović, Thai Honorary Consul in Belgrade. It comes as Thailand seeks the introduction of flights between Belgrade and Bangkok. The Embassy noted, “Among other issues, they discussed the possibility of nonstop flights between Belgrade and Bangkok and/or Phuket by Air Serbia in the near future, which would help expand people-to-people exchanges between the two countries”. Mr Djukanović said that a nonstop flight between the two capitals remains “possible”.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has voiced its support for the route, saying it is ready to work with Air Serbia if it decides to launch flights, as demand for travel between the two countries continues to grow. Last week, the Ambassador and Honorary Consul also met with the Head of the Department for Asia, Australia and the Pacific at Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That meeting again covered the possibility of nonstop flights between the two countries, alongside trade, investment and bilateral agreements.
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| Air Serbia codeshares with Qatar Airways on flights to Bangkok, Bangkok Airport, June 2026 |
Speaking on national broadcaster RTS last week, Mr Rupić said Air Serbia’s plans for 2027 include both new destinations and additional frequencies on existing routes. The carrier is also working to secure additional capacity for the 2027 summer season. The new routes for next year are expected to be revealed this month. Mr Rupić described persistently high fuel prices as one of the biggest challenges facing the aviation industry. He said the cost of jet fuel had begun to decline but remained at an elevated level. Other major challenges include flight punctuality and the failure of infrastructure to keep pace with passenger growth. Mr Rupić noted that airport capacity and air traffic control infrastructure, particularly in Europe, were not expanding at the same rate as the number of passengers and flights.
Air Serbia has identified Montenegro and Spain as two of its strongest-performing markets this year. Mr Rupić said demand for flights to Montenegro had been particularly strong during the summer. “On some days, we had more than ten flights to Montenegro”, Mr Rupić said. He noted that most services were operated by larger Airbus and Embraer aircraft rather than the smaller ATR72s, resulting in a substantial increase in capacity in the market. Spain has also performed strongly and will be served by eight Air Serbia routes this year. The recently launched Tenerife service has recorded load factors of between 85% and 90% for September and October. The airline further expanded its presence in the country yesterday with the launch of two weekly flights to Seville.
JAT Yugoslav Airlines 🤩😍
ReplyDeleteLovely bug, I doubt this software existed in any form when this livery was in use.
DeleteIt certainly did not, however, some employee might still remember old JAT flying with DC10 there...
DeleteLove it haha. It's actually the JAT 1991 logo.
DeleteCroatia airlines will connect Zadar and Munich. The whole winter. Ha!!!
DeleteQuestion : if the tourist authority of Thailand is so interested why they do not bother THAI airlines to do that ?
ReplyDeleteGood question
DeleteI believe the answear is obvious : it is easier to bother a 100% state owned airline than a private one . The shares of Thailand government in THAI airways I think is about 38% so they can not do much for the request from a state organization like the tourist authority of the country.
Delete^ or have you maybe thought the target is to attract passengers from the entire region where Air Serbia has excellent coverege and something Thai can't do. Obviously not.
DeleteThat is actually exactly what the Thai Tourism Authority said. That Air Serbia can link the entire region. That is something Thai can't do.
DeleteCode share is always possible.
DeleteJU to bring the passengers to Belgrade and Thai to fly them to their country.
No, Thai should fly them from Bangkok to Phuket, Krabi, Surat, but also Bali, Vietnam, Singapore, etc
DeleteThese talks are always great. The people talking get to have a nice all expenses paid holiday to some exotic destination and nothing in terms of an actual new route starting ever happens.
ReplyDeleteThe ambassador literally travelled from Athens to Belgrade for the talks.
DeleteFor sure there will be follow up talks in Bangkok.
DeleteNice trip for the ambassador too.
If Serbia is so interested to them they should open Embassy in Belgrade.
DeleteWhy? How many Thai nationals live in the country?
DeleteThere is an Honorary consulate of Thailand in Belgrade, they issue visas for longer stays up to 60 days + 30 days extension in Thailand or you can have 15 days visa on arrival for Serbian pass holders.
DeleteIt is not only for Thai nationals, but for local people too.
DeleteWe see here they want to establish cooperation with Serbia and opening their Embassy would be certainly first step towards it as well as suspending visa regime.
Do you really think that all the countries with Embassies in Belgrade have their nationals living in Serbia? For example Cambodia, Congo, Angola, Ghana, Pakistan, Iraq, Myanmar?
Most of the countries you mentioned are here because of old Yugo era political times.
DeleteThey could have easily gone.
DeleteThey also all have nationals in Serbia, just in very low numbers, apart from increasing numbers from Ghana.
DeleteIt can be said almost for every country of the world.
DeleteIf we look at the success of most leisure routes launched by JU and W6 in recent years, I have no doubt that flights to Thailand would perform well.
DeleteSerbia doesn't have economic ties with Thailand,Diaspora is practically non exsistent,Visa regime on both sides...the number of tourists with serbian passport visiting Thailand is low,under 15000(year 2024),and most of them are our Gastarbeiters from West Europe heading for Thailand from western countries.Direct traffic is minimal.
ReplyDeleteSecond issue is that from Belgrade to Thailand you can fly via Doha,Istanbul and Dubai with numerous frequencies in one day!!Air Serbia cannot match that.
Air Serbia doesn't have any chance in Thailand.Low demand(also from region) and non existent ties with Thailand make this destination impossible for JU.
Air Serbia is far more than a mere transport medium for citizens of Serbia. It has outgrown that model a long time ago. And Serbian tourists are hungry for new and exotic destinations.
DeleteDemand does not always equal profitability.
DeleteI think the Sava waterfront would be an attractive attraction for Thai visitors.
DeleteThere is an Honorary consulate of Thailand in Belgrade, they issue visas for longer stays up to 60 days + 30 days extension in Thailand or you can have 15 days visa on arrival for Serbian pass holders. So visa regime is quite loose. Economic ties with Thailand are irrelevant, it's a prime tourist destination.
Delete9:26
DeleteAnd yet, Bangkok is third unserved long haul destination at BEG. How does that fit in your false analyse?
Here is how false it is:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc4anlInDDM
@09:56 so therefore flight will launch. By your cheap analysis.
DeleteI didn't analyse anything yet, just gave one fact. Your claims about visas, weak demand, gastarbeiters and indirect connections that JU can not match are all ridiculous and false.
Delete13000 Serbian tourists last year would fill one weekly flight. With direct flights, demand will be significantly higher, plus tourists from neighboring countries. That would be enough for 2 flights per week for a start
^ But that alone does not equal profitability mate. But of course would be welcome if launched.
DeleteYeah, it is well known that flight towards Thailand are loss making. That’s why no one is flying there
Delete"Low demand" from/to one of the most popular if not THE most popular exotic destination in the region
DeleteI would love to hear Bosko pronounce Sathana Kashemsanta Na Ayudhya! 😆
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteCan you pronounce it?
Delete^ Sure, it is pronounced "Sathana Kashemsanta Na Ayudhya" 😉
DeleteSo they are delaying announcement of new destinations from late Sept to late Oct?
ReplyDeleteThey will announce when they are ready.
DeleteIt seems so, they were aiming for September to announce new destinations
DeleteCan't wait
DeleteYerevan should have been announced.
DeleteCairo, Tel Aviv, Ibiza.
DeleteOh my goodness some people here. What difference does it make to you if it's announced during the last week of September or the first week of October? Some of you are acting like your life depends on it.
DeleteAnon 13:37 Its not about one week gap, its more about what they said and we were just expecting. I don't understand why is a problem to expect something from them if they literally said when to expect new routes. One of the things the very little things to see reliable airlines behavior.
Deletedon't you think that the Wizz lifeline may have changed their plans for new routes? Don't you think that had Wizz been forced to close base some routes would have been discontinued and they would have jumped in, like they did in Nis. Maybe that's why they delay announcement.
DeleteBangkok would be a fantastic addition to the network. It is one of the few long haul destinations that could attract passengers from across the entire region.
ReplyDeleteIf they can get prices cheaper than the competition..
DeleteWell prices are no longer cheap as they used to be
Deleteanonymous13:37 Depending with whom you fly and from where, Qatar airways return tickets can be found for 650€, what is super cheap for long trip such this one
DeleteThose are new prices, because people doesn't want to risk transfers at Middle East. Normal prices were 900-1200 eur in the winter season. Turkish is even more expensive
DeleteBangkok is already easily accessible through Istanbul, Doha and Dubai. Air Serbia would need competitive fares to persuade passengers to travel through Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteBS. No one flies through Doha and Dubai any more. Freqencies are reduced and planes are half empty. Turkish is wildly expensive
DeleteLol
DeleteIt's always easier to fly non-stop to vacation.
DeleteIt is true that many are avoiding the Middle East. That is why southeastern Asian airlines have started so many new flights to Europe in the last few months. Whether people will keep staying away from the Gulf in the next year or two remains to be seen.
DeleteWhat a statment people avoid Middle east. This august we flew to Bangkok via Qatar from Milan and all flights had lead factor between 95-100% and Doha was super cheap busy during trasfer time a d was just 2-3 days after Iranian attacks
DeleteDemand is generally down and Qatar CEO confirmed that just 5 days ago in an interview. They are operating a significantly reduced schedule compared to before the war. Some 18 routes suspended and frequencies reduced across the board.
DeleteThailand is probably the most logical Asian leisure destination for Air Serbia after China.
ReplyDeleteI hope Air Serbia prioritises Bangkok over another destination in China. Its long-haul network needs greater geographical diversity.
ReplyDeleteThis is really happening?
ReplyDeleteNope
DeleteTour agencies in Serbia have received questionnaires from Air Serbia about Thailand. It is possible it will happen.
Delete10:35
DeleteYup, 🤡🤡🤡
I go every winter to Thailand and being a dry season over there, Air Serbia would be really ignorant not to employ aircraft during winter months to BKK. They could start thst once Toronto with its summer season is over. 3 times per week with eu connection passengers is no brainer
ReplyDeleteToronto is not available for purchase, they entered it for Saturday flights only as Sold-out. Wednesday flights are not yet in the system. We have to see what will they do with Toronto for 2027 season.
DeleteIrrespective of of this occurs or not the signs are all very favourable for ever increased global connectivity which is positive for the city, country and wider region.
ReplyDeleteThis will come, at some point, but code share agreements and "chipping off" Qatar and FlyDubai traffic will be necessary to make it work.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if JU is going back to Toronto next year as flights are removed from the booking engine? Maybe they are going to Bangkok instead of Toronto?
ReplyDeleteIt would be wise not to fabricate misinformation. The airline still hasn't added Toronto into the booking engine and it will be added soon. And yes, it is going back.
DeleteI was just wondering as flights to other long haul destinations are there. Toronto is tge only one missing.
DeleteThat's a fact.
DeleteThey are in the system already. They just haven't opened sales yet.
DeleteTrue, and that was the cause of this commotion. Why are JFK and ORD available for purchase for 2027 but not YYZ?
DeleteHave you thought that maybe they are waiting for slot approval. There could be a million reasons. Flights are resuming next year and there is no need to make up they are cancelled.
DeleteLet him live in hope. Soon he will face reality
DeleteOMG this is starting to looks like Benny Hill chase scene, complete with Yakety Sax background music! Let's press Pause for a moment. Personally, I would like to see longer season and more flights, if possible, not the other way around. Now that Toronto seems likely to continue, let's take a breather and wait for the official start of 2027 sales.
DeleteCool.
ReplyDeleteNow abolish the visas please.
+1
DeleteMontenegro and Spain performing strongly is not surprising. Both markets have benefited from much better frequencies and larger aircraft this year.
ReplyDeleteTenerife achieving load factors of up to 90% is fantastic
ReplyDelete- I suspect Air Serbia is using these discussions to assess whether Thailand would provide incentives or promotional support. Without that, the route may remain only an idea.
ReplyDeleteBangkok would strengthen Belgrade’s position as a regional hub far more than another leisure route.
ReplyDeleteIt is encouraging that both the embassy and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are supporting the idea.
ReplyDeleteIf these launch, I'm guessing it will be a winter seasonal route.
ReplyDeleteAnd from 27/28 winter probably.
DeleteThe airline should work with tour operators throughout the former Yugoslavia, not only in Serbia. Package holidays could provide a solid base of passengers.
ReplyDeleteThat fleet wall in JU's HQ is really outdated.
ReplyDelete