Wizz Air will retain its Belgrade base throughout the upcoming 2026/27 winter season after the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate officially postponed the implementation of new rules governing foreign carriers’ operations by six months at the request of the country's Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure. In the amended Rulebook, the Directorate states, “For services operated by foreign air carriers which, on the date this Rulebook enters into force, begin and end in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the provision of Article 3(4) of this Rulebook shall apply to applications for approval relating to traffic periods beginning on or after March 28, 2027”. The revised implementation date coincides with the start of the 2027 summer season.
The amendment was published in Serbia’s Official Gazette yesterday and enters into force today. The contentious Article 3(4) states, “Where an international agreement permits the airlines of the contracting parties to operate scheduled public air services using third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights, approval shall be issued for flights that begin and end in the territory of the state that authorised the foreign air carrier, or within the territory of the European Union where the carrier concerned is an EU air carrier”. Its implementation would prevent Wizz Air from having its four aircraft stationed in Belgrade.
Commenting on the development, Wizz Air's Chief Corporate Officer, Owain James, said, “This is the right outcome for our fantastic colleagues at Wizz Air’s Belgrade team and, above all, for Serbian passengers ahead of the coming winter season. Wizz Air stood firm because we believed these measures were misguided and incompatible with Serbia’s international obligations. We engaged with the Serbian authorities and European institutions, and the EU concluded that Wizz Air’s position was correct". He added, "We are also extremely grateful for the tremendous support shown by our customers, more than 25.000 of whom signed the petition in support of our Belgrade base. We are pleased that common sense has prevailed, but it is essential for Serbia’s future connectivity and for fair competition that the suspension of these measures becomes permanent, so that we can continue investing in Serbia and provide our Serbian customers with affordable air travel throughout summer 2027 and beyond”.
Wizz Air will still face the same measures next year, unless further changes or delays are applied. As reported yesterday, the development comes several days after the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee met in Brussels last Tuesday and Wednesday, with the dispute over Wizz Air’s Belgrade base understood to have been discussed during the gathering. The issue was also addressed in bilateral talks between representatives of the European Commission and Serbia on the sidelines of the meeting.
At least something
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm very glad Wizz had to get nervous.
Delete^ Why? What was the point? And once you have allowed the base to continue for another winter, it becomes even harder politically to close it.
DeleteNo one wanted this base to close, there is no commercial sense.
Deleteso the sense was bullying them? wow
DeleteWizz Air and other LCCs, especially Ryanair, regularly bully airports and their own employees.
DeleteThere is no other way for JU to compete withthem. Especially with jetfu prices being that high!
DeleteThey cancompete with better service andmore destinations.
Deletehaha, I mean great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping us updated. This site had all the info on this. That's why I visit every morning :)
ReplyDelete+1
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DeleteWell tha saga continues. But at least they will be here for winter.
ReplyDeleteTrue. This is not really a victory for Wizz Air. They have simply been given another six months.
DeleteYes, they may prepare W routes in time.
DeleteThis is hilarious and embarrassing for we know who that pushed this..
ReplyDelete*Cough*JU*cough*
I wouldn't be surprised if Wizz expands even more now.
Doubt Wizz will rock the boat, especially this winter.
DeleteWizz actually has less flights this winter than last from Belgrade. But it would be cool if they added some new routes.
DeleteMaybe we will see more flights around Christmas. W6 and JU have been in a war for years now, they know it's Air Serbia behind this. I am sure that at least next summer they will respond.
DeleteMaybe we see them add VLC-BEG now that they have a base there.
@9.13 they had to shrink 5% throughout their network (not including the new bases)
DeleteThey are cutting so much in Romania outside Bucharest. These are the cuts published this week:
DeleteBanesa-Bergamo cancelled
CLJ-NYO
CLJ-LIS
CLJ-OSL
CLJ-BLL
CRA-FCO
CRA-ATH
CRA-BCN
CRA-BLQ
CRA-TSF
IAS-IST
IAS-PRG
IAS-LCA
Seems like Romania is seeing softer demand since Animawings is also cutting and reducing.
CLJ-VIE
CLJ-FRA
CLJ-SKG
CLJ-ATH
IAS-SKG
TSR-ATH
OTP-TLV
They exapnded way too much this summer at the worst time to expand (cost wise). It's not a coincidence that Ryanair did not expand this summer.
Deletebut new base in Brasov
Delete@9.30 Ryanair has NO new aircrafts to expand. they are shifting capacities around
DeleteI'd much prefer to have Ryanair obviously.
Delete9:11
DeleteOnly embarrassing is you. They didn't expand last 4 years, yet they won't now. They expanded in OTP, BUD, SKP, but there's no JU there. Force is too strong at BEG
They didn't expand? From January 2025 until today they launched Friedrichshafen, Alicante, Madrid, Grenoble, Alghero, Palermo, Chania, Pisa. And you really need to calm down. I have never seen someone so emotionally charged by an airline. I can tell you now everyone in the industry knows this was JU's doing because KPIs on routes where they compete with Wizz are not good
DeletePS
DeleteFriedrihsafen is closed already, that’s how new routes are successfully beaten by JU
because JU flies to Friedrichshafen lol
DeleteNo, but flies to ZRH, MUC LOLLOL
DeleteLOL LOL as if FDH has something to do with MUC. Why didnt they beat them at Memimingen.
DeleteFDH didnt work for them also the first time when there were no MUC flights. Some people here
DeleteI wonder if this whole saga impacted on their winter sales.
ReplyDeleteFrom BEG I mean
Delete90% of people in Serbia probably had no clue this was going on.
DeleteMore like 99%
DeleteHad there been no elections in Serbia soon, you can be sure, they would have enforced the new rule
ReplyDeleteQuite possible.
DeleteI would really like this decision to be annuled and not only ostponed.
There will be another elections in 6 months, and that will decide permanent solution.
Delete09:59
DeleteSome people here, can't restrain themselves.
Some people understand it better than others. ProEU group will call an election in 6-9 months after the cleanup is done. Once in power, they will follow guidance from FRA/BRU on flag carrier.
DeleteWhat’s the point of postponing it to 27.03 …… They will suspend it for sure.
ReplyDeleteJust a way not to admit defeat. They will likely quietly suspend the rule indefinitely.
DeleteDefeat?? EU didn't come out with any conclusion, because no ground for it. Because, if there is, W6 would already held press conference to announce their "victory" over evil DCV. This is just a favour for W6 to give some time to organise new scheduling. I don't feel sorry for them
Deleteboth Wizz and EC have said they will issue a statement. The only side actually playing dead throughout this entire saga is the CAA and their politically appointed management.
DeleteWe are waiting for that EU slap/reprimand/statement (whatever you were announcing) for a very long time now. (Yawn) Yet, they're still playing dead
DeleteWell article has been updated with Wizz statement and it does seem like they got a slap from the EU
Delete"the EU concluded that Wizz Air’s position was correct".
The EU must have scolded them lol
ReplyDeleteI think this gives away where the pressure came from. If everyone was completely confident about the legality of the new rule, why postpone it immediately after discussions with the European Commission?
DeleteIf EU scolded them, rule would have been cancelled and not postponed.
DeleteMore like EU managed to cozy up to Serbia to get its airline a 6-month extension. I guess we can expect some donation to Serbia.
DeleteBoth EU and W6 are playing dead. It's clear to everyone they're defeated. Everyone but you
DeleteDefeated? Lol you can't make this stuff up. It is the CAA that has not implemented what they announced. And if you missed the news both Wizz and EC have said they will issue a statement. The only side actually playing dead throighout this entire saga is the CAA and their politically appointed head.
DeleteMaking up? You should read article again to find out that decision is just delayed, not retracted. Nowhere is said that CAA rule is against Open Skies agreement, as you and W6 imagined for so long time. So, yes, you're all defeated.
DeleteTruly an embarrassment for whoever thought this would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteWizz has been based in Belgrade since 2011. It is extraordinary that after fifteen years somebody suddenly decided this operating model was a problem.
DeleteFor 6 more months only
DeleteSo basically the problem has not been solved, just postponed by six months. We will be having exactly the same discussion again in March.
ReplyDeleteThey are not going to shut them down so close to Expo and just before summer.
Deletetold you it will silently dissapear as if nothing has happened (seen with Ć-lend). Congrats and good news for customers!
ReplyDeleteIf you know to read, nothing is disappeared. Surely customers are delighted to have so huge delays and cancelations.
Deletewhat delays and cancelations
DeleteWhat did EC say?
ReplyDeleteGood news for passengers and for Belgrade Airport.
ReplyDeleteFor passengers this is excellent news. Wizz disappearing as a based carrier would have reduced competition significantly.
DeleteThis looks like a compromise reached after the Brussels meeting. Serbia gets more time while Wizz keeps operating normally for another season.
ReplyDeleteAt least common sense prevailed for now. Removing one of Belgrade's largest airlines overnight would have meant less competition and higher fares.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteKada bi Wizz Air trebao da sredjuje ljetni red letenja?Vidim da je Ryanair objavio.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy Wizz tickets until the end of 2027
DeleteTo je copy paste starog ljetnog reda letenja,mijenjat ce to 100%
DeleteThe wording is quite clever because it protects existing operations temporarily without completely abandoning Article 3(4).
ReplyDeleteThis is probably the best short-term outcome. Passengers keep their flights, staff keep their jobs and the authorities get additional time to negotiate.
DeleteThe interesting question now is whether Wizz will continue expanding Belgrade for summer 2027 or freeze growth until there is a permanent solution.
ReplyDeleteThe Commission's eventual position will be far more important than today's amendment. If Brussels concludes that the restriction conflicts with the ECAA Agreement, the whole rule may need to be reconsidered anyway.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it's not...
DeleteThis whole saga has been handled very poorly. Airlines plan seasons far in advance, not a few weeks before rules are supposed to change.
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand what changed after fifteen years of Wizz basing aircraft in Belgrade.
ReplyDeletesomebody needed a narative to create a buzz or somebody felt the competition
DeleteIf the regulation is legally sound, why postpone it? If it isn't, why keep it at all?
ReplyDeleteObviously it is not legally sound.
DeleteSo every six months we will be back to this?
ReplyDeleteDoubt it. Directorate will just quietly suspend this rule.
DeleteNo, it will not happen because people in Directorate will not be anymore there
DeleteExactly. Wizzair are here to stay.
DeleteWizz must be relieved
ReplyDeleteSo they gave them 6 more months to register in Serbia.
ReplyDelete20:48
DeleteThis!
lol not happening
DeleteNo need for Wizz to register in Serbia.
DeleteThe ministry would just have to admit that they don't want to ever join the EU and be done with all this theatrics. 🤷♂️
Spineless pricks.
ReplyDeleteiznenadjenje
Delete@11:39 useful comment?
DeleteTresla se gora, rodio se mis.
ReplyDeleteDiplomatic way to make the original problem disappears.
ReplyDeleteMarch is far away and who knows all what could happen until then.
Could this be an attempt by DCV to try to advance to second transitional period same as Montenegro?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not. Montenegro has not been transitioned to second phase. It was just suggested they could potentially
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