Air Serbia poised to unveil 2027 network expansion

Air Serbia is expected to unveil its network expansion plans for 2027 this week, with the carrier anticipated to announce several new routes, including one long-haul service. The upcoming announcement will provide an insight into the airline's growth strategy for next year, which will be marked by the specialised EXPO 2027 exhibition in Belgrade and the centenary of aviation in the country. The expansion will come against the backdrop of persistently high fuel prices and rising operating costs across the aviation industry. Air Serbia has already scheduled some frequency increases across its existing network for next year, although these are yet to be fully finalised at this early stage.

Air Serbia's CEO, Jiri Marek, has already confirmed that a new intercontinental destination is planned for next year, although the airline has yet to disclose which market it will serve. "What I can reveal is that there will be a new long-haul route, but I will not yet reveal which one", Mr Marek said last month. The carrier has previously identified a destination in China, Miami and a potential winter leisure route among its long-haul opportunities. On its medium-haul network, Air Serbia has confirmed plans to introduce flights to Yerevan, which would become its third destination in the Caucasus region after Tbilisi and Baku. The airline has also identified opportunities in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, although the relatively lengthy flying times have been highlighted as a challenge when compared to shorter European routes, where aircraft can perform multiple rotations per day. Air Serbia has additionally pointed to opportunities for further expansion in Southeast Europe, particularly in markets such as Bulgaria and Romania.

This year, Air Serbia is adding twelve routes to its network, representing its largest expansion since 2023. The airline has also made a noticeable effort to reduce the seasonality of its operations by introducing destinations outside the traditional peak summer travel period. These include Tenerife in Spain and Tromso in northern Norway, which are aimed at capturing leisure demand during the autumn and winter months. The strategy is intended to support more balanced aircraft utilisation throughout the year, while reducing the carrier's reliance on the peak summer season. The airline has also demonstrated its willingness to adjust its network in response to changing market conditions, including the introduction of new services from Niš to Vienna and Malta following Ryanair's withdrawal from both routes.

Number of routes introduced between 2019 and 2026

Based on its preliminary schedule filings, Air Serbia has so far planned between approximately 1.000 and 1.244 weekly flights during the 2027 summer season, from April until the end of September, depending on the month. This represents an increase of between eighteen and 136 weekly flights compared to the corresponding months this year, with the strongest growth currently scheduled for April. All routes operated during the same period in 2026 have been retained in next year's preliminary schedule, with the exception of Guangzhou, which is currently filed until March 26, and the seasonal summer service to Gothenburg. However, further changes to the schedule are highly likely at this early stage, particularly following the announcement of new destinations.

The airline's expansion plans for 2027 will also be shaped by EXPO 2027, which will take place in Belgrade from May 15 until August 15. As the exhibition's official airline partner, Air Serbia expects to benefit from increased inbound travel demand and has previously indicated that it is considering dedicated charter operations for specific markets. The carrier has estimated that the event could generate approximately half a million additional air passengers.