PREMIUM
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport handled 1.9 million passengers in 2020, representing a decrease of 69.1% on the year before. The number of commercial flights stood at 33.622, down 52.2%. While January and February proved to be the busiest on record for the airport, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March brought with it negative trends. The airport was closed for commercial traffic for two months. The most resilient routes between March and December, both in terms of capacity and the number of passengers carried proved to be Belgrade Airport’s biggest and most important markets. From March until the end of the year, Air Serbia was the biggest airline at the airport, accounting for 57% of all seats on the market and 49.4% of flights.
Belgrade Airport's busiest routes in 2020
Belgrade - Zurich - Belgrade
Switzerland proved to be the most resilient market from the Serbian capital in 2020, with Zurich the busiest route, accounting for 149.892 passengers. It was served by both Air Serbia and Swiss. Although Serbian nationals are not permitted entry into Switzerland for non-essential purposes, traffic flow between Belgrade and Zurich altered from month to month depending on Switzerland’s classification of Serbia’s risk level. This had an impact on whether Swiss nationals and residents would need to quarantine upon returning back into Switzerland, which had a big impact on travel plans for the Serbian diaspora in the country.
Belgrade - Istanbul New Airport - Belgrade
Istanbul’s main airport was the second busiest route, served by both Turkish Airlines and Air Serbia. Turkish restored flights to the Serbian capital early on following the end to global lockdowns and with loose entry requirements for Serbian nationals was a popular choice throughout the remainder of the year. This was also buoyed by relaxed entry requirements for Turkish citizens into Serbia. The two national carriers further grew their codeshare partnership to include a number of routes and greater transfer options. Air Serbia's frequencies to Turkey’s largest city outstripped those prior to the pandemic.
Belgrade - Podgorica - Belgrade
Podgorica was the third busiest destination out of Belgrade. This is despite commercial flights being banned between the two countries for five months, marking the longest period without scheduled operations between the two since World War Two. Montenegro Airlines ceased operations on December 25, however, Air Serbia has increased both frequencies and capacity to the Montenegrin capital since.
Belgrade - Paris - Belgrade
Paris continued to perform well from Belgrade Airport, being the fourth busiest route to and from the Serbian capital in the pandemic-stricken 2020. The results were achieved despite strict Covid-19 measures in France which do not permit the entry of Serbian nationals into the country, as well as the suspension of Air France’s service between the two cities. However, aiding the route was the significant number of transfer passengers from the United States connecting via Paris to reach Belgrade. Although flying from European Union and Schengen member countries to the States is not permitted (even for transfer passengers), it is allowed for US citizens and residents, enabling the Serbian diaspora to travel via Paris.
Belgrade - Frankfurt - Belgrade
Frankfurt was the fifth busiest destination within Belgrade Airport’s network, served by both Air Serbia and Lufthansa. The size of the Serbian diaspora in Germany, as well as transfer opportunities via the German city ensured it was among the more popular routes.
