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Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is currently the only in the former Yugoslavia to be linked to four continents with scheduled flights to Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The majority of the city’s top unserved routes are outside of Europe. Although last year and 2019 seem like worlds apart, as the coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed travel patterns due to the closure of a number of prominent markets, Shanghai remained the busiest unserved city during both. In 2019, the last normal year for the aviation industry, it was Shanghai and Beijing that were the top unserved routes, while the United States and China had the most indirect passengers served in and out of Belgrade. Out of the ten top unserved routes in 2019, four were in Asia, three in North America, two in Eruope and one in Australisia.
China has emerged as one of the top unserved markets to and from Belgrade since visa restrictions between the two countries were mutually lifted in 2017, with business and tourism ties significantly improving.
Top ten unserved route to/from Belgrade in 2019
Shanghai - Belgrade - Shanghai
In 2019, 62.518 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities, out of which 29.972 travellers flew with Aeroflot. In addition to being China’s largest city, most of the traffic flow between China and Serbia over the past few years has originated from Shanghai. This is in part because the largest portion of Chinese nationals residing in Serbia have their origins in two provinces south of the Shanghai region. Belgrade is also one of Shanghai Pudong Airport’s busiest unserved routes.
Top transfer airports on Shanghai - Belgrade - Shanghai route in 2019
Top transfer airlines on Shanghai - Belgrade - Shanghai route in 2019
Beijing – Belgrade - Beijing
In 2019, 52.123 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities, out of which 25.379 travellers flew with Aeroflot. The Serbian capital was briefly served by Hainan Airlines from Beijing in 2017 with a stop in Prague, however, flights were suspended a year later due to low demand, with the stop in the Czech Republic proving unpopular with travellers.
Top transfer airports on Beijing - Belgrade - Beijing route in 2019
Top transfer airlines on Beijing - Belgrade - Beijing route in 2019
Toronto - Belgrade - Toronto
In 2019, 40.856 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities, out of which 11.750 either started or ended their journey with Air Canada. In October last year, the Canadian Ambassador to Serbia, Kati Csaba, said the two countries were in advanced talks over the introduction of flights between Belgrade and Toronto, despite the coronavirus pandemic. “These nonstop flights are of vital importance both for relations between Canada and Serbia to continue improving, as well as for the Serbian diaspora in Canada, which represents a significant link between our two countries”, Ms Csaba said.
Top transfer airports on Toronto - Belgrade - Toronto route in 2019
Top transfer airlines on Toronto - Belgrade - Toronto route in 2019
Chicago - Belgrade - Chicago
In 2019, 32.135 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities, out of which 8.151 travelled with Lufthansa, while other Lufthansa group carriers also dominated. Chicago is believed to be home to the largest Serbian community in North America and although there were more indirect passengers between Belgrade and the Windy City than to New York, Air Serbia opted to fly to the Big Apple because of greater transfer potential, both in the United States but also among Serbia’s neighbouring markets.
Top transfer airports on Chicago - Belgrade - Chicago route in 2019
Top transfer airlines on Chicago - Belgrade - Chicago route in 2019
Hong Kong - Belgrade - Hong Kong
In 2019, 22.174 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities, out of which 7.190 travelled with Aeroflot. Although Hong Kong may be a surprising member on the list, it has been one of Belgrade’s busiest unserved routes for several years. Visa free travel between the two has also been available for some time, earlier than between Serbia and China. Hong Kong’s main airline, Cathay Pacific, entered into a codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways on flights to Belgrade as of this week.
Top transfer airports on Hong Kong - Belgrade - Hong Kong route in 2019
Top transfer airlines on Hong Kong - Belgrade - Hong Kong route in 2019
Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the top ten unserved routes from Belgrade changed, with traffic volumes significantly down. The list below only displays cities that had no commercial flights to the Serbian capital whatsoever for the duration of last year.
Top ten unserved routes to/from Belgrade in 2020
