France's ASL Airlines will introduce flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Belgrade next summer season, becoming the third carrier to maintain services between the two cities. ASL Airlines France will commence two weekly flights from the French capital to Belgrade starting June 24, each Monday and Thursday, with its 148-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft. Flights are initially planned to operate on a seasonal basis, until September 5. The carrier, which boasts a fleet of fifteen passenger and cargo aircraft, will compete directly against Air Serbia's thirteen weekly flights and Air France's daily service between the two cities, with the latter only recently announcing its return to Belgrade.
ASL Airlines France is a common visitor in Belgrade, with its Boeing fleet maintained by Jat Tehnika. ASL offers a buy on-board food and beverage service, while the lowest economy fares do not include checked-in baggage. The airline is aiming to attract point to point passengers on the route during the high season by offering lower fares than its competitors. In addition to Belgrade, ASL Airlines France maintains scheduled flights from Paris to Algiers and Tel Aviv, as well as a number of seasonal routes in France and Spain. The carrier, formerly known as Europe Airpost, focuses heavily on cargo transport. Tickets for its new Belgrade service are already on sale.
During the 2019 summer season, Belgrade will boast up to four daily flights between Belgrade and Paris on select days. In addition, low cost carrier Wizz Air maintains two weekly flights from the Serbian capital to Beauvais, which is some 85 kilometres north of central Paris. The developments come in the lead-up to the 25-year takeover of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport by France's Vinci. The company recently finalised new collective agreements with the airport's staff members and is expected to take full control of the airport next month upon the payment of its 450 million euro fee to the Serbian government.
Further flight details for ASL Airlines France's new Belgrade service can be found here.
This route is going to become saturated.
ReplyDeleteFinally reasonable prices on the route.
DeleteFinally a cheaper option to CDG. Air Serbia is ridiculously expensive on this route. Already for next June tickets are selling a 400 euros return.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Air France?
DeleteWizz is just as expensive despite flying to the middle of nowhere.
DeleteIt should be forbidden by law for them to advertise Beauvais as Paris.
DeleteThere is a worse example. Oslo Torp. It's over 100 kilometres from Oslo.
Delete^ True. Crazy.
DeleteI've just briefly checked, you can find cheaper tickets with AirSerbia, depending of dates, time and booking class...
Delete@9.05 Same story. Their "light" fare in early June is currently 350 euros.
DeleteOf course they are expensive. They are full on this route.
DeleteIt is almost always cheaper to fly BEY-BEG-CDG than BEG-CDG.
DeleteSame way why it's cheaper to fly BEG-FRA-CDG than FRA-CDG on LH.
DeleteLH is private company. JU is stated owned and subsidised so it must serve primarily Serbian citizens. And are you sure that FRA-CDG is really more expensive than BEG-FRA-CDG? Check again.
DeleteAir Serbia is only partially state owned. Also you must learn more about the airline business to understand why transfer flights are usually cheaper than point to point. Same way you can fly from Belgrade to Bangkok for 480 euros on Qatar Airways while Belgrade - Doha is 780 euros with them.
DeleteOk, take Finnair as an example or LOT where both tend to charge more for locals than transfer passengers and both are government owned.
DeletePoint being here that airlines that have scissor hubs usually tend to do that so it's nothing new that JU does it as well.
Anyway, if JU is too expensive for you then you can fly on ASL or Air France while you could have flown on Wizz Air for many years now. So what's the problem here exactly?
The problem is that we subsidize JU through the state budget AND by paying more money for using it to/from BEG than foreigners who use it to transfer.
DeleteYou are not subsidizing foreigners because transfer tickets are not undervalued, that is JU is not losing money when flying them. What you are subsidizing is the excess workforce, that is your fellow countrymen.
DeleteIf the ticket price is not enough to cover the cost of providing the service then the ticket price is undervalued.
DeleteEconomics 101
Anon 17.39
DeleteYes but equally so, JU no longer sells undervalued fares, those days are long gone.What's available out there is the real thing. Just because transfer flights tend to be cheaper than point to point doesn't mean they are loss-making.
If the airline needs state subsidies every year to operate then yes, the flights are loss making.
DeleteEconomics 101
Not necessarily. Flights themselves might be profitable but not profitable enough to cover the rest of the non flight related expenses.
Deletenon flight related expenses are an integral part of an airlines cost structure.
DeleteYou can't call a route profitable only after you exclude a bunch of necessary costs to make the flights possible.
You cant say than a flight is possible if you only deduct the cost of fuel, overflight fees and crew salaries.
For a flight, any flight at any airline to materialize you need to pay for aircraft, sale offices, marketing, management, maintenance, to pay for catering, pension contributions, call centers, amortize your assets and so much more.
So lets keep this discussion factual.
No. If a flight is loss-making then it means the revenue per flight is not high enough so as to cover basic expenses needed to directly operate it such as airport expenses, aircraft leases, fuel costs, crew salaries...
DeleteAdditional costs such as HQ employees, loans, office leases... are not factored in, nor are things like loans and so on. Those are paid for by the revenue generated from the extra ticket revenue, that is the one that is above the break-even levels...or from the sale of assets and so on.
Postoje dve stvari: route performance i overall performance. To su dve razlicite stvari.
DeleteThis reminds me of the Geneva route when easy jet, Swiss and Etihad Regional all launched it at the s
ReplyDeleteYes but the Paris market is 100 times larger so in a way it was underserved.
DeleteLOL. ASL :)
ReplyDeleteasl pls? :D
DeleteWhat an odd airline.
ReplyDeleteNext summer is already looking promising for BEG, and I doubt this is the end of all the announcement.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't. JU will also have announcements regarding summer 2019.
DeleteLooking forward to it.
DeleteNext summer for BEG is looking promising indeed. Additional flights to Moscow, Paris and Istanbul, plus return on flights to Beijing and new American flights by Air Serbia ("new" A330 coming soon, announcement in February on Tourist Fair).
DeleteWill JU continue to shrink?
DeleteQuite the opposite.
DeleteAll these information is coming from an actual source or a gypsy woman told you by looking at the palm of your hand?
DeleteFrom an actual source, unfortunately for you.
DeleteI just wonder in which hole you are going to hide when JU announces new routes?
DeleteIs JU getting new aircraft in order to fly new routes or are they going to cut/reduce last summer's destinations to fly the new ones?
DeleteThey won't cut. They have enough capacity to introduce new routes with current fleet. Traffic will be increased to 2016 levels.
DeleteLast year they flew a lot of charter routes, using Airbuses as well the 737s.
DeleteThose were very lucrative contracts, I hope they don't cut back on those.
Why is so much priority being put onto Beijing vs. Shanghai when it comes to China flights?
DeleteIt would be nice if someone could list the frequency changes and new arrivals already announced for BEG next year.
ReplyDeleteSomeone listed them the other day. So far as I know Air France, Aeroflot, Swiss, Austrian, Lufthansa are all increasing flights. Red Wings will be there for the entire summer and they said they will also increase frequencies. EasyJet will have its new routes operational for the entire summer. Air Serbia will launch a few new routes. Aegean is increasing capacity.
DeleteFrom the top of my head:
DeleteAeroflot +7
Lufthansa +7
Aegean +1
Air France +7
ASL +2
Etihad +2
I am sure LO will also increase their frequency.
VINCI is already doing a great job. Seems it has been the right choice
DeleteWhat happened with IR in the end? Have they resumed BEG flights?
DeleteFrom what I've seen beg.aero had their arrival on Saturday. The flight was delayed by a few hours and then cancelled.
DeleteI hope we will see them today as they should have scheduled flight.
DeleteSwiss +7
DeleteLO must be doing really well in BEG! Today they are sending B734 and E75!
DeleteDon't see how this will work out.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? 2pw during high season is hardly risky. Or difficult to fill.
DeleteWhy not? They are already selling tickets for summer season and they are going to operate in busiest period
DeleteThe best thing is that finally serbs will be able to travel to Paris for much less money, great! We should enjoy it while it last because i dont think there is room for 4 airlines here
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think it is too much, but these guys are flying only during high season so who knows.
DeleteOr maybe there will be enough demand for all.
DeleteThey should have rather launched Nice or Lyon or at least Orly.
DeleteDo they offer any connections? I wonder if another city in France would be worth connecting with BEG, having in mind the upcoming competition on the CDG-BEG route.
ReplyDeleteUnless these guys count on attracting p2p passengers with low prices, of course. We may see another 'Battle of Vienna'.
All I can say for now about second city in France - stay tuned.
DeleteWell we should check which airports in France are run by Vinci. Might give us a clue.
DeleteLyon Is.
DeleteShame that there are still no flights from Nis to Paris. If BEG doesn't work out for them they can always come to INI.
ReplyDeleteThey could, if it wasn't for INI's management whose main job is to deter traffic.
DeleteParis would be a top choice from Nis. Lots of people from south east Serbia live in France.
DeleteFormer Nis Airport management said they were in talks with Wizz over Paris flights. Unfortunately the government took over the show then.
DeleteThey took over for precisely this reason. Wizz does not start Paris-Nis but Air France and ASL start Paris-Belgrade.
DeleteSo sad! I really feel sorry for people of South Serbia. It is such a shame government is making them travel to Sofia to get a flight.
DeleteThey voted for that same government in record numbers. Next time they are at the ballot box, they should think twice.
DeleteTrue that anon 09:54.
Deletei am sure creating difficulties for INI was not part of their political program...
DeleteSupporting Belgrade Airlines was and continues to be at the top of their political program.
DeleteINI took a lot of passengers who otherwise would have used BEG and probably ASL to travel.
So the Government of Belgrade took over the airport and replaced the hugely successful management team with party faithful who will do what is best for the Republic of Belgrade.
people should organize and protest then, not sit behind their PCs and complain..
DeleteRepublic of Belgrade makes up 44% of the country's GDP. Republiic of Nis 2.5%. So now you get why BEG is thriving while INI is not.
Deleteo.O crazy! goes to show how centralized the country is
DeleteOur economy is no longer centrally planned meaning that southerners are free to open companies and expand their businesses the same way other, smaller, regions have done despite not being connected with a highway or having a fully functional international airport.
DeleteThe typical capital vs province debate. Almost all the bigger cities or capital cities generate much of the country's revenue, so where is the surprise?
DeleteIf BEG feeds Serbia then LON feeds UK
But INI can also feed the whole south taking it's slice from the revenue cake.
The issue at hand is that BEG and JU do not want to give any slice of the cake to INI and the south.
DeleteHas anyone actually stopped anyone from flying to Nis? No. If Wizz wanted to start flying from Nis to Paris they would, and they still can. Please stop this blame game.
DeleteNobody had ever stoped anyone from flying to BNX either.
DeleteThe incompetent management of that airport simply did nothing to attract airlines.
In INI now the same situation is happening.
Only it is by design and not due to incompetence.
The only difference is that INI has flights so FR and W6 are already there. They know the market and have a sense of what they can and can't do. If they are making enough money in INI they will add frequencies and destinations without necessarily being encouraged by the airport administration.
DeleteA good example of this is LX which said they might add more flights next summer.
Sorry to disappoint you NemJee, but GoS is clearly not allowing INI to grow and you know it.
DeleteThanks to them, MMX and soon NRN will be gone. But anway...long live Belgrade Airlines and co.
And how did government prevent them from flying to Malmo exactly? They have identical terms and conditions as they had when they launched flights. Stop making excuses.
DeleteAnd how exactly did the government close those two lines? With no proof you are an idiot.
DeleteHa! Then how did 2 French carriers "suddenly" appear at the same time from the same destination at the same time? Vinci help? Yes.
DeleteWhy wasn't either AF nor ASL given to INI? Or give 1 to Beg and the other INI to have equal share?
INI could have had a second legacy carrier together with LX or could be connected to a primary airport such as CDG.
The proof was the BEG consession when the 12 million hailed traffic was set and INI prevented from never surpassing 1 million.
Once the airlines arrived to INI, the growth was immense and the fear started to grow.
Gos took over and stopped 2 destinations already.
"Why wasn't either AF nor ASL given to INI?"
DeleteAre you for real? I would suggest you check the calendar and note that we are in the 21st century. No one can tell either airline where to fly from or "give them" INI.
"Once the airlines arrived to INI, the growth was immense"
DeleteCan we please try to avoid hyperbole? BEG makes in two weeks what INI makes in a year.
Guys, comparing BEG to INI is like comparing Nashville with New York.
DeleteINI has a decent traffic and decent airlines. And yes, it's generally very very cheap to fly to/from Nis but only to slected destinations such as VIE, BTS, DTM.
BEG is still considered very expensive.
Id Niš and surrounding area makes 6% of Serbia GDP why than was not 6% of 32 million EUR for subvention Air Serbia spent on subvention for flights from Niš? That shoud be 1,92 million EUR.
DeleteIt is. Who is paying for 3 euro tax you think?
DeleteI think it was totally wrong and stupid to change old INI leadership which was doing great job, but also, I don't think that cancelation of two routes have any relation with this change. It is more related with fuel prices and internal reorganisations in WizzAir and Ryanair. I'm still optimist and expect that INI will continue to grow in the future.
DeleteLet's not forget all the aid INI got from BEG in terms of equipment.
Delete'Why wasn't either AF nor ASL given to INI? Or give 1 to Beg and the other INI to have equal share?'
How can BEG and INI get an equal share when market demand isn't the same? While we are at it, what else would you like to request in the name of equality? CPH? JFK? LHR?
I suspect that reason why JU wasn't already started flying from INI is Etihad's management and they strategy for developing BEG as regional hub. I don't have any proof for this like I already said I just suspect that they are the reason. Also, I don't have any info regarding JU plans but expect that from next year we should see JU flying from INI.
DeleteWhy not Nemjee? INI deserves primary destinations and legacy carriers just like BEG does.
DeleteCLJ has LH and OTP too.
SOB has LH and BUD too.
KRK has BA and WAW too.
VAR has OS and SOF too.
SKG has QR and ATH too.
I will not put LX because of the frequency numbers per week.
All the above have at least 1 daily flight.
BEG-ZRH is like 38 weekly, while BEG-ZRH is 2 weekly. There you go.
Belgrade: 44% of the country's GDP, GDP per capita 8.597, 38 weekly flights to ZRH.
DeleteSouthern and eastern Serbia: GDP per capita 3.346, Nisava region 2.5% of the GDP, 2 weekly flights to ZRH.
To me this seems about right. Like I wrote earlier, the issue here is that the south is still relatively underdeveloped.
Then why did INI suddenly pass from 20 thousand passenger annually to almost 400 thousand now?
DeleteThe south is not the capital, but it still has room for much more.
There are currently TWO HUNDRED hotels available starting from 11€ for a double room!
There are many companies: Raiffaisen, Peaksel, Seavus IT and many more which can attract business travellers too. They can avoid the long queues in BEG and avoid road to SOF or SKP because it has less connections to European capitals.
No one said there is no market in INI but you are being overly ambitious when it comes to how fast the airport expands. If we look at BEG a decade ago, it handled around 2.6 million passengers. It takes years for a business to develop, INI included. You have a few things going for you, don't allow your megalomania to ruin it.
DeleteThe VINCI effect is already being felt.
ReplyDeleteIt seems they are coming after all! I still do not believe it but more and more signs are there.
DeleteOf course they are coming. It was never really in question.
DeleteLet's see whether it turns out to be like Zagreb case.
DeleteYou mean Emirates to start flying to BEG?
DeleteSure, it is also possible.
FZ reduced BEG so I don't think EK has the need to launch flights.
DeleteI think he was referring to financial losses, downsize of initial planned infrastructure, handing over management to Turks etc.
DeleteBad news for JU.
ReplyDeleteAF too I would suppose.
DeleteThis is worse news for Wizz. Because ASL fares are not expensive and they fly from CDG!
Deletehardly a two weekly flights could affect JU/AF's 21 weekly flights. it will have more effect on Wizz's BVA flight
DeleteExactly. With 2 weekly flights in summer season it is surely going to affect JU
DeleteArrival time in BEG is great, but arrival time in Paris not so much.
ReplyDeleteYes midnight arrival not ideal but great if you are visiting friends and family in Serbia and want to make the most of your last day.
DeleteNice livery :D
ReplyDelete+1
Deletelike post plane
DeleteThat's because they bought Europe Airpost.
DeleteInterior looks nice too.
DeleteShame there is no easyJet from BEG to CDG.
ReplyDeleteWizz Air would be toast in that case.
DeleteHopefully we get Easy base in Belgrade.
DeleteFingers crossed. I think it could happen in 2020.
DeleteIt is almost sure. Vinci and easyjet work very closely and it is expected to happpen very soon.
DeleteIt will bring passengers from BEG great oppportunities as this company is much better than W6 or FR
What are the fares like?
ReplyDeleteAround 140 euros rt.
DeleteNice. That's a good price for CDG.
DeleteEspecially in peak summer.
DeleteBut I couldn't find that price 😊 cheapest fare with no luggage and at least one very early or late departures was little bit more...
DeleteJU will be forced to greatly reduce its ridiculously expensive fares to Paris!
DeleteGood news.
ReplyDeleteBienvenue
ReplyDeleteSo, Paris is the new Zurich? :)
ReplyDeleteI think it will be difficult to catch up to Zurich. There will be something like 40 weekly flights next summer :)
DeleteWell done. And Vinci hasn't even started talking to airlines yet. Good to see :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm wondering how many passengers we could see in Belgrade next year. Looking good so far based on announcements.
ReplyDelete6.5 million maybe?
Delete6.5 is a bit of a strech. I think 6.3 is more realistic.
DeleteLet's see how the airlines would keep opening new routes.
DeleteI believe 6.4 is reallistic
SOF scenario would be the best, but that could only happen in 2020, announcements in 2019, full effect in 2020
DeleteSOF scenario happened because airport slashed its prices and actually lost money. Same with BUD which will finally turn a small profit this year after a decade of losses. BEG's growth is slower but at least it's profitable.
DeleteThat would be disastrous for JU
DeleteA 13:12 never knew you were that competent on this information.
DeleteSOF slashed the airport taxes and registered a profit of 41% in 2017:
https://tech2.org/bulgaria/sofia-airport-with-a-profit-of-10-million-companies/
Let's see how they do this winter when all those massive cuts took place. Strange that Wizz Air did not add flights like they did in Krakau, Bucharest and Budapest.
DeleteMassive cuts were compensated by new routes launched in March 2018, so no big drama.
DeleteAirport still enjoys good numbers. Similar to BEG, there are many other frequeny increases such as QR, TK, LH, SU, BA, U2 new UK routes, etc, etc.
It is not hard to guess that this mind-shifting BS comes from Nemjee. When Serbia subsidizes ASL or INI lowers fees far below the margin it's ok because it stimulates the wider economy. When BUD or SOF do the same they're at a loss despite recording record passenger numbers BEG is yet to reach. So you might want to make up your mind cause i don't know whether this is hypocrisy or insanity, double-standards.
DeleteThat comment didn't come from me and anyway I never comment on SOF's profitability but rather on their rapid growth which, in my opinion, was artificially stimulated.
DeleteAs for BUD, I don't care about them so I never comment on them unless when speaking about their shared catchment area with BEG.
That said, thanks for remembering me... even in your moments of utter bitterness. :)
And btw I did defend INI and JU but I never spoke against state subventions for businesses so your comment makes even less sense.
DeleteYou're again proving yourself wrong. What is the difference between subsidy and "artificially simulated"?
DeleteSorry Nemjee but you just scored a wonderful auto-goal.
Adios.
For the love of God, demand can be artificially stimulated without direct subsidies. This usually occurs in markets where several players are fighting for dominance. They are all trashing their yields in order to drive out competition. It's a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain... as long as you have deep pockets that is. A good example of this is Vienna where there is definitely more offer than demand. Why? Because they all want to bleed their competitors to death.
DeleteIn conclusion, artificial stimulation can occur in other ways as well but I will give you this, subsidies can be one of many forms.
Companies compete all the time, sometimes in ways more extreme than others.
DeleteSo where you draw the line that the demand becomes 'artificial'?
There is no such a thing and that is my point.
There is demand and then there is stimulated demand, but demand nevertheless.
PS: Fares that became last year available in Sofia are available for ages in Budapest or in London, Frankfurt and many other European airports.
DeleteIs their growth and numbers also 'artificial'?
No one forced those pax to board the plane for Sofia and pay the ticket, which is the only case in which we might use that term.
Are these B737-700s the quick change combi versions?
ReplyDeleteNope, only their 737-300s are quick changes.
DeleteExcuse my ignorance, but what is a quick change?
DeleteWhere you can quickly take out all the seats in the plane and use it just for cargo.
DeleteThank you :) interesting
DeleteCongratulations BEG!
ReplyDeleteWe receive the information about the new routes to the main European capitals almost on weekly basis - amazing!
And Vinci has not taken it over yet. Well done!
Does this company fly to any country in the region?
ReplyDeleteASL France doesn't but maybe one of the other ASLs flies to the coast in Croatia (there is ASL Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands). They also operate charters so maybe some of them visit the Croatian coast.
DeleteTwo days ago, arriving from CDG on OU 320 with Davis Cup winners, plane was parked on the apron in front of the old terminal building, next to the ASL freighter plane. So they "visit" ZAG as well, not only the coast, and not only in summer
DeleteWe are talking about passenger flights. You could also say they already fly to Belgrade since they also fly cargo flights and do maintenance in BEG.
Delete"Does this company fly to any country in the region", was the question, not "does this company have passengers flights to any country in the region", so we are not talking about passenger flights. But I admit it was my mistake to compare ZAG, which is in the EU, with BEG which is in the region of 'Western Balkans"
DeleteSure but before you compare, seek help for your complexes.
DeleteConfronted with facts, when trying to cure their "kompleks vise vrednosti", fanboys turn conversation to personal and start offending. Sad and pathetic...
DeleteOk, since ASL flies across Croatia I hope you can book a flight with them. When you try to do that on their website and fail to find a single destination in Croatia, you might realise how wrong your 'facts' are.
DeleteLet's hope they don't cancel it before it starts.
ReplyDeleteShame they are moving to the buy on board scheme. They still offer free food and drinks on their flights till January 1.
ReplyDeleteHow many Serbs live i France and are they mostly in Paris area?
ReplyDeleteAround 120,000. Mostly around Paris though there are communities in Nice and Lyon as well.
Deletebut most of them are from the south..
DeleteNope, but from Pomoravlje and surrounding area (Svilajnac, Markovac, Petrovac na Mlavi etc.)
DeleteThis will primarily hurt Wizz Air as ASL will fly on the same days as they do. On top of that, Wizz Air has revised its schedule to 'Paris.'
ReplyDelete1--4--7
BEG-BVA 06.30-09.05
BVA-BEG 09.35-12.05
The only worst thing that could have happened to them was easyJet launching ORY flights.
Namjee, how is this route performing, you had some detailed loads...must be one of the best in the Wizz BEG network if you look at the ticket prices?
DeleteOnly the first four months of 2017 are available for Paris.
DeleteBEG-BVA 12.930
BEG-CDG 47.171
thanks!
DeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteI bet LIS is next.
ReplyDeleteYou're right.
DeleteAlthough I would like very much TAP to start flying LIS-BEG I doubt it will happen as year-round.
DeleteThe biggest achievement would be flying on this route from June to September.
I hope I am wrong
I am shocked so many airlines are making it in BEG but there is no word or sound about Eurowings. They are sticking to their silly STR flights that last a month and a half. lol
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am rooting for Laudamotion to launch next! JU, OS, Gea Tours, Fudex... could all use some competition.
Obviously BEG can survive perfectly well without Eurowings. The fact that big majority of companies can make money in BEG but Eurowings can't speaks more about them.
DeleteLaudamotion in BEG - well, it would shake all the guys you mentioned, but does not smell like that yet...
About gipsy airserbia.
ReplyDeleteI payed 1025 eur, one way, ecconomy, CDG,-BEG.
Gipsy company
your fault LOL
DeleteWhy did you pay it? Why didn't you go on Wizz Air? Or Lufthansa? Or Montenegro Airlines?
Delete