EX-YU carriers eye new routes for 2019

The national carriers from the former Yugoslavia are beginning to make plans for the upcoming 2019 summer season, which begins on March 31, with all four considering potential new routes.

Adria Airways previously said, "We are interested in a destination on the Iberian peninsula in the southwest of Europe, a point in Italy, and more further afield we are looking at Dubai". The airline will be adding more Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to its fleet next year. Ljubljana Airport's General Manager, Zmago Skobir, noted that the Slovenian carrier will likely introduce flights to Stockholm next summer as well. He added, "Rome, Madrid and Barcelona also have great potential. We are also looking at alternatives for the Middle and Far East through Dubai, but we have very strong competition for these markets in Zagreb, Belgrade, Venice and Vienna".

Air Serbia is expected to launch operations between Belgrade and Brač in mid-May 2019, which would make the island its fifth destination in Croatia. Brač Airport's General Manager, Tonči Peović, said the airline is expected to introduce two or three weekly seasonal flights from the Serbian capital with an ATR72 aircraft. Air Serbia is also in talks over the opening of several routes from Niš Airport, according to the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, while the airline has also held talks over potential services to Mostar. The Canadian Ambassador to Serbia, Kati Csaba, said last week that it is still possible for the carrier to commence flights to Toronto next summer, but noted that a 2020 launch is more likely.

Croatia Airlines will maintain its new seasonal flights, launched earlier this year, in 2019 as well. They include services from Zagreb to Dublin, Split to Copenhagen and Dubrovnik to Munich. Croatia Airlines' Director for Network and Revenue Management, Krešimir Mlinar, recently noted, "We analyse some twenty potential new routes twice per year and only then make our decision. During the summer, demand is extremely high. If we had seventy Airbus aircraft, we would be able to fill them during the peak months, however, during the winter, demand is significantly lower and that is unlikely to change". Mr Mlinar added that the airline would continue to lease additional capacity during peak summer months rather than buy new aircraft. The Ukrainian Ministry for Infrastructure has noted that several airlines have expressed interest in establishing flights between Zagreb and Kiev. Croatia Airlines considered introducing services to Ukraine in 2009, however, ultimately decided against the move. Based on traffic flow, unserved European destinations which have been identified by Zagreb Airport as having the potential to sustain direct flights include Kiev, Basel, Geneva, Riga and Sofia.

Montenegro Airlines is looking to further strengthen its scheduled charter operations, which have proven successful for the carrier this summer. In 2019, the airline plans to run a series of flights to five destinations in France and one in Belgoium, in addition to its regular services to Paris and Lyon. The company will deploy its aircraft to La Rochelle, Rennes, Deauville, Nantes, Brive-la-Gaillarde, as well as Liege in Belgium. Furthermore, Montenegro Airlines will extend its seasonal services between Podgorica and Lyon by resuming operations at the very start of the summer season. Meanwhile, Pardubice Airport in central Czech Republic has proposed for the Montenegrin carrier to introduce summer flights from Tivat to the city which lies some 100 kilometres east of Prague. Montenegro Airlines is also considering introducing services to Perugia following talks between the carrier, Podgorica Airport and its counterpart in the central Italian city. Umberto Salimero, the head of Perugia Airport, said, "I have held talks with tour operators who highlighted to me that there is strong interest in Montenegro. It is an appealing tourist destinations for Italians, as well as for religious tourism. It is my desire for Montenegro Airlines aircraft to serve Perugia and we are prepared to lend our support in promoting flights between Podgorica and Perugia".