Air Serbia will resume operations from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport on May 18 to Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Vienna and Zurich. From June 1 the carrier will operate a more comprehensive schedule. Due to anticipated demand, flights to certain destinations will be operated as planned, others will be run at reduced frequencies, while flights to several destinations will be temporarily suspended. Services to Podgorica, Zurich, Vienna, Paris, Tirana, Zagreb, Skopje, Bucharest, London, Sarajevo, Sofia, Frankfurt, Brussels, Kiev, Krasnodar, Zadar, and Nice will remain mostly unaffected. Operations will be optimised to Tivat, Ljubljana, Athens, Thessaloniki, Amsterdam, Prague, Moscow, Berlin, Rome, Istanbul, Milan, Dusseldorf, Dubrovnik, Split, Larnaca, Copenhagen, Stuttgart, New York, Banja Luka, Tel Aviv, Stockholm, Venice, Pula, Barcelona, St Petersburg and Madrid. Air Serbia will not operate flights to Helsinki, Lviv, Amman, Florence, Chisinau, Rostov on Don, Malta, Geneva, Cairo, Beirut and Rijeka. "We are working closely with our partners to determine the demand for charter operations", the carrier said. There is a possibility that some flights to a limited number of destinations may be operated earlier than planned, before June 1.
Revised Air Serbia network for summer 2020
Air Serbia's CEO, Duncan Naysmith, noted, "Although travel is currently restricted by multiple government regulations, we are planning for the easing of restrictions to enable our customers to start travelling again. We will endeavor to operate as many scheduled flights as possible. Our team is carefully following the ongoing decisions of competent authorities and, in addition to relaunching flight operations, we will ensure our customers are kept up to date on their bookings and the appropriate safety measures that will be in place. We have used the period during which we were unable to perform regular operations to reorganise and prepare for the challenges ahead. We have been delighted to be able to assist the Government of Serbia in performing multiple humanitarian and repatriation flights, transporting medical aid and experts, and bringing home our citizens who were stranded at foreign airports".
Air Serbia yesterday announced a new round of repatriation services. Unlike those operated through March and April, which were free of charge, the one-way repatriation flights to Belgrade running from May 11 until May 15 will cost between 155 and 295 euros, depending on the point of origin. Flights will operate from Paris (May 11), Frankfurt (May 12 and 14), Vienna (May 13) and Zurich (May 15). Those interested must apply through the airline’s website. The Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency today lifted a ban on commercial flights to and from the country, some ten days earlier than initially planned.
Meanwhile, the Serbian government is in talks with Air Serbia over the acquisition of new aircraft for the airline. The Minister of Finance, Siniša Mali said, “We will help Air Serbia. We are currently in discussions with the management and drafting a business plan. We might use this opportunity to acquire another aircraft which could be used to fill the void on the market left by the number of airlines going into bankruptcy, which Air Serbia won’t. Therefore, we will examine how we can even better position the carrier following this crisis. However, without a doubt, we will help Air Serbia”. Earlier this week, the Serbian Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, outlined a range of potential state aid measures which could be utilised to assist the airline.
With what money? Ridiculous
ReplyDeleteIt is better to own your aircraft if you can get them at favourable rates than paying leasing fees.
DeleteEspecially now that the aircraft market has collapsed and they can get many new second-hand aircraft.
With the money from the state budget of course. Since JU can't be privatized (no takers), it's up to the government to invest in it and make sure Air Serbia remain fully functional. They might not be extremely profitable (for now) but at least they are useful and have a convenient schedule.
Deleteyou mean they would not be profitable at all for now
DeleteAnd which airline will be profitable 'for now?'
DeleteThis period is not about profitability, not in Serbia or anywhere else.
good that you quote 'for now' because I was just quoting you from your initial post-no need to sugarcoat loses, because indeed, no airline will be profitable 'for now'.
DeleteI honestly don't see a point in what you are trying to say. Unless the point is to nag. Anyone who lives in Serbia and is familiar with the situation here knows very well they JU won't be profitable in the next five years (at least). JU is transitioning into a hub carrier and that costs money. Anyone in the private sector knows that it takes time for a product to be established and for its brand awareness to grow. Same applies for Air Serbia. It's not like when we had useless Jat which was an black hole.
DeleteWould you prefer for JU to be shut down?
JU bankrupt would be a disaster, look at LJU
DeleteIt figures:
Deleteme: critical of JU
Nemjee: you want JU to shut down
others: you hate JU
and this all the time
You are absolutely right, unreasonable critique of JU has become the norm on here.
DeleteUnreasonable defence has become of JU has become the norm on here too.
DeleteNemjee acts like Air Serbia was founded yesterday so they need to time to establish.
DeleteWhat's unreasonable exactly? That he said they need investment until new business models grows? But you are not unreasonable because you expect them to be profitable from day one LOL
DeleteSince you are so smart please offer your services to JU
+100 last Anon, double standards of course.
DeleteTo summarize the two comments above;
DeleteCriticism of Air Serbia: Be the CEO then.
Yes please. <3 More planes for more destinations and frequencies. <3
ReplyDeleteNice to see the government invest in JU and that they are forcing them to be aggressive. Now it's time to invest in the business and to make sure you catch as much market as possible. Yields will come later.
I hope I am proven wrong but I can already predict what kind of comments we will see today. Come on guys, prove me wrong, please.
ReplyDeleteDY is toast, time for JU to introduce OSL.
ReplyDeleteI think in the next five years in the Balkans we will have the following relevant airlines:
ReplyDelete1. Turkish Airlines
2. Aegean
3. Air Serbia
4. Wizz Air
Others will either fail or remain very small.
Maybe Tarom or Blue Air .
DeleteAegean will get partially weakened due to the fall of tourism.
DeleteBoth received €60 million from the Romanian government, that's not that much especially since both airlines have been recording losses so they don't have any capital reserves to rely upon. Unfortunately I would not be surprised if Tarom goes bankrupt in the next 2-3 years, that is unless the Romanian government finds a way to keep on pumping money into them.
DeleteBefore corona they announced that they would be switching to a hybrid model so let's see what becomes of that.
BTW Aegean also paid €25 million for that Romanian charter airline just before corona. Good timing... not.
DeleteImagine what would have happened if Aegean paid anything for OU...
DeleteOuch
They did not pay 25 million, but 412.000. https://en.about.aegeanair.com/-/media/aboutaegean/ir/ir_announcements/2020/animawingsen060320.pdf?forceDownload=0
DeleteGotta LUV those anti RO and anti OS daily comments :D :D the restless fanboys club!
DeleteWhen you upgrade those ATRs, then you are invited to come and give us lectures :)
True, my bad.
DeleteSo I am a fanboy because I provided examples and facts? Tarom is an airline I like and which I've flown on many times but regardless of all that there are still some undeniable facts we can't ignore. Btw most of the state aid they got before Corona went to pay for leases, not to invest in their growth or even stabilization. At this moment their survival is not guaranteed.
DeleteTarom will never go bankrupt. The Romanian government will never let that happen, the same as Air Serbia will continue to have all its losses covered by the Serbian taxpayer.
Delete^ I guess the same way TAROM will continue to have all its losses covered by the Romanian taxpayer.
DeletePeople said the same thing about Malev ;)
DeleteSometimes I feel like collecting some good cash and purchasing 100% of this blog with one sole purpose: to permanently ban anyone who ever uses the word 'taxpayer' in the comment section. It literally identifies fake posters who have nothing but some cheap political or chauvinist agenda to push, be it on Serbia or another exYU country.
Delete+1000
DeleteEspecially since that argument is only used when the topic is JU.
Ok, mister. Then who is paying for those airlines to be alive if not the taxpayer? The taxpayer has the right to know where and how he is contributing to this political and geographical project. As you can see, you see the speech carried out from political figures who are directly involved in the airline. The taxpayer needs to know this information as he is already paying for a service.
Deletesure anon 10:27, that is the way to go, to ban opinions of unlike-minded people.
DeleteThere are still countries in the world that do that.
p.s.
you just inspired me to finally give a name to my profile: it is going to be Taxpayer!
tarom is in a world of trouble or better said was in trouble already before corona. and the likes of ryan&wizz won't hesitate to challenge any state aid that would even smell of being counter EU regulations, because in the end it will be for their own survival vis-a-vis setting a precedent. so betting on romanian government to perpetually infuse money into tarom is a bit of a tricky strategy.
DeleteInteresting how concerned taxpayers only exist in Serbia. No one minded the €155 million YM got.
DeleteOMG I really wish that some investor show up and JU will be privatized! I fed up this "Serbian taxpayer" all the time. There is nothing for now that can be done. It is a state company and probably will stay that way for a long time. Deal with it!!
DeleteRyanair sued Sweden so let's see what happens.
Delete@ anon 9,36
DeleteIf you have any info regarding RO, please do share. It would be interesting to hear what RO is up to.
What I know is that they have been talking on restarting long haul for years, word was they will get A330, than it was B777, last was B787. A team was sent to the US to negotiate slots and a schedule was made for JFK and ORD. New ATR7's were being delivered and said to replace the ATR4's.
Prior to the pandemic, RO was granted 195 million euros in loans as it was said that from march they wouldnt be able to finance their operations. They cut several destinations the past months and was to transition to a hybrid model similar to JU.
In 2018 they had almost 4 times higher lossss compared to JU, with a higher fleet count and roughly carried the same number of pax. RO owns most of their aircraft.
RO is affected because of the fierce competition back home from Ryan, Wizz and Blue Air. Lets put 3 carriers at once in BEG and see if JU will handle the heat the same way RO did.
DeleteThe same is happening now to OS because of Lauda, Wizz and Vueling in VIE.
Come on, let FR base 5 planes and Vueling base 2 and see how what happens? What happens? Well, Serbs will fly cheaper than before and will have more options. Prices to London and Dublin, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus will drop. The taxpayer will pay less, there you go.
Anons 10:41, 11:18
DeleteYou couldn't fool a 5-year old with your fake concern for Serbian taxpayers. It is your last remaining weapon against JU after all the others have badly failed. The best indicator of how authentic that argument is, is the fact that we can read identical comments (copy/paste) on other aviation websites and portals. Same story every day - whenever Serbia invests into something, comes the taxpayer brigade to calculate how many hospitals and kindergartens could have been built instead. You are predictable, repetitive and above all - dishonest to the bone.
I have read many well-argumented criticisms of JU's funding and operations on this blog. I acknowledged them and will always do so. What clearly distinguishes those criticisms from your activism is the fact that they NEVER use taxpayers and their rights as an argument. That makes it super easy to tell a poster who wishes to discuss aviation business from the one who pushes some dumb political agenda.
No Anons 14:50, no! This story was not invented here but had everybody talking about it. If you have some time during the weekend check materials from Ivana Jeremic and Milica Stojanovic - both professional journalists who have well covered this subject especially in one of their excellent statements on BIRN.
DeleteEverytime a statement or truth is brought out, you take it as an attack. The true fact is the taxpayer simply has the right to know where his money goes and how it is spent.
In case of Air Serbia it is mostly clear where the taxpayer money goes and how the company spend it. More than enough transparency for an average taxpayer in Serbia. On this blog, the word 'taxpayer' is used predominantly to portrait Air Serbia as some kind of an unfair player and a cheat in an industry that is otherwise a symbol of fair play that had never seen any taxpayer money whatsoever.
Delete-check materials from Ivana Jeremic and Milica Stojanovic - both professional journalists who have well covered this subject
DeleteI did and it's a kindergarden journalism. More like propaganda focused on unreliable source to prop up prejudiced thinking.
Ivana and Milica raised important issues about the taxpayer not being able to see how much he is contributing to the airline. That's all. Nothing complicated here.
DeleteTo an outsider it looks like Air Serbia is thorn in someone's behind so they might be interested in financially supporting proxy organizations to write ONLY negative things about Air Serbia. Never a balanced or positive article or article that shows same things happening at other ex yu region airlines or showing benefits of having a national carrier. NEVER! If it had at least some of that you could potentially call it journalism. But it never ever has one single positive, so it is just a propaganda. It's easy to figure out who's behind is hurt by that thorn and not too difficult to extrapolate who would be interested in subsidizing such propaganda.
Delete
DeleteMy suggestion to you is to accept that there are people who happen to have different opinions than you.
Nothing wrong with different opinions, but don't try to present it as journalism. Opinions against Air Serbia are freely expressed here and then routinely opposed and destroyed by those who see Air Serbia as far more positive than negative presence. That thorn is hurting you.
DeleteMy suggestion to you is to accept that Air Serbia will continue to grow and be successful.
DeleteIt is not an opinion - it is a dogma. A critical opinion is formed by looking into all aspects of something. People who in seven goddamn years have brought up absolutely nothing but negative aspects, conspiracies and cynical remarks are not people with different opinions. They are dogmatic preachers.
Delete"We might use this opportunity to acquire another aircraft which could be used to fill the void on the market left by the number of airlines going into bankruptcy"
ReplyDeleteCould he be referring to the Chinese market?
I think he is referring to airlines in Europe though it would be interesting to see which ones he is referring to. Many have received funds to survive the non-existent summer season, we have to wait and see how they cope with traditionally weaker winter months.
DeleteThis statement is THE prime example why politics has nothing to do in businesses. Because they do not understand. JAT 2 renewed.
DeleteLast anon your comment makes no sense
DeleteVoid left on the market?? There is no market right now- that is probably why airlines are grounding planes indefinetely. Or you think BA, AF, AA, LH or othesr are projecting the market to only slowly recover? they do it beacuse demand s only slowly recovering..
DeleteAn important factor will be what happens to Austrian which is used quite a lot from ex-Yu. It seems like the Lufthansa Group will sacrifice it to ensure its own funding. Etihad and IAG Group have apparently contacted the Austrian government to acquire shares.
ReplyDeleteI hope they sell it to EY so that OS can go bankrupt in six months. lol
Delete+1
DeleteJust because there were articles about some of the options of what to do with OS, it really means nothing, because LH is still negotiating both with the German and Austrian Governments, so until there is a final decision, posts like yours anon 9:13 are nothing but rumor.
DeleteMeanwhile OS is retiring three B767 suspending Miami and Boston and Los Angeles is turned into summer flights with less frequencies. Let us see what more they cut as their fleet shrinks even more.
DeleteAnon 10:08 leave them. They just learn something about other airlines and take advantage to quickly jump into conclusions without having the faintest idea. Even so, OS would be better into IAG. This is one of the last legacy alliances with decent names like QR, IB and EI.
DeleteIB, BA, EI...are basically the same as FR/W6
DeleteI like his use of the word "we". If ever there was any doubt about who is calling the shots in JU, this should put that debate to bed !
ReplyDeleteWell I remember Lufthansa informing the European Commission in 2014 to investigate Air Serbia because "effective control" was with Etihad and not the majority shareholder - the government. So which one is it?
DeleteEj Mali... get some E75s please.
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit odd. I don't see them needing any additional A319s/A320s. So I can only think he is talking about A330?
ReplyDeleteHe could be talking about smaller regional planes.
DeleteProbably ATRs
DeleteA319's would be needed to replace the B733's.
DeleteA320's were also being replaced with the A319's.
2 ATR7's were to join the fleet this year, 1 replacement for a current lease, another for growth.
I'm really hope this is not related to the Sukhois.
ReplyDeleteNot so long ago, we know that the Russians ware closely eyeing Er Srbija and the talks are likely to continue:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/03/russia-serbia-to-resume-ssj100.html
In times like this, where the aviation industry is beginning a deep recession, Sukhoi is likely to offer a nice discount for JU and this way allowing the airplane to prove itself in the continent.
We can clearly see that SU is using the Sukhoi jets in a very efficient way not only within continental Russia but also to the former Eastern bloc capitals such as Bratislava, Bucharest.
At the moment, the SSJ safety has been enhanced and we see less and less incidents.
Here we see an Italian design of Pininfarina and of a possible look of the future JU Sukhoi aircraft:
https://pininfarina.it/en/work/alenia-superjet-ssj-100/
The LR version is the one that best suits the needs of JU and a range taking it all the way to DXB with no problem at all.
Модель: SuperJet 100-95LR
Дальность полёта: 4578 км
Первый полёт: 12 февраля 2013 года
Летает: 120
As of today, there are 120 planes flying in the sky.
Your propaganda towards SSJ-100 is terrible.
DeleteI hope JU will never ever buy or lease these birds
I hope it does- actually this would be the only reason I would decide to fly with JU, since others incentives in a competitive landscape (better prices, better service or frequent flyer benefits) are non existent.
Delete^ You would be a rare example.
DeleteJU already told the government it's not interested so that's that.
DeleteDo you have any official proof of this information? The last report in March 2020 suggested that the talks will resume in summer. Most likely because Serbia will ask for more discount and possibly order initially 8 airplanes and an option of another 4 by 2024 prior to the opening of the new terminal.
DeleteCurrently the Sukhoi plane is much cheaper and efficient compared to its western counterparts from Embraer or Airbus 220.
Maintenance can be secured for free at least for the first year and possibility of having a Sukhoi technika built in Belgrade airport.
Plus, the Sukhoi range fits perfectly to 99% of Ju network excluding JFK and allows it to operate at least daily to all Balkan and Eastern European capitals.
Lets not forget that Putin supported the idea of supporting the carrier back in December 2019 and his position has not changed.
All the information (or better to say hopes) about this topic were coming from Russian side.
DeleteSpeaks enough who pushes this deal.
In vain.
with A220 you can fly nonstop to JFK :)
DeleteYeah, because a sales person does not sit on his butt and wait for customers. If you want customers go for them. Russia reached out to Serbia. The Sukhoi deal will be sweeter than that one compared to Slovenia because of Brussels.
DeleteThe catalogue price is almost 50 million USD per unit but JU will receive a lower price:
http://www.scac.ru/ru/products/list-prices/
If your base is in MAD, you can reach as far as Iraq with no problem!
http://www.scac.ru/ru/wp-content/uploads/Madrid.jpg
The brand is Russian but like everything in life today, the aircraft is as international as it gets. The components are all western and Russian:
http://www.scac.ru/ru/wp-content/uploads/%D0%A1%D0%98%D0%A1%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%9C%D0%AB.jpg
The current JU livery suits the airplane and sits very well on it.
I wonder how all non-Russian airliners are sooo blind not to see all the "advantages" SSJ100 offers.
DeleteOr maybe some of them already "tasted" this product and discovered its reliability including spare parts support.
Thanks, but no thanks. Try in Kazakhstan.
This is the perfect storm for JU. The wave is big and dangerous but if they ride it successfully they will win big. They will be in a perfect position to capture the re-emerging markets.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion too
DeleteSo it seems JU will start flying to couple of destinations on 18thMAY ?
ReplyDeleteIdealna je prilika da se nabave jos 2 A330 i pokrenu YYZ PEK i ORD.Jeftiniji lizing + neograniceno ulaganje treba iskoristiti. Ukoliko ne uspeju u narednih 5 god vratiti avione i nastaviti sa evropskim letovima. Bar ce znati da su pokusali,onako bi se stalno pitali da li bi mogli...?
ReplyDeleteGreat job AirSerbia! I hope they are Sukhois!
ReplyDelete+1000. 10-15 Sukhois, please!
DeleteA thought that has been occurring to me for a while is JU's cost base. Since in Serbia, costs such as wages etc. are relatively low, the airline should be well positioned to survive post COVID and capture markets which pop up afterwards. Only issue there is high costs where foreign suppliers or businesses are involved such as aircraft leasing. Whilst revenue potential from Serbia isn't great due to the market not being very wealthy, the fact that it often offers the most convenient schedule into BEG and flies to the most destinations does give it the ability to charge a slight premium, mitigating this issue slightly. Along with the very supportive government (the reason why has been subject to much debate), I think JU can make a good situation out of this long term.
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteInteresting to note was that prior to the pandemic, JU was to replace the A320's with ex JP A319's. My guess is that it would of been a cheaper lease while offering better flexibility. After all, there isnt many places they could currently send the A320's.
DeleteIm sure JU gets decent yield on many route combinations where competition isnt big, especially around the Balkans. Add in the hybrid model which seems to be working for them (losses have gone from 50 million euros to 8 in 2018).
It will be interesting to look into the 2019 finances. They had major growth last year, started to release monthly figures, reacted to the bankruptcies of JP and KK, opened a base in INI while starting flights in KVO. It seems to have gone well considering another expansion was supposed to start this year, replacement of ac and a minor fleet growth.
wow they will resume most routes. Surprised.
ReplyDeleteI think they should have kept Geneva.
DeleteIt really is impressive and shows how aggressive they will be in the coming months.
DeleteIt could be now concluded that apart from the destinations instroduced to start in summer 2020 JU won't in the first wave continue to fly to HEL, BEY, RJK and MLA as these probably were the weakest in JU network
DeleteBEY situation harshly deteriorated.
Deleteso, no new routes?
ReplyDeleteUmm are you for real?
DeleteAko poredimo sa prvobitnim planovima skinute su 4 redovne linije (Beirut, Helsinki, Kairo i Malta), 1 sezonska (Rijeka) i svih 6 novoplaniranih (Firenca, Ženeva, Aman, Rostov na Donu, Lavoov i Kisinjev).
ReplyDeleteKako je izgledalo u pojedinim momentima nije strašno. Drugo je pitanje kako će sve ovo izgledati i kakva će biti popunjenost letova.
Inače, najčudnije mi je ya Maltu. Razumem da leti Wiyy Air iy Beograda i Ryan iz Niša, ali opet...
Interesting how one of the main arguments here of the advantages of having a national airlines was that is brought people back for free.. and now they are charging 300 euros :)
ReplyDeleteThey brought 11,000 people back for free. Probably one of the only airlines in the world that did that :)
DeletePretty much the only proactive government and proactive airline in the ex-YU region, when it comes to the air-travel industry.
Deleteespecially since it wants to win the elections which are very soon
DeleteWho cares about the elections as long as we profit from strong aviation in Serbia.
DeleteI have booked ticket for inauguration flight Geneva-Belgrade. Would it be possible to change it for Zurich-Belgrade free of charge?
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe it's possible. Just call their contact center.
DeleteI think it was a mistake to cut Geneva.
DeleteWill be interesting to see what easyJet does now that JU is pulling out. They increased the route to 6 weekly, I highly doubt it will stay like that.
DeleteI think it's a mistake to reduce AMS ops. If anything, I would use the crisis to try and get more slots in this lucrative and otherwise congested airport.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the biggest concern among some participants here is that JU will keep the most of its respectable network.
ReplyDeleteI truly feel sorry for all of you. It must be painful.
Is the selfisolation in Serbia still 14 days after arriving in the country?
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to get earlier out of Serbia?
Yes it's 14 days but they said they will change that in the next few days. It seems like they will introduce testing at the airport and if you are negative you won't have any self isolation. But it should be clear in the next few days.
DeleteSomeone wants to earn big money from this.
DeleteNestorovic said yesterday that if you want to travel abroad and that country requires a test you can get one for 6.000 RSD which is roughly €50.
Deletehttp://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/453769/Nestorovic-Korona-test-na-zahtev-gradana-oko-6-000-dinara
I wonder if you will be able to get tested when you arrive in Belgrade Airport and cleared from 14 day quarantine, if tested negative?
DeleteI wonder if you will be able to get tested when you arrive in Belgrade Airport and cleared from quarantine, if tested negative?
DeleteYes it looks like it will be available and cost 50 eur.
DeleteEpidemic situation in the UK does not justify reopening London service by May 18. Vienna and Zurich are in a much better place and Germany is on the right track. Opening LHR is high risk at this point unless every single passenger gets a swab test.
ReplyDeleteWizz flies three times daily LTN-SOF nowadays.
ReplyDeleteDa svi budemo zdravi i da sto pre putujemo i uzivamo u lepoti sveta!!! Poz iz Beca
ReplyDeleteFor me the most interesting part is that Bucharest, Krasnodar and Tirana remain unchanged even after corona. This goes to show that they are committed to these markets and to the transfers they carried until now. Personally I expected both OTP and TIA to be reduced. It's good that, generally speaking, their regional network was not butchered.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see what LJU flights get cut and if they reduced some of the noon departures.