Air Serbia will temporarily suspend its year-round flights to Madrid and Kiev, as well as its seasonal service to Nice, until the 2021 summer season due to travel restrictions and falling demand. Operations to the Spanish capital will be discontinued from July 29, to Nice from August 8 and to Kiev from August 31. Furthermore, the planned resumption of several destinations has been postponed by a few weeks, while frequencies to several cities will be reduced. The carrier intends on restoring operations to Rome, Milan and Bucharest on August 16 instead of August 1, as initially planned. In addition, the Serbian national airline plans to resume flights to Brussels following a break, on August 27, while services to Venice will start on August 31. Flights to Moscow and Tel Aviv, which were originally to be restored in August, have now been pushed back to September 1.
All affected passengers will be informed about changes to the schedule and their new travel options. Air Serbia previously discontinued its flights to Helsinki, Malta, Cairo, Beirut and Rijeka and cancelled plans to launch operations to Lviv, Amman, Florence, Chisinau, Rostov on Don and Geneva, Last week, the carrier added a new destination to its network - a two weekly service to Oslo. “Due to the coronavirus pandemic and re-introduced flight bans and travel restrictions, we have been forced to further adjust our destination network in the coming period”, the company said in a statement.
In a bid to attract travellers, Air Serbia has introduced a new service following its “Keep Boarding” program. The carrier has now launched “Flight Pass”, which allows for passengers to purchase multiple tickets up front with savings up to 50% for a group of prepaid flights. The new concept permits the purchase of a minimum of four tickets up front with a set price and destination, which can be used at whatever time. The Flight Pass can also be shared with family members and friends and can be paid in installments. Air Serbia’s Head of Passenger Service System and Distribution, Zoran Rodasavljević, said, “The needs of our passengers represent the priority that guides our operations, so we wanted to let them have the freedom to create their own offer which works for them the best. By purchasing multiple passes, they can enjoy a greater discount. As has been the case so far, we will continue to work on always offering more to our passengers and creating added value for them”.
Such a shame, NCE had between 20 and 40 passengers. I guess that wasn't enough to keep it operating. Shame about Spain but with corona on the rise in both countries it's wise to suspend flights. That said, I don't understand why BCN flights will go ahead when they have over 1.000 new daily cases there?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, JU will be increasing IST from 3 to 5 in August.
Obviously there is more demand for Barcelona.
DeleteThe Covid-19 situation in Spain is getting much worse.
DeleteWe should really think about banning travel there until things improve.
Yes especially since Spain was one of the worst hit countries in the world, it shows their lack of skills to fight this virus. Given the relatively bad situation in Serbia, we need to introduce a ban on all flights.
DeleteThe new IST is a perfect destination for Air Serbia. Now there is an incredible room, I bet they will expand there more in the future.
DeleteNumbe of flights between Belgrade and Istanbul will be increased in August, it could also be a sign that tourists are returning?
DeleteSerbs can enter Turkey and go on holiday there. Turks are also limited in where they can enter so they are going to Serbia too.
DeleteWe should first of all think about banning passengers from JFK/US entering Serbia without being tested
DeleteOuch! I guess there was not enough demand
ReplyDeleteSo many countries do not allow passengers from Serbia due to current situation to enter on their territory. After all it is really not strange that demand is decreased.
DeleteAnon 09:08
Delete+1000
We should accept that this summer season is dead.
So that's 8 routes suspended. My question is will the other 5 return next year like these three?
ReplyDeleteI think the other 5 won't come back
DeleteDepends on where corona takes us in the end. Look at all the restrictions different countries faced. Issue is that many airlines got aid for what they experienced in the past, not what they will experience in the coming months. For example OS got money to survive the lockdown but then the Austrian government banned them from flying to like 8 different countries causing them to lose millions. Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Egypt... were massive markets for them.
DeleteIts still too early to tell. They did suspend the launch of 6 new routes only to later launch OSL. I think we will see some return next year, not all.
DeleteFrankfurt has been decreased in August from 10 to 3 weekly
ReplyDeleteFRA was operated 7 weekly last summer.
DeleteDamn thats rough... Then again last year was insane so 3 vs 7 weekly is understandable under these circumstances
Deleteufff
DeleteIt was operated 7 pw last year but this summer they increased to 10 pw as they finally managed to get additional morning slots in FRA.
Deletehttps://biznis.rs/vesti/air-serbia-povecava-broj-letova-za-cirih-i-frankfurt-po-10-letova-nedeljno/
I think FRA is already down to 3 a week. Can't find a flight new week.
Delete:(
ReplyDeleteMore and more of the network is disappearing.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it really makes you think if having such little traffic is even worth having? Wouldn't it be cheaper just to park the airline until all this passes? Or is this a convenient way to give them millions in subsidies?
Delete^ Are you for real? They fly to over 40 destinations. And you think they should just shut down. Wow.
Delete@ 10.24 I'm surprised you didn't suggest the same for Croatia Airlines considering they have cut 4 routes and have a smaller network. Or Montenegro Airlines? Interensting.
DeleteToday's topic is JU, OU on the other hand has not announced a major expansion only to cut flights. In a way, and you will have to agree with me, this shows that someone in JU is not very mature if they made these decisions like this. I am sorry but increase from 7 to 10 on FRA only to cut it to 3 is not very mature or serious. It makes no sense.
DeleteThis is a story about JU network cuts.
DeleteWhat does OU or YM have to do with it?
@ Anonymous09:24
DeleteIn your dreams.
Because you were no where to be found on the story about OU network cuts with the same nasty comments.
DeleteWell if ATH is operated by the ATR, it tells you how bad the situation is..
Delete09:32 These cuts have been made due to change in the countries of allowing serbs in, JU cant fly us in if there are bans and quarantine requierments so of clurse there will be reducings and supended routes , JU made increases assuming there
DeleteWont be any requiremrents, its not like they decided to increase to 10 and then down to 3 just line that, its made due to changes in countries allowing us in and whole networl is being affected as we carry transfers aswell! Stop making so stupid comments and gloat on this unfortunate situation tjat JU is in.
@9.52 Serbian citizens are not allowed to enter Greece. So it's amazing they are even operating Athens.
Delete@9:56
DeleteWow, who is flying on those Athens flights then? Anyone knows LF?
^ Greeks, Serbian residents in Greece, their families, transfer passengers.
DeleteNot all flights to ATH are operated with the ATR, most are on the A319.
DeleteSo much for route expansions, new planes and more long haul flights the government was announcing in April and May.
ReplyDeletePre-election fairytails.
DeleteWho can make expansion under these circumstances?
DeleteAs far as I remember they were talking only about thepossibility of leasing one more aircraft as the prices were very low, but I can't recall that they were talking in April and May that they will open new long haul as long as the crisis is not over.
Pre-corona reality more like it.
DeleteWell, the situation Serbia and JU is in can only be blamed on the elections and poor decisions by an incompetitant government.
DeleteRoutes were being reestablished, Wizz grew capacity, airlines were returning...and then Serbia gets closed off by several countries.
We have learnt over the years that what the government says about JU should be ignored.
Not surprised
ReplyDeleteOn what routes are frequencies being decreased?
ReplyDeleteOuch indeed.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot more subsidies will be needed for the airline to survive.
Name me some airlines that have not received subsidies.
ReplyDeleteAll LCCs.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think Aegean.
Well your "all LCC's" is far from the truth. Have a look at what Norwegian got, or easyjet, or Wizz Air. No point in discussing with you. And btw, Aegean is negotiating with the government over aid.
ReplyDeleteAegean got aid from the government in forms of loans, I think around €135 million. Wizz Air got aid from the UK government and I am sure Orban overpaid for those China charters.
ReplyDeleteNeither Easyjet or Wizz Air received state aid. And neither did Blue Air or Ryanair.
ReplyDeleteSorry to sock you.
Who really cares? I mean the Government will just pump in money..
ReplyDeleteNo Anon 09:44. Aegean did not receive any loan from the Greek Government and neither did any other Greek airline. Wizz Air did not receive aid from neither the UK or the Hungarian goverments.
ReplyDeleteEvery airline is now going to get some aid in every part of the world. All goverments want to save jobs so of course that they will pay to the airlines, state or private owned. But because of current situation, you cannot justify aid given to the regional airlines in the previous years.
ReplyDeleteReally
ReplyDelete"UK Gov Hands Hungarian WizzAir £300M Bailout"
https://www.godsavethepoints.com/wizzair-300m-uk-gov-covid-loan/
Can I just ask why is it not a problem for Lufthansa, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, SAS, Alitalia, Air France, KLM, Air Baltic and many others to get aid but somehow it is a problem for Air Serbia to get it?
ReplyDeleteA loan is not a subsidy.
ReplyDeleteJU, OU and YM receive subsidies from their goverments. Not loans.
A loan is a subsidy if the government is guaranteeing it like is the case with Swiss or Austrian Airlines. Also do you think banks would be willing to cash out billions in loans under these circumstances? I doubt it so it is a form of subsidy.
ReplyDeleteFYI A3 expects aid no matter what
ReplyDeletehttps://greekcitytimes.com/2020/05/10/aegean-airlines-counting-on-help-from-the-government/
They why didn't the UK government guaranteed the loan of W6?
ReplyDeleteAnd no, the government guaranteeing a loan is very different from a subsidy.
There is a huge difference between aid given to the JU, YM and OU in the previous years just because they are unprofitabile and aid given to the literaly every airline in the world because of current crisis.
ReplyDeleteSo glad Serbian government is stepping in and helping out our airline during these difficult times. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI would just like Air Serbia to pay me back the money for tickets I purchased through travel agency for flights Air Serbia cancelled.
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting since middle of May for one ticket and middle of June for another one. When I call them they just throw the responsibility to travel agencies, but the fact is that the agencies simply can't pay it back to the customer as long as airline does not pay them back.
After I provided that kind of explanation to call center operator there was nothing but silence at the other side. Shame.
Don't you have any understanding for the situation???
DeleteIf the company goes belly up - you will get nothing + there will be no connectivity.
What do you mean by understanding? To finance their cancelled flights?
DeleteDo you understand that they pay back the money to the customers who purchased tickets online on their site within 30 days? And to the customers who purchased it through travel agencies they ignore payments.
I don't call it understaning, I call it discrimination.
And as long as ruling party is in power Air Serbia will not go belly up. No matter how big are expenses.
Im still waiting for money from czech airlines Paid almost 3.000 euro nd the föoghts were cncelled still no money , nd from SAS im for 1000 euros... you will have to wait a long time.. its understandble giving the circumstances
DeleteI also made the mistake of being thru a third party... in these cases we see the troubles.. im waiting for months now from cza airlines and SAS... they are stalling like crazy but eventually you will get your money.
DeleteIf JU is all this time getting money from the goverment (like other regional airlines) for covering losses and expanding, why than it cannot use one part of that money for compesations to passangers or simply just take more money for compesate cannceled flights?
DeleteExactly.
DeleteAnd additionally due to cancelled flights they have less expenses for fuel, airport taxes, Eurocontrol etc.
I am not saying they are profitable, but certainly they can cover refund expenses of canceled flights. As they do to the customers who purchased the tickets directly on their web site.
So the tax payer should cover your risk of buying a flight amid a global pandemic. Ok.
DeleteAny news on what is happening with their huge debt negotiations? Maybe this hit they are taking is somehow part of it?
Delete^ it has absolutely nothing to do with it.
DeleteSo why is then airline selling these tickets if they are going to canncel it? To get free money? And if taxpayer can pay for battles with Wizz then it also can pay compensations for canceled flights.
DeleteAll airlines are selling tickets for many flights that are later canceled because at the time they don't know they will be cancelled because we are in an unprecedented situation where things are changing on an hourly basis. It's as if you have been living under a rock.
DeleteYes, but now when buying airline ticket is roulet game.
DeleteIt was not the case at the beginning of the year and they are actually playing now also with the customers who purchased the tikets at the time when health crisis was not known at all.
It is 2 blades sword. Due to that risky game airlines are playing many people won't buy the tickets.
Ad for that smart guy who believes that taxpayers should pay me back the following information- taxpayers already paid a lot to this company even in the case where there was no crisis. Now they just need to do what they got used to do.
No matter what Serbian Government will not allow Air Serbia to go belly up.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia is here to stay no matter how some people might like it or not.
Its not like that some people do not want to see JU anymore, or OU and YM, its about aid given to them every year just because they are money losing. A lot of people here think that airline should not just depend on the state but become independent and make expansion by its own money. Expansion should be the product of positive financial results and not the product of taxpayers money.
ReplyDeletePurger
ReplyDeleteDržava na nacionalnog prijevoznika može utjecati, poglavito ako je u njenom vlasništvu, da ju poveže sa strateški bitnim tržištima, kao što su domaće linije, linije za dijasporu, turističke linije, politički bitne linije, linije koje akumuliraju gospodarstvo. Isto možda nije komercijalno isplativo za samu zrakoplovnu kompaniju, ali je u konačnici ISPLATIVO za državu i njeno gospodarstvo (npr. dijaspora koja se često vraća kući i ostavlja novac).
https://tangosix.rs/2020/21/07/kolumna-alena-scurica-treba-li-sloveniji-nacionalni-avio-prijevoznik/
For that you have a PSO airlines, see Wideroe in Norway which connects smaller cities, Air Corsica in France which connects Corsica to mainland France... You also have PSO where airline is payed only for couple of routes like in OU and Trade Air which are getting money for domestic operation, but still that is not excuse for bad managed airlines who are losing money and expanding on taxpayers bill.
ReplyDeletePSO is not possible in Serbia for domestic traffic as there is no domestic traffic.
ReplyDeleteCouple of routes paid to OU? Actually PSO is paid for each domestic route in Croatia to OU and to Trade Air.
ZAG-PUY
ZAG-ZAD
ZAG-SPU
ZAG-DBV
ZAG-BWK
ZAG-OSI
PUY-ZAD
SPU-OSI
DBV-OSI
SPU-DBV
And how much is OU routes operating if that is not copule of routes?
ReplyDeleteI think BCN will be the next victim. W6 is currently offering flights for 9,99€ for many dates. VY also abdicated this summer from BEG. Most likely OSL is next. Time to look East and consider Georgia and Moldova instead.
ReplyDeleteIn same time Croatia was not cancel any routes they start after Covid-19, but every week they have more routes and frequencies.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia was too optimistic or wrong planning, and now they have to cancel and postponed. For sure that is not good for passengers and image of company and country.
Croatia is in the EU and its citizens are able to enter the EU. Air Serbia could not predict that the EU would ban entry for Serbian citizens. But let's see what happens with certain routes by Croatia Airlines now that some countries are are starting to recommend self isolation upon return from Croatia.
DeleteCroatia Airlines also serves significantly fewer markets . It also depends primarily on western tourists during the summer rather than local demand and Balkan transfers, all of which have been affected by a second surge of the virus. Think a bit before you write.
DeleteJU wasnt too optimistic, it was set back by poor government decisions which have resulted in countries closing off travel with Serbia.
DeleteJU has the past month retired 3 aircraft from the fleet, and none have come as a replacement.
@13.33 OU was selling SPU-BEG tickets for late July just a few days ago. So obviously they dp schedule flights and then cancel.
Delete@ JATBEGMEL
DeleteWhich planes have been retired?
1 A320 (YU-APG), 1 B733 (YU-AND), 1 AT7 (YU-ALV).
DeleteA320? That aircraft seems new in comparasion to these two 30 year olds. Why it is retired?
DeleteIt's not retired it's lease is ending and this was planned before corona and reported here numerous times. It was/is supposed to be replaced by 2 ex-Adria A319s. They have the Air Serbia livery painted.
DeleteAnd is YU-ALV just parked or retired, because it is the newest one among ATRs? Why they didnt retire YU-ALN, ALO or ALP which are really for retirement?
DeleteJust click on the air srbia tag and you will find news for all these planes. And an end of a lease and the retirement of a plane are two different things.
DeleteYU-AND retired?
DeleteWe had in the comments a week or so ago where it was mentioned the 2 exJP A319's arent coming. They were painted in the JU livery and stored in TLS awaiting delivery.
Delete-ALN, ALO and ALP are all owned by JU while the rest are leased, so I guess theyll extend their life span until things get better ie no need to pay lease for capacity they cant use to the maximum as of yet.
Only 2 B733's remain: YU-ANI and ANK. Both flew recently and both to AYT.
Ten routes is closer to dozen routes.
ReplyDeleteCouple means 2-3and it is surely not the expression for 10 routes.
Air Serbia should introduce a new daily flight Belgrade - Antalya .
ReplyDeleteThere are no restrictions at all and if people want to go to the sea they have no alternative to Turkey .
Air Serbia has 3 flights to Antalya tomorrow.
Delete^ Antalya is JUs silver lining on a dark horizont .
DeleteTotally agree, especially when you consider that Montenegro,Croatia,Greece,Italy,Cyprus and soon Spain ban Serbians from their beaches .
Flying to Turkey should be Air Serbias rescue strategy for 2020 .
I can even imagine JU flying double daily to Antalya + Turkish daily + Pegasus daily .
You're so amazingly caring, but I'd say this is just the beginning of more cancellations, sorry.
DeleteAt least charter season is slowly recovering at BEG, three AYT and one HRG tomorrow
ReplyDeleteAll general practice experts understand aviation like Marica ... Read any news, spit on Air Serbia, keep drinking your morning coffee, the mission is done, your day will be better. I'm really sick of reading because Air Serbia is to blame for everything. And what exists and what flies and what doesn't fly and what has planes and what returns planes whose leasing has expired. What they don't throw out is B733, they throw out 1 plane, they threw out a plane that looks like that. Some countries ban the entry of our citizens, they suspend that line, they are ashamed to close the line terribly terrible ... As if ASL, OU, YM also made a virus, just spitting on them. If you were as smart as you pretend to be, you would probably do something significant in the aviation industry. It is true that they are not the best companies. As they are, they should be supported in these difficult times.
ReplyDelete