NEWS FLASH
Members of Air Canada’s frequent flyer loyalty program Aeroplan will now be able to redeem miles on any Air Serbia flight, as well as include stopovers in Belgrade. Aeroplan members can use around 40.000 miles for an economy class ticket, or 70.000 miles for a business class ticket on Air Serbia’s service from New York to Belgrade. In addition, they can include a connection to most points in Europe and the Middle East within Air Serbia’s network for no additional miles. A stopover in Belgrade amounts to an addental 5.000 miles. At this point, Aeroplan members still cannot earn miles by flying with Air Serbia.
Does this mean code-share will be activated soon and we might see JU flying to Canada starting from next summer?
ReplyDeleteShame that Rouge no longer has B767s as they would be perfect for BEG.
DeleteCodeshare between Air Serbia and Air Canada on potential Toronto-Belgrade direct service would be unlikely.
DeleteDespite both AC and OU being members of Star Alliance and codesharing on other routes, Air Canada and Croatia Airlines didn't codeshare on Rouge YYZ-ZAG service.
Not sure what was so great about those old 767s..? I mean, they do the basic job, fly safely and all, but it's far from great product, even if you consider Rouge low cost/leisure airline. I would more like to see 339s or even Dreamliners next summer to ZAG or even BEG:)
DeleteI mentioned Rouge because they have a lower cost and the B767 is cheap to operate and it's the right size. However if JU can run an A330 to JFK then I am sure AC can operate A333 to BEG at least twice a week in summer, they have a lot of connecting opportunities, both within Canada and the United States of America.
DeleteAir Canada/Air Transat merger is in the process and if approvals are given they will be one airline sometime next year. With older widebody retirement both airlines already completed (A310/B767), Ex Yu region enthusiasts should look at A321LR as the most interesting aircraft in combined fleet in my opinion. Recent YUL-ATH nonstop flight could have been considered almost as "route proving" for thin and long (for a narrowbody) services to potential low yield/leisure destinations further East. If the demand is there, upgrade to A330 could be the next step up.
DeleteYUL to ATH was a charter with some 60 passengers. I doubt it could make BEG-YYZ with a full load.
DeleteDidn't mention YYZ-BEG. Did mention EX YU. Could mean anything like YUL-DBV, YUL-SPU or YYZ-ZAG etc.
DeleteYUL-ATH is operated by ACs 787-9 from this year.
DeleteYes and I expressed my doubts as I don't think it can fly fully loaded anywhere from ex-YU to Canada.
DeleteAre you aware before covid Rouge used to fly 4 weekly on 767 and Transat 3 weekly on A330 between YYZ and ZAG. And you suggest to switch to lower capacity and lower comfort when situation gets back to normal? Sorry but I don't see it. Additional flights from YUL to ZAG on 321XLR, yes, but reducing YYZ, definitely not
DeleteTimes have changed with covid, demand won't be back for another decade.
DeleteMr Rijeka there might be other factors at play determining future capacity. In retrospect, SkyGreece started with only one weekly YYZ-ZAG service. When they failed TS started with one weekly, slowly increasing the frequency and seasonal service start/end dates. Significant capacity jump only occured when AC joined the party. Air Canada and Air Transat were competitors at that time and under similar conditions airlines tend to increase capacity to erode each other's yield.
DeleteAs seen with other airline mergers, capacity discipline is then typically applied to previously competing services in order to drive healthier revenue and increased yield. If we can learn from those experiences, it would be reasonable to expect capacity reduction if the merger goes ahead. Add Covid effect to the mix and as a result daily widebody YYZ-ZAG service might not return for quite some time.
On the other hand people might be eager to fly again, tourists to visit, immigrants to go to homeland, after they couldn't do it because of covid. Also, with one carrier instead of two, with no overlapping of flights which was the case till now, for example both AC and TS in ZAG on the same day, maybe we can expect not reduction, but increase in capacity, especially if you add to that Croatia becoming more popular tourist destination for Canadians year by year,of course with exception of this one because of the crisis. With all respect for your arguments, they are just a theory, the same as mine, and we will have to wait and see whose guess was correct
DeleteYes, just forgot to comment about "airlines tending to increase capacity to erode each other's yields" - as far as I know, both carriers had LF of around 80%,and premium product almost regularly sold out. So, yields are not the problem here and once again I think ZAG has potential to have even AC mainline with wide body aircraft, definitely not to reduce capacity to YYZ.
DeleteThis is HUGE news for JU, as it gives the 5 MILLION Aeroplan members access to book online to Belgrade or through to other destinations. This has helped LH, Polish LOT and others in gaining a number of extra seats for transfers.
ReplyDeletePlus it adds the ability for AC passengers travelling to BEG the option of flying through New York instead of a European hub (overnights being the attractive part). Effectively, it expands the BEG hub. Really great news that will be reflected in the near future.
Well done to AC, not even 2 days after taking over Aeroplan.
I don't think AC flies to JFK, only LGA.
DeleteAir Canada owned Aeroplan, then divested and then made a U-turn to go back. Yesterday was official relaunch date.
DeleteRedeeming Aeroplan on Air Serbia JFK-BEG is an interesting option, to say at least.
AC did not fly to JFK in many years and before Covid-19 there was no reasonable way for Air Serbia passengers to connect from JFK to YYZ and back.
Unfortunately you can't book AC=JU flights on their websites so I guess sale will be made through various agents? I think an official codeshare will happen soon.
DeleteOfficial codeshare? This is a mile redemption.
DeleteLGA is the better option airport for ASL. JFK is way too expensive.
DeleteGeez, Anons 17:10 and 18:12! This is not a codeshare; and LGA has 2400km distance limit - no long haul possible (and no border control)!
DeleteI am Anon 17.10 and you might want to read the last thing I wrote.
Delete...and you might want to read 16:14.
DeleteAre you referring to the OU comment? What has OU got to do with JU and AC? So just because OU doesn't do something no one else can? Please, get real. AC and JU are obviously working on something right now behind closed doors so OU is kind of irrelevant.
DeleteThese comments are just....wow
DeleteYes! These are also wow news we are reading, this is great for both airlines
DeleteJust a kind reminder that AC and OU both belong to the same family which is called Star Alliance, so there is not much to be discussed about.
DeleteYes, OU is very prestigious because of that. Very fancy airline as some would say on here.
DeleteI don't think that LH is going to be very happy with this... Canada-FRA/MUC-BEG is her courtyard...
ReplyDeleteThis is very bad news for LH but JU and AC interline through other airports than FRA and MUC.
DeleteReally bad lol.
DeleteGiven the fact they are currently falling apart I think any kind of competition is pretty bad for them. Don't forget that LH alone had 5 daily to BEG last WINTER!
DeleteJU with one widebody, one long haul route and mile redemtion on it is HUGE threat to LH. They are definitly going to colapse on that route.
DeleteGiven the amount of transfers they have from BEG to Canada, especially Toronto, I am certain they are not too happy about this. Also what has JU's widebody fleet got to do with anything? JU and AC transfers can work at any European airport as long as their schedules are synchronized. However I am sure you know that, you just need to throw mud at JU.
DeleteYes, it is definitly throwing mud, not on JU but on stupid hilarious commentator who thinks airline with one long haul route who just got miles deal with AC can significant efect ACs alliance and joint venture partner. This is not even codeshare, just miles redemtion deal....
DeleteIt's a miles redemption scheme which opens a whole new channel for passengers to travel. Someone in the past might have avoided AC-JU flights because they would lose out but that's no longer the case. AC's frequent fliers can now get miles while flying on JU which is a great win for Air Serbia. It makes them more competitive when it comes to the Canadian market. Passengers can now connect in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen...onto JU. I don't see why you are so attached to that one plane in their fleet. I guess you are still not over JU flying to JFK. Move on, it's been like what now, six years?
DeleteLast anon: they cannot earn AC miles while flying with JU. They can use miles.
DeleteOh yes, I’m totally crazy because JU is flying long haul. And I’m very jellaous because of it. You are right. Mile redemtion=codeshare despite no codeshare. And yes AC is bad effecting it’s joint venture partner with.... mile deal with small Eastern European carrier. Despite this is just a redemption deal between Aeroplan and JU where you can buy AirSerbias tickets with Aeroplan miles, this is also somehow a codeshare despite no signs of it in this deal. You are right totally. Thank you for changing my mind.
DeleteAnon 10:26 same spelling errors and still jealous. Don't you have your own website now?
DeleteAt least i am not using "you are jelaous" as argument against.
DeleteI love when people use jelaousy as an argument. It just shows with how much arguments they left.
DeleteLove this.
ReplyDeleteMEA and Etihad are the only non-Star carriers that AC has this deal with. Nice to see JU become number three.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone is saying this will hurt LH, it could also benefit them. For example, someone can take LH to Germany and connect onto an Air Serbia flight in Germany. It just doesn't have to be with Air Canada. Aeroplan rules, which I have, only allows for one transfer each way too.
ReplyDelete