Air Serbia handled 1.257.597 passengers on its scheduled and charter flights during the first three quarters of the year, an increase of 45% compared to the same period in 2020. Its market share at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport stood at 51%, up six points on the pre-pandemic 2019. Both last year and so far in 2021, Air Serbia managed to achieve better results than the industry average in the majority of key performance indicators, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions. During its busiest month the year, in August, the carrier reached 75.7% of its pre-pandemic traffic on the same month two years ago, while the European Average was 45% and the global average 36.7%. Overall, it handled more than 300.000 travellers that month.
Commenting on the results, the airline’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Jiri Marek, said, “We are proud of the results achieved during the first nine months of 2021, especially having in mind the specific circumstances in which we are operating. We carefully monitor demand all the time and adjust our capacities on the most popular destinations in our network. We believe that it was this flexibility and quick response that contributed the most to the result”. He added, “We are especially happy that, as the largest carrier at Belgrade Airport, we made a significant contribution to the recovery of overall traffic. In the upcoming period, we will remain committed to our goal of fully returning to levels from 2019, but with a dose of caution, focusing on monitoring the development of the situation”.
Air Serbia's annual passenger performance
Last month, the Serbian carrier welcomed 193.000 passengers on board its aircraft, up 80% on 2019. However, with Serbian citizens increasingly being restricted entry into a number of key European markets due to a surge in Covid cases, the airline may see a reduction in demand. Next month, Air Serbia plans to run 1.580 scheduled flights (return service included) across 37 destinations with 178.224 seats put up for sale. On October 26, the airline will mark its eighth anniversary since being relaunched under its new brand.
Congrats. The huge demand for holiday flights this summer really helped them as I think their charter performance was better than pre-pandemic years.
ReplyDeleteTrue about charters and they are continuing even in late October. Tomorrow Air Serbia has 4 charter flights to Hurghada
DeleteNice. Wonder if these charters will continue in winter months. I mean that is when it is actually best to travel to destinations like Hurghada.
DeleteThey will
DeleteTour packages to Hurghada are being sold throughout whole of winter. Demand for Hurghada will be even greater this winter especially because tour operators are having issues with capacity in Dubai because hotels in Dubai are fully booked for November and December because of expo and even the space left is at huge prices.
DeleteAnyone know their average load factor?
ReplyDeleteIt probably wasn't great if Air Serbia didn't want to share.
DeleteAre covid related restrictions that big of a deal? I mean it's mostly unvaccinated travelers that are affected.
ReplyDeleteGood for JU for performing so well. I think the rest of the year will be good.
They are because most apply even to vaccinated people. There are 3 European countries Serbian citizens can't enter at all.
DeleteWhich are? Norway Bulgaria and Poland?
DeleteI think that's why LCA performs so well for them. Cyprus is not being difficult when it comes to entering the country. I know so many people who went there now for holidays since the weather is still nice.
DeleteA friend of mine who works at LCA told me that yesterday JU sent the A320 and on the flight back they had 160 booked passengers with more than 40 transfers to Copenhagen.
There is also the issue with vaccinated people about which vaccine they got as majority of European countries do not follow WHO guidelines and only follow EMA guidelines. In Serbia, according to latest statistic 3.7 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine have been given, 1.3 million of Pfizer, 602.000 of Sputnik and 255.000 with Astra.
DeleteAre you kidding me? Not only are there countries where Serbian citizens can't enter at all, but there are also countries where it's theoretically possible to enter, but crazy quarantine requirements make traveling impossible. And it's been like that for a year and a half.
DeleteHow about you start giving concrete examples because from what I can see key markets from Serbia are accessible.
DeleteHow are key markets accessible when you can't enter Germany unless you are vaccinated with Pfzier or Astra Zenaca and even if you are you go into 10 days of quarantine.
DeleteIf you are not vaccinated with Phizer or Astra Zenaca you can't enter Switzerland from Serbia.
DeleteOnly people with Sputnik, can't enter CH, check BAG web before spreading misinformation!
Delete@9.41 I'm really wondering what your point is? Are you claiming Serbian citizens can freely enter the EU? Well it's not the case.
DeleteSerbians are completely banned from entering Sweden, Poland, and Bulgaria. Norway os close to this definition woth few exception. To a number of countries like Belgium, Portugal, Finland only business and ethnic travel is allowed along with revacvination proof and negative test. Italy mandated quarantine for everyone traveling from Serbia until recently. I think those with Western vaccines are no longer put into quarantine on entering Italy.
DeleteVaccinated people can enter France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Austria....
DeleteThe issue is that not all vaccinated people can enter. In France you can't enter with Sinopharm vaccine. In Austria you can enter the country but you can't enter any caffe, restaurant, hotel, gym with Sinopharm vaccine. Many countries still require expensive PCR test, which for two people costs 150 euros.
DeleteOn top of that most European countries do not recognize Serbia's green certificate as EU certificate which is increasingly needed to attend conferences, enter cafes and restaurants. I don't know why the government didn't get the certificates recognized on EU level like Macedonia and Albania have whose certificates are now treated as being issues in the European Union.
DeleteSo many people going on about restrictions yet BEG keeps on performing well. Fact is that many countries have the Green Pass but from Serbia they accept the covid vaccination report as the equivalent.
DeleteIt is performing well because there is organic demand and local population actually travels and found alternative destinations to travel to with fewer restrictions and additional costs. Imagine if there were no restrictions.
DeleteSweden is closed to Serbian passports holders. Gastos can travel.
DeleteYou are right. Situation in Serbia and the world is normal. Serbian citizens can freely enter everywhere and these results by Air Serbia and BEG are terrible. Happy now? :)
DeleteSerbian passport holders can't enter Luxembourg via air routes, but can using land routes with negative PCR; Serbian vaccination certificate is not accepted. The rule is not even clearly communicated. Important for Luxair's Belgrade service.
DeleteWhat I can’t understand is that the other day Croatia Airlines CCO said they handled 400,000 passengers combined in June, July and August (https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/10/croatia-airlines-sees-signs-as-recovery.html), while Air Serbia handled more than 300,000 passengers in just one month in August. I can’t understand that OU is so inefficient, operating from a tourist country which thrives in peak summer months with loads of tourists despite pandemic but national airline handles so few passengers compared to an airline that is operating from a country that isn’t exactly a tourist mecca. Anyway, well done to JU.
ReplyDeleteSame as Alitaila eaten by LCC. They do not understand that.
DeleteThat's why we need to give credit to JU for at least efficiently competing against Wizz Air.
DeleteWe are not touristic country, thanks God.
DeleteSpeaks volumes about OU.
DeleteAnon 09:11
DeleteThat's because luckily you don't have several commercial airports in your country, where politicians in charge would force the government owned airline to split its already miserable capacity and operate from several airports directly to the big hubs in Europe, instead of its own hub. Once you have a decent hub offering decent connections, you fill the planes more easily and keep them operating, like JU does. JU is certainly in the right direction, I wish I could say the same for our flag carrier.
@11,49
DeleteIt already started in 2019 with INI and KVO. Difference is that OU sells it's domestic sectors.
OU could always increase its offering out of ZAG and build up a hub, there obviously is some demand since FR is quickly establishing itself in ZAG. OU unfortunately isn't run by a competent management, choosing to let opportunities pass by.
Demand is limited out of ZAG and we see that with FR. They already reduced SOF in November and there were some frequencies shifting in early 2022, some are reduced in favor of others being increased. I think they are reducing GOT.
DeleteAll things considered pretty good. My guess is they could handle around 1.4 million passengers this year.
ReplyDeleteim sure its gonna be 1,5 MIO
DeleteThe already handled 1.3 million passengers, i think that they will end the year with 1.6 million passengers at least
DeleteI think it will all depend on how strong demand around New Year and Christmas will be. Airlines are already boosting flights to BEG around that period so I am sure JU will do the same. If bookings are strong then 1.6 million should be achieved without a problem.
DeleteAlso don't forget something else, from 08.11 we can transfer in the EU on our way to the US. JU might experience a slight drop in bookings to JFK because of that.
Air Serbia is increasing frequencies on most flights between mid December and mid January.
DeleteGood news
ReplyDelete51% market share? Wow! That's a lot. Reminds me of Adria in Ljubljana and Wizzair in Skopje. It's still better to have at least 2 more competitors.
ReplyDeleteAdria's market share was over 60% and Wizz Air's in Skopje is over 70%. Croatia Airlines' in Zagreb is over 60% as well (possibly even more now during pandemic).
DeleteStop trolling. Wizz in SKP is around 85% and you have two airlines based in Belgrade, JU and W6.
DeleteOU market share will decrease significantly in 2022. Still, Serbia must reduce this market share to 25% even though ASL is heavily backed by the state reaching Gulf carriers levels.
DeleteGulf carrier levels? Are you for real? This June Emirates got an extra 1.1 BILLION USD from the Dubai government after getting 2 BILLION a few months earlier. I'm sure the Serbian government matched that.
Delete@10,27
DeleteWhy should Serbia force JU to drastically cut flights so that it has 25% market share?
For an airport of it's size, having 2 airlines based there is adequate, while easyJet has began penetrating the market.
OU has a low market share in Croatia due to being incompetent, not because they are generous enough to allow competition.
easyJet began penetrating the market? How so? They haven't launched anything since Berlin and they have been more stagnant than anything else.
DeleteYes, they have been stagnant the past couple of years, but they have entered the market and have 3 destinations currently in BEG (BSL, BER, GVA) and have tried MXP previously. They don't seem to be canceling flights out of BEG which means they are here to stay. Airlines try to increase their flights and destinations, not decrease them. It wouldn't be unrealistic to expect more from them in next couple of years.
DeleteIt will be good to know how many passengers were on scheduled and charter flights, so that we can make some conclusions?
ReplyDeleteA pax is a pax.
DeleteI believe around 200,000 were on charters.
DeleteThat's fantastic
DeleteNicely done JU.
ReplyDeleteThis is good but still unfortunate they have not resumes several destinations since Covid.
ReplyDeleteThey will. They planned to resume some routes this winter like MAD and TLV but in the end, because of restrictions prolonged for next summer.
DeleteTheir Montenegro flights are doing extremely well too.
ReplyDeleteMontenegro Airlines' bankruptcy certainly helped.
DeleteBut there is already Air Montenegro as replacement.
DeleteBut all of Montenegro Airlines' transfer passengers who continued on Air Serbia codeshare flights now fly with Air Serbia. So they certainly benefited.
DeleteIt would be interesting (and more important) to know what were the financial costs to achieve these operational results.
ReplyDeleteJU performed well because our government didn't put us in an endless and costly lockdown. Our economy did not suffer greatly because of that and many people could afford to travel. Covid passes from Saturday will force many to get the vaccine so the situation should be put under control. I expect demand to stay strong in the next few weeks and months.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe price of this approach is too high, please don't praise it.
DeleteWhy shouldn't I praise it? It deserves praising because the economy from which we all live has survived. Government built three covid hospitals, they got the vaccines, we are getting that Merck drug first in Europe and so on ... the government did everything right. It's not their problem people are not getting vaccinated and respecting the rules.
DeleteNow they are introducing covid passes for cafes, clubs and so on so it will force young people to get the vaccine. No need to introduce it for other places since older population got the vaccine without a problem.
Btw since 14.10 vaccination rate is growing, it went from 0.07 per 100.000 inhabitants to 0.09 on the 21st. On October 7th it was 0.33/100.000 people.
Time for a second A330 to join the fleet.
ReplyDeleteWould be nice if they surprised us for their upcoming anniversary :D
DeleteDon't hold your breath. They never announced anything special on any of their anniversaries.
DeleteWizz has increased number of planes at Belgrade base by 50% and increased plane size from A320 to A321.
DeleteAir Serbia can't respond by doing the same. They have to play widebody card in 2022 where Air Serbia has competitive advantage over Wizz.
JU's competitive advantage over Wizz is having smaller birds, not bigger.
DeleteIf that was true trends at Wizz would be to go from A320 to A319, not to A321.
DeleteFrequencies, that's what JU is after and it's good approach. No, JU can't fill A321 as Wizz can, due to different model and price policy but it should be able to fly you to the destination daily or 3+ times weekly which Wizz just can't or can to 1 or 2 destinations. Flying dates are first thing you check when booking the flight, right? Price comes second, it's of the same importance but if dates are not OK you will not even check the price. I prefer JU flying to CDG two times daily with A319 over flying there two times weekly with A321.
DeleteAdding more A330s will increase demand from transfer passengers from region connecting to new long haul destinations.
Delete@16,33
DeleteIncreasing utilisation helps as well. 2 pw winter ops to JFK after 5 years is disappointing to say the least. It would be nice to see them utilise ARB a bit more before adding a second ac, at least increasing JFK to 3 pw.
Charters have been Air Serbia's saving grace this summer.
ReplyDeleteIt was a combination of things. Good number of transfer passengers also helped.
DeleteIt just shows the market will recover much faster than some expected once restrictions are slowly lifted.
ReplyDeleteTrue. But it doesn't seem global restrictions will be lifted in full for many years to come.
DeleteSome markets will recover more quickly than others. JU has a smaller fleet and network to begin, with intentions to expand. That has helped it recover faster.
DeleteEncouraging results
ReplyDelete"We will remain committed to our goal of fully returning to levels from 2019, but with a dose of caution"
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope they aren't too cautious so it doesn't end up like this summer where they don't have enough capacity.
They are talking about caution because the entry bans in the EU and in general no one knows how this virus will behave this winter. There are already reports of a new variant.
DeleteIf they though it's going to be a tough winter they should have stimulated demand elsewhere to markets that are wise open.
DeleteYU-APJ is leaving in October so let's hope they add some more planes next year.
Delete@10,10
DeleteSure they are cautious, however I'm sure it worked out ok for them, otherwise I doubt they would of went ahead with the 2 B737's. Better like this for 3 months and getting rid of the aircraft once the season comes to an end than leasing in additional A319's only to have poor utilisation the next 7 months. They have extra capacity this winter hence why we're seeing aircraft return to lessors once the contract has expired. They could always bring in more aircraft when the time comes.
@10,26
There is only soo much stimulation you can do. They have expanded their network and looking at expanding it further.
@10,38
I doubt that next summer will be worse than this year. Obviously more aircraft will come for next season. Rumour has it 4 ATR's will join next summer as well. Probably to replace the older 3 and 1 for expansion. We tend to find out these things by late January. Let's wait and see.
The deal for 4 ATRs is gone, those planes were taken by Sky Express.
DeleteOverall this year has turned out relatively well for JU. They managed above average passenger numbers, introduced some new routes, returned old dinosaurs from the fleet, repaid the Etihad Partners loan in full...
ReplyDeleteBut the financial results are the one that really matters.
DeleteNot in covid as every country and airline around the world showed to us. No government allowed for their airline to go bankrupt, even Norwegian was saved.
DeleteHope we see them expand next year.
ReplyDeletethey should think about joining an alliance soon.
ReplyDeleteAn alliance would be very beneficial for them. Have they actually ever looked into it?
DeleteThey should join Oneworld which is currently fishing for new members. Qatar CEO is now leading Oneworld and he said his main priority was significantly expanding the alliance.
DeleteAlliances are fun for largest airlines in the group, not so much fun for smallest members.
DeleteIf they can take in Oman Air which is QR's backyard, they can also take in JU. The Balkans are a glaring gap in the OW network.
DeleteProblem is alliance membership is not free. You have to pay.
DeleteIt's not about big airlines taking in smaller one. It's about finding benefits for the small airline to justify membership. Adria was reduced to Star Alliance/LH feeder and it didn't produce enough benefits to save the airline.
DeleteJU could grately benefit from an alliance on its New York flight. If they join Oneworld I don't see how they could become a feeder to anyone. Closest members are Iberia, British Airways and Finnair. And they already have codeshares with Iberia and Finnair.
DeleteSorry not with Iberia, just Finnair.
DeleteThey would become feeder to BA at LHR. Air Serbia doesn't fly to ORD and YYZ so Air Serbia would feed passengers to BA. That would discourage/kill any Air Serbia ambition to expand own North America destinations. Same with Finnair, Air Serbia would become feeder, binging PEK/PVG etc passengers from BEG to HEL for Finnair to take over.
DeleteAir Serbia doesn't need that. They need to expand own intercontinental services.
Being in an alliance does not mean you have to feed anyone, especially to your two biggest markets passenger wise - China and US.
DeleteAnd either way, Air Serbia has no plans to expand long haul.
DeleteBeing in an alliance does not mean you have to feed anyone - LOL, tell that to OU and their flights to FRA and MUC. So funny!
DeleteAir Serbia has no plans to expand long haul? Are you new here?
@13,10
DeleteJat was offered sponsorship to join SkyTeam over 10 years ago.
@13,10
JU doesn't cooperate much with One World members. AY I believe is the only airline and JU has suspended HEL. One World might find JU interesting as they dont have any airline in the area since MA went bankrupt. IB would be a better partner for South America but BA not much use as Serbians need visas even for transiting the UK unless they hold a valid US or Canadian visa.
SkyTeam makes more sense as they cooperate most with them - AF, KL, SU, RO, UX. In JFK they would have DL. Moving over to Flying Blue FF program would work better for JU over the Etihad Guest FF program.
You are using the example of OU and JP as if it is like that everywhere. These airlines joined Star Alliance as "regional" members i.e feeders. Star Alliance discontinued this "regional" membership in late 2000s. On top of that they joined at the time as national airlines of countries under heavy political German influence. How is JU going to feed BA or AY to European destinations like OU does to LH. Not to mention as a Serbian citizen you need a transit visa to transfer at any UK airport.
DeleteAnd I'm not knew. There is no indication JU will expand anytime soon. Just 2 weeks ago there was an article here where their CCO said they will have to get to pre-corona levels to expand at all. That won't happen in 2022.
Air Serbia launched 3 new destinations since the start of pandemic. ROV didn't have to wait for 2019 levels to start.
DeleteAir Serbia to launch Beijing service “in January 2022”:
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/08/air-serbia-to-launch-beijing-service-in.html
Yeah according to Serbian Post. Don't get your hopes up.
Deleteokay, from another source: The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, has held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, during which he expressed the need for nonstop flights between Belgrade and China to be established.
DeleteAir Serbia flew A330 to China three times in the past 10 days.
Enough chatter to keep rumors alive.
JU has been using the A330 for cargo runs not only to China, but to other countries as well since the start of the pandemic. Nothing new there.
DeleteI doubt that JU will open a Chinese route in January since tickets would by now be on sale if they intended to launch the flights. Let's wait and see. The government and its relative affiliates are not reliable sources for information.
I have the strong feeling government helped here a lot to make up the results.
ReplyDeleteYeah the Serbian government actually handed out 1.3 million free tickets so Air Serbia could post above average result.
DeleteWhat 1.3 million free tickets are you talking about!?! Any source or links to prove it?
DeleteI was being sarcastic in response to anon 15.55.
DeleteAnon 16:28 is obviously an autist.
ReplyDeleteGood joob, many airlines are in worst position than Air Serbia. Somebody is doing something right. Yes, we can talk about this or that who is doing what and it's wronh, but there is no such a thing as perfect. So I will say Good job to everybody that has something with Air Serbia (employees, management, goverment, etc.)
ReplyDeleteI think (maybe I am wrong) with some help ($$ from somewhere), they can get 2-3 widebodies, and 5-6 regionals. And do routes like: ORD, DTW, YYZ, MIA. PEK etc.
With good regional network amd timing (connectins) they can fill the wide bodies with transfer pax and their number will be double.
But yes, they big need money for that, and of the goverment gives them, we will have a nice regional hub and routes to everywhere and we will complain how is the wrong thing to do.
Well SKP is giving money to Wizz and their pax. numbers are way up.