Air Serbia has terminated its seasonal operations between Belgrade and Nice as a result of strong competition from low cost rival Wizz Air. The Serbian carrier initially planned to restore operations between the two cities this April, but delayed the resumption of flights until May before scrapping the route altogether. The development comes just three weeks after Wizz Air introduced a two weekly service between Belgrade and Nice using its 230-seat Airbus A321 aircraft. Air Serbia initially commenced flights to the French city in 2019. The route briefly operated in the summer of 2020 but was promptly suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was not restored for the duration of 2021 due to strict entry requirements into France at the time.
Despite the termination of its Nice operations, Air Serbia will boost its presence on the French market this year. In addition to maintaining doble daily flights between Belgrade and Paris, the carrier will also inaugurate two weekly operations to Lyon on June 2, which will be maintained by the Airbus A319 aircraft. “By introducing flights to Lyon, Air Serbia will offer good connections, via Belgrade, between this city and other destinations in its network, such as Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul, Larnaca, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Tirana and Tivat”, the carrier recently said. The Lyon flights are expected to run on a year-round basis. The route was previously maintained by Wizz Air for a single season, during the summer of 2019.
Air Serbia and Wizz Air now compete head-to-head on flights from Belgrade to Barcelona and Larnaca. Indirectly the two face off each other on services to Paris, Frankfurt, Oslo, Rome, London, Stockholm and Paris. In recent years, Wizz Air has managed to successfully outperform Air Serbia on routes to Malta and Hamburg. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said last year while still serving as the company’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, “We will compete [against Wizz Air] by being faster and ‘Wizzier’”. So far this summer season, Air Serbia has cancelled plans to launch new operations to Amman and Sochi, in addition to terminating its plans to resume services to Nice.
Shame :(
ReplyDeleteSeems like it was not worth fighting for. On other markets they are. For example to Barcelona they are now sending A330 each Sunday until mid June.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteTrue and they immediately increased BCN to 3x weekly after Wizz did the same.
DeleteActually that third weekly from June was in the system before Wizz announced theirs. Air Serbia couldn't respond to that with more flights because they don't have enough aircraft at that time. I was told that by someone from their operations.
DeleteDidn't know that. Thanks.
DeleteI think this route saw quite a few Russian transfers.
ReplyDeleteNo, JU lost the O&D to Wizz Air. I guess they were not Wizzier than Wizz Air after all.
DeleteGod, what a stupid statement.
Yes, there were many russians using this route, always almost half of plane were foreigners. So yes, it has a lot to do with russians.
DeleteAha and I suppose Wizz Air is flying empty on this route? How is Wizz able to money with a 230 seat A321 while JU with its 144 seat A319 can't? Especially since JU can also rely on transfers.
DeleteSeems like Marek tried to be Wizzier than Wizz here but passengers did not like it.
Wizz does not depend from transfers.
DeleteWhich makes JU's failure even more shocking.
DeleteI don't think so.
DeleteW6 operations from BEG were not affected by crisis in Ukraine on the way JU was.
I agree that they have been Wizzier by being really quick to react to the market but it's a shame they are ending Nice.
ReplyDeleteThere will definitely be no need to lease another 3 larger planes (in addition to A319 they already leased and is being painted). I guess another 2 A319s or 1 B737 and 1 A319 (plus the one arriving) will be enough
ReplyDeleteOr they could try and launch some other routes.
DeleteDoubt they would announce something new at such short notice.
DeleteLast few years they started some new routes just 2 weeks before launch and some worked really well like Oslo.
DeleteAnd what is left to launch?
DeleteLisbon comes to mind!
DeleteLike I said before, Tel Aviv and Cairo should be restored.
DeleteMarseille, Amman, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Riyadh, Tunis, Algiers, Dublin, Toulouse, Malaga, Naples, Krakow...
DeleteDepends where you want to look at.
So this is route number three gone. What the hell are they doing?
ReplyDeleteThey are taking much more care with costs then they have before. If something doesn't work they cancel it rather than persist and lose money.
DeleteYes seems like they are also saving money by not investing in marketing. That's why they were crushed on this route by mighty Wizz.
DeleteNot a big loss. There is Wizz on the route plus they will start Lyon.
ReplyDeleteLet's see how long those Lyon flights stick for. My guess is one season max.
DeleteYou are right. Probably like Geneva.
DeleteThey are really not serious, launching and terminating sales all the time.
DeleteWhat are Wizz air prices on this route?
ReplyDeleteCheck their site. Prices aren't fixed.
DeleteSince I am kind, unlike the Anon above, I looked it. Average one way fare (BEG-BCN) for May right now is 4.612 RSD which is around €39.
DeleteFor June the average price is 4.819 RSD which is €40.
This is the bare fare without seat selection, checked-in luggage, priority (hand luggage) and so on. JU on the other hand was never under €170 without luggage and without seat selection.
Well, it is not true that JU is without a luggage since hand luggage is included in the price. If you want to compare those 2, than include the hand luggage in Wizz price and search one way flight on the same or nearest dates.
DeleteHand luggage in Wizz during season goes between 6-70€ for 10kg (hand luggage)... Which make the price to be more around 60-80€.
I checked JU prices in May and they are between 70-120... More expensive are connected flights with code share partners.
So, all together, Wizz is a bit cheaper, but not as much as you show.
BEG-NCE on Air Serbia was 20.000 Dinars, return. That's around €170. Compare that to what W6 is offering and you will understand why they were run over in this market.
DeleteSome routes are won by Wizz, some by Air Serbia and on some they coexist.
ReplyDeleteThey need to work on marketing and sales.
ReplyDeleteNo need for that. Marek will just request a cheque from the government and they'll cover their losses.
DeleteLike all ex-yu airlines.
DeleteThat's why they are all being overrun by their competition.
Delete@08,00
DeleteJU under every management needed government subsidies to be fair. Some more than others.
@07,31
Sales would be a good start.
- Fares are unnecessarily expensive, while a decent portion of their flights overall are empty seats. Sure, they can't match Wizz Air on price, but JU fares are drastically higher with water and a cookie being the only difference between JU and Wizz. Price of their catering isn't more than 30 din (.25 euro cents) when purchasing them in the supermarket.
- Fare structure is also very inconsistent ie Economy Light is not available to TIV, but is to DBV. Economy Light fares to DBV are higher than Economy Standard fares to TIV (13.000 din to DBV vs 8.300 to TIV, one way, for end of May when DBV returns). AMM, which they also discontinued didn't have the Economy Light option either, while a decent amount of their competition did.
- No FF miles are given when Economy Light fares are purchased, while their competitors do give miles for these fares.
AMM was unreasonably expensive, I think one way was around 18.000 Dinars so it would cost you €300 for a return flight. For that money you can fly on TK and enjoy a much better product.
DeleteI think Air Serbia's problem is that it kind of became some sort of a Frankenstein's monster. Every management added its own mess without first getting rid of the existing one. Marak tried to be Wizzier than Wizz and that is turning out to be a total disaster.
Damn :/
ReplyDeleteWriting was on the wall when they started delaying the relaunch.
ReplyDeleteLast year I criticized Air Serbia for their Wizzier approach and was ridiculed for it. Time and again Air Serbia demonstrates inability to comprehend that the only way to beat ULCCs is by having a lower cost. Wizz can beat Air Serbia on almost any route they can compete against. Routes Air Serbia can certainly win are to destinations Wizz won't or can't fly to and long haul. Air Serbia still doesn't get why expanding long haul is essential for their survival.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately JU doesn't care about all that. It's easier to do it like this.
DeleteNo point in long haul when their core network is a mess. A decent amount of their regional destinations are not even at least daily (SJJ, SKP, SOF, OTP, SKG, BNX, SPU, DBV, PUY, RJK, ZAG). JU struggles to bring TIA to double daily on an ATR, let alone upgrade one of the flights to the A319, while Wizz after barely 2 years has set up a base in TIA with 9 ac and 43 routes, and O&D demand between the 2 countries is increasing. Wizz can pull off routes with an A321, JU struggles with an ATR or A319 (HAM, NCE, MLA). JU needs these frequencies to allow connecting via BEG to be competitive. Frequencies wont come if you can't fill your flights due to prices not being attractive for the O&D demand.
DeleteLong haul would be no better, just with higher costs. Look at JFK. After 6 years of operations, they are still down to 2 pw in the winter. Whats the point? Thats probably why they have those 300€ promotions to JFK during the winter months to get people to use them rather than the daily connections available via FRA, MUC, IST, VIE, ZRH, LHR, AMS, CDG, WAW.
Core network will improve AFTER they add more long haul services. When you have New York AND Chicago AND Montreal AND Toronto etc it will be easier to fill TIA flights and increase frequencies to regional cities while at the same time taking away connecting passengers currently flying via FRA, MUC, VIE, AMS etc. Sanctions were introduced to block this:
Deletehttps://youtu.be/9tdUCQDlX24?t=54
Now Air Serbia management is doing the job of keeping sanctions against own long haul expansion. They complain about long haul being expensive but are losing a lot of money on many failed EuroMed launches.
Hundreds of transfer passengers in that 1991 video waiting in Tesla Square. Today you can find only 20-30 including nearby restaurant. Long haul is the key difference.
Delete@17,07
DeleteJAT had around 40 aircraft back then. B727's, DC9's and B737 was the main aircraft in their fleet. Network was larger. Air traffic was more regulated back then. Completely different times.
@16,46
Not entirely. Offering 2 pw long haul flights will not make you competitive on your own market let alone transfers, especially if your competitors are flying daily or multiple daily flights for the same or similar price. This is something JU hasn't improved in the 6 years it has operated to JFK. Summer frequencies are great, 6 pw for 2-3 months, but for 4 months a year it's at 2 pw which doesn't attract passengers in the front of the cabin, which is very important.
Destinations such as TIA and SJJ should be at least double daily, with at least one rotation per day on the A319. Not only for O&D demand, but transfers too. How is it that Wizz suddenly jumps into SJJ and TIA with automatic success, especially in TIA? Ex-YU and Albania were/are largely underserved markets.
People don't fly because the prices are ridiculously expensive. All packages to Albania and Bosnia are 99.9% on busses. Where is JU? Charging 200€ fares for 30-50 minute flights for just a seat, no luggage. Meanwhile, a combi will pick you up at your door and drive you to Sarajevo for 35€.
JFK has had next to no impact on regional frequencies. You get a few pax here and there, 10, even 20, but thats not a load worth sending an additional ATR for. Something else needs to be there to justify additional frequencies ie O&D traffic. In fact, the bankruptcy of JP had a bigger impact on JU regional frequencies. JFK doesn't connect well either with SOF and OTP. Timetables for destinations such as TLV, AMM, CAI and BEY were unattractive for JFK pax as well, all markets where JU should be going after. JU infact was selling AMM-JFK via DOH instead of having pax on JU flights via BEG. Even 10 long haul destinations wont change their poor sales approach.
"while Wizz after barely 2 years has set up a base in TIA with 9 ac and 43 routes" Maybe that could be the reason why JU is beginning to struggle in TIA? They were doing quite well there before Covid. It's true that TIA is booming but there are limits. So many people have transitioned to Wizz to fly cheaply and directly instead of going via VIE, FCO, BEG etc. I agree that the pricing strategy for these regional routes must be changed. During the summer tourism from Serbia to Albania has greatly improved especially during these last few years but most people are using their cars or buses. In winter at this current situation i don't think JU can sustain 2 daily flights to TIA, although i hope i'll be proven wrong. BEG is quite a valuable route for TIA as the majority of destinations we have are to Western Europe. WAW and SOF have been some great additions lately.
Delete@22,09
DeleteI think you misunderstood the comment. TIA is a great route for JU, however they have been very slow in upgrading capacity and frequencies on the route. Meanwhile Wizz has been going wild with their expansion in TIA as our part of the world is quite underserved, which is eating into opportunities for JU.
Tourism has greatly increased as you said, especially since the pandemic, however I have not noticed a single package vacation to Albania by plane. Last summer I noticed a fair few Albanian registered busses in Belgrade. However, JU's Economy Light fares to TIA cost almost as much as a tour package to Albania which includes bus travel, accommodation and excursions. Thats why busses dominate that segment. It's a segment that JU simply ignores while continuing to charge extremely high prices. TIA has offered incentives for all airlines who upgrade frequencies and aircraft over a certain period, something they haven't taken advantage of. Random upgrades to A319's that they make are not entitled to these subsidies. A wasted opportunity.
Wizz cannot cover everything regardless of the massive expansion they have made.
TIA is just one example, there are many more. Here's another example. SKG used to be double daily on the A319, it's down to a couple flights a week on an ATR, despite Greece being super popular for Serbians and Belgrade seeing more and more Greek tourists. Next week, out of SKG, a return flight to ATH is around 60€ on A3, a one way ticket to BEG 125€, that is 205€ return! Similar distance. A3 at least make profit and have been successful fighting LCC's on their market.
JU needs to be more competitive with pricing, to get more people on their seats which would help boost frequencies that will in turn make their potential long haul expansion a more attractive option for transit pax.
Oh no, i definitely understand what you're saying and i agree with it. I talked about TIA in particular because it's a really good example of the sort of damage ULCCs can do. JU was doing really well in TIA until 2020 when Wizz opened their base and they have stagnated since then. Of course, we have to mention Covid but it's hardly applicable in TIA which last year handled almost 2019 numbers. JU had the lowest LF percentage out of any other airline in TIA in 2021. Airlines like OS and LH can afford to keep 2-3 daily flights not only because they have much larger networks but the O&D demand to countries like Austria and Germany is much bigger than to BEG. So my conclusion is that JU needs to change their strategy in order to stay competitive, like you said lower the prices and offer more long haul options, that applies to all other regional destinations. I know at least 3 people that wanted to visit Belgrade from Albania and decided not to fly because it wasn't worth the price.
DeleteThree long haul JU destinations per high season day (pick 3 for each day: JFK, YYZ, ORD, PEK, PVG) from BEG: each could bring 10 transfer passengers from ATR regional destinations and 15 from A319 destinations. That's 30 additional daily passengers per ATR from each of 5-6 destinations (Skopje, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Sofia, Bucharest) and 45 from each of 3-4 A319 destinations (Tirana, Podgorica, Tivat, Dubrovnik, Split). If ATR already had just 30 O&D and non-long haul transfers) those 30 additional long haul passengers will bring total to 60 per ATR flight - enough to justify daily flight. Same with A319, 45 additional long haul transfer passengers on top of 70-80 O&D and other transfers is enough for A319.
DeleteJust 3 daily long hauls with only 10-15 regional passenger feed per long haul destination will strengthen JU regional network. If Air Serbia Sales can't sell just 10 tickets daily in summer season from SJJ or SKP for JFK, YYZ, PEK etc they don't deserve to keep their job.
Look at the existing JFK schedule. The flight doesn't connect well to most of the regional network. SJJ-BEG-JFK doesn't work without a 14 hour transfer in BEG at best, JFK-BEG-SJJ at best 3 times a week works with a 3 hour transfer time. OTP, SOF, DBV, SPU, PUY, RJK is not that different. TIA, ATH, SKG and SKP have better connectivity, roughly 3 per week, but they also have the most frequencies. Connecting onto LCA improved with the new 10:30 departure ex BEG, but still is around 2 pw in each direction. And this is all during the best 3 months when JFK operates 6 pw. You're not building up any brand loyalty here, just attracting those who find JU the cheapest.
DeleteATR isn't an ideal aircraft for these kind transfers as it isn't uncommon for the flights to operate with cargo restrictions, even on flights as short as SJJ, with their current network. The ATR's also don't have a business class, which gives airlines such as OS and LH the advantage.
Might I add that OU with a much smaller network operates double daily into SKP and SJJ. How is it that JU isn't able to do so?
My point is that demand is there now for more frequencies at least on an ATR, even for A319. Even if it is seasonal. Any new long haul expansion should help boost these flights onto the A319 and not 1-2 flights additional flights on an ATR. Instead, JU insists on overcharging the O&D market which pushes people to either not travel as often or simply go by car or bus. No need for 10€ fares to compete with ULCC's, but Economy Light fares starting at 60€ return isn't an unreasonable request and would stimulate higher demand, giving them the extra frequencies from the beginning that makes any future long haul addition more attractive.
Good point. Current Air Serbia waves are built around EuroMed (with some exceptions, for example LHR slot does not fit into morning departure wave).
DeleteIf they expand to 3 long haul daily departures they have to be scheduled where possible so at least 7-8 regional destinations feed into them with reasonable transfer times. That could help bring more passengers and bump equipment from ATR to A319. All of this depends on long haul slots, ability to create split schedule and other limitations.
However I am not sure Air Serbia is ready to one day reorganize waves based on expanded long haul being a priority. They avoid bold moves.
Told you more cuts were coming but I was ridiculed with 'trust me bro sources.'
ReplyDeleteWhere is that smart guy now? Cuts are not over yet. Air Serbia under Marek's leadership was all about PR but no substance. They keep on retreating from key markets which are important source of transfer passengers. This shows their inability to effectively compete.
BEG is smart to encourage other airlines to boost their presence there. They saw what JU did in January when their marketshare plummeted to below 40%.
I wonder where you were when all new routes had been introduced.
DeleteHiding in some hole?
JU introduced many more destinations than they cancelled and it will remain so.
And it is the fact even your bitterness can't deny.
Nothing about bitterness, just my answer when I wrote that more routes will be cut after which I was mercilessly attacked. Unfortunately seems like JU's strategy is to throw mud at the wall and to see what sticks and what doesn't. That's how they randomly choose where to fly.
DeleteAnyone know why there is a Wizz return flight from/to Vienna today? Is it Varadi coming with his team?
ReplyDeleteHe already came to BEG yesterday.
DeleteYou snooze, you lose. This is the consequence of not being agile at the beginning of this year and late (re)launch of routes. They didn't plan it well, majority of expansion should start during April latest. If they don't change marketing approach asap, Nice will not be last cut.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, not only did they cut flights in January but they also did it in February. Wizz Air also cut from mid-January but they were back to growth from the first half of February - I think they resumed BCN on 17.01. Meanwhile Air Serbia is only boosting flights from June and what they operate until then is with pathetic frequencies.
DeleteWe saw their market share in January and February. It's not BEG that's the problem, it's JU. Luckily they are only holding Egypt and Turkey as hostages, the rest of the market is free.
Jiri Marek will outperform and Vlaisavljević and Ognjanović competency, and that is really hard job to do, but his is on the right track
ReplyDeleteWizzier than Wizz seems to be part of his strategic planning I guess.
DeleteI still not believe that that is the statement of the CEO of one legacy and national carrier
DeleteAnon@10:12 - c'mon - that's being abit tough. Remember, English is not his first language, so he may have meant it as a tongue in cheek comment without realising what a 'faux pax' it really was. Moreover, this is also his first big real job, so he is still on his training wheels. I'm sure he will learn from this and get better over time ....
DeleteAnd while he is riding around with his training wheels, his mistakes are costing taxpayers money. I remember Dane was fired because of bad results. If this situation continues I wouldn't be surprised the government fires Marek as well.
DeleteMaybe they will finally find someone competent.
You are being a drama queen. Dane was fired for disastrous financial results. Perhaps these actions are being take in order to improve finances.
DeleteFinances must be improved by launching and not cancelling routes. What's the point of business if your finances depend on cutting the business and not upgrading the business?
DeleteIf they are doing all this now to improve Dane's results then what were Marek and Naysmith doing all these years? Issue here is that Marek is making grandiose statements which do not fit the reality. Like someone wrote here, their January performance at BEG should have sounded all the alarms.
DeleteDuring the period of Naysmith, the company went from a boutique model to a hybrid model. Losses went down from roughly 50 million euros in 2016 during the period of Kondic to 9 million in 2018 and 2019 during the period of Naysmith. This has to be amongst the smallest losses JU has made in decades.
DeleteThe current problems I wouldn't throw entirely on Marek. There are a fair few party members that hold certain positions because of party membership and not on merrit, and are untouchable. What to do? Ideas are good, executing them isn't and thats the problem. Air Serbia isn't the only problem in Serbia where this is evident.
Losses during Dane's tenure weren't 50 million, maybe at first when Air Serbia was starting out. Later on they were brought down to 20 to 30 million.
Delete@07,27
DeleteThe first few years with Dane it was around 20-30 million, 2016 was almost 50 million. If the loss was not of concern, they wouldn't have changed their business strategy in 2017.
I am looking at flights these days and they are still struggling with ATRs, today's ZAG flight cancelled, Tivat delayed 01.45, OTP moved from 13.20 to 15.00, TIA cancelled, SOF moved from 13.25 to 14.55 and who knows what more until the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteLju was delayed yesterday for more than an hour as well
DeleteOld ATR72-200 fleet
DeleteWhy doesn't anyone hold that dinosaur of a COO accountable for all these operational issues ?? Is he a protected polar bear or something ?? Geez ....
DeleteWho is COO these days? They change so often.
DeleteI just noticed VIE this morning was also horribly delayed. What on earth is going on there.
Grozdanic is the COO who is from old Jat Airways times ... need we say any more ?
DeleteI live in the US and over here if they changes COOs so often it means something is horribly wrong with the company. How many different ones did they have since 2013? Probably 7-8.
DeleteGuys, guys... Its a government run airline..
DeleteFolks up above are either clueless as to what is happening down below (operational level) or they dont care, as long as the "cash flows " from hands to hands... If someone really cared they would come down to HQ and ask around for the results.
Also, let's not forget that many folks working here are party members.
And you all go and slam each other over why Wizz is better then JU... You're funny guys :)
You have any proof that many folks working here are party members?
DeleteNo, Wizz is not better than JU. Twenty years from now Wizz will be gone after cash grab is over while Air Serbia will march on. Bet 100M on it.
Just how will Wizzair be gone if they are already significantly increasing their presence in UK and UAE and will be receiving their A321 XLRs next year where they are expected to most probably launch long-haul flights from CEE to US.
DeleteJust ignore him, I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the JU managers. I heard they come here, read comments and then harass employees.
DeleteThat's not Nice
ReplyDeleteLol nice one
DeleteThey should try LJU-Nice with ATR
ReplyDeleteBut exclusively using one of their 35 year old ATR72-200
DeleteI'm just wondering, does Air Serbia management searching first for any potential success of an inaugural route? Or they simply say :very well I think I will fly from now on, let's say to Bergen!I think that Trieste is also gonna be a big flop!
ReplyDeleteI think BLQ will also be a flop. 2:15 block time on an ATR. Fares when booking are cheaper than the promo fare they are advertising. A route like this should be on an A319.
DeleteKyiv, Budapest,Varna,Amman, Brussels, Nice, Warsaw and more routes suspended in the past.
ReplyDeleteImagine if Belgrade had both Wizzair and Ryanair on some routes. They'd be a dead man walking similar to ČSA, Tarom or Bulgaria Air..
Now you understand why BEG limits such occurances on its soil to protect the National Carrier.
BEG had both Wizz and Easyjet for years. ZAG on the other hand prevented all three big LCC companies to protect National Carrier until last year they allowed only one.
DeleteNorwegian and Vueling as well.
DeleteMarek has to go. He obviously does not understand marketing nor does he have any management ability. And yes, AS needs long haul flights. I know they are coming but valuable time is being lost.
ReplyDeleteI agree, he has to go. His first fiasco was in January when for the first time ever, JU's share at BEG fell below 40%.
DeleteI think it was closer to 35% actually.
Delete2 routes suspended and some of you act as if it is the end of the world.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is less about cancelling flights/routes (which is the right thing to do if things are not moving) and more about the posturing and grandiose statements that the CEO makes when announcing these new routes - especially when they haven't done their work well enough to evaluate things before announcing them and then more importantly, to do everything to promote and market these new routes once they have been announced.
DeleteThere is no rocket science to this - even the local cevap stand understands that you need to promote yourself if you want to generate any sales.
It's actually more than 2 routes, remember that they also discontinued Geneva. Seems like there is no thorough planning, no strategy, there is nothing besides these PR fluff pieces. If they cut this route and no one flew it, it would be one thing. However here they are being beaten by their competition which shows how uncompeteitive they've become since Marak came.
DeleteDon't forget that they are struggling with other markets as well. Aegean is also fighting them quite efficiently on ATH-BEG and they didn't manage to beat Norwegian or Wizz Air in Oslo.
Nice was launched thanks to Marek in the first place and Oslo is performing really well. Air Serbia has the most frequencies on the route.
DeleteDon't get ahead of yourself.
And the same Marek who made a big hoo-ha about launching Nice, is also the same Marek who has now cancelled it only a month or so ago after announcing it
DeleteYou are right. They should have launched it without even announcing it... some of you people are detached from reality.
DeleteDo you think that they should have announced it and then not promoted or marketed it ?
DeleteAnon 14.23
DeleteHow many ads for Nice did they have? How many tv commercials were made? How many buses were used for promo. I'll tell you: zero.
So much fanfare and then boom off it goes.
If JU wants to be a serious airline and to rely on transfers then it has to have a retention system for its passengers, to give them a reason to book with JU when there is competition. Obviously humiliating yourself by trying to be Wizzier than Wizz is not a sound strategy.
Poor planning is a virtue in Serbia in general so it reflects the national airline as well. Obviously "ima problema"
ReplyDeleteThey definitely need to find a way to get more customers. Look at their marketshare at BEG:
ReplyDeleteJanuary 2022: 90.000/240.981= 37.3%
February 2022: 80.122/208.917=38,3%
Even though they saw some more movement in February this is still a disappointing result. Hopefully they publish their March numbers soon. They must be over 40% otherwise there is something seriously wrong with them.
In reality their marketshare is worse than this since those numbers above include their passengers at INI and KVO.
What these numbers tell us is that they are failing to capture the growing market in BEG. Why is this? Well, that is something the CEO, CCO and other members of top management need to ask themselves. Why are passengers choosing their competition in stead of them?
Could it be that the market simply does not want to fly on someone who wants to be Wizzier than Wizz? Is it time for the management to take their job seriously and to start advertising and actually building a customer base? Only time will tell but so far the sail has not been smooth especially on days like today when their operations fall apart because of one their ATRs went tech.
This is an result of a company that is full of party experts instead of real experts. When No. 1 requirement to get hired is being a party member, from simple cleaner across maintenance all the way up to board of directors. Great job.
ReplyDeleteAuu, brate, debakl za debaklom...
ReplyDeleteDaj nabroj bar jedan!
DeleteAccording to BEG online departures JU will use tomorrow an E195 for VIE and OTP flights...?!
ReplyDeleteThey have used Montenegro E195 before, could be possible.
DeleteIt's just single day wet lease from Air Montenegro. They have done it several times this year. Their ATRs have gone tech.
DeleteUnfortunatley it's not just the ATR that has problems. For example their A320 underwent C check and then it started flying only to go to maintenance a week after. It resumed flying a few days ago.
Delete