Flights between Serbia and Saudi Arabia are expected to be established in the near future, the Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Tomislav Momirović, has said. Initially, low cost carrier Flynas was to introduce a three weekly service between Riyadh and Belgrade this June, however, the airline shelved those plans, along with several other routes. “The introduction of scheduled flights between Riyadh and Belgrade is planned very soon and the benefits of this route will be significant”, Mr Momirović said following talks with the Saudi Minister for Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. There have never been scheduled services between the two countries.
Last year, Flynas maintained a series of charters between the two cities to cater for Indian workers undergoing quarantine in Serbia prior to entering the Kingdom. Serbia’s Foreign Minister has held talks with Saudi Arabia’s non-residential Ambassador to the country, where the two also discussed in further detail the potential introduction of flights between the two states, as well as the possibility of relaxing visa requirements. Belgrade Airport’s operator VINCI recently noted, “The Middle East represents one of our most important markets. We are in constant communication with airlines from that region. During the pandemic, in line with Serbia’s constructive approach, Belgrade was used as a transfer point for passengers from that region. In the coming period, we can expect some good news from the Middle East market”.
Saudi Arabia is one of Belgrade’s largest unserved markets in the Middle East, with Riyadh having the most indirect passengers between the two countries according to the global travel data provider OAG. It is followed by Dammam, Jeddah and Buraidah. Saudi Arabian Airlines had previously offered connections to the Serbian market through its codeshare on Eithad Airways’ service between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade, however, those were dropped once the Emirati carriers discontinued services between the two capitals in 2020.
I don't see who would use this route. To enter Saudi Arabia, Serbian citizens need an invitation they are coming for business purposes.
ReplyDeleteIt says they are working on abolishing visas.
DeleteDo Saudis need visa to enter Serbia?
Deleteno, it says on relaxing visa requirements, such as visa on arrival, like for the EU. only 5 countries do not need visa to enter Saudi Arabia: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar & United Arab Emirates
DeleteYes
DeleteMontenegro is the only ex-Yu country outside the EU where visas can be obtained upon arrival to Saudi Arabia.
Deletelast comment was for Anon @09:02
DeleteAnon @09:07 - yes they do
Flynas most likely. But it would be nice to see Saudia :)
ReplyDeleteWhat about Air Serbia? Is there potential for them to launch this route?
DeleteWho could they between Saudi Arabia and Serbia? A Saudi airline has much more chance of success because they would attract Saudi tourists and offer domestic connections.
DeleteExactly. Flynas is a well known airline in Saudi Arabia with a large sales network. Unlike JU, it is also a low cost airline and has over 40 planes in ita fleet.
DeleteRUH wouldn't fit into JU's wave.
DeleteBut JU could carry a lot of connecting passengers from Saudi Arabia to the rest of its network. The region - Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia as well as the rest of Europe.
Delete@9.27
DeleteThere comes a time when the airline will have to let go limiting its expansion just because something doesn't fit into a particular wave. Rework the schedules so things fit.
Air Serbia? Hahahaha
DeleteTheir fleet is falling apart, they can't afford this kind of expansion. For the love of God, their A319 is spending more time in Jat Tehnika than in the air. This morning they are sending their 24 year old ATR to Milan! Mind you, this is not the first time, they did it a few days ago, same with STR.
Yes I don't think Air Serbia is a position to open any longer routes. We still have to see how they will manage their planned June expansion.
DeleteTheir main problem is selling these flights. Any fool can schedule them, it's making them work long-term is what separates successful airlines from failures.
DeleteJU also stopped publishing their passenger numbers from March because of bad PR related to their shrinking market share at BEG.
Delete@09,27
DeleteThat problem would be fixed with expansion to their waves.
1) The current regional midday wave could have an earlier start, around the LHR departure time with more European destinations (CDG and LIS come to mind). LJU, ZRH and LCA already have flights in this wave. This would allow for more of those longer routes ie LIS, DUB, MAN to fit in as well.
2) Operating more flights starting around 20,30 would allow those longer Mid East rotations to be back by 05,30 am, in time for the morning departures.
3) more regional flights during the morning and evening waves to completement these new flights as well as the current JFK flights for better connectivity.
@09,41
Well said. Social media ads isn't enough.
I don't see Saudia coming to BEG , the only Balkan destination is ATH which has a strong market to Saudi and huge tourism , flynas is the most realistic airline that could come to BEG.
DeleteFantastic news. It will happen sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that there are more passengers from Dammam than from Jeddah.
ReplyDeleteMore appealing because it's on the coast?
DeleteI think it has to do with Dammam being a massive industrial complex.
DeleteJeddah is on the coast, too.
DeleteGreat. I hope an airline from Kuwait will be next. It is actually the busiest non served market from Serbia in the Gulf.
ReplyDeleteFlights to Kuwait City are desperately needed.
DeleteJazeera Airways or Air Serbia should start these flights.
DeleteJazeera had charters to Belgrade last summer.
DeleteSimilar like Flynas. It was for Indians undergoing quarantine in Belgrade before returning to Kuwait.
DeleteYes, it was the same case as the Salam Air flights from Oman to Belgrade last year.
DeleteJU should follow Aegean's move relaunching Kuwait and launch flights from BEG to KWI.
Delete@15,02
DeleteI agree. Had they kept CAI, BEY and launched AMM, my opinion would be KWI, EBL and BGW as potential routes to explore next. Flight times allow for a narrowbody and a turn around for the crew, unlike BA, KLM and LH for example.
Have there ever been scheduled flights between Serbia and Saudi Arabia?
ReplyDeleteIt says in the article there have not been. They only established diplomatic relations 10 years ago.
DeleteSerbia opened an embassy in Saudi Arabia just a few years ago. Saudi Arabia is expected to open an embassy in Belgrade next year.
DeleteI really hope so. The planned Middle East expansions didn't really take off this year as planned. Flynas cancelled plans for Riyadh-Belgrade, Air Serbia cancelled Amman and CAD didn't issue permit for Air Cairo to begin Sharm flights.
ReplyDeleteAt least Mahan Air is back with flights each Sunday from Tehran.
DeleteTrue although last week's flight was cancelled.
DeleteUnfortunately seems like the Mid East expansion failed this summer spectacularly.
DeleteAt least TLV and ESB seem to be working from BEG these days. Worth noting it's not JU operating either one.
DeleteI'm not trying to defend JU but TLV can currently only work with an Israeli carrier. Arkia and Israir sell tour packages to Belgrade and Serbia to Israelis. Foreigners still need to meet a bunch of requirements to enter Israel. Meanwhile Anadolujet was able to launch ESB as part of a deal for JU to add flights from Nis and Kraljevo to Istanbul.
Delete@ 10,48
DeleteFair points made, however it doesn't excuse them from not launching AMM and relaunching CAI.
Who would be the passengers to BEG. Saudis running away from the heat?
ReplyDeleteGulf travelers love escaping to European destinations to escape the summer heat.
DeleteI would say it depends on the airline that eventually launches the flights. Saudi airlines I believe would be more O&D oriented while JU would go for both transfers via BEG and O&D. However, the current approach with JU would make it next to impossible to adequately attract the O&D market.
Was Flynas meant to be seasonal or year round?
ReplyDeleteSeasonal
Delete8pm arrival from Riyadh. 8.50pm departure from Belgrade was planned
DeleteIt does not seem their planned flights to Tivat and Podgorica will go ahead wither.
DeleteVarna has been cancelled too.
DeleteThese cancellations of their planned expansion is probably down to the war in Ukraine.
DeleteLikely
DeleteAs far as I'm aware, they never put tickets on sale for the BEG flights right?
DeleteCorrect. But they applied for slots and had the flights in the system, just not for sale. Same with Varna.
DeleteI see, thanks. That it was an operational decision, unrelated to sales.
DeleteThey were planning to fly June to September.
DeleteI hope that the recent incentives for new routes by Belgrade Airport that were published here recently wll encourage some airline to launch these flights.
ReplyDelete*will
DeleteJU is working on being Wizzier than Wizz that is why they have pulled out of the Middle East. This will be the first time in six decades that JU won't be present in that region!
ReplyDeleteIt is really unfortunate they have ended Tel Aviv, Beirut, Cairo, cancelled plans for Amman... Let alone think about introducing flights to markets like Saudi or Kuwait.
DeleteThey also ended AUH a few years ago. Another unfortunate situation.
DeleteJU has made it clear what their priorities in the region are: endless charters to the Red Sea coast where they enjoy maximum protection by the government.
Btw just to add that both LO and RO still fly to Beirut despite the situation there.
DeleteAnd you also have Aegean flying there too. Plus Aegean also flies to Saudi Arabia, Cairo...
DeleteSorry but you can't compare Greek market to Serbian one. Greece is very popular across the Middle East and has a huge tourism industry.
DeleteAegean has turned into a real time monster over the past few years. They also have a great onboard product, new planes, good marketing and PR, convenient schedule and so on.
DeleteHowever, RO is similar to JU in terms of fleet and size. If RO can make BEY work then how come JU can't? RO also fies to CAI and AMM. Unfortunately there seems to be something fundamentally wrong with JU.
Anon 09.49
DeleteAegean's flights to these areas are mostly at night, they are timed for transfers. Also there is a lot of competition from the Middle East yet Aegean manages to thrive.So yes you can compare them because both JU and A3 need to fight for a market.
Some of you people have way too high expectations from JU.
DeleteUnfortunately I don't think anyone has any positive expectations when it comes to JU.
DeleteJU has done well since the days of Jat Airways, however elements of the Jat Airways days seem to have returned since EY stopped being active in JU.
DeleteAir Serbia has always had issues with adequately executing their ideas, which have always been messy. Some things work, some things doesn't, and some things are implemented and tweeked with in the process. Marketing and sales has definitely been a huge weak point for the airline.
Would be great to have flights to Saudi Arabia. There is a growing Serbian community in Saudi, particularly working in the oil and aviation sectors. Also Energoprojekt has several ongoing projects in Saudi. I think these flights would also attract Saudi Arabian tourists to visit Serbia.
ReplyDeleteSome cooperation between Air Serbia and Saudi Arabian Airlines would be good.
ReplyDeleteYes we could really use some of their €1.000 codeshare flights.lol
DeleteJU and codeshare agreements don't go together.
What is currently the best option to reach Saudi from Belgrade?
ReplyDeleteTurkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
DeleteQatar has become extremely expensive compared to pre Covid when they were one of the cheapest transfer airlines from BEG.
DeleteThey are only going to become more expensive as the World Cup draws closer.
DeleteWhile I do agree that they are becoming ridiculously expansive now (from all markets not just BEG), they were ridiculously cheap before Covid too. Especially when you consider the quality of service.
DeleteDon't look at their prices from BEG in November during World Cup. They are already over 1000 euros in economy :D
DeleteJU dont have a fleet to support this boom this summer and ongoing.
ReplyDeleteBad policy with 319;Cessna type of fleet.to satisfy management to obtain load factor above 90%.
in this moment they need at least 3-5 321,s,to cover regular routes,forthissummer charters theyneed more.
routes like Beirut and simmilar in MEA regionare totaly unserved, And all can be covered by night flights, to arrive in BEG about5 ambefore first morning rotation.
Instead of this,they will take WET leased aircrafts for summer, forenormeous price, bcs,commisionis, are good
Bravo for reborn JAT
I agree with you just that they are working on creating Jat, not JAT.
DeleteUnfortunately seems like the new CEO Marak has not managed to lead the airline on its expansion path. They have struggled especially with fleet and network sales. In January and February when BEG started to grow their marketshare collapsed to 37%.
Issue is that their competition is starting to take away their market and they are not doing absolutely anything about it.
You guys really seem to have your panties in a twist with these ad hominem attacks on Marek. Did he fire you or something?
DeleteThey don't realize that he's not really in charge. Once that sinks in it will be easier for everyone
DeleteThere seems to be this weird fixation on A321's here lately.
DeleteFirstly, lets see them with more A320's to start. If they can't fill a few A320's, they certainly wont fill A321's. Even on some routes the A319 was overkill (WAW, KBP, HEL) while destinations that could easily be on an A319 are still on ATR's. A321's won't fix this.
Saudi Arabia is a huge market. Surely there is potential for these flights. Looking forward to their launch.
ReplyDeleteWhen Toma Mona became realiable source. Please
ReplyDeleteSaudi Arabian Airlines would be a nice addition :D but it will probably be Flynas.
ReplyDelete"VINCI recently noted, “The Middle East represents one of our most important markets. "
ReplyDeleteYet Air Serbia cancelled all Middle-Eastern flights {facepalm}.
That is why ESB was launched by Anadoloujet and TLV was resumed by Arkia.
DeleteIt has become obvious that BEG is no longer interested in waiting for JU to pull its act together and expand in the Middle East.
We have also seen this strategy in other places.
I think once the war in Ukraine is over, BEG should work on bringing SK and BT.
There are places (such as Amman or Beirut) that one else besides JU could start.
DeleteWhat this shows is a clear lack of strategy and synchronicity between Vinci and Air Serbia.
Ima nas dosta koji radimo u KSA,samo u mojoj kompaniji ima preko 100 iz ex yu... Flynas jeste otkazao letove,i moj let iz DXB za RUH prosle nedelje je kasnio preko 5 h,mislim iz jos nekih prica ovih dana da stalno kasne i da su nepouzdani.Na brzinu pogledah kad sam im slao zalbu,jos nema odgovara od njih,da imaju 34 aviona i preko 55 miliona putnika godisnje.Bolje da leti Saudi ili neko treci.Koliko sam upoznat let za Sarajevo ide dobro,jer beze od vrucine kao sto neko napisa,danas je u Rijadu je oko 40c,za neki dan 45c.Nisam bas siguran da bi dolazili u Srbiju jer su im zene i devojke i dalje 99% zakopcane,samo im se oci vide,to kod nas nece proci.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt will probabaly be FlyNas or Flydeal ( this is SV owned lowcost carrier who have plans to expand into international markets )
ReplyDeleteRegarding other flights to ME I do hope that we will see El AL soon as they requested slots but received awful timing from BEG. Codeshare between LY and JU would be good option for JU and much better then direct operations as especially Israelis prefer to fly Israeli airline due to security. They restarted ZAG with 1/weekly flight with leased plane from Smartwings
+1
Delete" Expected to be established in near future .." .
ReplyDeleteThat already says everything, nothing will happen out of this !
Abolish visas for Saudi citizens but Serbias lame government wouldnt do this because then they had to get their lazy asses up .
Belgrade totally failed to attract the Middle Eastern airlines and without them Belgrade will stagnate while Tirana and Sarajevo expand .
Simple as that .
Sarajevo is still big due to the massive amounts of people who came before as tourism from the region started around 2014 in Bosnia .However the visa free acess has been revoked. As for Tirana last year flights started and 9,000 saudis visited. I'm sure they will get more this since the Ukraine market is now gone
DeleteBoth Serbia and Montenegro did not liberalize visas. However, Many of the citizens of countries where Saudi did have visa free access revoked it like Bosnia. Most of them are now flocking to Albania now that Ukraine war stopped the potential of that market
ReplyDeleteDespite the visas Saudis still travel in big numbers to Bosnia. Serbia could make it similar for Iranians. Simple visa on arrival.
DeleteDane Kondic was the Chief Commercial Officer of Saudi Arabian Airlines until recently. He really could have done something for flights to start.
ReplyDeleteFlynas currently has a whole lot of operational issues which is the reason why they didn't launch Belgrade and a few other routes this summer. They will come next year.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Bosnia revoke visa free travel for Saudi citizens. Was it due to overtourism? Even on global map on snapchat if one view snaps in Bosnia one can see their is a year long presence of these tourists
ReplyDelete