Wizz Air stationed its fourth Airbus A321 aircraft in Belgrade yesterday and has launched flights to Berlin, Copenhagen and Lisbon, following the introduction of its new Zakynthos service late last month, with Bergamo to be added in September. The carrier has said it is responding to increased leisure demand from the Serbian capital. “In Serbia we still mostly see diaspora, but there is a growing trend in leisure destinations. If you look at the routes that we have introduced, for example Zakynthos, that’s clearly a leisure destination. We are looking at covering both as much as we can. It’s an evolution but clearly the trend is going more towards leisure but still the bulk of it is VFR [visiting friends and family]”, the budget airline said.
Wizz Air will increase frequencies on a number of its services out of the Serbian capital this coming winter season, resulting in an average of around 400 departing flights per month (excluding Wizz Air Abu Dhabi) and just over 90.000 departing seats. Compared to the pre-pandemic 2019, the budget carrier will increase flight operations by 160%, while capacity will be up 240%. In comparison to last year, flights and capacity will grow 112% and 117% respectively. Over the winter, which begins on October 29 and runs until March 30, Wizz Air will offer the most flights from Belgrade to Barcelona, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Rome, Memmingen and London Luton.
Wizz Air’s latest Belgrade expansion sees the budget carrier launch a number of destinations already served by Air Serbia, including Berlin and Copenhagen. In response, the Serbian flag carrier announced an increase in frequencies on both routes, as well as the launch of Lisbon after Wizz Air went public with its growth plans. “Competition from Air Serbia does not impact us that much because our cost base is much lower, so we are happy with the set-up and competition is always good. It keeps us on our toes, and it is an upside for customers because they have greater choice. Overall, seeing Air Serbia’s reaction and frequency increases, we chose the right routes - and that was very clear. We are always happy to compete. As long the cost base is low it’s always fine to compete”, Wizz Air said.
I'm interested to see what they do next summer and whether they will grow further with fifth plane or consolidate this year's growth.
ReplyDeleteConsidering their relationship with BEG is now good I really do hope they accelerate their growth in BEG after many years of stagnation.
DeleteThey could restore Charleroi
DeleteI really hope this means we will see quicker pace of expansion from Wizz in Belgrade in the future. In 2017 they returned their second plane in BEG. So it took 5 years to get 4 planes.
DeleteThey could always start Bratislava and challenge JU and OS on the Vienna route.
Delete^ or better yet launch VIE.
DeleteThere are a bulk of summer holiday destinations across Mediterane. Serbs discovered LCC vacation travel.
DeleteThey can add ATH
DeleteAnonymous09:16
DeleteThat isn't happening, I am sure both Austrian and Air Serbia will do everything in their power to remove them from the market. Both Austrian and Air Serbia fly multiple times a day, with amazing flight time and in case of JU pretty decent prices if bought in advance, if not they you are just a victim of a duopoly that is forced to pay 200+ euros for a return ticket on a one-hour flight.
Adding the cost of public transport from Bratislava to Vienna and vice versa, Wizz must be really cheap on that route to make it reasonable for using.
Wizz could be adding some extra summer destinations in Greece (like they had Santorini that used to be packed in the summer) and Spain, TLV is also missing, and I assume that route would work 2 to 3 times a week.
Other than that, competing with AS from BEG right now is super hard knowing that they will be in a position to play with dumping prices just to eliminate the competition. They already reacted on both Milan and Lisbon routes, increased Copenhagen and Berlin so we saw Wizz cutting their schedule for the summer.
Maybe Wizz should focus more on Northern and Western Europe, Bergen, Tallin, Vilnus, Brussels, Porto, Brno, Warsaw and even Amman in ME. Why not?
Yes JU responded but then there are markets like NCE where W6 beat them and MLA where Wizz is winning the battle. Then there are destinations like BCN, LCA, FCO... where the market is big enough for them to coexist.
DeleteI think we might see a fifth plane either next summer of the summer after. BCN is full so they can easily increase it to 8 in summer, LCA can go daily and same with BVA. They can use the rest of capacity to boost existing routes. I am sure Berlin will be popular and will go daily in the future.
5th A321 can be used to boost their existing network.
W6 can't fly between BEG and AMM or BEG and TLV.
DeleteAnon09:35
DeleteThey can't launch ATH because they can't compete against Air Serbia and Aegean. Air Serbia is doing pretty well in ATH and Aegean is increasing BEG-ATH flights to daily next summer from 5 weekly they already operate. ATH is not like LCA where there wasn't a national carrier operating to BEG so how can Wizz enter that strong market?
5th A321 stationed in Belgrade will be in Air Serbia livery.
DeleteThey could add Palma, Catania, Rhodes, Skiathos, Corfu, Mykonos, Kos, Paphos, Ibiza, Canary Islands etc.
DeleteMykonos, Ibiza... people didn't want to pay enough to keep Santorini route alive, let alone those pricey destinations. Good comment to gauge actual knowledge of people posting them.
DeleteYet costs does not seem to be an issue for flights to Palma de Mallorca.
DeleteThere are charters to Mykonos and Ibiza already. Wizz flights should work as young people who go there are more savvy about LCC air travel.
DeleteCharters are no risk for airlines. Nonstop Ibiza charter does not exist for this summer as far as I know. What carrier is operating BEG-IBZ charter this year?
DeleteNo Ibiza charters this year, makes no sense with PMI getting more and more capacity.
DeleteThis is exciting. Let’s hope we see some new exciting routes. I see Wizz is growing Yerevan so that would be a good one for Belgrade
ReplyDeleteWithout special permissions Wizz can't fly between Yerevan and Belgrade.
DeleteVery happy with their latest destinations to/from BEG.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the status of the baggage issue? Over 5000 lost pieces of luggage now moved to tarmac as there’s no room left inside.
DeleteTFS would be a nice addition somewhere down the line.
ReplyDeleteDon't see it happening with JU and DY thriving out of OSL.
DeleteTFN even better actually
DeleteTFS is Teneriffe not Oslo.
DeleteTenerife South or Las Palmas would be GREAT addition to their network during slower winter months.
DeleteWeather is perfect (23-25 degrees and sunny all the time), its windy but still very very pleasant
Fingers crossed for BEG-LPA either by W6 or JU!
DeleteGreat news for BEG, not so great for JU.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also good chance for JU.
DeleteJU was reluctant to open LIS and maybe they would not have done it if W6 had not started it first. But, when they saw that W6 want to fly there they started flying to Portual even before W6.
I fear that Air Serbia's already problematic cost coverage will get even worse with growing competition by Wizz.
DeleteYes, it is so bad that their profit in H1 was bigger than their entire profit for 2022.
DeleteAnon 10:07 +1
DeleteThe open and hidden subsidies by the Serbian state for Serbia might help but Wizz has a much better cost structure so Air Serbia has no chance.
Mr. AŠ, if you were better informed you would know Air Serbia no longer has any financial support from the state. Reusing old info does not help your status. Those open and hidden subsidies are however continuing for other exyu flag carriers.
DeleteWhy would Wizz expanding in BEG not be good for JU?
DeleteFirst it was denied from
Deletethe beginning Air Serbia has gotten state aid, now the thesis comes up it was in the past but not any more. JU gets state aid however u might set it up. The last evidence is the tender from Nis Airport which was obviously made for JU.
^ Croatia Airlines with millions in PSO, udruženo oglašavanje, ovetpriced local airport advertisments in plane says hi.
Delete@Anon 21:58
DeleteRepeated disinformation. Wizz was based at BEG before Air Serbia rebranding. It was never denied flying to/from BEG or basing an aircraft, even without even having Serbian AOC. JU does not get state aid. PSO exists in Serbia just like in CRO and other countries. Stop repeating lies.
Public call in Sarajevo was also perfectly made for a certain LCC, same with SKP etc.
DeleteI think many are bothered on here by the fact that BEG is slowly leaving the village league and heading to the next level leaving literally all airports behind. Instead of attacking Nikola Tesla you should focus on your home airport and why it is not performing better.
+100
DeleteGlad that Air Serbia will have to adjust prices on routes where they will be competing with Wizz. Their pricing has become outrageous lately.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteI think that on markets to France or UK they actually keep their prices close to Air Serbia's.
DeleteI don't know when people here will learn and acknowledge that AirSerbia is not a LCC so their prices are not ment to be cheap, although I don't think their prices are outrageous either, but very decent considering the demand.
DeleteActually AS is often cheaper than Wizz during summer months when you count that cheapest fare in W6 includes only backpack and small bag is 20-30EUR extra, while it is covered in AS base fare
DeleteHave you seen the status of the Belgrade Airport and Air Serbia today? Over 5000 pieces of luggage are sitting on the tarmac not returned to the rightful owners, some people have been waiting over a month.
DeleteGreat news for Serbian consumers.
ReplyDeleteThe growth is huge, compared to 2019 and last year.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBoth W6 and JU focusing more and more on leisure routes from BEG.
ReplyDeleteAm I mistaken, didn’t Air Serbia have a non stop flight to Lisboa this year already? I thought I saw them posting a story with an inaugural flight. But it’s not possible to book a non stop flight anymore, there are just many expensive options with a long layover with TAP.
ReplyDeleteYes, read the article. They announced Lisbon after Wizz Air but scheduled its launch for April. Lisbon is the most successful new route launched by Air Serbia this year in Europe. But you are writing nonsense with tickets being unavailable. In fact you can buy a ticket for tonight's flight on their website.
DeleteBusiness class is sold out on tonight's flight.
DeleteGeez, is it that difficult to be nice? So I made a mistake - I checked for some dates and there were no non stop flights. I didn’t scroll through all the flights. Air Serbia doesn’t have a very well organized booking process-there should be a calendar with all possible dates, but in the mobile version I do not see an overview of all flights. It puts me off every time I have to book. Eurowings, for example, has a much better and simpler booking system.
DeleteIt's ok Anon 10.05, don't pay attention to those posters who are coming here just to be mean. I guess they are frustrated so they have to attack others. Feel free to ask any and all questions you might have.
DeleteYou were insinuating that they have cancelled the flights.
Delete+1
DeleteAll the best to Wizz on these new routes. Wish them success so they will add more.
ReplyDeleteSafe choices
ReplyDeleteNot bad, but a bit late...
ReplyDeleteThey are showing JU that they are not going to be pushed out.
ReplyDeleteZakynthos flights are packed!
ReplyDeleteNo surprise.
DeleteI don't think it's packed given how cheap fares are. I see them cancelling it like they did Santorini which was also full but yields were trash.
DeleteI think Serbs are slowly beginning to explore more of Spain and Portugal compared to Greece as it is quite diverse and flights are more accessible. We saw what happened with the huge success of BCN and AGP.
DeleteWell with W6 launching LIS a new chapter in Serbian aviation was launched, finally Portugal will become accessible to the masses. As I write this their sold out A321neo is climbing over Belgrade.
DeleteBest of luck Wizz, we love you!
Two flights are week is not enough to move masses. Air Serbia launched more than 20 new chapters in Serbian aviation this year.
DeleteI get the importance of diaspora, but I don't get what needed to happen in the meantime that today compared to say 5 years ago people are more likely to fly for cheap to Greece today. I know there's developing and maturing the market, but it's not like all of a sudden there's demand to leisure destination
ReplyDeleteThe number of new routes from Belgrade to Italian coast and Spanish coast, as well as nonstop leisure flights from Nis, show that there is obviously increased demand for leisure.
DeleteThat's exactly what I mean Greece has alway been popular and even like 5 years ago cheap flights there would definitely have had demand. Of course that doesn't apply for all leisure destinations like Spain and Italy, but my point was why only now wiz decided to expand into leisure market, and even more how come they hadn't started doing so years ago.
DeleteDon't get me wrong it's the best thing to have lcc flying leisure destinations though
People in Serbia have more money now than 5 years ago. Simple as.
DeleteWizz and Air Serbia now fly on exactly the same days to Lisbon.
ReplyDeleteNest week Wizz is selling return ticket on this route (without luggage) for 200 euros
Air Serbia is selling return ticket on the route (without luggage) for 440 euros although I had to choose a different return date because they are sold out!
Well one is an LCC and Wizz operates bigger aircraft on this route.
DeletePlus Wizz is launching the route today while Air Serbia has been flying for a few months and is sold out on many dates.
DeleteHopefully more new routes to come
ReplyDeleteLet's see how many routes they keep next summer.
ReplyDeleteThey will keep all + increase the frequency and you may rotten in your malicious wishes.
DeleteWhat kind of language is that? Wizz cancelled Santorini for example, so the question was 100% valid. Wizz is all hot air about leisure demand from Belgrade but it cancells Greek islands left and right.
DeleteHey Wizz, how are you doing? Time to bring back BEG-RHO, it's a hot route that can work really well in summer. Come on, we need that one, we need a reliable and affordable carrier on this market.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is Air Serbia 🇷🇸
Delete@10:45 you must be a kid or in cheerleader training ! )) Air Serbia is anything but reliable these days. Wizz is not much better either if that makes you feel better!
DeleteI am following JU's Greece operation and they are chronically in a meltdown. I pray they will resolve these issues but somehow I don't see it happening. Their Rhodes flights are usually delayed by an hour.
DeleteNo rules really, all is unpredictable and looks pretty bad!
Delete@anon 17.55
DeleteAn hour's delay is not a "meltdown". It's a minor inconvenience.
I think he was talking about RHO being delayed by an hour, other flights also have delays and I can't say that is ok.
DeleteIt is good they opened LIS, but they should have done it long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI can't simply forget how long they were postponing to open BCN from BEG...Even SKP got it before Serbian capital and I am glad they finally changed their way of thinking about demand from Belgrade.
They got money for SKP-BCN. When the subsidies ended they ended the route.
DeleteThe point was that they have not earlier recognized the potential of that lin from BEG.
Delete@10.39 you are so wrong. SKP-BCN was ceased during the pandemic (2022) when all leissure market @SKP collapsed. They started the route 2015 (and as you know subsidies only last for 3 years)
DeleteSKP-BCN was immediately downgraded to seasonal flights when the 3 year subsidies ended and then discontinued the following year
Delete@11.36 stop spreading fake news:
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/01/wizz-air-terminates-two-skopje-routes.html
for 11.38
DeleteUsed to like Wizz in the past, but they became a really unreliable airline. They announce new routes and then cancel them all the f time. Ryanair is a much more reliable airline, imo and it's a huge pity they are not in BEG. Been flying with them for many years. Yes, they have the typical "Anglosaxon" model and require lower fees and "agressive" policy, but once they step in a place they can make wonders. It will be very interesting how they will perform once they step in TIA (reminds of the SOF expansion in 2016). What is really surprising is why it didn't work well in ZAG unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHoping they consider adding BEG one day. It is not a small city and can easily have a 3rd major player and have more O&D traffic.
They are not getting 5 eur taxes in BEG.
DeleteThat is their biggest problem in Serbian capital, but obviously they do not see that they lose much more as long as they keep that stubborn approach.
Wizz is much much better than Ryan Air, who only turn up to steal from governments but act like they are smart to give low fares.
Deleteand wizz has much better customer service. ryan air would rather risk their life than treat customers fairly and give refunds that they deserve.
Once Serbia abandons the failed central-planning-command-economy model and embraces the free market passengers will have more choice and cheaper flights. Ryanair doesn't want to compete in markets with state subsidized airlines. Simple as.
Delete^ you are right. Because Croatia Airines is a shining example of an airline operating in the free market without a single penny in subsidies. I guess simple as.
DeleteThe "problem" with ZAG is that the Croatian coast is much more popular to the world compared to the capital. Also ZAG needs to seriously work on spending money advertising the city so it can become a popular city break destination.
DeletePersonally, I believe BEG has all the potential of having Ryanair and launch leisure destinations similar to many other European capitals. Wizz now charge abusive fares for bags, have many cancelled flights. You can check out their FB page and see the huge number of complaints. Since they began operating in Egypt and UAE, they became greedy and chaotic. In the UK, they have been officially claimed as the airline with most complaints. They are nowhere next to easyJet and especially Jet2, which is a pretty decent and serious airline. Their new A321 product planes interiors are simply stunning, typical holiday vibes and colourful interior. Wizzair have a horrible interior and very few legroom. It used to be a great airline 5 years ago.
Delete@14:20
The government does not control the airport in Belgrade and it no longer needs to give extra money to the airline as it is now profitable. The government is even even looking for a partner airline to invest so that they further decrease their involvement and control of the airline. They asked QATAR, who refused.
Air Serbia is the most successful airline of all south Slavic nations second in the region to Aegean. And its second to LOT of all Slavic nations (not sanctioned)
So even if they are using the "central-planning-command-economy model" which is your claim, its a false claim.
Guys at some point Ryanair will HAVE to launch Belgrade the same way they rushed to launch TIA flights. Why? Well if they see JU and W6 thrive in Belgrade they'll want a share of the pie too. One great thing for BEG is that people that use this airport can actually afford to pay higher fares, Wizz loves this and so will FR.
DeleteFR left TSR so BEG makes more than enough sense.
If Wizz brings their 5th plane to BEG then I can see Ryanair launch flights.
17:58 for some reason, FR failed not only in TSR but OMR and CLJ, I think they cut the subsidies. Do people from TSR use BEG? The airport seems to be frozen and not growing.
DeleteBEG killed TSR. Two cities are 90 minutes apart and TSR is literally dying. Millions of Romanians live in Italy but TSR will have 13 weekly to Italy this summer. BEG on the other hand will have close to 80 weekly frequencies.
Delete90 minutes is a bit hyperbolic, 2,5 hours is more reasonable, 3 if there's a wait at the border.
Delete@anon 17:58
Deleteryan air rushed to TIA because they have a duopoly with Wizz and subsidies most likely. they wont get subsidies from Belgrade and there doesn't seem to be any routes that they can launch.
Ryan air will not be given special conditions in belgrade so they wont go there
Ryanair didn't launch TIA because of subsidies, if that was the case they would have launched flights a few years ago when they were published. FR is trying to kill W6 which is not doing that well right now. They saw how well TIA does for Wizz so they decided to rain on their parade.
DeleteIt's what happened in Sofia years ago. Since then the market has stabilized and Wizz Air has won that battle. Tirana will be the same, things will calm down since this kind of growth is not sustainable.
Why don't they want to kill W6 in BEG, but they let the whole market to them?
DeleteIasi, Charloa, bratislava
ReplyDeleteIm still waiting for WIZZ to start Belgrade - Ljubljana party plane :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes please!
DeleteI'm wondering what impact does the migration of Russians to Serbia have on leisure demand. Just now I saw on Twitter Jazeera Airways advertising Belgrade - Moscow flights in Serbian!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that has had an impact on this year's huge demand for Cyprus which is famously popular with Russians.
DeleteNo, Serbian tour operators were going crazy with ads for Cyprus, they were all over the city.
DeleteVienna- Belgrade please, with cheap tickets and massive diaspora there, it would be a boom.
ReplyDeleteAustrian and Air Serbia flying a total of 5-6 times a day is not enough choice? Wow you must be a picky eater.
Deleteplus from INI
DeleteThanks but no thanks. Even though I live near Beograd I prefer to fly from Nis with Ryannair when flying in Europe.
ReplyDeleteFly with Air Serbia from Belgrade.
DeleteNY is not near Beograd.
DeleteDidn't realize the Wizz flight to Copenhagen was a new route. Have a flight from JFK to CPH with Delta and take Wizz Air to Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteSure, but don't throw a tantrum here if you miss the second flight as they are not counting you as a transfer passenger. No financial compensation either. Caveat emptor.
DeleteNice to see that 2 out of 4 aircraft are a321neo
ReplyDeleteWhat about WizAir expansions in Niš? Since government occupied this airport,
ReplyDeleteno new lines... and the Serbian authorities do everything they can to cut the existing no AirSerbia lines. And by the way, Air Serbia serivce Vienna - Belgrade is terrible, unprofessional and extra expensive. WizAir / RayanAir flights Vienna - Niš are always full, super good services and prices. Regards from Vienna!
They should first fix issue with lot of cancelled afternoon/ evening flights. Something is wrong in their organisation.
ReplyDeleteWill Wizz reintroduce Beg - Santorini? And why doesn’t Ryanair fly from Beg?
ReplyDelete