Air Serbia outlines A330 rollout, onboard product and service upgrades

Air Serbia is preparing for the delivery of two leased Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which will grow its fleet to four wide-body jets. As previously reported, the aircraft have been formerly operated by Etihad Airways and more recently by Air Belgium but were stored for over two years in between. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, has now officially confirmed the jets will arrive in July and September/October respectively, after which the carrier will expand into China. Speaking to “AeroTime”, the CEO said that initially the first incoming A330-200 was expected in May, but this has been pushed back until July, while the second will arrive in either September or October. Both aircraft will feature the Etihad Airways hard product, meaning a 1-2-1 configuration in the 22-seat business class section with all featuring direct-aisle access, as well as the standard 2-4-2 configuration in the 240-seat economy class section. Mr Marek noted the airline plans to refit its existing two A330-200s in the same configuration to provide a homogenous passenger experience.

Incoming A330-200 cabin layout (click image to enlarge)

The Serbian carrier plans to focus on stabilising its operations this year after two successive years of significant network growth which saw the airline add over forty new routes at the cost of its operational performance. As a result, the carrier does not plan to make many changes to its route network this year, as it “focuses on developing and improving its product and the passenger experience it offers”. As previously reported, this involves the opening of a new 660 square metre business class lounge at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport in the new C wing of the terminal, which will feature apron views, as well as an upgrade to the check-in area for a dedicated check-in experience for premium passengers. The airline is working on developments in regard to its loyalty program and is also considering rolling out new-generation lighter seats across its fleet. Furthermore, the carrier plans to further improve its catering options after upgrading its complimentary snacks on short-haul flights last year, which also saw the roll-out of new amenity kits in business class, as well as the reintroduction of pyjamas on long-haul flights and glassware as part of the catering offer. The airline is also looking to roll out in-flight entertainment streaming on its short-haul fleet after it examines the findings of a trail which took place on three aircraft over the past few months, if the results are satisfactory.

Mr Marek expressed his satisfaction with the airline’s improved punctuality in the last few months, after a less than stellar performance in 2023. On March 5, the carrier transferred its ground handling at Belgrade Airport to Menzies Aviation, which is off to a good start. “Strong support for Air Serbia's ambitious growth plans is expected from Menzies Aviation, particularly regarding on-time performance and passenger baggage management”, the company said. Air Serbia’s CEO remains upbeat about the company’s future outlook noting, “We are very positive towards future. We have reached the critical mass that allows us to think about further growth”.