Serbia’s Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, has confirmed the country’s national carrier will take delivery of its two upcoming wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft in July and September of this year. Speaking at the Kopaonik Business Forum, Mr Mali, who previously served at the company’s Supervisory Board President, noted, “Flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai will be launched immediately thereafter. Therefore, we will have three routes to China, and two to the United States. We are also considering the introduction of a third US route, to Miami”. He added, “This is a big opportunity for Serbian exporters. We have to open up to new markets”. Air Serbia has already secured permits for three weekly services to Guangzhou and two weekly rotations to Shanghai.
Upon the arrival of the upcoming A330-200 aircraft, the airline will have four wide-body jets in its fleet. In addition to introducing new destinations in China, Air Serbia has also said it would look to increase frequencies on its flagship New York service, with double daily rotations on select days of the week during the peak summer travel period. The Serbian carrier’s two A330-200s operate with different configurations, with one having the ability to seat 257 passengers (21 business, 236 economy) and the other 268 travellers (18 business, 250 economy). The airline has said it intends on having the same hard product across its wide-body fleet.
Air Serbia had initially planned to take delivery of its third wide-body jet as early as June of last year, however, the deal with the leasing company for the twelve-year-old frame fell through at the last minute. “We expected our third A330-200 to be delivered during 2023 but unfortunately the situation in the engine market escalated and the lessor decided to sell the engines and scrap the airframe rather than proceed with the dry-lease. For us, this is an important project but given the continuous volatility and market dynamics, to insist on any definite deadline would be premature”, the airline’s CEO, Jiri Marek, told the January/February issue of the “Regional International” magazine.
And this time, YU-ARB has taken back into service and YU-ARC in configuration.
ReplyDeleteBravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteAny info on why it took more than a year for a different used A330 to be found?
DeleteBecause there are none on the market that fit the price they were willing to pay and that didn't need to go for. D check.
Deleteadding widebodies for a small airline each year is actually an achievement. It took 6 years to add the second one and now you are complaining because it will be a year and a half between second and third?
DeleteAnd 2 months between third and fourth.
DeleteAir Serbia announced third one for June 2023. It is not an achievement to be delayed more than a year from your own plans. Other small/medium airlines have been adding A330s in the meantime.
DeleteI can bet you were the one writing yesterday that they are on the verge of collapse
Delete@Anon 14:53 - You must have a degree in analytics, sourcing, and douchery. If you don’t understand global supply and demand challenges, then you should not be commenting here. Why don’t you look at those other airlines and when they put their orders in, as well as how much they are spending on them vs the fare they charge from the home market- then compare with JU average prices. It’s easy to comment but put some substance in your posts instead of simply criticising the airline that was barely operational since 10 years ago and is now a leader in the region. Or do you think that OU and FB are the leaders?
DeleteThey should get Wamos air to operate JFK flights this summer and put both of their own A330 on China routes. No reason to wait for the peak season to pass
ReplyDeleteWamos Air is busy operating for Etihad. I don't think they have any planes available.
DeleteLol, Wamos air. Who cares about China? US is a no 1 priority
DeleteAir Serbia's bottom line cares about China.
DeleteAdmin; methinks that both of the A330 now have the same cabin configuration - as both of them had (or are having) a quick stop in France for reconfig - any chance of confirming that?
ReplyDeleteARB was in France for just 10 days, which would be too quick for any significant cabin reconfiguration.
DeleteThey didn't do any cabin reconfiguration. From what I hear they just fixed issues with IFE and seats.
DeleteCabin reconfiguration is anything but a quick stop.
DeleteCabin layout is same on the seatmaps when booking tickets. So they didn't change the configuration.
DeleteIt is unbelievable that they fly a widebody plane to France to fix broken seats and some IFE, can't that be done in Belgrade? BTW their cabins are really tired and need a complete refurb, including the toilets. ARB still has an ashtray in the toilet!
DeleteNo it's not unbelievable. It makes perfect sense. No one is certified to do such work on an A330 in Belgrade, and why would they with 2 planes.
Delete@13:03 All planes have ashtrays in lavatories. I believe the idea is that if someone is crazy enough to smoke on a plane they at least have a safe place to put it out.
DeleteSo they will lose most of the summer season since after an aircraft arrives it takes sometimes more than a month to start flights.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it.
DeleteIs the summer season relevant for flights to China at all? For Miami definitely not, it's a winter destination for leisure pax from Europe.
DeleteShanghai season is summer, but Canton can work summer/ winter season equally...CAN is close to all SE Asian countries, big hub
DeleteIs 100% Miami will be in their network?
ReplyDeleteYes, seems like it.
DeleteIt will probably start in winter 2024/25
DeleteI'm happy they chose it over YYZ.
DeleteThey must be so much smarter than Swiss! LX is starting Toronto this year in spite of YYZ-ZRH operated daily by high-density AC 777 even in the winter.
Delete^ are you seriously comparing the two? Not to mention both AC and LX are Star Alliance members.
DeleteThere is money to be made on seasonal Toronto route, but Air Serbia doesn't know how to.
DeleteI'm sure you have done the calculation of all the expenses and costs, as well as considered how much they would have to charge for tickets to make that conclusion
DeleteCmon, Zagreb can work and Belgrade can't? From Toronto? I doubt that.
DeleteYes, it can work from ZAG because it is full of tourists on Air Transat holiday packages alongside diaspora. It operates for under 5 months per year.
DeleteWhy not having holiday packages with Air Serbia if it works so well, alongside diaspora.
DeleteBecause Serbia does not have a coastline. You sound like you have been living on Mars.
DeleteAfter all, Air Serbia was sleeping on Barcelona for years, why taking their Toronto evaluation for granted?
DeleteZagreb doesn't have coastline either.
DeleteI have already told you that Air Transat sells holiday packages to the Croatian coast through their flights to Zagreb. I don't know why you choose to play dumb.
DeleteI don't play, I'm genuinely interested why they sell the coast via Zagreb and not via Belgrade or, more importantly, why they don't fly to the coast directly? So, it's not just about the coast. I agree that there is not enough diaspora travelers from/to Toronto but that's the same with every other route and that's why Air Serbia has hub-and-spoke model, not relying only on P2P. I'm puzzled they can't find passengers to travel via Belgrade (which offers many daily flights to Adriatic too) but there are people who will be travelling via Zagreb... It doesn't add up.
DeleteIf you know a bit about aviation, it adds up very much.
DeleteBut you are not willing to share?
DeleteNo, because it is most obvious that you do not wish to understand.
DeleteYou had weak argumentation, don't blame it on me
DeleteBelgrade doesn't have coastline but that does not hurt in VIE or BUD. It also does not hurt when it comes to Chinese tourists to Serbia. Since Hainan started flying to BEG via PRG, tourist visits from China increased rapidly. Belgrade and Serbia invested in promotion and tailored services for Chinese tourists. At one point there was a dedicated desk for Chinese toursits at arrivals hall at Belgrade airport.
DeleteNothing close to this was done for advertising Belgrade/Serbia as a toursit destination in Canada.
Anon 15:02
DeleteAir Serbia did calculation of all the expenses and costs, as well as considered how much they would have to charge for tickets. They know seasonal service to Toronto would be proftable but they still decided to skip it.
Again with complete nonsense. Serbia has tourists from China because it does not require a visa from them unlike most other European countries. That's why it can benefit from Chinese tourists.
DeleteComparing Belgrade with Vienna and Budapest is laughable to say the least and I say that as a Belgrader. Majority of Canadian tourists want to go to the seaside in summer. Belgrade does not have a good tourist offer. Although I love my city it is not tourist friendly - there are no tourist cards, tourist museum passes, there aren't any open air busses anymore either. The pinnacle of the tourist offer is a free walking tour and a cruise on the rivers,
@ Anon 15:02
DeleteOnce again nonsense. Who told you they know it would be profitable? Stop making things up as you go.
That boy special or what?
DeleteGuys, you are free to post whatever you want but following 3 examples show you have no clue about basic facts, so please stop embarrassing yourselves.
DeleteAnonymous 16:19 "Serbia has tourists from China because it does not require a visa from them unlike most other European countries. "
LOL, we are talking tourists from Canada, not EU. Canada passport holders don't need tourists/business/student visa for Serbia up to 90 days.
"Majority of Canadian tourists want to go to the seaside in summer"
LOL, not true. Capacity from Canada to sun/seaside destinations is higher in the winter than summer.
Anon 16:20 Who told me Toronto would be profitable? Well, Marek did:
Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said late last year, “Both destinations (MIA&YYZ) are similar in terms of profitability"
from:
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/02/air-serbia-could-announce-miami-launch.html
^ you obviously didn't even read what the other person wrote. He said that because there are Chinese tourists in Belgrade, there should be Canadian tourists in Belgrade. And the other person rightly responded why you have Chinese tourists in Belgrade and not Canadian ones.
DeleteLOL are you okay? Quotes are from specific comments with timestamps.
DeleteToronto is definitely a must for AirSerbia. Diaspora is huge, although mostly seasonal. At least one flight per week off season and 2/3 on season. And I am sure it will be announced within one year or so. But also ambassador and general consulate from Canada should put some pressure on government and JU about this
DeleteFingers crossed for OSI
DeleteWhere the A330 gonna come from? Which MSN do they have?
ReplyDeleteSome people mentioned Etihad but not sure if that is true.
DeleteI mean that these are former Etihad aircraft.
DeleteIf that's true that would be good because the cabins are good. Both in business and economy.
Delete0957,what is the point of your post? You reinforce unverified info and then distance yourself, thus confirming your ignorance. I don't get it....
Delete@10:04, what is the point of your post? You have some problems and think taking it out on others is the solution?
Delete1653,I just don't get it why people post pointless comments like yours for example.
Delete@07:14 Like yours you mean? Why do you post then? Think you're smart?
DeleteFinally!
ReplyDeleteOne of the upcoming planes will apparently be in Expo 2027 special livery.
ReplyDeleteYes. And the other one will be a famous person on the tail. Marek said last year that they already selected the person.
DeleteCan't wait to see who they decided
DeleteIt will most likely be another scientist
DeleteI guess Milutin Milankovic.
DeleteWould be nice if they left the third one in standard JU livery.
Deleteit's high time for a woman face damn it!
DeleteI agree. Would be nice for a change
DeleteMileva Maric
DeleteCeca!
DeleteVesna Vulovic
DeleteOr maybe a Retro Livery?
DeleteNeeds to be a woman. I'd also pick Mileva, she's probably the most known abroad.
DeleteSo much for the "collapse" of this airline some were cheering for yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWill they schedule new flights before the aircraft arrive?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely
DeleteI will believe it when I see it.
ReplyDeleteWill Tianjin continue to work with the new Chinese routes?
ReplyDeleteYes, Shanghai and Guangzhou are nowhere near Tianjin.
Delete3 Chinese routes very nice
DeleteAnd 3 in the US
DeleteImpressive
DeleteThis Summer any new routes for Europe .
ReplyDeleteMostar.
DeleteMostar for now
DeleteMore routes will be added when all the ATRs come.
DeleteIs there (in theory) available space at gates at BEG for 4 or 5 widebodies to be connected at the same time?
ReplyDeleteYes, at C gates
DeleteAll C gates can receive airplane width of A330. Everything is on airport plans.
DeleteThey can take up to 7 widebodies on C-stands (one widebody blocks two narrow body gates) + A1 stand + a few B stands + E1
DeleteThis is not through. You did not fly with A330 from BEG. Just spreading mumbo jumbo. And gates 13 and 14 are differently organized.
DeleteWidebody gates on BEG are C1/2, C3/4, C5/6, C7/8, C9/10, C11/12 and B1/2.
DeleteThis means BEG can handle 7 widebodies at the moment.
A1 is not wide enough for A330, but it is for B767 (not flying from BEG).
I'm just bracing myself for four different long haul products on each plane
ReplyDeleteYes, it will be interesting to see what they do with the cabins.
DeleteEach plane will have one long haul product, not four.
DeleteDrop the faces I just want the pretty eagle…
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGood luck Air Serbia!
ReplyDeleteGreat. Now they need to work on improving on board service.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYU-ARD and YU-ARE :)
ReplyDeleteWow :D
DeleteLet's hope the Expo livery won't be as ugly as the Serbia Creates livery from a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis is a picture of an official mockup someone posted on here a few days ago, and it actually looks pretty good: https://i.ibb.co/QfwYLgT/slike-avio-JU-A330-EXPO-27.jpg
Deletelooks pretty nice, thanks.
DeleteJel se samo meni boje Expa nikako ne slažu uz boje Air Serbie?
DeleteThey need some cooperation agreement with a Chinese carrier.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate they will miss the peak summer season.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's why I don't think they will manage to increase JFK above daily this summer.
Delete^ Why not? If plane arrives in July and let's say enters service in August that is exactly when they need to increase frequencies. All through until October since travel from BEG to JFK peaks in September as diaspora returning back to US.
DeleteWith 4 widebodies is there room for more routes than the ones they plan? At the moment they would operate the following with 4 planes:
ReplyDeleteNew York
Tianjin
Chicago
Shanghai
Guangzhou
Miami
Cuba as winter destination
DeleteI wonder if Miami will be a winter seasonal route or an all year round route.
ReplyDeleteTime to start working with tour operators over potential long haul leisure routes for winter 24/25
ReplyDeleteProbably one of the next ones should be one of SE and/or Far East Asia hub? Far East: Tokyo or Seoul. SE Asia: to think about what could be potentially the most profitable one- as it seems Bangkok is not on their radar? Jakarta, Saigon, Hanoi, Phnom Penh?
ReplyDeleteDon't push too far. After China and MIA consolidates, they should go for Seoul like Marek said.
DeleteI mean in 2-3 years time frame.
DeleteBelgrade-Phnom Penh makes a lot of sense
Delete14:46 if we were joking
DeleteBelgrade-Punta Cana or Male!!!!!
DeleteJU 2025
ReplyDelete1.A332 daily JFK
2.A332 Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou
3.A332 Chicago, Miami
4. A332 for what? More frequencies to JFK, Seoul, leisure charters? Will be interesting to see! Well, one asian route will be in the timetable.
It has been said thar fourth will be used mostly as replacement plane if any of three go tech.
DeleteThe 4th could be also sent on many short haul routes if there is a demand, beside sitting on a tarmac as backup.
Delete"Short routes" ok will be good for Zurich or Barcelona. Thank you! 😉
DeleteHavana or Lagos. Seriously Toronto and maybe even Sydney should be looked at. Maybe Mumbai? They are over inflating the performance of the Chinese market. They need to diversify.
ReplyDeleteGuangzhou needs freighter and not passenger flights.
ReplyDeleteSo you need to buy/purchase engines and then you'll get a whole aircraft for a price of engines.
ReplyDeleteI am just so puzzled as to why they will likely choose Miami as one of their next destinations. They are a small airline, not in an alliance, so they can't just "try" somethin, they really need to be quite sure a new destination will work! I.e. I am Dutch and I know KLM has been struggling with Miami for many years: it comes and goes and they just can't make it work: too seasonal and too low yields. If an airline like KLM can't make MIA work, why would JU be able to? Can anybody explain why they choose (will likely choose) MIA? Is there a huge Balkan diaspora living in South Florida or something? Indeed, I would get Toronto or even Los Angeles, but Miami?
ReplyDeleteBtw, nobody ever mentions Johannesburg. I live partially in SA and there are quite the number of "Balkanese" ;-) here: especially a lot of Greeks (OA even used to fly to JNB), but also Serbs, Bulgarians, Croats, etc. Maybe even useful for connecting traffic further up north: connections from AMS/FRA/MUC/LHR etc. The North Europeans go in masses to SA nowadays and fares are quite high. Perhaps a bit more original than to be yet another airline in JFK, ORD, PEK or PVG. Could JNB work?
For the next 5 - 10 years (and possibly longer), BEG will be a major transit point for all airline travel from Moscow / St. Petersburg to the west. A healthy percentage of Air Serbia's current New York and Chicago passengers are transit travellers to/from Russia, and if nothing significant changes there (politically and economically), this will remain steady.
DeleteThere are plenty of Russians in Florida (as well as in the rest o USA).
@Willem,
ReplyDeletethere are around 30.000-50.000 from EX-YU people, approximatelly in Tampa/St.Pete/Clearwater Area, also Orlando, Northern Suburbs of Miami, like Pompano Beach, Hollywood.
Hollywood is in CA,not FL
DeleteThere is Hollywood , northern Miami Suburb or City, next to West Palm Beach of Donald Trump.
Delete