Air Serbia sees mixed long haul results in Q1
Air Serbia has seen its passenger numbers decline 6.6% on its signature route between Belgrade and New York during the first quarter of the year, while the average cabin load factor and cargo uplift improved, data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the United States shows. A range of factors influenced the figures, including less capacity being offered on the route when compared to last year, frequency reductions on connecting short haul flights, as well as the later start to Easter when compared to last year. The airline carried a total of 11.396 travellers between the two cities during the January - March period, down from 12.154. Its average cabin load factor stood at 74%, up 4.7 points.
Air Serbia’s capacity on the Belgrade - New York - Belgrade service decreased during Q1 2019 in part due to the usage of Etihad Airways’ Airbus A330-200 aircraft between January 12 and February 14, while its own jet of the same type underwent scheduled maintenance checks at Etihad Airways Engineering in Abu Dhabi. During the first quarter, the carrier offered 2.126 fewer seats than in 2018. Over the same period, Air Serbia’s European network was exposed to a number of frequency cuts, as the carrier consolidated its network in the lead-up to a significant expansion over the summer. Furthermore, the Easter holidays in the United States, when there is an increase in demand for travel, began in late March in 2018, while this year the holidays fell solely within April.
During the first three months of the year, Air Serbia uplifted 692.340 kilograms of freight on the Belgrade - New York service, up 8.7% on 2018, despite a decline in cargo capacity. “JFK Airport is important due to long haul capacity and the capability of covering cargo transportation across the Atlantic to the United States, Canada, and countries in South America”, Air Serbia previously said. In addition to its nonstop flights to New York, the airline provides road feeder services to 53 cities across the US and Canada. Overall, during Q1, there were more passengers originating from Belgrade, a total of 5.863, compared to the 5.533 travellers starting their journey at JFK Airport. For the whole of 2018, Air Serbia handled a total of 79.657 passengers to and from New York with an average annual cabin load factor of 80.8%.
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