S7 Airlines plans Belgrade operations
Russia’s S7 Airlines plans to commence flights from Moscow Domodedovo Airport and Belgrade from late May, if it is given regulatory approval to begin the service. Due to current frequency caps between Russia and Serbia, introduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it is unclear whether the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate will approve the airline to introduce flights. Yesterday, S7 briefly put tickets on sale for the route, but has since closed reservations. If approved, the carrier intends on initially operating one weekly flight, each Friday, due to the frequency cap, and then increase operations once restrictions are lifted.
S7 Airlines would become the fourth carrier to maintain flights between the two countries and the second new Russian airline to launch operations to the Serbian capital this year following Nordwind Airlines. It would also become only the second Oneworld alliance member to fly to Belgrade after Qatar Airways. Currently, Air Serbia maintains four weekly rotations to Moscow, while based on reciprocity, Aeroflot runs three weekly services and Nordwind one weekly operation. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has already had issue with Russian carriers over the frequency cap, with Nordwind Airlines’ service being in jeopardy earlier this year.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, travel between Moscow and Belgrade is in high demand, primarily due to Russian tourists visiting the Serbian countryside in organised tour groups. Aeroflot has been deploying its wide-body Airbus A330 jet on two of its three weekly flights throughout March and April, while Air Serbia has recently upgraded its equipment from the A319 to the A320 on the majority of its Moscow flights. Demand is also being generated by transfer passengers. Both Serbian and Russian citizens are able to travel between each other’s countries without restrictions with a negative Covid-19 PCR test, however, they must fly on the nonstop Belgrade - Moscow service to avoid quarantine upon entering Russia.
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