Air Serbia content with long haul performance despite pandemic
Air Serbia is satisfied with the performance of its sole long haul service between Belgrade and New York as it marks the route’s fifth anniversary. The airline noted New York has been one of its most profitable destinations in 2020 and 2021. “Despite the pandemic, our transatlantic flight has continued to deliver positive results. We were one of the few airlines that have flown to New York throughout the pandemic. New York in 2020 and 2021 is one of our most profitable routes”, the company’s CEO, Duncan Naysmith, said. The airline is currently operating five weekly rotations between the two cities, the same level as prior to the pandemic.
Air Serbia has been maintaining flights between Belgrade and New York's JFK Airport since mid-June of 2016, carrying over 320.000 passengers between the two cities. Last year was its most challenging yet, with the Big Apple being hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Services between the two were suspended from March 19 until June 6, while mandatory quarantine for all foreign arrivals into New York state during the fourth quarter also had an impact. Air Serbia handled 41.320 passengers between the two cities in 2020. The year started off well, with the airline outperforming its 2019 results in both January and February. It suspended flights in March and restored them on June 6. In October the carrier was handling more travellers than it did in 2019.
Data provided by US Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Competition on flights from the region to the United States is on the rise, with both United and Delta introducing operations from New York to Dubrovnik this summer. “In terms of competition to the region, we welcome it. What you have to bear in mind is that we actually have a regional connectivity network. Our consistency is there, and our product proposition is one of the best in class”, Mr Naysmith said. He previously noted, “We are very proud to offer direct flights to New York, whose launch represented a significant milestone at the time of their introduction, confirming the strength of our business strategy and contributing to the development of tourism and business cooperation between the Southeastern Europe and the United States. Many did not believe it, but we have managed, in a relatively short time, to secure our first wide-body aircraft, the necessary permits, and to undertake all steps necessary to start the flights".
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