Air Serbia sees unprecedent Russia demand
Air Serbia is recording a significant increase in passenger numbers to and from Russia as it continues to be one of just a few European airlines still able to operate into the country amid the war in Ukraine. A notable surge in demand is being felt on flights from Moscow in particular, with its upcoming eighteen services, up until March 15, all sold out. Few tickets remain on flights thereafter, up until April 1. This is despite the Serbian carrier almost doubling its operations to the Russian capital as of tomorrow, with fifteen weekly rotations planned. It is also deploying its wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route each day the jet is not being utilised on its New York service.
Russian media have suggested the Serbian carrier has already filed for additional frequencies on its Belgrade - Moscow service with the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya). Furthermore, Russian press notes Air Serbia will expand its fleet by leasing additional aircraft from minority shareholder Etihad Airways in order to cater for the unexpected growth in demand to Russia, since the 2022 summer season is approaching and traffic will be increasing on a number of other routes in its network as well. However, Air Serbia has not commented or confirmed these claims. Rosaviatsiya has called on Russians wishing to return to the country to do so via Belgrade.
The surge in demand for flights to and from Russia is also having a spillover effect on other European airlines and their operations to the Serbian capital, as they shuttle Russian citizens to and from Belgrade. Meanwhile, Russia's national airline, Aeroflot, has cancelled nearly all international flights from March 8, because of what it called "additional circumstances" impeding its operations. Domestic routes and flights to neighbouring Belarus will continue unchanged, the airline said. The measure is believed to have been introduced to avoid Aeroflot aircraft being repossessed at foreign airports. European lessors have been given until March 28 to repossess all aircraft on financial lease to Russian carriers, however, this will be difficult to achieve.
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