Air Serbia begins biggest expansion since start of pandemic
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Air Serbia is set for the biggest expansion of its network this week and next since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with the carrier experiencing some issues with its fleet in the lead-up to the growth, although there are plans to add more aircraft in June. During June, the airline is introducing twelve new routes, which will result in 29 new weekly flights. They will be accompanied by additional frequencies across its existing network, which will see fourteen routes return to pre-Covid levels and three above pre-pandemic volumes. This week will see the introduction of services to Trieste, Lyon, Hanover and Bari, followed by Bologna, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Palma and Sochi next week, as well as Rijeka, Niš - Athens and Kraljevo - Tivat later on in the month.
Preparations for the expansion have not gone without an issue. The airline has experienced fleet problems over the last week. Its sole Airbus A320 aircraft has been grounded at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport since arriving from Belgrade four days ago due to a technical issue but is expected to return soon. The development has had a knock-on effect on the remainder of Air Serbia’s network over the weekend. The airline utilised an Air Montenegro Embraer 195 on Saturday to operate its flight between Belgrade and Zurich and was forced to deploy its ATR72 turboprop to Athens several days ago, usually maintained by Airbus aircraft. Furthermore, the airline has modified operations with its wet-leased Boeing 737-700 jet from Greece’s Lumiwings and extend its use on scheduled flights into June.
Over the past two weeks, Air Serbia has put into operation one of its newly leased ATR72-600 turboprops, the second in its fleet, while it also took delivery of an Airbus A319 which is to enter commercial operations after cabin reconfiguration. The airline also plans to wet-lease additional aircraft this summer season to cater for rising passenger demand and network growth. According to media reports, the carrier is set to take on an Airbus A320-familly jet from Romania’s Dan Air.
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