EX-YU Aviation News

Wizz Air retains Belgrade base as Serbia delays new airline rules

2026-09-29T13:35:00.000+02:00

Wizz Air will retain its Belgrade base throughout the upcoming 2026/27 winter season after the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate officially postponed the implementation of new rules governing foreign carriers’ operations by six months at the request of the country's Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure. In the amended Rulebook, the Directorate states, “For services operated by foreign air carriers which, on the date this Rulebook enters into force, begin and end in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the provision of Article 3(4) of this Rulebook shall apply to applications for approval relating to traffic periods beginning on or after March 28, 2027”. The revised implementation date coincides with the start of the 2027 summer season.

The amendment was published in Serbia’s Official Gazette yesterday and enters into force today. The contentious Article 3(4) states, “Where an international agreement permits the airlines of the contracting parties to operate scheduled public air services using third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights, approval shall be issued for flights that begin and end in the territory of the state that authorised the foreign air carrier, or within the territory of the European Union where the carrier concerned is an EU air carrier”. Its implementation would prevent Wizz Air from having its four aircraft stationed in Belgrade.

Commenting on the development, Wizz Air's Chief Corporate Officer, Owain James, said, “This is the right outcome for our fantastic colleagues at Wizz Air’s Belgrade team and, above all, for Serbian passengers ahead of the coming winter season. Wizz Air stood firm because we believed these measures were misguided and incompatible with Serbia’s international obligations. We engaged with the Serbian authorities and European institutions, and the EU concluded that Wizz Air’s position was correct". He added, "We are also extremely grateful for the tremendous support shown by our customers, more than 25.000 of whom signed the petition in support of our Belgrade base. We are pleased that common sense has prevailed, but it is essential for Serbia’s future connectivity and for fair competition that the suspension of these measures becomes permanent, so that we can continue investing in Serbia and provide our Serbian customers with affordable air travel throughout summer 2027 and beyond”.

Wizz Air will still face the same measures next year, unless further changes or delays are applied. As reported yesterday, the development comes several days after the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee met in Brussels last Tuesday and Wednesday, with the dispute over Wizz Air’s Belgrade base understood to have been discussed during the gathering. The issue was also addressed in bilateral talks between representatives of the European Commission and Serbia on the sidelines of the meeting.

AJet brings forward seasonal Skopje service

2026-09-29T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Turkish Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary AJet plans to resume seasonal flights between Ankara and Skopje next year a month earlier than in 2026. Services between the two capitals will restart on June 3, compared with July 2 this year, and will continue to operate twice per week. Further changes remain possible at this early stage.

Jet2 to expand Croatia operations in 2027

2026-09-29T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Leisure carrier Jet2 has extended the operating periods of three routes to Croatia during the 2027 summer season. Flights from East Midlands to Dubrovnik will now begin on April 4, while services from Glasgow will commence on April 5, with both routes brought forward by three weeks. The airline has also extended its East Midlands - Pula service by two weeks, with flights now scheduled from May 2. These will complement new routes scheduled to be launched by the airline to Croatia, including Edinburgh - Pula from May 2 and London Luton - Dubrovnik from May 7.

Decision looms for Wizz Air’s Belgrade base

2026-09-28T13:35:00.000+02:00

A formal decision on the future of Wizz Air’s base at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is expected this week, following changes made earlier this year to Serbia’s regulations governing foreign carriers. EX-YU Aviation News understands from several sources that the low cost carrier is expected to retain its Belgrade base throughout the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which runs from October 25 until March 27. Wizz Air has told EX-YU Aviation News it will share an official communication in the "upcoming days". EX-YU Aviation News has also reached out to the the European Commission and the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate.

The development comes several days after the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee met in Brussels last Tuesday and Wednesday, with the dispute over Wizz Air’s Belgrade base understood to have been discussed during the gathering. The issue was also addressed in bilateral talks between representatives of the European Commission and Serbia on the sidelines of the meeting. The European Commission has been examining whether the regulatory changes are compatible with Serbia’s obligations under the ECAA Agreement after being approached by Wizz Ai

In recent weeks, Wizz Air has submitted slot filings at select European airports covering both services originating in Belgrade and so-called “W” rotations operated from Budapest. Under such a pattern, an aircraft based in Budapest would fly to a European destination, operate a return service to the Serbian capital and then return to Budapest. This would allow Wizz Air to maintain parts of its Belgrade network without stationing aircraft and crews in Serbia. The simultaneous filing of both operating patterns provides the carrier with flexibility while awaiting a resolution to the dispute.

The dispute stems from regulatory changes introduced by the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate earlier this year, under which foreign carriers would be required to begin and end their rotations in their home country or another eligible state, effectively preventing Wizz Air from maintaining its four-aircraft base in Belgrade. The airline has described the measures as discriminatory and protectionist, arguing that they breach Serbia’s obligations under the ECAA Agreement. Serbian authorities have denied seeking to force Wizz Air out of the market or restrict foreign carriers, maintaining that the establishment of foreign airline bases in Serbia is not permitted while the country remains in the ECAA’s First Transitional Period. They have said foreign airlines may continue serving Serbia, provided their rotations originate outside the country.

Croatia Airlines handles over 1.3 million Sarajevo passengers

2026-09-28T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines is this year marking the thirtieth anniversary of operations between Zagreb and Sarajevo. The carrier established flights in August 1996, shortly after Sarajevo Airport reopened to civilian air traffic, with the inaugural flight operated by an ATR42 aircraft Since then, Croatia Airlines has connected the capitals of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the year, with services interrupted only temporarily during the coronavirus pandemic. Between August 26, 1996, and August 31, 2026, Croatia Airlines carried 1.345.041 passengers on a total of 36.196 flights between Zagreb and Sarajevo.

Marking the occasion last week, Croatia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Slaven Žabo, said, “We are proud that Croatia Airlines was the first airline to land at the reopened Sarajevo Airport after the war, thereby contributing to its resumption of civilian air traffic. Thirty years of flights between Zagreb and Sarajevo underline the importance of this route, as well as the strength of the cooperation we have built over the years with Sarajevo International Airport, one of our key regional destinations. In addition to providing a direct link with Zagreb, the route enables passengers from Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue their journeys to numerous European destinations within the Croatia Airlines network and, through our Star Alliance membership and cooperation with partner airlines, to destinations around the world. We are especially pleased to be marking this important anniversary at a time of significant transformation for our company and the renewal of our fleet with new Airbus A220 aircraft. We thank our passengers for their trust, as well as our colleagues and partners in Sarajevo, with whom we have shared this journey for the past three decades”.

Sarajevo Airport’s Acting General Manager, Dino Selimović, added, “Thirty years of uninterrupted air connectivity between Sarajevo and Zagreb represents much more than a successful air service. It is a story spanning three decades that has laid the foundations for a longstanding partnership built on mutual trust and a shared vision of strengthening links between the people, economies and markets of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Throughout this period, Croatia Airlines has not merely connected Sarajevo and Zagreb, but has also provided passengers from Bosnia and Herzegovina with access, via Zagreb, to numerous destinations across Europe and the world, making a significant contribution to our country’s international connectivity. We thank Croatia Airlines for thirty years of successful cooperation and for its contribution to strengthening ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. We are confident that, in the years ahead, we will continue working together to develop this important air service for the benefit of our passengers”.

Mostar Airport launches blitz airline subsidy tender

2026-09-28T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Mostar Airport has launched a new tender aimed at securing international flights for the 2027 summer season, giving interested airlines just over a week to submit their bids. The public call was issued on September 21, with offers due by September 30 at 16:00 local time. Under the tender, the airport is seeking the most favourable bidder or bidders for the provision of international air transport services during the 2027 summer season. However, the airport has not made the detailed requirements, including potential destinations, minimum frequencies or aircraft specifications, publicly available. Interested airlines must formally request the tender documentation by email, with the request signed by an authorised company representative.

Significant public funding has been made available to support Mostar's air connectivity. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina allocated approximately 1.56 million euros to Mostar Airport this year specifically for subsidising existing services and launching new routes. The government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton separately approved a further 256.000 euros for the airport, bringing the two allocations to approximately 1.82 million.

The exceptionally short application period contrasts with previous route incentive calls at Mostar, which have generally provided airlines with a longer window in which to prepare and submit their proposals.

Transavia France to discontinue Ljubljana flights

2026-09-27T09:00:00.000+02:00

Transavia France will discontinue its operations between Paris Orly and Ljubljana, bringing its four-year seasonal service between the two cities to an end. The low cost carrier told EX-YU Aviation News that it will not return to the Slovenian capital following the conclusion of the 2026 summer season. "We confirm that the Paris Orly - Ljubljana route will not be operated by Transavia France during the upcoming winter season, nor during the following summer season", it said. The final flight is scheduled for October 31. Transavia France maintains two weekly rotations between Paris Orly and Ljubljana, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, although an additional rotation will be added during its final week of service.

The airline launched flights to Ljubljana on April 14, 2022, becoming the second member of the Air France-KLM Group to serve the Slovenian capital from Paris. The route initially operated twice per week, on Thursdays and Sundays, with the 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft. At the time, Ljubljana Airport said it hoped the new service would eventually develop into a year-round operation. However, the route remained primarily seasonal throughout its run. The service faced some uncertainty ahead of the 2023 summer season after Transavia France temporarily suspended ticket sales, although operations ultimately resumed on April 21 that year with two weekly flights. The carrier subsequently strengthened its presence on the market. In 2024, it initially planned to return considerably earlier in the year and increase frequencies to four weekly. Although the resumption was later pushed back to April 5, the airline went on to increase operations during the summer. Transavia France again offered up to four weekly flights between Orly and Ljubljana during parts of the 2025 season.

This year, the airline reduced the route to two weekly rotations. Its departure will also mark the end of Transavia-branded operations at Ljubljana Airport. The Dutch unit of the low cost carrier discontinued its long-running Amsterdam - Ljubljana service at the end of October 2025 following the launch of flights on the route by KLM earlier that year. Despite Transavia France’s withdrawal, Ljubljana will retain nonstop flights to Paris. Air France continues to serve the Slovenian capital from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The French flag carrier has operated flights to Ljubljana since 2004.

TRIP REPORT: Belgrade - Tokyo via Budapest and Shanghai

2026-09-27T08:59:00.000+02:00

Trip Report

Written by BG

Two Stops and Three Airlines to Japan (Belgrade to Tokyo via Budapest & Shanghai)

In March, I travelled to Japan on an itinerary that comprised two separate bookings. The first was with Air Serbia between Belgrade and Budapest, and the second was a multi-leg journey between Budapest, Shanghai, and Tokyo, operated by Shanghai Airlines and its parent company, China Eastern Airlines.

The reason for starting the journey in Budapest was to meet up with friends who were accompanying me on the trip. One of my travel companions holds a Kosovan passport, which turned our transit via China into somewhat of an adventure. Information regarding the ease and feasibility of transit for Kosovan passport holders in China was extremely lacking online. Through this report, I hope to shed some light on the process and help future travellers in a similar situation.

Flight one:

Monday 16 March 2026

JU142 Belgrade - Budapest

ATR 72-600 (YU-ASD)

STD:13:35 ATD: 14:45

STA: 14:45 ATA: 14:40

Having completed a very brief visit to Belgrade, it was time to head to the airport. It was a lovely spring morning as I waited for the A1 bus by Slavija Square, in front of the new development on the corner of Kralja Milana Street.

I am not much of a fan of the A1 bus service, particularly when arriving in Belgrade, as it often gets incredibly crowded. It is beyond me why this service cannot be upgraded to a larger bus, especially during peak hours. However, on this day it was fine, though full to the very last seat, with one passenger even having to stand from New Belgrade for the remainder of the journey.

By 11:30, I had arrived at the airport and went directly to the check-in desk. There was plenty of staff at the counters, and I didn't have to wait even a second before a very pleasant lady checked my suitcase in for the flight. Heading up to the security checkpoint, things moved extremely fast at both the e-gates and the security lines. I would estimate that within 10 minutes of leaving the bus, I was checked in and past security, which highlights one of the airport's greatest strengths.

At Hleb & Kifle, I grabbed a sandwich and was served by a charming lady of South Asian origin who spoke Serbian very well.

As usual, the flight was scheduled to depart from the downstairs bus gates, and after spending some time watching the action on the apron, I made my way there. Today’s gate was C10b.

Four ATR flights were scheduled to depart at almost the same time from these gates: Sarajevo, Split, Bucharest, and Budapest. This meant there were quite a few people waiting, but it is a large space that handles the numbers well.

The Bucharest flight departing from C10c appeared essentially full, and the flight to Split also had a healthy load judging by the line. Interestingly, a huge number of passengers were very late reaching the gate for both Sarajevo and Split. I assumed from their exasperated running that they were coming from connecting flights. The Split flight was actually in the process of offloading a passenger when she literally ran down toward the gate from the escalator. The ground crew accommodated her and allowed her to board, but they had to call a car to drive her out to the aircraft, which was a nice touch.

Boarding for Budapest started around 13:15. The passenger makeup was diverse, and I heard Serbian, Hungarian, and English (both American and British) being spoken. Many passengers had clearly arrived from Air Serbia’s New York flight. In fact, a couple standing next to me on the bus were discussing the fact that this was their first time using this route to reach Europe. I am not sure how many people were flying strictly point-to-point from Belgrade to Budapest like I was, but there were clearly some.

As the bus drove out toward our aircraft, we passed a Lufthansa Airbus A320neo sporting the airline's special 100th-anniversary livery. It looked absolutely gorgeous.

Boarding the almost 12-year-old ATR was quick. Many passengers had been asked to leave their larger cabin luggage at the bottom of the aircraft stairs, making the walk to seat 18F very fast. There were 48 passengers in total, giving a load factor of 67%. Considering this was the second flight to Budapest that day, I think that is a quite healthy figure.

The cabin crew, consisting of a man and a woman, were very pleasant, and following a quick safety announcement, the engines were started. The senior crew member initially announced our destination as Bucharest, which she quickly apologized for, drawing a small giggle from the passengers.

After a short taxi, take-off was from the C junction on Runway 12L towards the southeast, and the familiar hum of the turboprop engines carried the aircraft up into the dull March sky.

I find the ATR a really fun aircraft to fly on, and this flight was no exception. After a sharp turn to the west, our routing took us north towards Budapest, following the path of the Danube.

The flight passed uneventfully, accompanied by the customary Plazma biscuit and a mini bottle of water. The crew members were polite and professional throughout, and there was really nothing I could fault with either the inflight nor ground experience in Belgrade. I paid £78 GBP for the ticket, which included a checked bag.

Twenty-five minutes after take-off, descent was announced, and it soon became apparent that we would approach Budapest from the south. Touchdown was at 14:40, making the total flight time exactly fifty minutes.

After a rather long bus ride, we reached the terminal, which then necessitated a lengthy walk toward passport control. The area was busy with passengers arriving from a Tel Aviv flight; nevertheless, it took only about 15 minutes to pass through immigration and exit the airport.

While I find Belgrade’s A1 bus to be a rather unpleasant first impression of Serbia, the Hungarian capital fares no better. Travelling toward the city centre by public transport means either taking a direct express bus or—as I did—taking a local bus to the terminus of the metro line. The process of purchasing a ticket at the airport was chaotic, with crowds of people struggling to make the ticket machines work. I know that Budapest now has an app for this, but it didn't seem to work for me. Consequently, I just bought a 24-hour transit pass, knowing I would be right back at the airport the next morning to fly to Shanghai.

The 200E bus toward Kőbánya-Kispest was extremely crowded and uncomfortable. However, for the price, it is not a bad option; after less than half an hour, it arrives at the station, where it is just a quick walk to transfer to the metro for the city centre.

After a lovely evening in Budapest, during which I visited the Széchenyi Thermal Bath (travel tip: bring flip-flops!), it was time to rest for the night.

Flight two:

Tuesday 17th March 2026

MU8640 Budapest - Shanghai Pudong

Shanghai Airlines Boeing 787-9 (B-1113)

STD:11:30 ATD: 05:25

STA: 11:30 ATA: 04:50

The next morning, I left early for the airport to meet up with the friends who were travelling with me. One of them holds a Kosovan passport, and I cannot stress strongly enough how little information was available regarding whether this connection would actually work. From various embassies through to the Chinese immigration service itself, we had little luck obtaining concrete confirmation. While China’s official policy states that all passport holders can transit through its airports, the fact that Beijing does not recognise Kosovo made the specifics of this rule highly unclear. The aviation industry standard for verifying visas and entry paperwork is Timatic, which explicitly stated that the routing was possible; nevertheless, arriving early remained crucial.

The check-in area in Terminal 2A was busy even at 08:00, with crowds of people already waiting for the desks to open. Shanghai Airlines, a subsidiary of the China Eastern Group, operates a daily Boeing 787-9 service between Budapest and Shanghai.

After meeting up with my friends, we waited a good 30 minutes in line even after the check-in desks opened due to the sheer volume of passengers. As we approached the counter, we were quite nervous—not because we believed transiting was genuinely impossible, but because we fully expected the ground staff to initially misunderstand the rules.

The check-in assistant was very pleasant. Ironically, despite our anxiety that the Kosovan documents would cause a hurdle, it was actually my booking that triggered the crisis. I had purchased my ticket through Booking.com, and earlier in the year, there had been a minor timetable change of just a few minutes, which I had accepted via their ghastly customer service chat system. However, the check-in agent explained that when the agency processed the change, it was never properly reconfirmed in the airline's global distribution system; consequently, I was not listed on the flight.

Needless to say, I was furious. While the agent continued working with my friends to double- and triple-check the Kosovan transit protocol, I went to speak with the supervisors. The ground manager told me to call Shanghai Airlines directly because they lacked the system capability to reconfirm my ticket at the airport. To make matters worse, she informed me that the flight was overbooked. I was utterly speechless and could barely maintain a polite tone. The supervisor simply handed me a phone number for China and literally said, "Ring this number."

Eventually, using my friend's phone, I managed to get through to the China Eastern customer service centre in Shanghai. The representative on the other end was actually incredibly helpful. After I explained the predicament, she stated she would manually reconfirm my seat for the long-haul leg. However, she warned me that she was unable to do the same for my connecting flight from Shanghai to Tokyo, and that I would have to clear Chinese border control to try my luck at the desk in Shanghai for that second leg, which was also overbooked.

Returning to the check-in desk where my friends were still being processed, I had a tense wait for a few minutes. Remarkably, after about five minutes, the customer service agent from Shanghai actually rang the desk back and confirmed that it was now possible for the ground agent to check me in, which she duly did. The entire ordeal left me furious with Booking.com, who had handled the minor rebooking incredibly poorly. Nonetheless, we finally held three boarding passes for Shanghai, and my friends had even received theirs for the onward leg to Tokyo as well.

After spending about an hour at the check-in desk, we headed through security, which took an additional half hour. Feeling completely exhausted and highly stressed, we made our way toward the gate.

The passenger makeup for the flight was a fascinating mix. In addition to a large number of Hungarian and Chinese travellers, I overheard numerous people from Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. This really underscores the growing demand in the region for routes to Asia via Chinese hubs. It also shows that people will travel when the price is right.

Boarding started at around 10:50 and given that our seats were located near the back of the aircraft (67A, B, and C), we opted to wait until nearly the end of the queue to board.

Today’s flight was operated by an eight-year-old Boeing 787. The crew seemed friendly and welcoming, and the seat proved to be acceptably comfortable for my height of 184 cm. I also found the cabin to be spotlessly clean, a standard that the lavatories maintained throughout the flight.

Pushback occurred at 11:28, and we took off a few minutes later, executing a northerly departure toward Slovakia. Until 2025, this particular flight route used to detour extensively to avoid Polish airspace, making the journey incredibly long. While I have no idea what caused that restriction—it may well have been down to bilateral airspace agreements or China Eastern (MU) lacking specific regulatory documentation—it has thankfully since been resolved. Today's flight path headed directly north toward Gdańsk before tracking toward St. Petersburg and entering Russian airspace.

About an hour after take-off, the crew began the meal service. It consisted of a chicken and rice dish accompanied by a rather unpleasant salad and a rock-hard bread roll. While it was nothing special in the slightest, it was by no means the worst thing I have ever been served on an aircraft. I had originally hoped to enjoy a beer with my meal, but the crew had inexplicably run out already, so I stuck to drinking water for the remainder of the flight.

After the meal service, we enjoyed beautiful aerial views of St. Petersburg and the still-frozen landscape as dusk crept in over Russia.

As is typical on Chinese airlines, the inflight entertainment system was quite poor, and it was rather hard to hear the audio for the one movie that actually caught my interest. After that, I just watched content I had downloaded onto my phone for the next few hours until it was time for the second meal service.

About an hour and a half before landing, the cabin sprang to life as the crew initiated the second meal service. Considering it was only around 21:00 according to our body clocks, the flight had actually been quite pleasant thus far. Throughout the journey, the crew frequently came through the aisle offering water and juice, which was a nice touch. However, I remained acutely aware that outside the aircraft windows it was the middle of the night, and a very early morning transit in China was fast approaching.

This second meal consisted of a chicken cutlet served with rice and carrots. Once again, it was not the slightest bit ‘nice’, but it was perfectly edible.

Soon enough, it was time to land, and the cabin crew began preparing the aircraft for arrival.

At 04:40 local time, our Boeing 787 touched down at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on a dark and rainy morning. After a 15-minute taxi, we finally reached our stand. I was acutely aware that I still didn't know if I would actually make it to Tokyo that morning.

Pudong is vast but relatively easy to navigate. Following walking through a quick health ‘inspection’, it was time to part ways with my friends. They headed toward the international transit security control, whereas I had to find a ticket desk to see if I could get confirmed on the onward flight. After waiting for a few minutes, an agent informed me that I would need to sort this out at the main China Eastern desk landside. With no other options, I had to formally enter China, collect my luggage, and track down the ticket counter.

Entering China with a British passport is straightforward, and the immigration queue moved surprisingly fast. The border officer didn't ask a single question before stamping me in. My suitcase was already waiting for me in the baggage claim area, which felt large and spacious.

Upon exiting into the main arrivals terminal, I spotted a lift labelled for departures and headed upstairs. As if by magic, the lift doors opened and deposited me right in front of a China Eastern desk, where an agent sat checking her phone. After I explained my predicament and showed her my ticket, she began tapping away on her computer. I politely asked if it might be possible to get onto my original flight to Tokyo Narita, which was scheduled for 09:10, and she promised to do her best.

After a minute or two, she printed out a voucher from one of those old-school dot-matrix airport printers containing my new flight details. Handing it to me, she smiled and said, "09:10, Premium Economy upgrade”, pointing me toward the check-in area. I was thrilled that I would be making it to Japan that morning after all. However, because my friends' phones were not working, I still had no idea how they had fared trying to transit the airport with a Kosovan passport.

There was no queue for check-in, and a few minutes later, I was heading toward security and border control to exit China. In total, I had been landside for no more than 45 minutes. However, exiting the country took about 45 minutes because the security screening is incredibly rigorous. Once again, the immigration officer didn't ask a single question and simply stamped me out.

By this time, it was around 07:30, and I was completely exhausted. I grabbed a rather expensive iced coffee and headed toward the gate in the vast terminal. While Pudong is not the most cosy of airports, there are plenty of places to sit, and the entire layout is very user-friendly.

Upon arriving at the gate, I was relieved to see my friends approaching. We were all incredibly glad to hear that their transit had gone relatively smoothly, even though it had taken them a long time to explain to the transit passport control officer that a Kosovan passport is indeed permitted for transit.

Flight three:

Wednesday 18th March 2026

MU523 Shanghai Pudong - Tokyo Narita

A350-900 B-304D

STD: 09:10 ATD: 09:08

STA: 12:50 ATA: 12:45

At about 08:30, boarding commenced. I noticed a large number of transfer passengers from our previous flight, including a significant group of Slovenes and Hungarians. There were also many British and German passengers boarding. As my two friends scanned their boarding passes at the gate, the machine promptly beeped. Instantly, I assumed there was a problem, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. Because the flight was completely full, their seats had been changed; the gate agent hand-wrote their new assignments: seats 8D and 8H... Business Class! So much for my Premium Economy upgrade. As we entered the aircraft, they turned left, while I turned right.

My seat, 25F, was at the bulkhead of the Premium Economy section, which offered some extra legroom. However, the configuration was still four-abreast, and because the entertainment screen was stowed inside the armrest, the seat actually felt more cramped than the standard economy seat on the Boeing 787. A bottle of water and a blanket were waiting for me at the seat.

Given that I was now completely exhausted, the flight passed somewhat in a blur. I remember the engines starting at 09:08—ahead of schedule—and my lasting impression was that the cabin felt quite tight. Even though I was in a middle seat, I could see an Air Serbia Airbus A330-200 parked at the terminal, preparing for its long journey back from a rainy Shanghai to a springlike Belgrade.

At 12:15 local time, the flight started its descent. I caught a brief glimpse of Mount Fuji by straining my neck to look across the cabin, a sign that what had proved to be a very long and eventful journey was finally coming to an end.

At 12:45, our beautiful Airbus A350 landed at Tokyo Narita, and shortly afterward, we began deboarding. Meeting up with my friends in the corridor, we could hardly believe we had actually made it.

Immigration passed very quickly, and entering Japan with a Kosovan passport and visa proved to be absolutely no problem. Customs, on the other hand, felt very chaotic—organised chaos, perhaps, but chaos nonetheless. Within an hour or so, we were at the airport train station with tickets in hand, ready to begin what turned out to be a wonderful exploration of Japan.

Final Verdict & Transit Reflection

My overall impressions of the journey are mixed. Air Serbia was essentially without fault, both in efficiency and in my opinion value for money. I enjoyed the Shanghai Airlines long-haul experience and would fly them again if the need arose. On the flip side, I would never suggest actually booking China Eastern Premium Economy, at least not for a short regional flight. The cabin crews were perfectly fine throughout the trip, as was the experience of entering and exiting China as a British passport holder.

Regarding transiting China with a Kosovan passport: personally, I would still avoid it in favour of a routing via the Middle East. However, I hope this trip report sheds some light on what is currently a very underreported routing and might ease some passport concerns for travellers from the region.

The Return Journey

After 10 wonderful days in Japan, I returned to Europe on a different routing: Osaka Itami to Tokyo Haneda on a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 767-300, then down to Guangzhou (where I stopped over for a bit) on a China Southern Boeing 777-300ER, and finally over to London Heathrow on another 777-300ER. JAL Domestic is easily one of the most civilised aviation experiences a traveller can have, and China Southern proved to be completely solid given the very reasonable price paid.

Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.com

Flydubai to resume Skopje service in March 2027

2026-09-26T09:00:00.000+02:00

Flydubai is expected to restore flights between Dubai and Skopje in March 2027 following a seven-year hiatus. Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, said an agreement had been reached for the carrier to resume operations at the start of the 2027 summer season. Flydubai itself has not commented on the matter. Mr Nikoloski made the announcement following talks with the United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to North Macedonia. “What I would like to announce following today’s meeting with the Ambassador is that we discussed a concrete matter, namely the establishment of direct air connectivity between Macedonia and the United Arab Emirates, which will significantly contribute to the development of tourism and business between the two countries. We agreed that direct flights from Dubai to Skopje will begin with the start of the new summer season, in March 2027. Therefore, we will have a nonstop Dubai - Skopje service. This has already been agreed and Flydubai will begin operating flights some six months from now”.

The Minister added that discussions were continuing over the introduction of flights to Ohrid from the United Arab Emirates. “The second matter, which remains under discussion but which I believe is highly likely to be agreed, concerns the introduction of a direct service between one of the airports in the United Arab Emirates, whether Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, and Ohrid. This would greatly contribute to the development of tourism. These are the two concrete matters we discussed today”, Mr Nikoloski said. The talks follow a recent government visit to the UAE led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, during which the two sides also agreed to introduce visa-free travel.

Flydubai launched operations between Dubai and Skopje in October 2012, initially maintaining two weekly flights. The carrier continued serving the Macedonian capital until March 2020, when operations were suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. During its final three full years on the route, the airline handled an average of approximately 27.000 passengers annually. The airline has repeatedly postponed its return to Skopje. Flights were initially due to resume in October 2020 but were pushed back to March 2021 and subsequently November of that year. The relaunch was then moved to October 2022 but did not materialise. Flydubai later scheduled a two weekly service from October 30, 2023, before withdrawing the flights from sale, marking the fifth abandoned comeback plan since the suspension.

Flydubai was subsequently selected to receive Macedonian government subsidies for restoring the route from the start of the 2025 summer season. However, the service was never scheduled, and its launch was postponed indefinitely, with the airline citing “objective reasons” beyond its control. The latest announcement therefore represents Flydubai’s seventh planned return date since operations were suspended in 2020. Skopje has remained without nonstop flights to the Gulf throughout that period, following the withdrawal of both Flydubai and Qatar Airways.

Ljubljana negotiating China and Doha flights, eyes Japan

2026-09-25T14:00:00.000+02:00

Ljubljana Airport is stepping up efforts to secure services from China, while the Slovenian government has renewed its push for direct flights to Doha and is laying the groundwork for improved air connectivity with Japan.

The airport’s efforts to attract a Chinese carrier gained fresh momentum following a recent visit to Beijing by Fraport Slovenija Managing Director Jürgen Deischl. During the fourth China Air Transport Association Aviation Conference, Mr Deischl held what he described as “numerous airline discussions”, as well as talks with representatives of the China Air Transport Association and the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The airlines involved were not disclosed. Mr Deischl also addressed the event, presenting Ljubljana Airport’s role as the Fraport Group’s testing hub for artificial intelligence-driven airport solutions.

Ljubljana Airport has been pursuing flights from China for several years. Its Head of Airline Management, Janez Krašnja, previously said, “We've been in talks with Chinese carriers for years about launching flights to Ljubljana”. However, he cautioned that long-haul operations carry significantly greater commercial risks, estimating that a Ljubljana - Beijing rotation would cost more than 300.000 euros to operate. China has itself raised the prospect of establishing flights to Slovenia. Ling Ji, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, previously said the two countries would work on “establishing an air bridge”. There have never been scheduled nonstop flights between China and Slovenia. Air China launched a service between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest earlier this month.

Slovenian officials have also renewed discussions over a nonstop air link with Doha. Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer met Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. According to the Slovenian government, the two discussed political dialogue, economic and transport cooperation, as well as the establishment of direct flights.

The meeting follows several rounds of high-level talks aimed at attracting Qatar Airways to Slovenia. Late last year, Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar discussed the matter during an official visit to Doha, saying, “Slovenia is keen to establish a direct air connection with Qatar operated by Qatar Airways”. A Qatari delegation previously noted that a potential service required further market analysis, adding that flights could be launched once the assessment was completed. Qatar Airways had expressed interest in serving Ljubljana prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Separately, Slovenia and Japan have signed a memorandum establishing a framework for codeshare cooperation between airlines serving the two countries. The agreement was signed in Ljubljana by Srečko Janša, Acting Director General of Slovenia’s Directorate for Air and Maritime Transport, and Tetsuya Mori, Director of the International Air Transport Division at the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. Japan Airlines has expressed particular interest in using the new framework to market an itinerary between Tokyo Haneda and Ljubljana via Helsinki. Under the planned arrangement, JAL would place its code on Finnair-operated flights between Helsinki and Ljubljana.

The two governments have described the memorandum as an interim step in the further development of the air transport market, with the conclusion of a bilateral air services agreement identified as the next objective. During talks in Tokyo last year, Slovenian officials also raised the possibility of improving air links, as the country seeks to capitalise on interest from the Japanese tourism and business markets. Ljubljana Airport has previously handled charter flights from Japan. The first arrived in 2008, while ANA and Japan Airlines subsequently operated a number of charters from Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. The most recent such operations took place in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Belgrade sees fifteen widebody movements in single day

2026-09-25T13:30:00.000+02:00

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Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport handled an unusually high concentration of widebody traffic on Saturday, September 19, with nine different twin-aisle aircraft generating fifteen movements during the day. These included all four of Air Serbia’s Airbus A330-200s, Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 and four Boeing 767 freighters.

The widebody operations included Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 767-300F from Belgrade to Kinshasa, Air Serbia’s Airbus A330-200 from Guangzhou to Belgrade, which then operated a rotation to Shanghai, CAMEX Airlines’ Boeing 767-300F from Almaty to Belgrade and onward to Hong Kong, Georgian Airlines’ Boeing 767-300F operating between Tbilisi and Belgrade, Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 on its Beijing - Belgrade service; an Air Serbia A330-200 arriving from New York and subsequently departing for Toronto, another Air Serbia A330-200 arriving from New York due to an earlier diversion, My Freighter’s Boeing 767-300F operating from Tashkent via Belgrade to Ostrava and another Air Serbia A330-200 departing for New York. The aircraft that operated the additional New York arrival subsequently departed for Chicago in the early hours of Sunday, September 20, following a lengthy delay.

The notable number of freighter operations comes amid strong cargo growth at Belgrade Airport. During the January - July period, the airport handled 11,192.02 tonnes of freight, representing an increase of 36.4% on the same period last year.

Chair Airlines to boost Pristina operations

2026-09-25T10:42:06.309+02:00

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Chair Airlines will increase frequencies from both Basel and Zurich to Pristina during the 2026/27 winter season. Basel services will grow from daily last winter to between nine and ten weekly, depending on the month, while Zurich flights will increase from fourteen to fifteen weekly, including three rotations on Sundays.

The Swiss carrier will also continue operating daily flights between Stuttgart and Pristina on behalf of tour operator Air Prishtina. Air Prishtina is owned by Albex Aviation, which also owns Chair Airlines. On the Stuttgart route, it will compete with ten weekly GP Aviation flights and a weekly Eurowings service.

easyJet launching Sarajevo and new Tivat flights

2026-09-24T11:21:18.893+02:00

easyJet will enter the Bosnia and Herzegovina market next year, as well as introduce several new routes to Tivat in Montenegro.

The low cost airline will commence operations from both Geneva and Basel to Sarajevo during the 2027 summer season, marking its debut in the country. Neither route is currently served from the Bosnian capital. Services will commence in April and May respectively. "easyJet’s arrival marks the historic entry of one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines into the Bosnian market. It also validates our vision for the airport’s development: attracting more airlines, offering more nonstop destinations, strengthening competition, and improving Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s connectivity with Europe and the rest of the world", the Acting CEO of Sarajevo Airport, Dino Selimović, said.

The airline will also significantly expand its operations to Tivat next summer by introducing flights from Amsterdam, Basel, Birmingham and Edinburgh. The four new routes will complement easyJet’s existing seasonal services to the Montenegrin coastal city from Berlin, Bristol, Geneva, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester, bringing its Tivat network to nine destinations. The expansion will further strengthen the carrier’s presence on Montenegro’s coast and broaden access from several important Western European markets. Tickets for the new Tivat operations are now available to book through the airline's website.

Route	Launch date
Edinburgh - Tivat	29.03.2027
Geneva - Sarajevo	22.04.2027
Birmingham - Tivat	03.05.2027
Basel - Sarajevo	10.05.2027
Amsterdam - Tivat	29.06.2027
Basel - Tivat	30.06.2027

Click link for details

Commenting on its Tivat expansion, the CEO of operator Airports of Montenegro, Roko Tolić, said, “The new route to Scotland, which follows two years of negotiations, is particularly important to us. easyJet will operate between Edinburgh and Tivat twice per week from late March until the end of October, covering the entire shoulder season as well as the peak summer period". He added, "In addition, the airline will introduce services to Tivat from Amsterdam, Birmingham and Basel. These are not new routes for us, but they are new to easyJet and will be integrated into the carrier’s existing network. Across these ten routes, the number of available seats will increase from 236.000 this year to more than 350.000, representing growth of almost 50%. This positions easyJet as one of Airports of Montenegro’s strategic partners".

TUI to launch Ljubljana flights

2026-09-24T11:07:00.316+02:00

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Leisure carrier TUI Airways will launch flights from Dusseldorf and Brussels to Ljubljana during the 2027 summer season, with tickets expected to go on sale shortly. The services will mark the airline’s first scheduled operations to the Slovenian capital. The Brussels route will commence on March 28, 2027, with TUIfly Belgium to maintain two weekly rotations with the Embraer E190 aircraft, competing directly with Brussels Airlines. Further details can be found here. Services from Dusseldorf are yet to be scheduled. The route is currently unserved following Eurowings’ withdrawal from the route last year.

Commenting on the new routes, CEO of operator Fraport Slovenija, Juergen Deischl, said, “The new Düsseldorf service will significantly strengthen our connectivity with the German market, while the additional Brussels service will complement our existing connections and offer passengers even greater choice and flexibility. These new routes mark another important step in expanding our network and advancing our ambition to establish Ljubljana Airport as The Airport of Choice for the wider region”.

Mixed October for EX-YU capital airports as Wizz Air maintains lead

2026-09-24T10:35:00.000+02:00

Two capital city airports in the former Yugoslavia are set to see scheduled seat capacity decline this October compared to the same month last year, continuing a trend observed over recent months. Wizz Air will remain the region’s largest carrier, followed by Air Serbia.

Belgrade Airport has the most available seats on scheduled flights in October, standing at 1.008.451. The figure represents an increase of 3.6% on 2025. Air Serbia will continue to maintain its position as the largest carrier with 516.421 seats, up 8.2% or an additional 39.000. Wizz Air, which may yet modify its operations from the last week of October in response to Serbia’s new regulations governing foreign carriers, will currently reduce seats by some 200, contracting by 0.1%. Zagreb follows as the second largest with 563.881 available seats on scheduled flights during the month. It represents a decrease of 5.1% on the previous year. Croatia Airlines will decrease its capacity by 6.2% but will continue to be the airport’s largest carrier with 206.848 seats. It is ahead of Ryanair with 187.144 seats, down 5.3%.

Skopje Airport will boast 414.412 seats in October, representing a 19.6% increase compared to the same month in 2025, with all the growth driven by Wizz Air. The low cost carrier will add 90.348 seats, marking a 50.1% increase year-on-year. Collectively, the remaining carriers will decrease capacity by 13.5%. Pristina Airport will have 383.086 available seats, with capacity currently projected to decline 7%. It follows frequency cuts by GP Aviation, the lack of Condor, SAS and ASL Airlines France services, which operated last year, as well as cuts made by Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Podgorica Airport will continue to grow at record pace on the back of Wizz Air’s new base, with the airport registering 301.090 seats on scheduled flights during the month, up 55.6%. Wizz Air will be the largest carrier by adding 102.792 seats, representing growth of 315%, for a total capacity share of 45%. It is followed by Ryanair with 11.6% of the market. Sarajevo will have 232.216 scheduled seats in October, representing an increase of 1% on 2025, despite the temporary withdrawal of Ryanair starting from the last week of the month. Ryanair will still be the largest carrier, with 37.556 seats, down 14.1% on last year. It is followed by Pegasus Airlines with 14.1% of total capacity.

Finally, Ljubljana has a total of 207.353 seats on scheduled services, up 15.9% on October 2025. Lufthansa, despite having 12% fewer flights, will have 26.1% more seats, retaining its position as the airport’s largest, holding 16.7% of capacity. It is followed by Turkish Airlines which is reducing its seat count by 6.3%.

Largest carriers by scheduled seat capacity in the former Yugoslavia, October 2026

Overall scheduled seat capacity in October across all former Yugoslav markets and airports combined: 4.240.540, up 3.4% year-on-year

Please note that the above figures are correct as of the date of publication. As the month progresses, they may change due to schedule revisions or equipment adjustments. Nevertheless, they provide a reliable indication of overall capacity trends across the airports.

Montenegro set to advance to second ECAA phase

2026-09-24T10:30:00.000+02:00

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Montenegro is set to enter the second transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) agreement following progress in aligning its aviation sector with European Union standards. Filip Cornelis, Director for Aviation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, said a formal decision on Montenegro’s advancement would be proposed shortly. The announcement was made following a meeting of the ECAA Joint Committee in Brussels this week. The Director of Montenegro’s Civil Aviation Agency, Ivan Šćekić, described the development as a significant achievement for the country. However, Montenegro has not formally entered the second phase yet, with the European Commission still required to propose and adopt the relevant decision.

The second transitional phase provides for deeper integration into the European aviation market and an expansion of traffic rights. Montenegrin carriers will be permitted to carry passengers between two EU member states, provided the flight forms part of a service serving Montenegro, while EU airlines will gain equivalent rights between Montenegro and other ECAA partner countries. During this phase, Montenegro will be required to complete the implementation of the ECAA agreement and all relevant EU aviation legislation before achieving full integration into the common aviation area.

New routes proposed in Slovenia’s latest aviation tender

2026-09-23T14:00:00.000+02:00

All four applications submitted under the latest deadline of Slovenia’s air connectivity tender concern the launch of new routes rather than the extension of subsidies for existing services, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News. The applications were received under the second deadline of the country’s tenth public call aimed at improving air connectivity. Two of the bids have progressed to the final stage, while the remaining two were deemed incomplete and require additional documentation.

In a statement, the Ministry told EX-YU Aviation News, “The assessment of applications submitted under the second deadline of Slovenia’s tenth public tender to improve air connectivity is still under way. Decisions on two applications are in the final stages of approval and signature at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. This part of the process is expected to be completed by the end of this week or early next week”. It added, “The other two applications were incomplete. Their assessment will continue once the applicants submit the requested additional information. Depending on when the information is received and whether it meets the requirements, these assessments could be completed in the first half of October”.

The Ministry stressed that all four bids relate to the establishment of new air services. “The applications concern new air routes, rather than extensions of existing subsidies. As the procedures have not formally concluded, we cannot yet disclose the applicants or the routes they have proposed”, it said. The Ministry also declined to confirm whether easyJet had applied for financial support for its new service between Berlin and Ljubljana. “This also applies to whether easyJet has applied for support for a Ljubljana - Berlin service. We will be able to provide more information once the procedures are complete and the decisions have been signed”, it concluded.

Royal Jordanian reverts to March Belgrade launch

2026-09-23T13:30:00.000+02:00

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Royal Jordanian Airlines has once again revised the launch date for its new service between Amman and Belgrade. The route, initially scheduled to commence this year, was postponed until March 2027 due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. Last month, the carrier brought the launch forward to early February and placed tickets on sale but has now reverted to a March 31 start date with a slightly revised schedule and operating days. The Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will be deployed on the route. Further details can be found here.

Air Serbia named Airline Market Leader

2026-09-23T10:30:00.000+02:00

Air Transport World (ATW) has named Air Serbia Airline Market Leader as part of its 52nd annual Industry Achievement Awards. The carrier had previously won the accolade in 2017. ATW’s airline awards were established in 1974 to recognise excellence in the air transport industry and are well-respected across the sector for their integrity and independence, attracting hundreds of airline nominations every year. “Our panel of editor and analyst judges voted strongly in favour of Air Serbia being the 2027 ATW Airline Market Leader recipient. The Air Serbia team has worked diligently to keep growing and improving this airline, providing critical air connectivity within and beyond the Central European market. I congratulate Air Serbia and its leadership”, Karen Walker, ATW Editor-in-Chief, said.

Chile-based LATAM was selected Airline of the Year. Other award recipients include Scoot (Eco-Airline of the Year), Jet2 (Value Airline of the Year), American Airlines (Force for Good, co-presented with Airlink nonprofit), Royal Jordanian CEO Samer Majali (Leadership Excellence), Cathay Cargo (Cargo Operator), Pittsburgh International Airport (Airport of the Year), Air France-Groupe ADP (Airline-Airport Partnership) and Saudia Airlines COO Suliaman Yaqoobi (Joseph S. Murphy Award). The 52nd ATW Awards will be presented at a Gala dinner in Milan on Thursday, December 10. The dinner will be held in conjunction with the CAPA World Airline Leader Summit 2026.

Commenting on the accolade, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “Being named an Airline Market Leader is a special honour for us and proof that Air Serbia, as Serbia’s national airline, is a proud ambassador for its country around the world. In a year in which we have continued to decisively expand our network and introduce new direct services to key destinations worldwide, our goal is to represent Serbia in the best possible way and ensure that it is recognised at the highest international level”. He added, “This award crowns the work of our team of dedicated professionals, who improve the quality of our services and the experience of our passengers every day, making a direct contribution to connecting the world with Serbia. I am confident that, in the period ahead, we will continue to set ambitious goals and further improve all aspects of our operations”.

Ryanair, Turkish and Lufthansa make biggest cuts on EX-YU markets

2026-09-22T14:00:00.000+02:00

Ryanair, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa will record the largest year-on-year reductions in available capacity across the former Yugoslavia this coming winter season, which begins on October 25 and runs until March 27.

Ryanair will offer 225.092 fewer seats, taking its total below one million. Most of the reduction stems from the termination of its Niš operations and the suspension of its Sarajevo flights for the winter. Turkish Airlines will cut 75.029 seats as it reduces services to Podgorica, Pristina, Skopje and Zagreb, and suspends flights to Tivat. Lufthansa’s capacity will fall by 51.792 seats following the temporary suspension of Munich - Ljubljana flights, the termination of Frankfurt - Skopje services and reductions on its Zagreb routes. The use of larger aircraft elsewhere in the region will offset part of that decline.

Ryanair will account for the largest capacity reductions in both Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Croatia, Lufthansa will make the biggest cut, primarily because its Munich - Zagreb flights will be taken over by Air Dolomiti under the latter’s own code and flight numbers in January and February of next year, while overall frequencies will be halved during that period.

Air Dolomiti will record the largest reduction in Slovenia. It operated services on Lufthansa’s behalf last winter but will not serve Ljubljana this winter. It will be followed by Swiss. Lufthansa itself will offer more seats in Slovenia than last winter despite suspending Munich - Ljubljana flights, thanks to the use of larger Airbus A321 aircraft on its Frankfurt service.

Lufthansa will also make the largest capacity cut in Macedonia following the termination of Frankfurt- Skopje service this summer. In Montenegro, Turkish Airlines will record the biggest reduction as it scales back Podgorica operations and suspends winter flights to Tivat. At Pristina, locally based GP Aviation will make the largest cut after reducing its network and frequencies amid the opening of Wizz Air’s base at the airport.

Air Serbia starting China Southern codeshare, holds Shanghai talks

2026-09-22T13:30:00.000+02:00

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Air Serbia and China Southern Airlines are set to begin codeshare cooperation on flights between Belgrade and China, more than a year and a half after signing their initial agreement. From mid-October, the Chinese carrier will place its flight number and designator code onto Air Serbia’s operations between Belgrade and Guangzhou (CZ7301/2), as well as Belgrade and Shanghai (CZ7303/4). In return, Air Serbia will do the same on China Southern Airlines' operations between Guangzhou and Belgrade (JU8800/1).

Meanwhile. a Shanghai Pudong International Airport delegation visited Air Serbia’s headquarters in Belgrade this month. The airport’s senior representatives, comprised of leaders responsible for airport operations, service management, terminal area management, site development, as well as marketing and operations, met Air Serbia CEO Jirí Marek and General Manager of Commercial and Strategy Boško Rupić to discuss Shanghai’s airport development plans and opportunities for further cooperation. "The visit marks another important step in strengthening ties between one of East Asia’s leading aviation hubs and Serbia’s national airline. Since launching direct flights between Belgrade and Shanghai in January 2025, Air Serbia has been continuously building connectivity between Serbia and China, supporting business, tourism and cultural exchange between the two markets", Air Serbia said.

Croatia Airlines begins training LOT pilots

2026-09-22T10:30:00.000+02:00

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Croatia Airlines is training LOT Polish Airlines pilots on the Airbus A220 ahead of the aircraft’s introduction into the Polish carrier’s fleet. The initial group includes instructors who will subsequently train other LOT crews. Polish pilots are also gaining experience on scheduled Croatia Airlines flights. “We are working with the Croatian airline to train our pilots so that, by the time these aircraft arrive in Poland, we will have a large number of well-trained pilots”, LOT CEO Michal Fijol said. He added that LOT had spoken to several carriers, but Croatia Airlines proved to be the best partner. LOT has ordered forty A220s, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2031.

airBaltic says no impact to Air Serbia amid bankruptcy restructuring

2026-09-21T14:00:00.000+02:00

airBaltic has said its ongoing bankruptcy restructuring will have no impact on its cooperation with Air Serbia, including the wet-lease arrangement under which the Latvian carrier operates up to four Airbus A220-300 aircraft on behalf of its Serbian counterpart. Air Serbia has similarly confirmed that all planned operations under the agreement are continuing without changes. “The proceedings will have no impact on airBaltic’s partnership with Air Serbia. As planned, airBaltic will continue to provide Air Serbia with up to four Airbus A220-300 aircraft, together with crew, maintenance and insurance, under a wet-lease arrangement”, airBaltic said. Under a wet-lease, also known as ACMI, the operating airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while the contracting carrier retains commercial control of the flights, which operate under its own flight numbers.

Air Serbia also confirmed that the developments at airBaltic have not affected the arrangement. “The proceedings in question have no impact on the operational cooperation between Air Serbia and airBaltic, including flights operated by the Latvian carrier under the existing agreement. All planned operations are being carried out in accordance with the schedule and without any changes for Air Serbia passengers”, the Serbian flag carrier said.

Air Serbia and airBaltic signed a two-year wet-lease agreement in October 2025, which came into effect on November 1 of that year. The arrangement initially envisaged two A220-300s operating on behalf of Air Serbia during the 2025/26 winter season and up to four during the 2026 summer season. Based on its two-year duration, the current agreement is set to run until the end of October 2027, unless amended by the two airlines.

During September alone, the Latvian carrier’s aircraft are deployed on 516 Air Serbia flights, including both outbound and return services. The A220-300s are most frequently being used this month on services to Zurich, Amsterdam and Paris. airBaltic has also begun hiring locally based crew in Belgrade in recent months, who are assigned to flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia. Earlier this year, the carrier advertised thirty fixed-term cabin crew positions at its Belgrade base.

The assurances come after airBaltic voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on September 14 as it seeks to restructure its finances. Chapter 11 enables a company to continue operating while reorganising its debt and other obligations and does not amount to a liquidation. airBaltic has said its flight operations will continue during the process. The Latvian flag carrier has been facing mounting financial pressure, including a sizeable debt burden. The restructuring will involve changes to airBaltic’s fleet and cost base. The airline plans to reduce the size of its Airbus A220-300 fleet from 55 to 36 aircraft by the end of 2026, while discussions have also been launched with unions over potential workforce reductions. airBaltic CEO Erno Hilden has stressed that operations will not be disrupted during the restructuring and has indicated that the carrier’s wet-lease business will form an important part of the process. Air Serbia has previously described the aircraft as an important reference point for future decisions concerning the composition of its own fleet.

Montenegro’s airports pass three million passengers

2026-09-21T13:30:00.000+02:00

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Montenegro’s two international airports, Podgorica and Tivat, welcomed their combined three millionth passenger of the year on Friday, September 18. The milestone was reached nearly two and a half months earlier than in 2025, when the airports first passed the three million mark in December. Growth has been driven largely by the opening of Wizz Air’s Podgorica base this spring. Airports of Montenegro CEO Roko Tolić said the increase adds urgency to planned upgrades at both airports.

Sarajevo Airport outlines 20-year expansion plan

2026-09-21T10:30:00.000+02:00

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Sarajevo Airport is preparing a new masterplan for the 2028 - 2048 period, with a runway extension, additional terminal capacity and new hangars among its development priorities. The plans were discussed during a recent visit by ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec, who met officials from several levels of government and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aviation institutions. Other priorities include relocating the airport’s fuel depot, expanding parking facilities, improving ground access and protecting land needed for future growth. ACI EUROPE called for close coordination between the airport and public authorities as the masterplan is prepared. It also renewed its appeal to abolish the charge levied on departing passengers, arguing that the fee weakens the country’s ability to attract airline capacity.