EX-YU Aviation News

PHOTOS: Croatian airports begin use of eGates and EES kiosks

2026-04-20T13:30:00.003+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia’s three busiest airports - Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik - introduced Automated Border Control (ABC) gates this month, enabling self-service passport checks to speed up the process of entering and leaving the country. These gates allow eligible citizens and residents from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to scan their biometric passport or ID, have their face automatically verified by a camera and pass through. Each airport has multiple gates for both arrivals and departures, helping reduce queues and improve passenger flow. Alongside them, airports have also installed new Entry/Exit System (EES) machines, which register travellers from non-EU countries by recording their passport details, fingerprints and facial image, after which they can proceed to passport control booths, where the same process can be completed if it has not been done at the pre-registration kiosks. This registration is generally required only once, meaning that passengers who have entered and left any EU state on or after April 10 typically do not need to repeat the procedure on subsequent trips.

EES kiosks

eGates

Air Serbia brings forward Tenerife launch

2026-04-20T10:30:00.002+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia will commence flights on its new Belgrade - Tenerife service over a month ahead of schedule due to strong demand. The airline will launch the two weekly operation on September 15, instead of the originally planned October 27. Flight times and operational days remain unchanged, with further details available here. Services will be maintained with wet-leased airBaltic A220-300 aircraft. In a statement, Air Serbia said, “The early launch reflects growing passenger interest, particularly during autumn and winter, when Tenerife stands out as one of the most popular destinations thanks to its pleasant climate and wide range of attractions”.

Lufthansa begins cancelling Munich flights after CityLine shutdown

2026-04-20T09:00:00.001+02:00

Following the closure of Lufthansa CityLine this past Saturday, its parent company, Lufthansa, has confirmed the cancellation of flights from Munich to Ljubljana and Belgrade until at least Friday, April 24, with a further review expected this week. Services to Ljubljana beyond April 24 and up to June 1 have been zeroed out, meaning they remain visible in the Global Distribution System but are not available for booking. All flights between Munich and the Slovenian capital had been scheduled to operate under the carrier’s CityLine subsidiary this summer. In May alone, this accounts for sixty flights (or 120 including return services), totalling 11.712 seats.

Services between Munich and Belgrade have similarly been zeroed out until June. However, a limited number of flights originally scheduled to be operated by Lufthansa mainline remain bookable and are expected to operate. These include services on April 26, as well as May 1, 3, 10, 14, 17, 22, 24 and 31. In total, 74 flights were scheduled to be operated by Lufthansa CityLine to Belgrade in May (or 148 including return services), amounting to 20.268 seats.

All of the airline’s services between Munich and Rijeka, as well as Munich and Tivat, have also been zeroed out for May. A total of four and six flights had been planned respectively (or eight and twelve including return services). Lufthansa CityLine operations in May from Munich to Dubrovnik and Zadar (eleven flights each), as well as Pula (seven flights) and Split (two flights), have also been zeroed out. However, these four Croatian cities have significantly more Lufthansa mainline operations, meaning connectivity to Munich will continue to be maintained at a higher volume.

Lufthansa itself has not commented on the fate of its Munich flights. Services beyond June 1 remain scheduled as CityLine operations and have yet to be updated to reflect the new market reality. Ljubljana Airport has said it has not received any information from Lufthansa regarding the Munich service. While the airline is likely to deploy alternative aircraft on some affected routes, it is unlikely to be able to replace all scheduled services this summer. Lufthansa CityLine had been due to operate flights from Munich to 71 cities in May.

Please note that the information in this article is accurate as of its publication on April 20 at 09:00 CEST. Given the evolving nature of the situation, details may change and will be updated accordingly.

Sarajevo Airport negotiating new routes as €1.5 million allocated for flights

2026-04-19T09:00:00.002+02:00

Sarajevo Airport is engaged in active, targeted negotiations with airlines to introduce new routes. The airport is participating in industry route development events, recently taking part in the Connect forum, to negotiate both the launch of new destinations and the expansion of existing services, with a focus on improving connectivity to underserved parts of Europe. Discussions are primarily aimed at strengthening links with Western and Northern Europe, where demand is driven by diaspora traffic, tourism and business ties. In addition, efforts are underway to enhance connections with major hub airports to support onward global travel. “We have recently expanded into new markets such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France, as well as growing opportunities in the Middle East. Our goal is to attract more tourists from these regions by presenting Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina as attractive travel destinations”, Vedrana Vikić Musić, Airport Services Manager at Sarajevo Airport, said.

Negotiations are closely tied to public incentive programmes, which are used as a lever to secure new air services. The Sarajevo Canton government announced this week that over 1.5 million euros has been allocated to support the launch of new routes in 2025/26 which were selected in previous tenders, while work is under way on a new incentive programme aimed at supporting additional services between 2027 and 2029. “In the coming period, the focus will remain on subsidising strategically important routes that generate the highest traffic, which is particularly significant ahead of the start of the peak travel season. Our goal is to ensure that, through systematic support, Sarajevo becomes an even more accessible and competitive destination”, Canton Premier, Nihad Uk, said.

This week, Transavia France introduced flights between Paris Orly and Sarajevo, which will be followed by new seasonal services from Ankara and Bodrum by AJet, as well as new summer flights from Berlin by Eurowings. “In addition to data-driven planning and traffic analytics, we maintain continuous dialogue with airlines to understand mutual needs, challenges, and growth plans, which, in my opinion, is crucial for building a successful partnership”, Ms Vikić Musić said. She added, “We cooperate on route promotion, tourism campaigns, and passenger experience improvements to ensure mutual value. Carefully designed incentives, tailored to the real needs of airlines, marketing support, reduced air transportation fees, and operational facilitation, help airlines reduce risk and optimize performance. By providing these incentives, we clearly demonstrate that we stand firmly by our partners, sharing both the risk and the opportunity for sustainable, long-term growth”.

TRIP REPORT: Banja Luka - Dubai via Belgrade and Vienna

2026-04-19T08:59:00.001+02:00

TRIP REPORT

Written by I.G

It’s been a while since I shared a travel experience relevant to the Ex-Yu region.

This time, I’m sharing my recent trip from Banja Luka via Belgrade and Vienna to Dubai, the place I call home for over a decade now.

A bit of a background. I am from Banja Luka and in the past 10 years I have been usually flying to either Zagreb or Sarajevo, on flydubai and in good times with Emirates, or depending on the prices also with Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (which I miss a lot!). During the time Air Serbia/Etihad had flights to Abu Dhabi, I also managed to find (good) connections from Banja Luka.

However, after the last trip to Banja Luka (Dec ’25) when I had my flight to/from Zagreb, I have sworn to myself I will never use that route only because of the BiH/Croatia border. It took me (+2 small kids) 3 hours to pass that sad bridge, and we barely made it to our flight.

I would usually fly to Sarajevo, but not in winter. I had experiences of flights being cancelled due to fog, diverted etc and with kids, that is not a fun experience.

Back to this experience: I had a flight to Vienna with Emirates, and from Vienna we took a Ryanair flight to Banja Luka. We had to spend a night in Vienna, but we took this trip slowly so we could also be tourists and enjoy the first days of spring.

Unfortunately, I did not take any pics of that trip but it was packed, 13th of Mar, with a bit of delay due to airspace closures and restrictions.

Side note: I had an option with my company to book any flight from Dubai to anywhere, and prices on flydubai to Sarajevo, Zagreb or Belgrade were DOUBLE compared to Emirates to Vienna on the A380. Flydubai has been delusional for a while, with the same comfort as Wizz Air but with triple the prices. Now they offer food and in-flight entertainment but for the price of ~$850+ for a flight. No thanks.

Due to some personal circumstances, I had to extend my stay in Banja Luka, and I couldn’t fly back with Ryanair, and then the only option I had was Banja Luka - Belgrade - Vienna

BNX - BEG 10/4

I don’t recall the last time I took the flight from Banja Luka. Unfortunately, though. It saddens me how many missed opportunities this airport had. However, even these few flights are better than nothing.

I don’t understand why the airport/whoever is obviously giving subsidies to Wizz/Ryan doesn’t give money to Air Serbia then to have at least 4 flights per week that could connect to their waves.

I had a 6-hour layover in Belgrade, but again, I was in a rush this time and had no choice.

The airport now has a parking machine, an outdoor terrace, even a small duty free shop and they are trying to make it function. I guess without proper expansion, this is the maximum we’ll see.

There is also a bus drop off and it was a busy terminal with just two flights: Air Serbia to Belgrade and Wizz to Dusseldorf.

Soon after, the Air Serbia’s ATR arrived for this ~40 min flight on a loud machine. The flight was I’d say 95% full with many connecting passengers to Switzerland, Germany and Norway.

I spent the flight eating the little pack of plazma and looking at a rather impressive map of Air Serbia’s regional and European presence. This made me even more puzzled how come it isn’t in Banja Luka’s interest to ensure more flights to BEG. Banja Luka used to have flights just after the war to Vienna and Zurich, via Sarajevo also to Istanbul, and now with the amount of cultural, economic, political, family ties to Belgrade it makes no sense this route cannot be maximised.

Anyways, I looked to the left and saw the Sava river and the border to Croatia. A kind reminder to myself not to complain about the noise of the plane.

Upon arrival at BEG, a bus took us straight to the passport control - which was a nice surprise. Last time I was in Belgrade (Sept ’25) I flew from Dubai and had to walk I think 15-20 min. Honestly, the new terminal in Belgrade is not as amazing as I imagined it would turn out. It became dark and long.

The prices are insinsane,wever! Hleb & Kifle: espresso for ~4EUR and a tiny croissant for ~4.5EUR! Dubai seemed like a bargain compared to Belgrade. Especially that at both places you get served by Filipino workers so I thought I started losing my mind on where I am.

On arrival from BL, passport control was super-fast, however on departure ,from 12 desks, 2 people worked, one who did not make any eye contact but had a very impressive chewing gum skill. The security workers are extremely rude, they need some proper training that they aren’t in prison. The amount of shouting and treating people with kids and foreigners as criminals is another reminder of our public service clerks. I will not spend many words here.

As I had 6 hours in Belgrade, I went to the city, had lunch there, met some people, walked around and headed back to the airport.

The flight to Vienna was full, also done by ATR and super loud. I don’t think ATR is for a flights longer than 1h, especially if you are taller than a strawberry.

A grey and coldish night welcomed me (again) in Vienna, so I headed out to hotel to get some rest for tomorrow’s flight to Dubai.

VIE - DXB 11/04

This leg was operated by Boeing 777, not A380 as on my way to Vienna. However, I was very happy to see the Emirates flag.

Despite reduced schedule and demand, this flight was absolutely full in economy at least. I’m not sure about the other classes, as I’m not in that income bracket for personal trips 😊

As a family we were seated in the last row (49) in the economy, and you can see that there was no single free seat.

The crew was amazing as always. I really love Emirates. The food (which I didn’t take many pics of) was tasty, kids got gifts, we got photos, and got spoiled and reminded why we love the UAE.

Upon the arrival at T3 at DXB, we could see that the chunk of terminal is ‘under reconstruction’ due to the events we shall not speak about. You could also notice that it’s not as busy in the duty free areas but traffic is picking up. Many people on our flight were connecting to their holiday destinations in Thailand or to Australia and further.

Either way, it was a long trip but we were happy to get back to Dubai! It is a different planet indeed!

Bottom line, I wish that Banja Luka Airport and our corrupt politicians realise the key importance of having a well-functioning and connected airport. Start from the low hanging solutions – increase flights to Belgrade. I spent a lot of time walking around the city, and if the city and RS authorities could spend ~EUR 25 million + for the tennis court for a one off tournament, there is obviously space and money to use for airport development.

Until the next time.

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

Flydubai extends Ljubljana suspension, rebuilds other EX-YU operations

2026-04-18T09:00:00.002+02:00

Flydubai has revised its operations for the coming month, extending the temporary suspension of services to Ljubljana while gradually rebuilding the rest of its regional network. The Dubai-based carrier now plans to resume flights to the Slovenian capital on May 22, instead of the previously scheduled May 1, although further adjustments for the remainder of the summer season remain possible. Last year, the airline operated four weekly rotations between the two cities.

Elsewhere, Flydubai is increasing services to Belgrade from three weekly rotations in April to ten per week in May, with a second daily flight operating on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This remains below both the fourteen weekly services operated last year and the seventeen weekly rotations maintained prior to the outbreak of war in the Middle East. However, from May 23, the airline plans to restore its full schedule of seventeen weekly rotations between the two cities, including three daily flights on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The carrier plans to operate three weekly flights to Zagreb until May 23, maintaining the frequencies it operated for most of April. Last May, the airline ran daily services, which are expected to be restored from May 23, pending final confirmation. These frequencies would match last year’s levels. In Sarajevo, frequencies will increase from two weekly in April to three per week for most of May, rising to four weekly from May 23. These levels match those operated last year.

Seasonal operations to Tivat will resume as planned on May 23, operating four times per week, in line with last year. However, the route is returning earlier than in 2025, when it resumed on June 4. Similarly, summer services to Dubrovnik will restart on May 24, ahead of last year’s June 5 resumption, and will operate three times per week, consistent with 2025.

Lufthansa CityLine closure to hit Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia flights

2026-04-17T14:00:00.000+02:00

Lufthansa has announced the closure of its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, as part of urgent cost cutting measures. As a result, all 27 operational CRJ900 aircraft utilised by Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently withdrawn from service as of tomorrow. The German carrier said the move is aimed at preventing further financial losses within the unit.

The development is set to have a notable impact on Lufthansa’s operations across the former Yugoslavia, with hundreds of flights removed from the Global Distribution System overnight. All services between Munich and Ljubljana have been taken out of the system from April 18 until June 1. In addition, the majority of flights between Munich and Belgrade have been removed, although a limited number remain scheduled, primarily on Fridays and Sundays.

Other routes operated by the Lufthansa CityLine subsidiary include services from Munich to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Rijeka and Zadar. These have also largely been removed from the system. However, flights to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Zadar are also operated by Lufthansa mainline and will continue as scheduled. In contrast, all services between Munich and Rijeka have been removed. The airline’s operations beyond June 1 remain in the system, indicating scheduling past this date has not been updated.

At this stage, the fate of Lufthansa CityLine-operated flights remains unclear. This does not necessarily mean that all affected services will be cancelled. The airline is likely to source replacement aircraft for some routes, however, it is unlikely to be able to replace all 27 aircraft during the peak summer travel period, which will likely result in a notable reduction in flights. Lufthansa has not commented on whether specific routes will be impacted by the closure of CityLine. The schedule changes outlined above are accurate as of the time of publication (April 17 at 09:00 CEST).

Till Streichert, Chief Financial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said, "The package for accelerated implementation of fleet and capacity measures is unavoidable in light of the sharply increased kerosene costs and geopolitical instability. The goal is to focus our short- and medium-haul platforms more clearly and make them more competitive. In this regard, we had already identified the prospective removal of CityLine from our program as part of our strategic development for some time, independently of the current geopolitical crisis. The current crisis is now forcing us to implement this measure earlier. This is a painful step, particularly with regard to the colleagues at Lufthansa CityLine”.

Lufthansa also plans to remove long-haul capacity by a total of six aircraft at the end of the summer flight schedule. As a result, the last four remaining Airbus A340-600s will leave the fleet in October. Additionally, two Boeing 747-400s will be grounded from October onwards for the coming winter. In the 2026/27 winter flight schedule, the airline will reduce capacity of the Lufthansa core brand as part of the envisaged consolidation of short- and medium-haul traffic across six hubs of the Lufthansa Group. This additional capacity reduction corresponds to five aircraft of the Lufthansa core brand. The developments come off the back of four days of industrial action by staff and the year Lufthansa and ten days after the carrier celebrated its centenary.

Qatar Airways confirms Zagreb and Belgrade resumption

2026-04-17T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Qatar Airways has confirmed it will resume services to both Zagreb and Belgrade, following the suspension of the routes on February 28 due to the conflict in the Middle East. Flights between Doha and Zagreb are set to restart on June 16, with Belgrade services resuming a day later, on June 17.

The airline currently plans to operate four weekly rotations to each city until September 15, in line with its revised schedule, after which operations are yet to be updated. This represents a reduction compared to pre-conflict plans, which foresaw daily flights to Zagreb and five weekly services to Belgrade during the same period. Both routes will continue to be operated by the carrier’s Airbus A320 aircraft.

The two destinations will be reinstated alongside several other European services, including Brussels, Budapest, Prague, London Gatwick and Oslo, as the airline gradually rebuilds its network. Qatar Airways plans to serve over 150 destinations from June 16.

As previously reported, the carrier’s seasonal flights to Sarajevo are scheduled to resume on May 22.

Croatia Airlines discontinues sixth route this summer

2026-04-17T10:30:00.003+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines has discontinued its seasonal service between Zagreb and Tirana, with all flights between the two capitals now removed from the booking system. The route had been scheduled to resume on May 24, following an earlier postponement. Services were set to operate three times per week. As a result, Tirana becomes the sixth route to be dropped this summer. It joins previously discontinued services from Zagreb to Milan and Bucharest, as well as from Split to Amsterdam, Skopje and Bucharest. Flights between Zagreb and Tirana were launched in 2024. All services on the route during the 2026 summer season were scheduled with the Airbus A319, A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft.

Norwegian fails to secure Slovenia subsidies as Ljubljana maintains growth

2026-04-16T18:30:00.000+02:00

Norwegian Air Shuttle has failed to secure state support in the latest round of Slovenia’s air connectivity subsidy programme, after its application to maintain services Copenhagen and Ljubljana was rejected. The outcome represents a setback for the carrier, which had previously benefited from financial incentives for its Ljubljana operations. Norwegian had sought to extend backing for its Copenhagen service, which it has been running on a seasonal basis. Slovenia’s subsidy scheme, now in its tenth round, is aimed at improving the country’s air connectivity by offering airlines partial reimbursement of airport charges. While both Norwegian and airBaltic submitted applications, only the latter was awarded support - securing funding for a new seasonal service to Tenerife, as well as extended backing for its Gran Canaria operations, launched last year.

Norwegian’s failure to secure subsidies for its Copenhagen service does not necessarily mean the route will not operate in the future. At present, the carrier has scheduled seasonal flights between the two capitals from May 8 until October 23, maintaining two weekly rotations with the 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This represents a shorter season compared to last year, when services resumed on March 31. The low cost carrier launched operations to Ljubljana in April 2024. In 2025, Norwegian handled 17.276 passengers on its Ljubljana flights, achieving an average cabin load factor of 76.8% over the course of its operations.

Ljubljana Airport has continued with its strong growth this year by handling 110.615 passengers in March, representing an increase of 17%. This was complemented by a 13% increase in the number of aircraft movements, which stood at 1.920. During the first quarter, the airport welcomed 293.408 travellers, up 18.2%, or an additional 45.082 customers. However, the figure is still down 14.4% on the pre-pandemic 2019, which the airport anticipates surpassing this year. Strong growth is expected to continue into the ongoing second quarter with capacity growth on scheduled flights throughout the April - June period to average a strong 21.6%.

Ljubljana's largest airlines by scheduled seat capacity, March 2026

Belgrade Airport registers busiest March on record

2026-04-16T18:07:00.004+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport handled 611.909 passengers in March, representing an increase of 10% year-on-year. The figure was complemented by a 4.8% increase in aircraft movements. During the first quarter of the year, the airport welcomed 1.755.728 travellers, up 8.8%, or an additional 140.222 passengers.

Belgrade's largest airlines by scheduled seat capacity, March 2026

Tuzla doubles air service subsidies

2026-04-16T13:36:00.006+02:00

NEWS FLASH

The Tuzla Canton government plans to significantly increase funding for the maintenance of existing routes and the launch of new services from Tuzla Airport, with subsidies set to reach 1.1 million euros this year. “We have decided to subsidise flights per arriving passenger, following the model of major European airports”, the canton’s Minister of Trade, Tourism and Transport, Almir Žilić, said. For the implementation of its air service subsidy programme, the Tuzla Canton government allocated approximately 615.000 euros in 2025. Wizz Air, which is the recipient of the support, met its contractual obligation to maintain three non-subsidised routes to Dortmund, Memmingen and Basel. The subsidised Tuzla - Vienna service operated only during October, while four new subsidised routes to Hamburg, Cologne, Malmo and Maastricht were introduced in December. In the fourth quarter of 2025, a total of 7.037 subsidised arriving passengers were recorded. Average load factors on subsidised routes stood at 64.7% between June 1 and December 31, 2025.

Air Serbia expands complementary economy class catering

2026-04-16T10:30:00.002+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia has expanded its short-haul complimentary onboard offering in economy class, with passengers now able to choose between a sweet and a savoury snack. On flights of up to two and a half hours, the carrier now provides a choice between sweet biscuits and salted pretzel sticks, accompanied by a bottle of water. Additional food and beverage items remain available for purchase through the airline’s buy-on-board service. “We believe that small gestures can make a big difference, which is why we wanted to offer passengers more choice within the complimentary service”, Bojana Knežević, Head of Marketing and Guest Experience at Air Serbia, said. Economy class passengers on short-haul flights of over two and a half hours continue to receive a complimentary sandwich, while those travelling on the airline’s long-haul services are offered a choice between hot meals.

Four Chinese carriers express interest in Croatia flights

2026-04-15T14:00:00.000+02:00

Croatia anticipates establishing flights to China as the number of visitors from the country continues to grow. Recently, Croatia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, held talks with executives from Hainan Airlines and Air China in Beijing, as well as China Eastern Airlines and Juneyao Airlines in Shanghai. “The Chinese airlines that met with Croatian officials all expressed strong interest in opening direct flights, and both sides agreed to continue in-depth communication and discussions on this matter. Chinese airlines welcomed the invitation from the Croatian National Tourist Board to visit Croatia for further discussions”, the Ministry said.

The Croatian Ambassador to China, Dario Mihelin, said Croatia is increasingly becoming an ideal destination for Chinese tourists, as evidenced by the continuous increase in the number of visas issued by the embassy. He emphasised that even the launch of seasonal flights would greatly improve the exchange of people and goods between the two states. “Chinese tourists often fly to neighbouring capitals, such as Budapest, and then spend the majority of their European trip in Croatia. So, it’s like the chicken and egg problem. The launch of direct flights will inevitably bring more tourists”.

Shanghai is Zagreb’s busiest unserved destination in China, followed by Beijing. In 2017, Beijing Capital Airlines, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, intended on introducing services between the Chinese and Croatian capitals, however, the planned operations were later shelved. Initially, the carrier filed for a permit for a two weekly service with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. China Eastern Airlines recently expressed interest in expanding in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and said it is evaluating flights to the likes of Bucharest and Belgrade.

The Croatian National Tourist Board has also held discussions with Chinese carriers recently, including Air China and Hainan Airlines, over the potential introduction of flights to Croatia. Earlier this year, Zagreb Airport told EX-YU Aviation News that China, alongside the United States, India and Japan, are its target markets. “We are working on establishing direct connections with these”, the airport said.

PHOTOS: Air Serbia airport complex advances

2026-04-15T13:30:00.002+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Construction of Air Serbia’s new headquarters opposite Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is progressing according to schedule, with works now reaching the fourth floor and the recessed top level above it. The building will have a total gross area of 7.985 square metres and will match the height of the adjacent Aviation Museum. Work is scheduled to be completed by May 15, 2027.

The development will also include landscaped green areas, as well as an open-air car park in the north-western section of the site with 140 spaces, including six designated for persons with reduced mobility. A new ring road and access street are being built alongside the complex, providing a link to the future airport rail station currently under construction.

At the same time, foundations have been laid for a planned airport hotel, also being developed by Air Serbia, while an additional business building within the complex is expected to be constructed at a later stage.

Zagreb Airport to hike fees across the board

2026-04-15T10:23:00.001+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Zagreb Airport will introduce a new price list for its services from June 1, marking its first adjustment in over three years, with an across-the-board increase in nearly all core fees. The most notable rises will be in landing charges, passenger-related fees and infrastructure costs. The largest increases are seen in landing and take-off charges. For example, the fixed charge for aircraft up to three tonnes will rise from thirty euros to 37.21. Similar upward adjustments are visible in passenger service charges, where international passenger fees will increase from 19.67 euros to 21.70 euros, and in security charges, which will rise from 6.50 euros to 8.06 euros per passenger. Infrastructure-related charges will also increase, with the passenger component rising from 2.50 euros to 3.10 euros and the aircraft component from 1.50 euros to 1.86 euros per tonne. Parking charges will also rise, particularly on a unit basis.

Zagreb Airport notes the increases reflect inflationary pressures, higher operating and infrastructure costs, as well as continued investment in airport systems and services such as baggage handling, security and centralised infrastructure.

Air Serbia outlines long-haul network plans past Toronto launch

2026-04-14T14:00:00.001+02:00

Air Serbia is evaluating two to three potential destinations as part of its longer-term long-haul growth strategy, although the airline remains satisfied with its current network for the time being. This summer, the carrier will introduce seasonal services to Toronto, marking the fifth consecutive year of long-haul network growth following Tianjin (2022), Chicago (2023), Guangzhou (2024) and Shanghai (2025). “Long-haul development is always highly specific, as it requires a long-term approach and a wide range of KPIs (key performance indicators) to be met before operations can commence. Maintaining a balanced network between East and West remains important. This summer, we felt it was the right time to give Toronto an opportunity, and we will see if in the future we will expand further in Asia”, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, told the “K1” network.

Mr Marek added, “For now, our long-haul network is largely set for this year and next. That said, we are continuously evaluating two to three additional destinations. As previously mentioned, options include Miami, a winter leisure route, or potential points in China and wider Asia. However, the final decision will depend on a number of factors, as each route must meet several key parameters before being launched”. In the past, in addition to Miami, the airline mentioned potential services to Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Havana.

Commenting on its long-haul fleet comprising four Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the CEO noted, “At present, we have a stable long-haul fleet with sufficient capacity to support the addition of new destinations. However, given the uncertain geopolitical environment, ongoing market volatility and elevated fuel costs, we are not planning any wide-body fleet expansion at this time”. Air Serbia recently noted it is considering five to six new routes for its network next year, following the introduction of nine new services in 2026. “There are still some white spots in our network, and these regions will form the focus of our development in the years ahead”, Mr Marek concluded.

Pristina Airport handles over a million passengers in Q1

2026-04-14T13:30:00.001+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Pristina Airport has registered its busiest first quarter on record by handling 1.006.492 passengers, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.6%, or an additional 35.092 travellers. Aircraft movements over the three-month period grew by 1.7% to 6.524. During Q1, GP Aviation was Pristina’s largest carrier based on available capacity with 299.712 seats or a 28.7% share. It was followed by easyJet with 183.504 seats and Chair Airlines with 101.340.

Four-day strike grounds Lufthansa flights

2026-04-14T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Lufthansa pilots have entered the second day of their two-day strike today, which will be followed by a further two-day walkout by the airline’s cabin crew, resulting in significant disruption to the carrier’s operations across its network. The industrial action, organised by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit, is taking place on April 13 and 14, while cabin crew, represented by the UFO union, are set to strike on April 15 and 16. As a result, the majority of Lufthansa flights are being cancelled or heavily impacted between April 13 and April 17. The latest strike action follows a one-day cabin crew walkout on April 10, which also led to extensive cancellations and operational disruption. The ongoing labour dispute centres primarily on pension arrangements for pilots, while cabin crew are pushing for improved working conditions and contractual terms.

Lufthansa was scheduled to operate eighty flights to former Yugoslav markets over the four-day period (or 159 once return flights are included). The German flag carrier had 22 flights scheduled to depart Belgrade, twenty from Ljubljana, fifteen from Zagreb, eight from Sarajevo, six from Dubrovnik, five from Skopje and four from Split.

EX-YU capital city airports shed 82.000 seats in April, most still set to grow

2026-04-13T14:00:00.000+02:00

Capital city airports across the former Yugoslavia have all seen reductions in flights and capacity this month, following a series of network revisions by airlines amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, rising fuel prices and potential supply constraints. Compared to the originally filed schedules and capacity levels for April published by EX-YU Aviation News in late March, the situation has shifted across several airports. The following are the revised figures.

Under the revised schedule, Belgrade Airport is set to offer 897.733 seats on scheduled flights in April, down by 36.995 from the original plan. Despite the reduction, this still represents a 7.6% increase compared to April 2025. Air Serbia remains the largest carrier with 433.502 seats, although this is 20.000 fewer than initially planned, followed by Wizz Air, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. Zagreb will have 549.720 seats on scheduled services, 10.332 fewer than originally filed. This marks a 2.6% decline year-on-year. Croatia Airlines retains its position as the largest carrier with 203.998 seats, up 5.4% compared to last year, ahead of Ryanair, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

Skopje Airport has lost 6.866 seats following network revisions so far this month, bringing its total to 393.355. Despite the reduction, this still represents a strong 32% increase compared to last year. Wizz Air remains the largest carrier, with capacity up 68%, followed by Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Pristina Airport is set to offer 390.680 seats, down 7.345 from the original plan, with overall capacity growth currently projected at 2.6%. GP Aviation holds the largest share, followed by Wizz Air, Chair Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. Sarajevo Airport’s seat count now stands at 223.574, a reduction of 6.820 compared to initial plans. This represents a 5.1% decrease on 2025 levels. Ryanair is the largest carrier, followed by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines and Austrian Airlines.

Podgorica Airport will have 205.319 seats on scheduled flights during the month, down 2.505 from initial plans but still up 14.6% compared to last year. Wizz Air is set to become the largest carrier, followed by Ryanair, Air Montenegro and Turkish Airlines. Ljubljana, meanwhile, will offer a total of 191.974 seats on scheduled services, shedding 11.196 seats compared to earlier projections, yet still recording a 17% year-on-year increase. Lufthansa will be the airport’s largest carrier, followed by Turkish Airlines, Swiss and easyJet.

Air Serbia integrates into digital cargo marketplace

2026-04-13T13:30:00.001+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Freightos, the leading vendor-neutral digital pricing, booking and procurement platform for the international freight industry, has announced that Air Serbia will be joining its cargo booking platform. Once live, Air Serbia air cargo will be available for e-bookings across the United States and throughout its European network. The platform streamlines the financial aspect of air cargo bookings by ensuring carrier payment from a broader range of freight forwarders, all while processing and reconciling transactions faster than traditional payment methods. This reduces financial risk for airlines and helps freight forwarders without an existing airline account or accreditation to gain access to carriers and grow their customer base.

Sebastien Podgorski, Vice President Airline Solutions, at Freightos, said, “We’re excited to welcome Air Serbia to Freightos. In air cargo, payments are more than a back office function; they’re a strategic lever. By combining booking with guaranteed payments, we’re helping airlines strengthen cash flow, reduce disputes, and open up distribution to a much broader set of forwarders. That’s what will drive a more accessible and efficient market”. Veselin Djordjević, Head of Cargo at Air Serbia, added, “Digital transformation is at the core of our growth strategy, and partnering with Freightos represents a significant step forward in our cargo operations. The guaranteed payment solution addresses a critical business need for us, eliminating financial uncertainty while expanding our reach to freight forwarders across Europe and beyond. This integration will streamline operations, reduce administrative work, and help us focus on delivering excellent service to our cargo customers”.

Wizz Air hiring in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2026-04-13T12:00:00.001+02:00

Wizz Air is seeking both experienced pilots and prospective candidates for its Wizz Air Pilot Academy in Sarajevo and Tuzla. The airline will host an open day for pilots and academy applicants at the Courtyard by Marriott in Sarajevo on April 20, followed by a second event at the Hotel Golden Star in Tuzla on April 21. Attendance is subject to prior registration, with application forms and additional details for both events available here.

Aegean Airlines reduces Skopje and Podgorica service

2026-04-13T10:30:00.002+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Aegean Airlines will reduce frequencies on its services from Athens to both Skopje and Podgorica this summer compared to its original plan. Following a network revision last week, the carrier now intends to operate two weekly flights to Skopje in May, down from the planned three, while services in July, August and September will run three times per week instead of the previously planned four.

In Podgorica, Aegean will operate two weekly flights from June through to the end of September, down from the initially scheduled three weekly services.

Air Montenegro secures fourth jet, expects PSO to drive record year

2026-04-12T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air Montenegro will add a fourth Embraer E195 aircraft to its fleet after concluding an agreement with Dutch lessor TrueNoord. The jet, currently registered OY-NZO, is fourteen years old and will become the youngest in Air Montenegro’s fleet. It previously operated for Brazil’s Azul Airlines and has been stored in Saarbrucken in Germany since August last year. The plane is expected to join the Air Montenegro fleet by mid-May, with a monthly leasing cost of 115.000 US dollars. The 118-seat aircraft, which will carry the Montenegrin registration 4O-AOI, is currently undergoing maintenance ahead of its return to service, after which it will be repainted into the airline’s livery.

The Montenegrin flag carrier owns two E195s and last year concluded a long-term dry lease for a third, which it is now negotiating to acquire. “By 2028, the introduction of another Embraer aircraft is possible, and we will not stop at four aircraft. We will expand our fleet with at least one more”, Air Montenegro’s CEO, Vukadin Stojanović, said. He added, “Looking ahead to 2026, our goals include passenger growth and the continuation of our digital transformation. We face significant challenges in terms of market competition, fuel costs and increasingly stringent regulations, but we have the tools, the team, and the financial foundation to successfully address them”.

Air Montenegro expects the upcoming Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights to support another record year for the airline. The Montenegrin government has adopted a decision to designate six PSO routes from Podgorica Airport. PSOs enable the allocation of state funds to support unprofitable air services deemed essential for regional connectivity and economic development. The year-round routes include Brussels, Amsterdam, Zagreb and Bari, while services to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt will operate on a seasonal winter basis. A public tender for the selection of operating carrier(s) is expected to be launched shortly. The PSO services are scheduled to commence on June 1 this year and will run for a four-year period, until May 31, 2030. Air Montenegro, which is expected to secure most, if not all, of the contracts, has confirmed it will participate in the tender and believes the new routes will help drive another record year for the airline.

TRIP REPORT: Air Serbia, Belgrade - Rome

2026-04-12T08:59:00.004+02:00

TRIP REPORT

I flew with Air Serbia last week from Belgrade to Rome. In anticipation of their new frequent flyer program, I decided to use some of my leftover Etihad Guest miles and booked the flight in business class as I likely won't have much use for these points afterwards. I initially wanted to book economy but there were no award seats left.

Around five days before my flight I received an email notification that the flight had been brought forward, from 6.50AM to 6.20AM.

Belgrade taxis have become ridiculously expensive with the morning fare from the very centre of the city to the airport costing 30 euros. I say expensive considering the distance from the airport is not that significant and many major European capitals have cheaper airport cab fares even though the airport is further away, the closest example being Budapest.

It was a busy morning at Belgrade Airport as it was one of those days when Air Serbia has a big morning wave of departures. I used the premium check in facility.

I used the egate machine to pass through passport control and then went over to the business lane for the security check and everything went smoothly and quickly.

The Air Serbia lounge, which opens at 5AM was not busy. There was a big selection of food, both hot and cold and of course the bar.

Boarding started around half an hour before departure and was conducted in zones, starting with business class and status members. The cabin is really showing signs of wear and tear. The seats look warn out and tired.

I was seated in the first row. The crew were lovely comprising of a younger lady and gentleman. Both were very nice. The male cabin crew member was working in the cabin. After taking my seat he handed out the menus and shortly after took the meal and drink order.

If I remember correctly, I heard the ground staff tell the cabin crew there were 127 passengers onboard. Doors were closed and we pushed back right on time.

It was a grey and rainy morning in Belgrade coming off a week of sustained rain. We were parked at the very last C gate and had a longish taxi to the runway, with all aircraft using the inserted runway as a taxiway this morning.

As we took off you can just make out the new part of the terminal under construction.

Shortly after departure the crew served breakfast and came out with a breadbasket too. I chose the pancakes and they were good. Considering this is an hour and a half flight, I think the meal selection and the meal overall were very good. The crew were proactive in asking if we wanted any additional drinks. After the meal service, we were asked again if we wanted any extra drinks and were also given an orasnica (walnut) cookie.

The crew member then also offered us the Plazma cookies which are served in economy.

We landed in Rome half an hour ahead of schedule. We parked at a bus gate. When the doors were opened the Italian ground handler told the crew no buses were available as "they didn't expect us to arrive early". We waited 20 minutes for the bus to arrive. During that time the lady crew member made an announcement over the PA to inform us what was happening and apologised for the delay.

When we finally got to the terminal, we spent another hour in line at passport control. The line was slow moving, not because of the amount of people, but because of the police officers who were doing everything but their jobs. When I got to the passport booth, the lady took my passport but then, without looking or opening my passport, took out her phone, and started telling her colleague (these are booths shared by two officers) about a funny video she saw. She then proceeded to search for the video on her phone, found it, held it up to him and they both watched and then laughed together all the while holding my passport and doing nothing. Only after socialising, did she scan the passport talking with her colleague the entire time. Then, just as she was about to stamp my passport, she got into another round of chatting with her colleague and for the next five minutes just talked to him completely unfazed at the people in line (I am not exaggerating the timing here). Only after finishing her animated conversation did she stamp my passport. I really wanted to say something to her but thought it was wiser not to. I had a very similar experience in Milan a few months ago. A slow moving line as police at passport control were chatting, drinking coffee and doing everything but their jobs.

Either way it did not seem to matter much as by the time I got to the baggage carousel, it seemed as if the bags had only just started to come out. This was all well over an hour and a half after the plane had landed.

Overall, Air Serbia cabins need a refresh, it would give a much nicer impression. I'm sorry I didn't catch the names of the two crew members as they were very nice and deserve to be commended and the catering was good too. To be honest, while I know people generally don't care about food, I feel this is what makes Air Serbia stand out on these shorter flights in business class compared to the competition and I hope they don't remove or downsize it in some future cost cutting measure. The flight was ahead of schedule so I can't complain. Rome Airport is a different story.

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