EX-YU Aviation News

Skopje Airport adds over half a million passengers

2026-08-04T13:30:28.032+02:00

Skopje Airport has registered its busiest month on record this July by handling 408.925 passengers, representing a strong increase of 29.5% on last year. A total of 2.670 flights were operated, up 10.3% on July 2025. The airport’s busiest day was July 31, when it handled 16.347 passengers. The highest number of flights in a single day was recorded on July 20, with a total of 101 aircraft movements. Between January and July, Skopje International Airport welcomed 2.241.935 travellers, representing growth of 28.7% compared to the same period last year, or an additional 500.421 customers. During the seven-month period, 14.930 flights were operated, an increase of 7.1%.

Skopje’s largest airlines by scheduled seat capacity, July 2026

Ljubljana Airport registers busiest July on record

2026-08-04T10:30:00.000+02:00

Ljubljana Airport recorded its busiest July to date, surpassing both its pre-pandemic and pre-Adria Airways bankruptcy figures from 2018 and 2019 for the first time in eight years. The airport welcomed 208.638 passengers during the month, representing an increase of 14.9% on last year, 0.6% on 2019 and 4.9% on 2018. It also recently welcomed its millionth passenger of the year, reaching the milestone three weeks earlier than in 2025. The passenger travelled on a Swiss flight to Zurich.

Fraport Slovenia Managing Director Jürgen Deischl said on the occasion of the milestone: "Welcoming the millionth passenger exactly three weeks earlier than last year is a clear sign of the continued momentum of Ljubljana Airport. It reflects growing demand, additional airline capacity and the successful expansion and diversification of our flight network. This milestone is the result of the dedication of our airport team, the trust of our airline partners and the close cooperation of all key stakeholders. Our ambition is to further strengthen Ljubljana Airport's position as the airport of choice for Slovenia and the wider Alpine-Adriatic region by expanding connectivity, ensuring reliable operations and an excellent passenger experience".

During the January - July period, Ljubljana Airport handled 998.876 passengers, an increase of 14.7% or an extra 128.019 travellers. The airport now anticipates over 1.7 million customers in 2026.

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

Belgrade - Tashkent flights move closer to launch

2026-08-04T09:00:00.000+02:00

Plans to introduce flights between Belgrade and Tashkent are advancing, with services expected to launch in the coming period, the Uzbek and Serbian foreign ministries said yesterday. Following a period of deliberation, the two sides confirmed that operations between the capitals would be introduced, although they did not identify the airline involved. They noted that the new route would strengthen economic cooperation, tourism and people-to-people ties. Last October, Serbia’s President said Air Serbia was examining the possibility of launching flights to either Tashkent or Samarkand, with the final destination to be selected following a commercial and economic assessment. Discussions advanced in February, when an Uzbek delegation met Air Serbia’s CEO Jiri Marek and Serbia’s Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure in Belgrade to explore the introduction of flights and potential cooperation between the two countries’ airlines.

Air Serbia’s CEO recently said the carrier would increasingly focus on Central Asia as part of its future expansion plans. However, Mr Marek noted that destinations in the region formed part of the airline's five-to-ten-year strategy. "The challenge with these destinations is that they occupy an aircraft for a very long period because of the flight time involved. When you operate routes of that length, you effectively lose the aircraft for the entire day. At the same time, we still see significant opportunities to increase frequencies on shorter routes, where the same aircraft can perform two or even three rotations per day. That is why our current focus remains on maximising the utilisation of our fleet and developing markets where additional frequencies can generate the greatest returns. These destinations will come in time, but at this stage I cannot say exactly when”.

Air Serbia previously said that Central Asian carriers had expressed interest in launching flights to Belgrade following SCAT Airlines’ introduction of services between the Serbian capital and Astana last year. “These discussions usually take time, as you need to convince them and clearly explain the benefits of flying to Belgrade and of using a secondary, niche hub”, Mr Marek said. He added, “With SCAT’s move, you can now see airlines in Central Asia beginning to view Belgrade differently and recognising its potential. For us, any carrier from that region that wants to fly to Belgrade will have our support and full access to our network. These are routes where capacity is already fully utilised on a single daily rotation due to long block times. We have many other markets we would like to open but lack the capacity, so we would prefer someone else to operate them. These markets are predominantly connecting rather than strong point-to-point”. Belgrade was last linked to Uzbekistan by scheduled flights in 2004, when Uzbekistan Airways operated between Tashkent, Belgrade and New York using Boeing 767 aircraft.

Lufthansa Group scales back Zagreb winter operations

2026-08-03T14:00:00.000+02:00

Lufthansa, Eurowings and Austrian Airlines last week revised their Zagreb operations for the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which begins on October 25 and runs until March 27 next year, with the former two making notable cuts compared to their initial schedules.

Lufthansa will halve its operations between Munich and Zagreb from January 2027. In November and December, the airline will reduce frequencies by one weekly flight to thirteen per week. However, from January, operations will be cut from the initially planned two daily services to seven per week. This comes on top of previous modifications made to the carrier’s Frankfurt - Zagreb schedule. As a result, from January, Lufthansa will operate one daily flight from both Frankfurt and Munich to the Croatian capital. Over the winter season, the airline has scheduled 772 aircraft movements and 101.156 seats on its Zagreb services, down 23.4% and 14.2% respectively.

Eurowings will temporarily suspend its Stuttgart - Zagreb service. Flights will initially operate twice per week in November and December, down from three weekly, before being suspended from January 11 until February 26. During the 2025/26 winter, the route was maintained throughout the entire season.

Austrian Airlines is making a minor adjustment to its schedule, with plans to operate six weekly flights instead of a daily service in January and February. Flights will continue to run daily in November, December and March. Despite the revision, this still represents an increase on January and February 2026, when the carrier maintained just three weekly services to the Croatian capital following the collapse of its wet-lease arrangement with Braathens Regional. However, the use of larger aircraft during the first part of winter will significantly increase Austrian's capacity on the route.

The modifications made by the Lufthansa Group are not limited to Zagreb. Last week, Lufthansa removed more than 1.000 flights scheduled for January 2027, as well as several hundred services planned for December 2026 and February 2027. Eurowings cancelled more than 100 flights in both January and February, while Austrian Airlines removed around eighty services in each of the two months.

Overall, the Lufthansa Group currently has 1.248 Zagreb flights scheduled over the coming winter season, down 15.7% on the previous winter, while capacity stands at 165.756 seats, down 6.3%.

Norwegian upgrades Pristina service

2026-08-03T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Norwegian Air Shuttle will extend its seasonal Helsinki - Pristina service to year-round operations. Flights will continue beyond the 2026 summer season, operating twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, throughout the winter period, which begins on October 25 and runs until late March of next year. Helsinki becomes Norwegian's second year-round Pristina service, complementing Oslo, which will also be maintained twice per week over the winter.

Air Serbia ups Vienna service to match Austrian Airlines

2026-08-03T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia will increase frequencies between Belgrade and Vienna during the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which begins on October 25. The Serbian carrier plans to operate eighteen weekly flights between the two capitals, one more than initially scheduled and up from fourteen to sixteen weekly rotations last winter. Three daily services will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with two daily flights on the remaining days.

The increase comes after Austrian Airlines announced plans to operate up to eighteen weekly flights between Vienna and Belgrade this coming winter. Air Serbia’s services on the route are scheduled to be maintained by ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Split Airport reopens after “serious” Iberia incident

2026-08-02T09:00:00.000+02:00

Split Airport temporarily suspended operations yesterday afternoon after an Iberia Airbus A320 aircraft sustained damage to its nose landing gear while arriving from Madrid. Flight IB945 landed at 16:22 local time on August 1 but became immobilised on the runway after a tyre on the nose gear burst. The aircraft, registered EC-IZH, was carrying 172 passengers and six crew members. “All passengers disembarked safely and were taken to the passenger terminal to collect their baggage and continue their journeys. The runway was temporarily closed while the aircraft was being removed and the conditions necessary for the resumption of air traffic were being secured”, Split Airport spokesperson, Mate Melvan, said.

Croatia’s Air, Maritime and Railway Traffic Accidents Investigation Agency has classified the occurrence as a serious incident and has opened a safety investigation. The agency said it had been notified immediately by Split Airport and the Croatian Interior Ministry’s operations and communications centre. The investigation will seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the damage to the nose landing gear. The aircraft remained on the runway following the incident, forcing the airport to suspend all arrivals and departures while technical teams worked to remove it. The runway was subsequently inspected and cleared of any potential debris before reopening at approximately 18:30, just over two hours after the incident.

The closure resulted in delays, cancellations and diversions during one of the busiest weekends of the summer travel season. A Eurowings service from Cologne was redirected to Zagreb, while Croatia Airlines flights from Lyon and Berlin and a Wizz Air service from Katowice diverted to Zadar. Two easyJet flights from London Gatwick and Luton were redirected to Dubrovnik. The incident also resulted in considerable congestion inside Split Airport’s terminal, where some affected passengers reportedly waited for up to five hours.

It marked Split Airport’s second major operational disruption within 24 hours. Traffic had been suspended for approximately two hours the previous evening due to repeated drone activity near the runway, which also resulted in delays, cancellations and significant congestion inside the terminal.

TRIP REPORT: easyJet, Paris Orly - Skopje

2026-08-02T08:59:00.000+02:00

Trip Report

Written by Nikola Lazić

Every summer I travel to Kosovo to visit my family. Over the years, my preferred option has almost always been Wizz Air from Paris Beauvais, with the exception of one journey on Lufthansa. Air Serbia usually offers the most convenient schedule from Paris, but its fares are often considerably higher.

When easyJet launched flights between Paris Orly and Skopje in April 2025, I immediately knew this would become my preferred route. Unfortunately, the airline has already announced that the service will be discontinued in October 2026, which is a real shame. Orly is much easier to reach from central Paris than Beauvais, making the journey significantly more convenient.

My one-way ticket for flight U24909 on Saturday, 25 July 2026, cost €80.65 and was booked on 7 March 2026. The flight was operated by Airbus A320-214 OE-IVQ. I was seated in 11F and the scheduled block time was 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The trip almost started with an unexpected complication. My family and I had planned to reach Orly using Metro Line 14, but upon arriving at Châtelet station we discovered that services had been suspended because of an electrical failure. We therefore ordered an Uber, which cost only €24.79 for the four of us. Although the journey took around 43 minutes instead of the usual 20 minutes by metro, we still arrived at Orly Terminal 1 in good time.

We checked in and dropped off our suitcase at counter 16 in Terminal 1. Interestingly, although check-in takes place in Terminal 1, easyJet's flights to Skopje depart from Terminal 3, using the D gates reserved for non-Schengen destinations.

At the check-in desk I encountered something that had never happened to me before. The easyJet agent asked me to provide proof that I would leave North Macedonia within three months. Without such proof, I would not have been allowed to board the flight. Having travelled to Skopje many times with Wizz Air, Lufthansa and other airlines, I had never previously been asked for this document.

Fortunately, I already had a Wizz Air booking from Belgrade back to Paris on 19 August 2026, so I was able to present the confirmation immediately. According to the easyJet staff, this requirement comes from the North Macedonian border authorities and applies to foreign passport holders. I still wonder whether passengers travelling with cabin baggage only are subject to the same checks, as they usually bypass the check-in desks altogether.

The airport itself was extremely busy. Passing through security, passport control and reaching the departure gate took approximately 35 minutes. Boarding was scheduled from gate D18, while the neighbouring gate D20 was used for a Transavia flight to Tirana. The D gates in Terminal 3 are dedicated to non-Schengen flights operated mainly by easyJet and Transavia, while Terminal 4 also handles non-Schengen services by airlines such as French Bee, Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair and Air Caraïbes.

Boarding eventually started at around 15:45, slightly behind schedule. We boarded through the aircraft's forward door.

Parked next to us at gate D18 was Transavia Boeing 737-800 F-GZHP, which was preparing to depart for Podgorica. Seeing three former Yugoslav destinations - Skopje, Tirana and Podgorica - departing from adjacent gates was an interesting sight.

Although it had been quite some time since my last easyJet flight, I was pleasantly surprised by the cabin. My seat, 11F, offered noticeably more legroom than I usually experience on Wizz Air or Ryanair.

The aircraft was clean despite already operating a busy rotation that day: Paris Orly - Nice, Nice - Paris Orly, Paris Orly - Milan Linate, Milan Linate - Paris Orly, before continuing to Skopje and later returning to Paris.

The cabin crew were French and all announcements - including the safety demonstration - were made in French, English and Macedonian, a nice touch for this route. The flight appeared to be very well occupied, although I could not accurately estimate the load factor.

Pushback took place at approximately 16:45, with take-off following at 16:52 instead of the scheduled 15:40 departure.

Once airborne, the flight was remarkably smooth from beginning to end. Weather conditions were excellent, with clear skies throughout the journey.

From my window seat on the right-hand side, the views were spectacular. After leaving France we crossed Switzerland before flying over northern Italy near Venice. The route then continued along Croatia's Adriatic coast, offering beautiful views of Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, before passing over Montenegro near Tivat. We then crossed Albania before turning east towards North Macedonia. Our descent began over Mavrovo National Park, providing stunning mountain scenery before our final approach into Skopje.

Although I did not purchase anything from the onboard menu, the crew carried out the buy-on-board service efficiently before preparing the cabin for arrival.

The actual flight time was only 2 hours and 18 minutes, significantly shorter than the scheduled block time.

According to Flightradar24, we landed at 19:10 local time and taxied towards stand 202.

A Wizz Air flight to Gothenburg had just departed from the same gate, meaning we had to wait a few minutes until the stand became available. Once parked, passengers disembarked through both doors: those seated at the front used the jet bridge, while passengers in the rear exited directly onto the apron.

Passport control was completed within only a few minutes, and baggage delivery was equally efficient, allowing us to leave the airport quickly.

Overall, this was an excellent flight. Despite the delayed departure from Paris, the short flight time meant the delay was partially recovered en route. The aircraft was clean, the cabin crew were friendly and professional, and I found the legroom to be noticeably better than on other European low-cost airlines.

For passengers travelling between Paris and North Macedonia - or, like me, continuing onwards to Kosovo - the Orly service is a very attractive alternative to Beauvais thanks to its much more convenient location. It is therefore disappointing that easyJet plans to discontinue the route in October 2026. I sincerely hope another airline will eventually fill the gap, as this service has clear value for both leisure travellers and the large Balkan diaspora living in the Paris region.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing my next trip report covering my Wizz Air flight from Belgrade back to Paris later this summer.

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

Croatia Airlines posts biggest half-yearly loss on record

2026-08-01T09:00:00.000+02:00

Croatia Airlines recorded a net loss of 49.7 million euros during the first half of 2026, up from a loss of 18 million euros in the same period last year. It marks the carrier’s biggest half-yearly loss on record. Its operating loss widened from 21.2 million to 36.8 million euros. Operating revenue increased 12% to 125.4 million euros, supported by an 11% rise in passenger revenue to almost 105 million euros. However, total revenue, which also includes financial income, declined 2% to 129.1 million euros. At the same time, total expenditure increased 19% to 178.8 million euros, while operating expenses grew 22% to 162.2 million euros.

Croatia Airlines said its first-half performance was recorded in a “complex environment”, shaped by both the internal effects of its fleet renewal investment cycle and unfavourable external developments. The airline noted that the introduction of the A220 fleet between 2024 and 2027 entails increased operational and financial costs related to aircraft induction, the adaptation of processes and transitional effects from operating a mixed fleet. It added that these factors were placing planned pressure on profitability. The escalation of geopolitical risks in the Middle East from March, which prompted a rise in jet fuel prices, further weakened the carrier’s operating result.

Cash and cash equivalents stood at 21.6 million euros at the end of June, compared with 11.9 million euros at the beginning of the year. The company received a 35-million-euro cash injection from the Croatian government during the period, while the sale and leaseback of a spare engine generated a further 12.9 million euros. The wider recapitalisation approved by the government amounts to approximately 156 million euros, including the conversion of shareholder loans and another 35-million-euro cash payment planned for early 2027

Despite the weaker financial performance, the carrier handled a record 981.482 passengers during the first half of the year, representing an increase of 15%, or an extra 129.499 travellers, compared with 2025. International scheduled services accounted for 739.470 passengers, up 18%, or 115.371 travellers. The load factor on international services improved three percentage points to 66%, despite a 12% increase in capacity. Domestic scheduled traffic grew by 6%, or by 13.874 passengers, to 228.420. However, the domestic load factor declined by 0.3 percentage points to 64.2%. A further 13.592 passengers travelled on charter services, representing an increase of 2%. Charter operations accounted for 1.4% of the airline’s total traffic. Croatia Airlines’ overall passenger load factor improved by 2.7 percentage points to 66.2%. Passenger numbers fell 2% in June, ending the 21% growth recorded between January and May. Croatia Airlines attributed the reversal partly to a 7% decline in tourist arrivals in Croatia during June, adding that weaker demand prompted competitors to lower fares, which also negatively affected its revenue.

The airline operated 12.631 flights during the six-month period, up 2%, while block hours increased 5% to 17.648. Cargo and mail volumes declined 4.5% to 659 tonnes. Passenger yield declined 4% to 14.7 euro cents per revenue passenger kilometre, with the average gross fare falling 3%.

Trending in July

2026-08-01T08:59:00.000+02:00

The following are the ten most read articles on EX-YU Aviation News throughout July 2026 according to accumulated statistics:

1. Lufthansa to cut European flights and reshape network, July 9

2. Wizz, Air Serbia and Ryanair add most capacity in Q3 2026, July 3

3. Air China schedules Zagreb launch, July 2

4. Wizz Air to decide fate of Belgrade base by late September, July 14

5. Wizz Air revises EX-YU network as winter season nears, July 13

6. Wizz Air warns Serbia of jobs, passenger and economic losses, July 8

7. Thailand tourism body backs Belgrade - Bangkok flights, July 16

8. Serbian passenger injured in Ryanair incident over Greece, July 10
9. EX-YU airports handle 13.1 million passengers, Skopje fastest growing, July 11

10. Wizz Air explores expansion opportunities in Slovenia, July 1

The three most read trip reports in July:

1. Turkish Airlines/LATAM: Zagreb - Sao Paulo and back

2. Air Serbia: Oslo - Budapest via Belgrade

3. KLM/Emirates/Croatia Airlines: Bangkok - Zagreb via Hong Kong and Amsterdam

The most popular vintage content published in July

JAT cabin crew member Ksenija Petrovska, 1972. Petrovska became the airline’s spokesmodel during the 1970s. She graced the covers of JAT’s magazines, adverts and posters, promoting the airline’s destinations and service and was an instantly recognisable face of Yugoslav aviation during the decade. Petrovska today resides in the United Kingdom

The most visitors by country:

1. Serbia

2. Slovenia

3. Croatia

4. Germany

5. United Kingdom

6. United States

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina

8. Canada

9. Macedonia

10. Montenegro
11. Switzerland

12. Austria

13. Australia

14. Italy

15. Spain

EX-YU airports handle 17.7 million passengers, Skopje fastest growing

2026-07-31T14:00:00.000+02:00

The former Yugoslavia’s 21 commercial airports with scheduled passenger traffic handled a combined total of 17.725.438 travellers during the first half of the year. The figure represents an increase of 1.298.505 travellers on the same period in 2025.

Macedonia was the fastest-growing market in the former Yugoslavia, adding 426.195 passengers during the first half of the year. Its capital, Skopje, was the region’s fastest-growing airport, handling an additional 407.349 travellers compared to the same period last year. In June alone, Skopje recorded a 15.9% increase in passenger numbers, serving 341.514 travellers. The growth is being fuelled by Wizz Air’s strong expansion in the country. The positive trajectory is expected to continue into July as well. Ohrid Airport recorded its busiest day of all time on Sunday, July 26 when it handled 3.036 passengers across twenty flights.

Passenger traffic among former Yugoslav airports, January - June 2026

Belgrade remained the former Yugoslavia’s busiest airport, adding 283.635 travellers during the January - June period. On the other hand, Pristina is the only major airport in the region to see its figures decline. In June itself, figures fell 5% to 372.363. Fuelling the decrease are frequency cuts by GP Aviation, as well as the absence of Condor and SAS which operated last year.

June was Podgorica Airport’s busiest month on record, during which it handled 281.524 passengers, representing an increase of 44.7% on the previous year. The milestone has been driven by Wizz Air's two-aircraft base in the city, which opened in March, with the low cost carrier serving 24 destinations from the Montenegrin capital this summer.

Meanwhile, some smaller Croatian coastal airports have been affected by the suspension of domestic Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights operated by Trade Air, after the Croatian government failed to launch the tender process for a new four-year domestic services contract within the required timeframe. A public call has yet to be issued, however, Trade Air has resumed domestic flights by earlier this month. However, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik have so far recorded their busiest first half of the year to date.

PHOTOS: Croatia Airlines takes delivery of eleventh A220

2026-07-31T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines took delivery of its eleventh Airbus A220 aircraft this morning. Registered 9A-CAU and named Slavonski Brod, it is the carrier’s ninth A220-300, complemented by a further two A220-100s. The jet is the second this week to arrive in Zagreb from Montreal via Copenhagen in the early hours of the morning. Croatia Airlines is scheduled to receive a further three A220s by the end of this year, with the final aircraft expected to join the fleet in 2027. The airline has tentatively scheduled its remaining non-A220 aircraft for withdrawal on March 27, 2027.

Lufthansa Group calls for tax freeze in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2026-07-31T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings have joined calls made by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s four international airports for the reintroduction of a moratorium on the passenger fee paid by airlines to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation (BHDCA). Under the current system, airlines pay a fee of 1.5 euros for every departing passenger on flights from the country's commercial airports, as well as a charge for every tonne of cargo. The charge serves as a source of funding for the aviation regulator.

In its letter to the government, the Group said, “Airlines operate in an extremely challenging international environment, characterised by rising jet fuel prices, inflationary pressures, higher operating costs, disruptions to global supply chains, restrictions across European airspace and intense competition among airports and countries seeking to attract new air services. In such circumstances, overall operating costs are one of the key factors considered when deciding whether to launch new routes, increase flight frequencies or maintain existing operations. Even relatively modest regulatory and operational charges can significantly affect a market’s competitiveness compared with alternative destinations in the region”. They added, “Airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina have considerable potential for the further development of air connectivity, tourism, investment and business mobility. Measures should now be introduced to improve the market’s competitiveness and enable airlines to plan the long-term development of their operations. Experience from the previous temporary suspension of the fee showed that such measures positively affected passenger growth, capacity increases, network development and the retention of existing air services”.

Croatia Airlines schedules final Dash 8 and A319 flights

2026-07-30T16:00:00.000+02:00

Croatia Airlines has tentatively scheduled an all-A220 operation from the start of the 2027 summer season on March 28 next year, with a limited number of routes to be operated by a wet-leased ATR72-600 from Croatia’s ETF Airways. In addition to eight A220-300s and two A220-100s, the airline’s fleet currently includes two active Dash 8s and four active A319s. Based on the tentative schedule, the final Dash 8 service will operate from Munich to Zagreb on March 27, while the last A319 flight is planned from Zagreb to Split on the same day. However, both remain subject to change.

From April 2027, the wet-leased ATR will operate an expanded range of services on behalf of Croatia Airlines. In addition to domestic flights, it will be deployed from Zagreb to Sarajevo, Mostar, Zurich and Vienna, as well as from Dubrovnik to Rome and from both Osijek and Rijeka to Munich.

Croatia Airlines took delivery of the tenth of its fifteen A220s yesterday, with a further four aircraft due to arrive this year and the final unit expected in 2027. The newly delivered jet entered revenue service this morning on a flight between Zagreb and Madrid. Nine of the airline’s ten A220s are currently in active service, with the aircraft involved in an incident at Split Airport in May remaining grounded.

Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, has said that 2028 is expected to mark a turning point for the carrier, with a return to profitability projected during its first full year operating an all-A220 fleet. He remains confident that the airline will complete its fleet renewal programme next year. “Given the current geopolitical situation, I can say that 2027 remains an achievable target, albeit with a realistic degree of flexibility”, Mr Bajić said.

Air Serbia upgrades Dubrovnik service to year-round

2026-07-30T15:18:20.884+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia has upgraded its seasonal summer operations between Belgrade and Dubrovnik to year-round flights. As was recently reported by EX-YU Aviation News, it will become Air Serbia’s third year-round destination in Croatia, complementing Zagreb and Split. Services to Dubrovnik will operate three times per week over the winter, on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays with the ATR72-600 aircraft. It marks the second consecutive year of the airline’s growing presence on the Croatian market during the winter. Flights to Split became year-round during the 2025/26 season, with the route among the best performing in the airline’s network over the winter period.

Macedonian air navigation provider loans funds to state

2026-07-30T13:49:54.125+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Macedonia’s government has secured an interest-free short-term loan of seven million euros from state-owned air navigation service provider M-NAV on behalf of the Public Enterprise for State Roads. The arrangement was approved by the government on July 14 and signed by M-NAV’s management, with repayment formally due by November 30. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the money would be used to meet obligations to a Chinese bank relating to motorway construction and should be returned to M-NAV in August. The transaction has sparked controversy, with a criminal complaint reportedly filed against three M-NAV board members amid claims that revenue collected through air navigation charges cannot be used for unrelated purposes.

Wizz Air talks over Serbian operations continue

2026-07-30T10:39:05.612+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Discussions over Wizz Air’s future operations at its Belgrade base are continuing as uncertainty persists over the impact of the country’s amended aviation regulations. The carrier declined to disclose further details or indicate whether progress had been made, noting that there are ongoing talks with relevant authorities and that additional information will be provided once developments can be made public. Wizz Air previously said it would have to decide on the future of its Belgrade base by late September, but would seek to retain as many services as possible if it relocates its based aircraft elsewhere.

EX-YU passenger traffic to Spain jumps as all markets grow in H1

2026-07-29T14:00:00.000+02:00

Former Yugoslav markets handled 608.797 passengers on flights to and from Spain during the first half of the year, according to data from Spanish airport operator Aena. Low cost carriers continued to dominate traffic between Spain and the former Yugoslav region, particularly during the traditionally quieter first four months of the year. All six markets recorded year-on-year passenger growth, while just two of the 27 routes handled fewer travellers than in the same period of 2025.

During the first half of the year, Croatia was the largest former Yugoslav market for flights to Spain, with thirteen routes in operation. A total of 260.477 passengers travelled on commercial services between the two countries, representing a 24% increase on last year. Serbia followed with 247.852 travellers on flights to and from Spain, up 50.7% year-on-year. Macedonia ranked third, recording 52.108 passengers on Wizz Air’s services to Spain, the majority of which did not operate during the first half of 2025. Average cabin load factors on services to Madrid and Barcelona stood at 78.3% and 73.7%, respectively.

Ljubljana recorded 23.837 passengers on scheduled services to Spain across three routes during the first half of the year. This figure excludes the various charter flights operated between the two countries over the same period. In Sarajevo, Ryanair’s Girona service carried 16.825 travellers, representing a 63.3% increase on last year, while the average cabin load factor reached 85.6%. In Montenegro, the two routes to Spain, both launched this year, handled a combined total of 8.399 passengers. The new Podgorica - Barcelona service performed particularly well, achieving an average cabin load factor of 84.8%.

Air Serbia ATR grounded for three months after handling incident

2026-07-29T13:18:03.232+02:00

NEWS FLASH

An Air Serbia ATR72-600 aircraft, registered YU-ASF, was damaged at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport yesterday, July 28. The damage occurred when ground service equipment operated by an external handling company came into contact with the Air Serbia aircraft while providing services to another airline. Due to the extent of the required repairs and the need to complete all prescribed technical procedures, YU-ASF is expected to remain out of service for approximately three months.

In a statement, the airline said, “The aircraft’s temporary withdrawal from service may affect operations during the summer season, potentially resulting in schedule changes, aircraft substitutions or other operational adjustments. Air Serbia is making every effort to minimise any impact on passengers. The relevant authorities have been involved in investigating the incident, with all pertinent facts and circumstances examined”. The carrier apologised to passengers for any inconvenience.

PHOTOS: Croatia Airlines takes delivery of tenth A220

2026-07-29T12:22:11.671+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines took delivery of its tenth Airbus A220 aircraft this morning. Registered 9A-CAS and named Velika Gorica, it is the carrier’s eighth A220-300, complemented by a further two A220-100s. As previously reported, the jet, leased from Griffin Global Asset Management, is the first A220 in the world to feature the official Star Alliance livery. The aircraft arrived in Zagreb from Montreal via Copenhagen in the early hours of the morning. Croatia Airlines is scheduled to receive a further four A220s by the end of this year, with the final aircraft expected to join the fleet in 2027. The incoming eleventh A220 has already undertaken its first two test flights in Montreal on July 22 and July 27 respectively and is expected to be delivered shortly.

Fuel, visas and Wizz push Air Montenegro into loss

2026-07-29T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Montenegro expects to report a loss of around four million euros for the first half of 2026, although the final figure has yet to be confirmed as the airline is still in the process of finalising all outstanding invoices. Air Montenegro’s CEO, Vukadin Stojanović, noted that the airline incurred 2.5 million euros in unforeseen costs due to the sharp increase in fuel prices, with the price per tonne rising from 733 euros in February to 1.575 euros by the end of March. "The price remains above 1.300 euros per tonne, although we cannot specify the exact amount we are currently paying, as fuel costs vary from airport to airport. At some locations prices are adjusted weekly, while at others they change on a monthly basis", Mr Stojanović explained.

The CEO also pointed out that competition at Montenegro's airports is stronger than ever, particularly following Wizz Air's recent base opening in Podgorica. In addition, he said the airline's revenues have been affected by the suspension of flights to Azerbaijan and Armenia this year after the introduction of visa requirements, whereas those routes operated last year. The move has reduced Air Montenegro's revenues by a million euros. Chairman Predrag Dragaš added that the impact is expected to worsen, as Montenegro plans to introduce visas for Turkish citizens by the end of the year, which is also expected to have a negative effect on the airline's revenues.

EX-YU capital airports set for mixed August as Wizz Air extends lead

2026-07-28T14:00:00.000+02:00

Two capital city airports in the former Yugoslav region are set to see their scheduled seat capacity levels decline during August when compared last year, while others will reach record levels. Wizz Air remains by far the region’s largest carrier, registering a combined total of over one million seats across the seven markets for a second consecutive month.

Belgrade Airport has the most available seats on scheduled flights in August, standing at 1.159.946. The figure represents an increase of 6.6% on 2025. Air Serbia will continue to maintain its position as the largest carrier with a record 632.244 seats, up 7.8% or an additional 45.752. Wizz Air will add 33.142 seats, growing by 22.1%. Zagreb follows as the second largest with 605.531 available seats on scheduled flights during the month. It represents a decrease of 3.9% on the previous year. Croatia Airlines will decrease its capacity by 4% but will continue to be the airport’s largest carrier with 215.869 seats. It is ahead of Ryanair with 196.094 seats, up 2.9%.

Skopje Airport will boast a record 497.031 seats in August, representing a 34.6% increase compared to the same month in 2025, with all the growth driven by Wizz Air. The low cost carrier will add 147.184 seats, marking an 89.7% increase year-on-year. However, excluding Wizz Air, the remaining scheduled airlines at Skopje Airport will collectively register a 9.4% decline in seat capacity. Pristina Airport will have 468.166 available seats, with capacity currently projected to decline 5.2%. It follows frequency cuts by GP Aviation, as well as the lack of Condor and SAS services, which operated last year.

Podgorica Airport will continue to feel the positive impact of its new Wizz Air base, with the airport registering a record 370.188 seats on scheduled flights during the month, up 47.7%. Wizz Air will be the largest carrier by adding 111.040 seats, representing growth of 196.8%, for a total capacity share of 45.2%. It is followed by Ryanair with 11.8% of the market. Sarajevo will have 363.238 scheduled seats in August, representing an increase of 0.5% on 2025. Ryanair is the largest carrier, with a market share of 13.6%. It is followed by Pegasus Airlines with 10.6% of total capacity.

Finally, Ljubljana has a total of 239.871 seats on scheduled services, up 20.9% on August 2025. Lufthansa, despite having 7.9% fewer flights, will have 28.4% more seats, retaining its position as the airport’s largest, holding 15.7% of capacity. It is followed by Turkish Airlines with a 10.9% share and Swiss with 8.7% of the market and its capacity up 77.3% year-on-year.

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

Overall scheduled seat capacity in August across all former Yugoslav markets and airports combined: 6.147.048, up 7.2% 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.

Air Montenegro plans first Embraer E2 jet

2026-07-28T13:37:35.725+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Montenegro is considering adding a new-generation Embraer E2 aircraft to its fleet of four first-generation E195 jets, with the aircraft expected to be acquired on lease. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the airline's CEO, Vukadin Stojanović, said, "We'll allow a few more days to pass before revealing exactly what is planned and how we intend to secure a fifth aircraft, which will most likely be a new-generation Embraer. At this moment, we could purchase an aircraft outright, but we are not prepared to pursue such an acquisition now and spend the bulk of our funds on buying an aircraft". Mr Stojanović added that the carrier currently has twelve million euros in its bank account.

The Embraer E2 family consists of the E190-E2 and E195-E2. Compared to the previous generation, the aircraft are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1900G geared turbofan engines and feature redesigned wings, upgraded avionics and an enhanced fly-by-wire system. Together, these improvements reduce fuel burn by up to 25%, cut emissions and noise levels, extend range, and lower maintenance costs compared to the earlier E-Jet family.

EX-YU navigation providers, airports and airline set records

2026-07-28T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Several air navigation service providers across the former Yugoslavia, along with airports and Air Serbia, have recorded their busiest 24-hour periods on record, according to the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).

Bosnia and Herzegovina's air navigation service provider, BHANSA, handled a record 2.259 flights on July 25, surpassing its previous peak of 2.148 flights recorded on July 3.

Croatia Control also set a new record on July 25, managing 4.433 flights in a single day, exceeding its previous high of 4.324 flights achieved on July 4.

Slovenia Control recorded its busiest day on July 25 as well, handling 2.202 flights, up from its previous record of 2.063 flights set on July 5.

Air Serbia logged a record 211 flight operations on July 24, surpassing its previous high of 209 flights. The airline also recently recorded its busiest day ever in terms of passengers carried.

Podgorica Airport registered the highest number of aircraft movements in its history on July 24, handling 96 movements, up from its previous record of 91 set on June 30.

Tivat Airport under fire over queues, diversions and delays

2026-07-27T14:00:00.000+02:00

Tivat Airport has come under scrutiny with passengers reporting exceptionally long queues extending outside the terminal building, severe overcrowding at check-in, security and passport control and lengthy delays. Photos and videos widely shared on social media over the past week have highlighted the scale of the congestion, with many travellers describing the airport as operating well beyond its intended capacity. Social media users, including individuals claiming to work at the airport, have argued that the terminal is simply too small to cope with the volume of passengers during the height of the tourist season, even though staff are making efforts to prioritise passengers on imminent departures.

Over the weekend, a number of flights were either diverted or delayed by several hours due to apron congestion, as aircraft were unable to vacate parking stands quickly enough, creating a domino effect across the airport's operations. Tivat Airport faces significant infrastructure constraints, operating with a single runway, no parallel taxiway and an apron with just seven commercial aircraft parking stands. In addition, the airport and surrounding terrain lacks appropriate lighting, limiting operations to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. On Saturday, Lufthansa's flight from Munich diverted to Tirana, Iberia's service from Madrid was rerouted to Bari, while an incoming Air Montenegro flight from Istanbul was forced to divert to Podgorica. An Austrian Airlines service from Vienna spent more than thirty minutes holding over the Adriatic Sea before receiving clearance to land in Tivat. Conditions improved somewhat on Sunday, although a number of flights still experienced lengthy delays. This morning Arkia and Sun d'Or flights from Tel Aviv were diverted to Tirana, while Air Serbia's services from Belgrade returned back to base.

Last week, numerous flights were diverted after an unprecedented concentration of birds on the runway led to multiple bird strikes involving aircraft on Friday morning. The disruptions occurred despite Tivat Airport's active wildlife and bird hazard management program. Over the past year, the airport has registered a record number of bird strikes and bird encounter incidents.

The President of the Montenegrin Tourism Association, Žarko Radulović, has said the situation at Tivat Airport is “alarming” and urged the relevant authorities to act immediately. Mr Radulović noted of dangerous conditions for people standing in the almost kilometre long line in front of the terminal in the summer heat. “I contacted the airport and was told that their responsibility begins only from the pavement directly in front of the terminal building. Everything beyond that falls under the jurisdiction of Morsko Dobro and the Municipality of Tivat. A similar problem exists in Podgorica, but it has been partly addressed by installing sunshades. In Tivat, however, the airport has been told it must seek approval from Morsko Dobro and the municipality because temporary structures such as sunshades require special permits”, Mr Radulović said. He added, "I consider this to be an act of terrorism against Montenegro's tourism. Every passenger and tourist who arrived by air and is now returning home is leaving with a negative impression of Montenegro. When people are forced to stand in the sun for an hour and a half or even two hours without water, you have humiliated and exhausted them".