EX-YU Aviation News

Air Dolomiti schedules Zagreb launch

2026-09-07T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Dolomiti has scheduled flights between Munich and Zagreb from October 25, before fully replacing parent company Lufthansa on the route from January 1, 2027. As exclusively reported by EX-YU Aviation News early last month, Air Dolomiti will launch a daily service between the two cities at the start of the 2026/27 winter season, operating alongside six weekly Lufthansa mainline flights.

From January 1, Lufthansa will suspend its own services, leaving Air Dolomiti as the sole Lufthansa Group carrier on the route until early March. The airline will operate the flights on behalf of its parent company, but under its own flight numbers and airline designator code. Tickets can be purchased via Lufthansa's website.

Lufthansa reverses Discover deployment to Belgrade

2026-09-07T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Lufthansa has reversed its recent decision to deploy subsidiary Discover Airlines on services between Munich and Belgrade during the upcoming winter season. The German carrier now plans to operate thirteen weekly flights between the two cities using its own mainline fleet. Previously, Discover Airlines, Lufthansa’s leisure subsidiary, had been scheduled to operate the Munich - Belgrade route on behalf of Lufthansa. However, the flights would have carried Discover Airlines’ own flight numbers and airline designator code.

Air Serbia plans new long-haul service in 2027

2026-09-07T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia plans to introduce a new long-haul service in 2027, with the carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, confirming that another intercontinental route is in the pipeline. “What I can reveal is that there will be a new long-haul route, but I will not yet reveal which one”, Mr Marek said in an interview with the Serbian public broadcaster RTS. The comment came after Mr Marek was asked about the possibility of further expansion in China, where Air Serbia currently serves both Guangzhou and Shanghai. However, he did not indicate whether the new route would be in China or another market. The airline is expected to disclose its new destinations for 2027 by the end of the month, alongside planned frequency increases on parts of its existing network. A new long-haul service in 2027 would result in a sixth consecutive year of long-haul expansion for the airline.

The airline has previously been in negotiations or expressed interest to serve Miami, Beijing and, most recently, an undisclosed seasonal long-haul route as well. Air Serbia is also tipped for flights between Belgrade and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. The route is expected to be among the topics discussed during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Serbia today, with transport identified as one of the priority areas of talks between the two countries. Mr Marek noted that Air Serbia maintains both five- and ten-year development plans, which are continuously updated. “When a destination becomes profitable, we certainly open it”, he said. The CEO added that the airline also reacts to opportunities created by changes in the market, citing its decision to introduce flights from Niš to Vienna and Malta after Ryanair withdrew from the two routes.

Commenting on the upcoming year, the CEO said, “We have a lot of news for next year. Of course, the biggest opportunity for us is Expo. Expo represents a huge opportunity to promote Belgrade, Serbia and Air Serbia. We will also celebrate our centenary next year, and there are some other anniversaries as well, but more on those later. There will also, of course, be new destinations, which we will announce towards the end of September, as well as increased frequencies across the network. We have a lot of news, but I wouldn’t reveal everything just yet. For now, I think Expo, the centenary and the new destinations are certainly the main things”.

Ljubljana Airport posts busiest month as United lifts ambitions

2026-09-06T09:00:00.000+02:00

Ljubljana Airport registered its busiest month on record in August, handling 222.958 passengers. The figure represents an increase of 19.7% on the same month last year and is 5.3% above the previous record set in August 2019, when Adria Airways was still in operation and the airport welcomed 211.595 travellers. “This comparison is important, but the number alone does not tell the full story. Today, Ljubljana Airport’s growth is supported by a broad and diversified airline portfolio, strong connectivity and close cooperation with our airline and tourism partners. This makes the achievement not only historic, but also strategically significant for the future development of the airport”, the airport’s CEO, Jürgen Deischl, said.

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

The recently announced seasonal service between Newark and Ljubljana, which United Airlines will launch next year, has not only raised the airport’s ambitions but also changed the way it can position and market itself to other carriers. Speaking to the “Bloomberg Adria” network, Mr Deischl noted, “New York for us changes the scale of our ambition but it does not complete it. We are working on additional European and international connectivity, stronger frequencies and further strategic opportunities for next year. We will not speculate about airlines or destinations now, but we will announce those flights as soon as they are ready to take off”.

Commenting further about the United service, the CEO noted, “The commercial case was compelling. We have a significantly underserved market. We have a cross-boarder catchment of around five million and approximately 200.000 American visitors expected this year without a nonstop connection. So, in a remarkably short time, we turned that potential together with United into a credible and executable business case. Ultimately, the decision was United’s, and we are absolutely delighted with it. We expect more than 40.000 passengers to use this route during the next summer season. However., the opportunity goes well beyond the passenger numbers. A nonstop service changes how a destination is received, sold and assessed”. He added, “Our responsibility as an airport is to create conditions for a strong performance from day one and to build the foundation for a lasting service”.

TRIP REPORT: TAROM, Belgrade - Bucharest

2026-09-06T08:59:00.000+02:00

Trip Report

Last week, I flew TAROM from Belgrade to Bucharest. It was my first time with the airline, although I have travelled between the two cities several times this year, each time with Air Serbia.

This time around, I chose TAROM because its 9AM departure suited me much better than Air Serbia’s two flights that day - one just after midnight and the other in the early afternoon. I had an unrelated onward flight from Bucharest with another airline, so the TAROM service was really the only practical option. I could have taken Air Serbia’s midnight departure, but I did not particularly feel like flying in the middle of the night and then spending around twelve hours in Bucharest.

I booked the flight roughly two weeks in advance. A one-way ticket without checked luggage cost 90 euros, while adding a bag would have been another 50 euros. TAROM was also selling business class on the ATR for something like 350 euros.

I chose the light fare, remembering at the last minute that I still had SkyTeam status through Kenya Airways as a result of a status match I had done with another programme several years ago. That meant I was entitled to complimentary checked luggage. I was also lucky because my tier status was due to expire just a few days after this flight.

I thought there might be an issue explaining to the Belgrade Airport check-in agent that I was entitled to free luggage through this status, and I was not particularly convinced it would be honoured. However, I need not have worried.

I arrived at the airport two hours before departure and, for the first time in quite a while, it was remarkably peaceful. It was just after Air Serbia’s morning wave, leaving a roughly two-hour period during which there are comparatively few departures.

There were around ten people ahead of me at check-in. To my surprise, the agent immediately mentioned that I had status without me having to say anything. She apologised that she did not have a priority baggage tag at her desk and offered to go to the KLM counter to get one, which I told her was obviously unnecessary. She also said she would block the seat next to me, although she noted that there were only 25 passengers booked on the ATR 72-600.

This was quite a contrast to all four Air Serbia flights I have taken to or from Bucharest this year, all of which were full to the very last seat. Admittedly, those were all afternoon services.

Before heading through passport control and security, both of which were quick, I had a short walk around the airport. The new cafés that appear ready to open are still closed, including the WHSmith shop, although I did notice some progress in Terminal 1, where it looks like several new cafés and restaurants are being prepared.

The aircraft arrived in Belgrade slightly behind schedule, although the delay was not significant. It parked opposite Terminal 1. A China Southern Boeing 787 was also parked across the terminal at the time and was later towed to the gate, as the aircraft has several hours on the ground between arrival and departure.

Boarding took place from gate A7A, followed by a very short bus ride to the ATR. There were two middle-aged female cabin crew members, neither of whom was particularly welcoming, although that was hardly an issue. Boarding was completed quickly and I overheard the crew saying there were 23 passengers onboard, meaning there had presumably been two no-shows.

I was seated in the second-last row. There was one passenger in business class and I was somewhat surprised to see that TAROM places its business class in row one. During the Jat era, business class on the ATR was located in the final two rows, which Air Serbia still sells as preferred seating today. That arrangement always made sense to me because those rows are closest to the aircraft’s exit, lavatory and galley.

It was also interesting to see that TAROM has a proper curtain separating business class from economy. Later during the flight, I saw one of the crew members bring the business class passenger a large, full meal tray - it actually looked bigger than the tray table itself. The passenger declined it and the crew member returned with the tray seconds later. Still, the whole setup felt very old school, in a good way. As for us, we were provided with a packaged cup of water. There does seem to be a buy on board menu, but it was not offered on this flight.

The flight itself was smooth and uneventful, lasting around one hour and fifteen minutes. I spent some time looking through TAROM’s inflight magazine and was surprised by just how small the airline’s network has become. I am aware of the financial difficulties TAROM has faced over the years, but I have never really followed the airline closely.

The lavatory was small, as is standard on ATRs, but it was clean and, thankfully, odourless.

Bucharest Airport remains a complete mystery to me. In my personal opinion, it makes Belgrade Airport look like Changi. It seems to consist of various buildings, or at least what feel like various buildings, connected by numerous elevated corridors and air bridges.

Passport control, both on arrival and departure, has somehow been placed in some of the narrowest sections of the terminal. The camera used at passport control is positioned so low that many passengers actually have to bend down for their photo to be taken.

That said, I have found the Romanian border police to be very friendly on every occasion I have passed through the airport, unlike their colleagues in Belgrade. Perhaps I have simply been lucky.

Once you leave baggage reclaim, there is around a ten-minute walk to reach the check-in hall, which is in another part of the airport and connected by yet another elevated corridor.

Departures have their own problems. Every passenger has to scan their boarding pass before entering the security area, but the scanners are positioned in such a way that queues for them mix with the queues of passengers checking in nearby. At busy times of the day, it becomes quite a mess.

Passport control for non-Schengen departures is again situated in a narrow section of the building, while the non-TAROM lounge is somehow worse than the Belgrade Airport lounge, which says quite a lot.

I simply find the airport and its infrastructure surprisingly poor considering the volume of traffic it handles.

Overall, TAROM was perfectly fine for such a short flight. I am glad I had the opportunity to try the airline before it discontinues its Belgrade service next month. The very light load on this particular flight might offer some indication as to why the route is being dropped, although obviously no conclusions can really be drawn from a single one-way journey.

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

Air Montenegro and Air Serbia enter flight frequency battle

2026-09-05T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air Montenegro and Air Serbia have engaged in a frequency battle this week, with both carriers increasing their planned services between the two countries for the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which begins on October 25. Air Montenegro now plans to operate eighteen weekly flights between Podgorica and Belgrade, up from the initially scheduled fourteen. The carrier will run three daily services between the two capitals on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Earlier this week, Air Serbia also increased frequencies on the route to 27 weekly, adding a fourth daily service from Monday through Saturday.

As EX-YU Aviation News learns, Air Montenegro is also considering further increasing frequencies between Tivat and Belgrade. The carrier has already boosted services from seven weekly last winter to ten this year. This was followed by Air Serbia, which added an additional daily flight between the two cities, bringing its total to 21 weekly. Based on current schedules, Serbia and Montenegro will be linked by 76 weekly flights this winter, comprising 45 between Belgrade and Podgorica and 31 between Belgrade and Tivat.

Flights linking Belgrade with Podgorica and Tivat continue to generate the highest passenger volumes among routes within the former Yugoslav markets. The two routes handled a combined 685.316 passengers in 2025, representing an increase of 6.6% on the previous year, or an additional 42.389 travellers. Belgrade - Podgorica remained the busiest intra-ex-YU route, with Air Serbia and Air Montenegro jointly carrying 356.896 passengers, up 9.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Belgrade - Tivat handled 328.420 travellers, an increase of 3.7%. Belgrade was Podgorica’s busiest route in 2025, ahead of Istanbul with 290.827 passengers. It was also Tivat’s largest market, ahead of Tel Aviv, which recorded 201.531 travellers.

Air Serbia posts busiest month on record, seeks more aircraft for 2027

2026-09-04T14:30:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia recorded its busiest month on record in August, carrying 616.479 travellers on 5.743 flights. The figure represents a 9.7% increase year on year, while the average load factor reached 83.6%. Between January and August, the airline handled 3.263.915 passengers, up 4.9% on the same period in 2025, with loads averaging 77.1%. A total of 34.641 flights were operated over the eight months. Tivat was Air Serbia’s most frequently served destination, followed by Podgorica.

Commenting on the results, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “The record passenger numbers achieved in August further reinforce Air Serbia’s position as one of the fastest-growing airlines in the region. This milestone reflects the dedication of our employees, our continued focus on enhancing the passenger experience and the ongoing development of a strong route network that offers customers an ever-growing range of travel opportunities from Belgrade”. He added, “Our loyalty programme also plays an important role, providing passengers with a range of benefits while rewarding their continued trust in Air Serbia. Together, our high standards of service, extensive network and benefits for our most loyal customers are helping us further strengthen our position as the region’s leading airline. These results provide additional motivation to continue raising the bar and to end 2026 with the highest annual passenger numbers in the company’s history”.

On the fleet front, Mr Marek confirmed that another Embraer E195 and an additional Airbus A320 are set to join Air Serbia, which currently operates 32 aircraft alongside eight wet-leased jets. The CEO added that the airline is seeking further capacity for 2027. Air Serbia is also preparing to launch five more routes by the end of the year, including services to Tenerife, Seville and Tromso from Belgrade, as well as new flights from Niš to Malta and Vienna. Its 2027 network additions are expected to be unveiled by the end of this month.

PHOTOS: Air China touches down in Zagreb

2026-09-04T14:28:20.119+02:00

Air China today launched services between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest, marking the first scheduled link between the Chinese and Croatian capitals. The 265-seat Airbus A330-200 touched down in Zagreb slightly ahead of schedule. The Star Alliance member will operate three weekly rotations on the route, with tickets also available for travel on the short Bucharest - Zagreb sector. Travellers to and from the Croatian capital will complete passport and immigration formalities in Romania in both directions, while departures from Zagreb will use the airport’s Schengen area. The intermediate stop lasts three hours on both the outbound and return journeys.

Commenting on the new route, Monika Udovičić, the State Secretary at the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport, said, “The launch of this service represents an important milestone for Croatian tourism, as it strengthens our connectivity with one of the world's most significant outbound travel markets. Chinese visitors are of great importance to Croatia's tourism sector, and I am particularly pleased that this new route will provide them with even more convenient and accessible opportunities to travel to Croatia. Building a strong presence in long-haul markets requires sustained efforts through improved connectivity, targeted promotion and long-term partnerships, and this new service is a significant step in that direction. Enhanced air links also create greater opportunities for economic, investment, and sports cooperation, further strengthening the relationship between Croatia and China. I am confident that this route will contribute to promoting Croatia even more strongly within the Chinese market and support continued growth in tourism and broader bilateral exchanges".

Qi Qianjin, Ambassador of China to Croatia, added, “This China- Croatia flight is more than an air route, it is a bridge of friendship connecting the hearts of our two peoples. Its launch will further unlock the potential for bilateral cooperation and give a strong impetus to exchanges and mutual learning in trade, tourism, culture, sports, education and other fields”.

Slovenia advances Maribor Airport expansion plans

2026-09-04T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

The Slovenian government has taken a further step towards the long-term redevelopment and expansion of Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport by launching procurement procedures for documentation required for a new state spatial plan for the facility. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, which is both the initiator and investor in the spatial planning process, said the new plan would enable the comprehensive development of the airport. The plan will define areas for new airport facilities, including the development of aircraft movement areas as well as other buildings and equipment. Three related procurement procedures have been launched, covering the preparation of technical studies, amendments to the spatial planning documentation and an updated environmental report. Bids for all three contracts are due by September 29. Authorities have already obtained spatial planning guidelines from relevant institutions, secured a decision concerning the comprehensive environmental impact assessment and formally approved the preparation of the state spatial plan. Maribor Airport has struggled to attract regular scheduled traffic and was further impacted by a summer storm in 2024 which damaged its terminal building. The latest initiative is intended to establish the planning framework necessary for the airport's future development.

Air Canada launching Montreal - Dubrovnik service

2026-09-03T14:00:00.000+02:00

Air Canada will commence seasonal flights between Montreal and Dubrovnik next year, giving the Croatian coastal city its first nonstop link with Canada in more than four decades. The Canadian flag carrier will introduce flights on May 11 and maintain operations three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Further flight details can be found here. The 787-8 seats 255 passengers, comprising 20 in Signature Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 214 in Economy. Signature Class is arranged 1-2-1 with fully lie-flat seats, Premium Economy 2-3-2 and Economy 3-3-3.

The service to Dubrovnik marks Air Canada’s return to Croatia with its own aircraft after an absence of several years. The carrier first began serving Zagreb in 1989 and discontinued flights in 1991. Its leisure subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, restored seasonal operations between Toronto and Zagreb in June 2018, initially with four weekly Boeing 767-300ER flights, marking the return of the Air Canada brand to the Croatian market after 27 years. The service was maintained in 2019 but was suspended in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent retirement of Rouge’s wide-body fleet. Air Canada itself planned to take over the route in 2022 with three weekly Airbus A330-300 flights but withdrew the flights from sale before the route's launch.

Croatia already has a seasonal nonstop link with Canada through Air Transat, which operates between Toronto and Zagreb. Dubrovnik has previously sought a nonstop Canadian service. In 2018, the airport held talks with Air Transat over the introduction of seasonal Toronto flights for the following summer. JAT Yugoslav Airlines operated between Dubrovnik and Toronto during the summer of 1983. JAT was then expanding its Canadian operations, which also included services to Toronto from Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, as well as charters from Ohrid, at various points during the 1980s. The new service to Canada will further strengthen Dubrovnik Airport’s long-haul network, complementing United Airlines’ seasonal flights from Newark.

Montenegro plans major Podgorica and Tivat airport upgrades

2026-09-03T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

The Montenegrin government has announced plans to upgrade Podgorica and Tivat airports ahead of the 2027 summer season, following significant capacity constraints this year on the back of record traffic. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said the works would include expanded terminal facilities, additional gates and runway improvements, with authorities aiming to have the first upgrades completed before next summer. An interinstitutional coordination body, headed by the Prime Minister, will be established to accelerate the projects and remove administrative, planning, property and financial obstacles.

At the same time, the government will commission a new ten-year Master Plan for the two airports. At Podgorica, longer-term projects envisaged under the plan include a new terminal, reconstruction and expansion of the apron and the reconstruction and extension of the runway to enable the handling of wide-body aircraft. At Tivat, plans include a new terminal, apron and taxiway, as well as a comprehensive runway reconstruction. The government said the existing infrastructure at both airports had long exceeded its intended capacity.

The development comes after plans to give both airports up for concession fell through earlier this summer. “Following a record-breaking 2026, we have identified the key challenges. We have established a clear sequence of steps for improvements so that we can respond to the significant growth in passenger numbers”, Mr Spajić said, adding that the two airports must enter the 2027 season “in a new and improved form”.

Serbia and Tanzania discuss air service

2026-09-03T10:24:33.287+02:00

NEWS FLASH

The Foreign Ministers of Serbia and Tanzania have discussed the potential introduction of flights between the two countries as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties and establish a joint economic commission. During talks in Belgrade, aviation featured prominently, with the two sides considering potential cooperation between Air Serbia and Air Tanzania, as well as options for improving air connectivity between the two markets.

Tanzania proposed Dar es Salaam as a potential gateway for Serbia into African markets, while Serbia highlighted Air Serbia’s extensive European and long-haul network and its interest in further expanding its presence in Africa. The two sides agreed that aviation authorities should continue discussions on opportunities for both passenger and cargo traffic. Around 5.000 Serbian nationals visited Tanzania in 2025, with Zanzibar accounting for the bulk of demand.

TAROM to discontinue Belgrade service after sixteen years

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

Romania’s flag carrier TAROM will discontinue flights between Bucharest and Belgrade in late October, ending sixteen years of operations on the route. Although the airline had initially planned to suspend the service only for the winter season, last week it also removed flights from sale for the 2027 summer season, signalling the end of the route, which was launched in 2010. TAROM currently maintains just two weekly flights between the two capitals and has operated between one and three weekly rotations over the past year, with a three month-suspension this summer as well.

The Bucharest - Belgrade route has recorded strong passenger growth over the past few years, although this has been driven entirely by Air Serbia. TAROM codeshares on Air Serbia’s existing eleven weekly services between the two capitals, as well as on flights from Belgrade to Stockholm, Ljubljana, Oslo, Podgorica, Tivat and Zagreb. In return, Air Serbia places its designator code and flight numbers on TAROM-operated services from Bucharest to Cluj, Iasi, Oradea and Chisinau, in addition to TAROM’s own Belgrade flights.

TAROM has been grappling with longstanding financial difficulties and remains in the midst of a state-backed restructuring programme. In 2024, the European Commission approved 95.3 million euros in restructuring aid for the carrier, which has accumulated substantial losses and negative equity over the years. The airline recorded a loss of 37 million euros in 2025, while carrying financial debt of approximately 176.9 million euros.

The discontinuation of the Belgrade service runs counter to TAROM CEO Bogdan Costas’ recently outlined strategy of developing Bucharest into a Balkan mini hub. In April, Mr Costaș said, “We want to position Bucharest as a regional hub connecting Balkan destinations such as Belgrade, Cluj or Sarajevo with major hubs like Amsterdam, Paris or Madrid. We are also considering cooperation with smaller regional airlines, such as the one we have with Air Serbia”.

PHOTOS: Macedonia upgrades air traffic control systems

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

Macedonia’s air navigation services provider M-NAV has put a new Air Traffic Management (ATM) system into operation, while a new radar at Skopje Airport is in the final stages of testing. The radar, installed during 2025, is expected to become fully operational this month or October. Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski said the two systems will improve the safety, security and efficiency of air traffic management across Macedonian airspace.

The upgrade comes amid strong growth in air traffic. A total of 173.000 aircraft movements were handled through Macedonian airspace during the first half of 2026, including both overflights and aircraft using the country’s airports. This represents an increase of 12.2% on last year, 23% compared to 2024 and 27% against 2023. The new ATM system was supplied by Italian aerospace and defence company Leonardo.

airBaltic ending one seasonal EX-YU route in 2027

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

NEWS FLASH

airBaltic yesterday outlined its 2027 summer schedule, which will see the Latvian carrier resume almost all of its seasonal routes in the region. The only service not expected to return next summer is Tallinn - Split, which had been operated twice per week.

Returning routes include Riga - Ljubljana, which was recently downgraded to a seasonal summer service and will resume on March 28, Riga - Belgrade from March 29, and Riga - Split from May 10.

Slovenia and Montenegro close air connectivity subsidy calls

2026-09-01T16:00:00.000+02:00

Slovenia and Montenegro have closed separate public calls aimed at improving their air connectivity through state support, with authorities in both countries now expected to assess the submissions received. In Slovenia, the second and final application deadline under the country’s tenth public tender for enhanced air connectivity expired on August 31 at 23:59, while Montenegro’s tender for the operation of five Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes from Podgorica closed earlier the same day.

Slovenia’s latest tender was launched in February and featured two application deadlines, the first of which expired on March 6. Four applications were received during the initial round, although only airBaltic was successful, securing subsidies for the launch of flights between Ljubljana and Tenerife and the continuation of its winter service to Gran Canaria. The number of applications submitted during the second round has yet to be disclosed. Under the scheme, airlines can receive support equivalent to 50% of eligible airport charges for a maximum of three years. A total of 1.2 million euros per year has been earmarked for the programme in 2026 and 2027.

The Slovenian scheme gives priority to routes including Vienna, Copenhagen, Athens, Madrid, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Brussels Charleroi, Skopje, Prague and Berlin, followed by a supplementary list consisting of Rome, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, Lisbon, Pristina and Paris Orly. Airlines can also apply for other destinations within the European Common Aviation Area if funds remain available. However, subsidies cannot be awarded for a route that is already operating or has been placed on sale at the time an application is submitted.

In Montenegro, the Ministry of Transport sought operators for five subsidised routes from Podgorica to Brussels, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Zagreb and Bari. The contracts have a combined estimated value of 4.79 million euros. Each route was tendered separately, allowing airlines to apply for one or more of the services. The successful operators will be required to maintain at least three weekly flights throughout the year using aircraft with a minimum capacity of 110 seats. The government initially envisaged six PSO routes, including Amsterdam, although the Dutch capital was subsequently dropped from the final tender.

EX-YU Aviation News understands there has been interest in the Montenegrin tender from more than one party. However, it remains to be seen whether all of those that expressed interest ultimately submitted formal bids by the deadline. Air Montenegro is believed to be targeting two to three routes. The current process represents Montenegro’s first use of the PSO model for international air services. A further PSO procedure is expected to be launched in around a year.

Flynas to launch second Pristina route

2026-09-01T15:34:49.915+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Saudi Arabian low cost carrier Flynas will introduce a second route to Pristina, with flights from Medina set to commence on October 26 and operate once per week. The new service will complement the airline’s seasonal three weekly flights from Jeddah, which will resume for a second year on September 16. Further details on the new Medina - Pristina service can be viewed here.

Croatia Airlines operating over twenty Girona charters

2026-09-01T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines has begun operating an extensive series of charter flights to Girona, catering for Croatian secondary school graduation trips to Spain’s Costa Brava. Since August 26 up until this evening alone, the carrier will have operated twenty charter services from Croatia to Girona. The majority of the flights originate from Zagreb, with additional services operated from Split, Rijeka and Pula. The charters are being organised for groups of Croatian high school students travelling on traditional end-of-school excursions, with Lloret de Mar and the wider Costa Brava region among the main destinations. Girona Airport is commonly used for such trips due to its proximity to the popular coastal resorts.

The programme is continuing into early September, with further Croatia Airlines charters planned over the coming days. Croatia Airlines traditionally operates the bulk of the charters from the country to Girona each year.

Austrian Airlines cuts short Ohrid flights

2026-09-01T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Austrian Airlines will conclude its seasonal flights between Vienna and Ohrid several weeks earlier than initially planned and reduce frequencies during the latter part of September. The carrier, which had already postponed the launch of the route from May 17 to June 21, now plans to end operations on September 27 instead of October 18. From September 17 until the final service, flights will operate once per week, down from two weekly.

Trending in August

2026-09-01T10:29:00.000+02:00

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

1. Ryanair to withdraw from Serbian market, August 7

2. United to launch Ljubljana service, August 25

3. Ryanair retreats across EX-YU markets, August 9

4. Air Serbia to launch new Niš routes, August 10

5. Belgrade Airport’s extension, railway and Air Serbia complex gather pace, August 13

6. Split Airport reopens after “serious” Iberia incident, August 2

7. Air Serbia to grow fleet by two more aircraft, August 10

8. Ryanair drives strong Zagreb - London growth, August 21
9. Former Yugoslav flag carriers handle 3.26 million passengers in H1, August 6

10. Bilbao seeks Belgrade and Zagreb flights, August 5

The three most read trip reports in August:

1. Air Serbia by airBaltic: Belgrade - Athens

2. easyJet: Paris Orly - Skopje

3. Flydubai: Belgrade - Dubai

The most popular vintage content published in August

Cadettes at the JAT Flight Academy in Vršac, 1985. Opened in 1954, the JAT Flight Academy had become one of Europe’s largest training centres for pilots and other aviation personnel by the end of the 1980s. By 1985, it had trained generations of highly skilled professionals for JAT, including 220 commercial pilots, 22 flight engineers and two classes of cabin crew. It had also trained eight classes of flight instructors and 150 instructors in gliding, parachuting and powered flight for the Aeronautical Association of Yugoslavia. The academy began training foreign aviation personnel in 1976, and by the mid-1980s, around 500 pilots and aircraft mechanics from 25 countries had passed through its programmes. They included trainees from Indonesia, Myanmar, Yemen, Kenya, Mali, Tunisia, Algeria, Angola, Guinea, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Greece and Turkey

The most visitors by country:

1. Serbia

2. Slovenia

3. Croatia

4. Germany

5. United States

6. United Kingdom

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina

8. Canada

9. Swtizerland

10. Macedonia
11. Austria

12. Spain

13. Australia

14. Italy

15. Greece

Wizz Air registers strong Serbia results amid base uncertainty

2026-08-31T14:00:00.000+02:00

Wizz Air handled 700.000 passengers during the peak of the 2026 summer season in June, July and August, operating over 3.000 flights. Since launching operations in Serbia in 2010, Wizz Air has carried more than fourteen million passengers to and from the country. The development comes amid uncertainty over the future of the airline’s base in Belgrade due to regulatory changes affecting the ability of foreign carriers to have aircraft stationed in the country. The airline is due to make a final decision on its Belgrade services for the 2026/27 winter season by the end of September. Wizz has said it will attempt to retain as many flights as possible, even if the base is closed and has ruled out withdrawing from the market.

Wizz Air’s Chief Corporate Officer, Owain Jones, noted, “This summer has demonstrated exactly what strong air connectivity delivers for Serbia. Hundreds of thousands of people have been able to travel affordably for holidays, to visit family and friends, to study, work and do business. It is important to remember that connectivity works both ways: Serbian passengers can travel abroad, while visitors coming to Serbia generate tourism revenue, supporting local hotels, restaurants, shops and businesses and helping to create jobs”. He added, “Connectivity is an economic asset and Serbia should protect it. A competitive aviation market gives consumers choice, keeps travel affordable, brings international visitors to Serbia and makes the country more attractive for business and investment.”

Addressing the regulatory changes, Mr Jones said, “Wizz Air believes the regulatory changes planned by the Serbian authorities could threaten the viability of its Belgrade base and ultimately lead to a reduction in the connectivity currently available to Serbian passengers. The potential consequences extend beyond Wizz Air itself. A reduction in the airline’s operations could mean fewer direct routes and flight frequencies, less consumer choice, potentially higher fares, fewer visitors to Serbia and jobs being put at risk, both within the airline itself and across the wider tourism and aviation sectors”.

Highlighting that over 25.000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to safeguard the carrier’s Belgrade base, the airline also noted, “Wizz Air remains committed to Serbia and will continue its dialogue with the Serbian authorities in an effort to find a solution that protects connectivity, consumer choice, jobs and the wider Serbian economy”.

Air Serbia boosts Podgorica to four daily service

2026-08-31T12:44:27.426+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia is further expanding its operations to Montenegro, with the carrier set to introduce a fourth daily service between Belgrade and Podgorica from October 1 from Mondays to Saturdays. The additional rotation will remain in place throughout the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which begins on October 25. The extra daily flight is now available for booking through the airline’s website.

Air Serbia has also recently increased frequencies between Belgrade and Tivat for the winter season to three daily flights. As a result, the Serbian flag carrier will maintain a record 48 weekly services between the two countries, comprising of 27 weekly rotations to Podgorica and 21 to Tivat.

Turkish Airlines reduces Podgorica operations

2026-08-31T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Turkish Airlines will operate fewer flights between Istanbul and Podgorica this winter as Montenegro prepares to introduce visa requirements for Turkish nationals. The carrier has reduced its planned schedule from eighteen weekly flights throughout the season to fourteen. The revised frequency will match levels seen in November and December 2025, when services were unexpectedly reduced following Montenegro’s temporary introduction of visa requirements for Turkish citizens, which were subsequently lifted. From January until the start of the 2027 summer season in late March, Turkish Airlines will operate two fewer weekly flights than during the same period in 2026.

As part of its European Union accession process, Montenegro will introduce visa requirements for nationals of Turkey, Belarus, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia from November 1. Turkish Airlines’ Podgorica services carry a notable number of Turkish travellers, as well as connecting passengers travelling to and from Russia.

Zadar Airport plans terminal overhaul, runway extension and rail link

2026-08-30T09:00:00.000+02:00

Zadar Airport is preparing for a new investment cycle that will include further terminal development, runway reconstruction and extension, aircraft maintenance facilities and improved surface access. Speaking to the “Jutarnji list” daily, the airport’s General Manager, Josip Klišmanić, said its long-term development ambitions could ultimately require investments exceeding 500 million euros, although the various projects are at different stages of planning and implementation.

The airport last month opened its new seventeen-million-euro departures terminal, which has doubled existing capacity and enables Zadar to handle up to three million passengers annually. However, the facility represents only the first stage of the airport’s wider redevelopment. Plans envisage the eventual replacement of the older part of the passenger terminal with a larger and more modern building, allowing the airport to accommodate further traffic growth and improve passenger processing during the busy summer months.

Attention is also turning to airside infrastructure. Zadar Airport plans to reconstruct and extend its runway, with local authorities previously outlining a project that would see it lengthened by a further 700 metres. The investment has been valued at around 95 million euros and is expected to broaden the airport’s operational capabilities. Mr Klišmanić noted that the airport is also examining projects that could qualify for European Union funding intended for infrastructure with both civilian and military applications.

Aircraft maintenance is another area the airport is looking to develop. Plans include the construction of hangars capable of supporting aircraft servicing activities, potentially allowing Zadar to diversify beyond its core passenger business. The airport believes there is scope to attract maintenance operators and develop additional year-round activity at a facility whose traffic remains heavily concentrated in the summer season.

Improving access to the airport forms another important part of the long-term programme. Plans envisage a rail connection linking Zadar Airport with the city and the Port of Gaženica. Preparatory work on the wider rail project is already under way, with local authorities aiming for Zadar to become the first Croatian city with a direct rail link to its airport. A new air traffic control centre is also planned as part of the broader development of aviation infrastructure in the area.

The expansion comes as Zadar continues to record strong passenger growth. The airport handled 970.503 travellers during the January - July period, up 6.9% on last year. July traffic increased 5.3% to 367.934 passengers. Zadar handled a record 1.64 million travellers in 2025 and is targeting approximately 1.75 million passengers this year.

TRIP REPORT: Wizz Air, Belgrade - Beauvais

2026-08-30T08:59:00.000+02:00

Trip Report

Written by Nikola Lazić

This flight marked the end of a three-week summer holiday in the Balkans. Every summer, I travel to Kosovo to visit my family, but during the summer of 2025, I was unable to go because I was completing a judiciary court internship as part of my studies. Heading into 2026, I was determined to stay longer to fully enjoy my break and recharge my batteries for the upcoming academic year. My itinerary included exploring Montenegro (Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Tivat), traveling through Greece, visiting family in Niš, and finally heading up to Belgrade for my return flight to Paris.

When I booked my outbound flight from Paris to Skopje with easyJet back in March, I intentionally left my return trip open. At the time, I had no visibility on my summer schedule - specifically whether I would be doing a student summer job or another internship for my law studies.

By mid-May, with a clearer schedule, I started looking for flights back to France. From Skopje, the cheapest direct option was Air Serbia at €110 one-way for an August 11 departure. As an aviation enthusiast, I always pay close attention to the operating airline when booking flights, and I am usually willing to pay slightly more if it means trying a carrier I’ve never flown before. In this case, Air Serbia was both the cheapest option and a new airline for me - a perfect "two birds with one stone". However, returning on August 11 would have limited my vacation to just two weeks, which felt far too short after missing out on my summer trip the previous year. So, I paused my search.

There were also lower fares out of Skopje in the €75 to €90 range on decent dates, but they required self-transfer connections in Italy - for instance, flying Wizz Air from Skopje to Bologna (BLQ) and then transferring to Ryanair for Beauvais (BVA), or connecting via Milan Bergamo (BGY). These involved tight layovers on two separate tickets with no connection protection. Given the current global jet fuel crisis caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the risk of delays or cancellations was too high. Had the initial flight out of Skopje been delayed, I would have ended up stranded in Italy, forced to purchase a last-minute ticket at exorbitant prices - an expense I certainly wanted to avoid, especially for a low-cost carrier setup. I made it a strict rule that any layover had to be under a single booking, which is why single-ticket options like Air Serbia or LOT Polish Airlines were far more reassuring. I could find these cheap fares on Google Flights or Kiwi.com.

Throughout May and June, I kept postponing booking my return ticket, convinced that as the departure date drew closer, I would inevitably end up spending at least €150 to €200 for a one-way fare and was mentally prepared to pay that amount.

In mid-July, I stumbled upon a €153 one-way flight from Belgrade with LOT Polish Airlines, featuring an overnight layover in Warsaw and arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). From an aviation geek perspective, I found the "discovery-to-price" value very attractive: I would get to try a new airline, depart from Belgrade (where I was eager to see the modernized and expanded airport with my own eyes), and land at my preferred airport, CDG. However, I held off once again, uncertain whether I would be returning to Paris alone or with my sister.

Finally, on July 16, I happened to check Wizz Air by chance. The airline was running a mid-month promotional campaign, and I spotted a fare for just 3,943 RSD (€33.45). I didn't hesitate for a second: within two minutes, my return flight was booked. This flight checked every single box - it was extremely cheap, departed from Belgrade, and gave me the opportunity to discover Nikola Tesla Airport's new infrastructure firsthand. The flight initially costs 4537 RSD but I had €4,82 left on my previous voucher so I really paid 3943 RSD.

The story actually started the evening before departure. When attempting to check in online, I received a notification informing me that the flight was overbooked. Wizz Air offered passengers the option to volunteer for a standby list in exchange for €100 in flight vouchers if denied boarding.

Since I had no urgent commitments awaiting me back in Paris, I gladly accepted the offer. Spending an extra night in Belgrade would hardly have been a punishment. In the end, however, a seat became available and I was cleared to travel as planned.

I had spent the days leading up to the flight in Niš visiting my cousin. My journey began at 04:00 in the morning on a Niš Ekspres coach, arriving at Belgrade’s new main bus station in Novi Beograd at 07:15. The bus trip costed me 2240 RSD.

With plenty of time before my flight, I decided to enjoy a final walk around the Serbian capital. I wanted to take the BG:Voz to go to Karadjordjev Park but the train never came on time and I didn’t want to lose a minute to visit the city. So after taking tram line 9L to Slavija, I walked to Zeleni Venac and headed towards the airport using public transport.

Interestingly, Citymapper suggested taking bus 65 or 75 to Fontana and then transferring to the paid A1 airport shuttle, which costs 400 RSD (or €4 if you do not pay in Serbian dinar). Instead, I chose Belgrade’s regular bus line 72 from Zeleni Venac, which runs directly to the airport. Since public transport in Belgrade is now free - a policy I find fantastic and fully support - paying extra for an airport shuttle seemed unnecessary, and I was pleased to make use of the free city transit one last time.

I arrived at Nikola Tesla Airport at approximately 10:00, two hours and twenty-five minutes before departure.

Because of the overbooking situation, I was unable to obtain a boarding pass online and had to visit the physical check-in desks. Only three Wizz Air counters were open in Terminal 1, resulting in a queue of around twenty minutes. Traveling with only cabin baggage, I had no checked luggage to drop off.

Security and passport control, on the other hand, were remarkably efficient. Using the automated eGates, I cleared both procedures in roughly ten minutes. One curious detail was that despite using the automated eGates, a border police officer still manually stamped my passport afterwards.

The last time I flew into or out of Belgrade Airport was in 2020, when I traveled via Munich with Lufthansa (CDG-MUC-BEG) and via Vienna with Austrian Airlines (BEG-VIE-CDG). The transformation since then has been impressive. Although I had followed the airport’s expansion under VINCI Airports, seeing it in person was another matter entirely.

I spent some time exploring the terminal, walking as far as gates C6 to C14. A sign indicated that walking from one end of the airport to the other takes eighteen minutes on foot. The terminal was busy throughout the morning, with numerous departures creating a lively atmosphere. At 11:25, exactly an hour before departure, gate A08 was assigned to our flight. Nearby, gate A07 was preparing Qatar Airways’ departure to Doha, gate A06 hosted an Air Serbia flight to Istanbul, and gate A09 was used by KLM’s service to Amsterdam.

I spotted AirSERBIA’s A330-243 YU-ARB departing to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and China Southern’s 787-9 Dreamliner to Guangzhou (CAN).

Boarding began at 12:00, twenty-five minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Despite the flight appearing almost completely full, the process moved surprisingly quickly. Passengers boarded via a jet bridge, and everyone entered through the forward door of the aircraft.

I stepped onboard at 12:20, and the announcement "boarding completed" was made at precisely 12:26. From my observations, the load factor was around 99%. The only empty seat I noticed was 30D, though there may have been a few others elsewhere.

I was seated in 31C near the rear of the aircraft. As someone who regularly flies Wizz Air between France and the Balkans to visit family, I was familiar with the product. At 1.86 meters tall, legroom was somewhat tight, but the aisle seat made the journey comfortable enough.

The passenger mix was diverse: mostly French and Serbian travelers (both tourists and diaspora), alongside a number of American tourists and a family traveling on Croatian passports.

The crew were pleasant and welcoming throughout. Marko and Mateja were frequently visible in the rear cabin, and another crew member, Cintia (apologies if misspelled), was equally friendly. I understood she was brought in as reinforcement, either specifically for this flight or for the Belgrade base.

Speaking of Wizz Air’s Belgrade base, I find it terrible that new regulations might force the airline to potentially cease its base operations as early as October 2026. Losing the base would be catastrophic for the direct and indirect local jobs at stake. I am a strong advocate for free market competition, and I eagerly await an official statement from Wizz Air confirming the retention of its Belgrade base.

Pushback took place at 12:28 and after a short taxi, we lined up for departure. We took off at 12:36.

Following takeoff, the aircraft climbed over Belgrade before turning south. A few light bumps were encountered during the initial climb, but nothing concerning. Our flight path took us over Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, and briefly Switzerland before approaching Paris from the south.

For most of the journey, the flight was completely uneventful until we began our descent into Paris. During the flight, I spent time looking through the photos on my phone, reminiscing about my holiday while listening to "Milion dolara" by Ana Nikolić and "Moje leto" by In Vivo.Turbulence became increasingly noticeable, and passengers around me started exchanging nervous glances. Upon touchdown, the entire cabin erupted into applause.

Looking outside, the reason for the bumps was clear: dark grey skies, strong winds, and heavy rain. Leaving the Serbian sunshine behind for grey Parisian skies after three weeks of holiday was quite depressing.

We arrived at 15:04, one minute ahead of schedule despite the slightly delayed departure.

My sister later informed me that this was actually the very first rainy day in Paris after five extreme heatwaves across France this summer - a relief for locals, but a cold shock for someone returning from vacation.

We disembarked on foot on the tarmac. Being seated near the rear, I exited quickly and passed passport control in roughly fifteen minutes. Since I had no checked luggage, I headed straight for the local city bus to Beauvais railway station, followed by a TER train to Paris Gare du Nord.

Earlier this summer, on July 25, I flew from Paris Orly to Skopje with easyJet. Comparing the two journeys highlights two very different travel experiences.

From a Parisian standpoint, Orly is unquestionably more convenient than Beauvais; I can reach Orly in just 40 minutes door-to-door from my home in central Paris. Beauvais remains a major hassle due to its location and infrastructure.

On the Balkan side, however, Belgrade Airport impressed me far more than Skopje. While Skopje serves its purpose, Belgrade feels like a true international gateway. Although my absolute favorite airport remains Paris Charles de Gaulle (specifically Terminals 1, 2E, and 2F), Belgrade has become my preferred entry point to the region. In the future, I will prioritize flying into Belgrade, even if it means taking a bus onward to Kosovo to see family, rather than landing directly in Skopje or Pristina. Belgrade’s ambition to consolidate its position as the primary aviation hub in the Western Balkans is fully justified.

While I dislike Beauvais, it would be untrue to say I will never fly from there again, especially when fares are as low as €33.45. Still, I would prefer paying a bit more in the future to depart from CDG or ORY.

I would also love to try Air Serbia one day. I rarely fly legacy carriers because they are usually significantly more expensive than low-cost airlines. Over the years, I have only flown flag carriers - such as Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus, Tunisair, Air Malta, British Airways, American Airlines, and Aegean Airlines - when they happened to be the cheapest option or offered the most convenient schedule.

On a final note for readers who have never visited: I strongly encourage everyone to travel to Belgrade and Serbia during the summer. The atmosphere, energy, and hospitality are wonderful.

I share a deep cultural connection with Serbia, and leaving always brings a wave of nostalgia. Even at 22 years old, I still feel a genuine sense of melancholy when returning to France. I wish this fantastic country all the very best, and I am already looking forward to my next trip back.

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