Belgrade Airport handles over a million passengers in August
Sep 17, 2026 · byEX-YU Aviation News
Topic · airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
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Latest Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport articles
Air Serbia increases SAF use, warns of high costs
Air Serbia sees sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as an important element of the aviation industry’s decarbonisation efforts but says its price and limited availability remain major obstacles to wider adoption. Speaking at the OIE Serbia conference, the carrier’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Bosko Rupić, said SAF currently accounts for around 1.7% of the airline’s fuel use, up from approximately 0.67% in 2024. Although Serbia is not a member of the European Union, a significant proportion of Air Serbia’s operations involve EU markets, where regulations are gradually increasing the required share of SAF. Under current targets, the proportion will rise from 2% to 6% by 2030 and eventually reach 70% by 2050. SAF supplies are currently not available at Belgrade Airport. Mr Rupić noted that SAF is between two and three times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. “Fuel accounts for between 20% and 30% of an airline’s total costs”, Mr Rupić said, adding that carriers generally operate with margins of only 3% to 4%. He argued that the financial burden of aviation’s decarbonisation cannot be placed solely on airlines or passed on entirely to passengers through higher ticket prices. According to Mr Rupić, greater involvement from governments and the wider public sector will be necessary to support the transition and offset some of the additional costs. Fleet modernisation is another important part of Air Serbia’s efforts to reduce emissions. Mr Rupić pointed to the usage of newer-generation aircraft, including the Airbus A220, through a wet-lease arrangement, which offer lower fuel consumption and consequently reduced carbon emissions. New-generation aircraft can consume between 15% and 20% less fuel than the equipment they replace. EX-YU Aviation News
Air Serbianeutral
Sep 16, 2026 · byEX-YU Aviation News
EU, Serbia to hold key talks over rules threatening Wizz Air base
The European Commission will discuss Serbia’s contentious changes to its aviation regulations with the Serbian authorities at a meeting of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee in Brussels on September 22 and 23, in talks that could prove decisive in determining whether the amendments comply with the country’s obligations under the ECAA Agreement. The outcome could have major implications for Wizz Air, which has warned that the new rules could force it to close its Belgrade base. A European Commission official confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News that the matter will be raised directly with Serbia during the meeting. “The Joint Committee takes place in Brussels on 22 and 23 September. It will bring together all ECAA Parties, but the Commission services will also have bilateral meetings with each of the Western Balkan partners. The Commission will take the opportunity to discuss the matter with Serbian authorities at the Joint Committee”, the official said. The Joint Committee is responsible for administering the ECAA Agreement and ensuring its proper implementation. Under the Agreement, where new legislation is introduced, the parties can consult on its implications through the Joint Committee, which can determine whether the legislation is in accordance with the Agreement or take other steps aimed at safeguarding its functioning. The upcoming talks are therefore expected to represent a key stage in the Commission’s assessment of the Serbian regulatory changes. The European Commission began examining the matter earlier this year following a complaint from Wizz Air. At the time, Brussels told EX-YU Aviation News that it was in contact with the Serbian authorities “with a view to checking the compatibility of this Regulation with Serbia’s obligations under the European Common Aviation Area Agreement”. The dispute centres on amendments to Serbia’s Regulation on Issuing Approvals to Foreign Air Carriers for the Operation of International Commercial Air Services, adopted by the Civil Aviation Directorate earlier this year. Under the amended provisions, approvals granted to EU airlines exercising third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights are limited to flights which begin and end within the European Union. Wizz Air argues this effectively prevents a foreign EU carrier from beginning its rotations in Serbia and therefore makes its current Belgrade base model unworkable. Wizz Air currently stations four aircraft in the Serbian capital and has maintained a base in Belgrade since 2011. It has warned that unless a solution is reached, the based aircraft could be relocated from Serbia with the start of the 2026/27 winter season, beggining on October 25. The airline has stressed that it would not withdraw from Belgrade altogether but would instead attempt to retain as many routes as possible using aircraft based elsewhere, which would likely result in fewer flights and frequencies. Wizz Air is expected to make a final decision on the future of the base by the end of September, falling shortly after the Brussels meeting. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the Serbian Ministry for Construction, Traponsport and Infrastructure, said, “There is no intention to “force” Wizz Air out of Serbia or to restrict its, or any other EU carrier’s, right to operate services, either in terms of routes or frequencies. The issue concerns the so-called establishment of EU air carriers in Serbia, specifically at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Niš Constantine the Great Airport and Morava Airport in Kraljevo, as this is contrary to the Multilateral Agreement on the Establishment of a European Common Aviation Area (ECAA Agreement). Under the Agreement, Serbia is currently in the First Transitional Period, during which the standard arrangement is for foreign air carriers to commence their flights at a point outside Serbia and terminate them at a point within Serbia. Ultimately, the adoption of the new regulation removes the more favourable treatment previously afforded to one carrier compared to all others”. EX-YU Aviation News
Wizz Airneutral
Sep 11, 2026 · byEX-YU Aviation News
Serbia and XiamenAir ink strategic partnership, plan flights
XiamenAir and the Serbian government have signed a strategic cooperation agreement this week, with the two sides set to intensify discussions over the potential launch of flights between China and Serbia. The agreement comes two years after the Chinese carrier first began examining the feasibility of serving Belgrade, with previous talks having included a detailed assessment of passenger and cargo flows at Belgrade Airport. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarović signed the memorandum with XiamenAir General Manager Xie Bing in Xiamen. Although the agreement covers a broad range of areas, including aviation, trade, agriculture and tourism, Ms Mesarović confirmed that air services will form part of the next stage of cooperation. She noted that Serbia had been in talks with XiamenAir for an extended period, adding, “We will also discuss establishing flights to Serbia”. The memorandum foresees broader cooperation between Serbia and XiamenAir. Serbian food and beverage products are already being offered by the carrier, with Serbia seeking to expand their presence across the airline’s network. The carrier has established its first overseas “XiamenAir Farm” project in Serbia, focused on raspberries and other agricultural products. XiamenAir said this week that Serbian raspberry juice will subsequently be offered to passengers on its flights. Chinese media have also reported that Serbian wine, honey and plum brandy have featured as part of the airline’s promotion of Serbian products. The agreement was signed during the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which is being held in Xiamen this week. The development comes exactly a year after Belgrade and Xiamen formally became sister cities. XiamenAir, which is part of the China Southern Air Holding group, has a fleet of 211 aircraft and operates more than 400 domestic and international routes. Its long-haul fleet includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which the carrier deploys on its European network. XiamenAir currently maintains nonstop services from its Xiamen base to several European cities, including Amsterdam, Paris and London. A XiamenAir delegation travelled to Serbia this April, holding discussions with the Ministry of Economy, Chinese business representatives and agricultural companies. EX-YU Aviation News
XiamenAirneutral
Sep 10, 2026 · byEX-YU Aviation News
TRIP REPORT: TAROM, Belgrade - Bucharest
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 EX-YU Aviation News
TAROMneutral
Sep 6, 2026 · byEX-YU Aviation News
TAROM Discontinues Bucharest to Belgrade Route
Romanian flag carrier TAROM has announced that it will permanently cease to operate flights between its base at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) and Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG). The route was set to be suspended over the winter but will now be permanently dropped by TAROM, after 16 years of flights. TAROM’s codesharing […] The post TAROM Discontinues Bucharest to Belgrade Route appeared first on Travel Radar - Aviation News .
Sep 3, 2026 · byTravel Radar📰
Air Serbia adds A320 to growing fleet
Air Serbia has expanded its fleet with the addition of an Airbus A320, registered YU-APV, as the carrier continues to increase capacity and support the growth of its route network. The 180-seat aircraft, built in 2008, arrived at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport after undergoing a full repaint in the Netherlands into Air Serbia’s latest livery. […] The post Air Serbia adds A320 to growing fleet appeared first on AviTrader Aviation News .
Jun 26, 2026 · byAviTrader