Summary
- Air Serbia plans to open latest long-haul routes to the US, China, and South Korea.
- The expansion requires more widebody aircraft, with a 3rd A330 expected by 2024.
- Plans for future destinations include Tokyo and potentially Toronto.
Air Serbia is looking for to expand its network this 12 months, with plans to focus on long-haul destinations in america, South Korea, and China, as announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in line with a report by EX-YU Aviation.
Expanding its long-haul network
In keeping with the report, the flag carrier of Serbia plans to open latest direct routes between Belgrade (BEG) and Miami (MIA), Seoul (ICN), Shanghai (PVG), and Guangzhou (CAN). During a press conference seen by EX-YU Aviation, Serbia’sSerbia’s President Vucic said:
“During this 12 months, we may have three scheduled routes to China. Along with Tianjin, which is near Beijing, they include Guangzhou and Shanghai. We will even have three routes to america. We have already got Latest York and Chicago, and we will even add flights to Miami. We’re reviewing the potential of a brand new quick service to Seoul too.”
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Easy Flying
Air Serbia presently serves greater than 70 destinations spanning Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Asia, and Africa. Currently, the airline operates direct flights to 2 long-range destinations within the US, including Chicago (ORD) and Latest York (JFK). Regarding China, the airline offers direct flights to Tianjin (TSN). Airbus A330s are deployed on all of those routes, as per Flightradar24.com.
- The flight to JFK, coded as JU 500, operates thrice per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
- The flight to ORD, coded as JU 506, runs twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- The flight to TSN, coded as JU 702, operates once per week on Mondays.
Easy Flying has asked Air Serbia for a comment.
More widebodies are needed
Air Serbia’s plans to expand its long-haul network are indeed ambitious, given the airline’s limited widebody fleet. Expanding the network would require a rise in widebody aircraft. In keeping with Planespotters.net, the airline currently operates a fleet of 24 aircraft at a mean age of 14 years old, comprising 10 Airbus A319s, seven ATR 72s, five Airbus A320s, and two Airbus A330 widebodies.
Photo: Kagan Kaya | Shutterstock
To realize its network growth, plans for acquiring additional widebody aircraft are already in place. Moving into 2024, the flag carrier of Serbia is expecting to take delivery of a 3rd Airbus A330-200, nearly a 12 months behind schedule. The airline initially sought so as to add the jet to its fleet in the course of the summer of 2023.
Nevertheless, Air Serbia’s lessor reportedly selected to scrap the aircraft amid supply chain issues, requiring the carrier to hunt an alternative choice to boost long-haul capability.
![Air Serbia A330 3 2](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/air-serbia-a330-3-2.jpg)
Air Serbia Eyes China Flights With Addition Of two Widebody Airbus A330s
Air Serbia is ready to expand its widebody fleet, potentially deploying it on routes to China.
Along with already planned destinations in China and the US, the airline is eyeing destinations within the Far East, comparable to Tokyo (HND), for a possible launch in the long run, in line with the EX-YU Aviation report. The airline also previously mentioned a possible inclusion of Toronto (YYZ) as a 3rd destination in North America.
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