Air Serbia’s CEO is as soon as once more happening file concerning the subsequent locations in North America that the airline is contemplating, and I’m notably pleased concerning the frontrunner…
Air Serbia plans North America enlargement in close to future
Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek did an interview with Enterprise Focus, the place he was requested concerning the provider’s development plans in North America. For context, Air Serbia’s lengthy haul fleet at present consists of 4 Airbus A330s, and lengthy haul locations embrace Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), Guangzhou (CAN), and Shanghai (PVG).
Right here was his reply about the place in North America Air Serbia is seeking to broaden to subsequent:
Traditionally, our US flights have been pushed by diaspora demand from the previous Yugoslavia. Publish-COVID, they’ve additionally grown in recognition with vacationers from each side. Now, we’re increasing connectivity via a codeshare with JetBlue and cooperation with American Airways, extending our community past New York and Chicago to the remainder of the US.
Our subsequent logical US vacation spot is Miami. In North America, we’re additionally contemplating Toronto, although its excessive seasonality and diaspora-driven demand make it much less secure than JFK or Chicago, which have moreover additionally stronger cargo potential as one other differentiating issue.
This isn’t the primary time the corporate has floated the idea of service to Miami (MIA) or Toronto (YYZ). There was discuss of Toronto service relationship again to 2018 (when Pearson Airport officers claimed the events had been in “superior talks”), whereas Miami was talked about in 2024, when the corporate claimed it could launch these flights in 2025.
As somebody who lives in Miami, I’d in fact be delighted to see Air Serbia fly right here, since extra European hyperlinks are at all times helpful. After Chicago and New York (that are already served), Miami has the subsequent highest demand in the USA for Belgrade flights. Miami can be nice by way of seasonality, because it has robust demand in winter.
For that matter, Air Serbia is uniquely positioned, because it has entry to each the European Union and Russia. South Florida has a major Russian inhabitants, so I’m positive Air Serbia would get plenty of enterprise from that.
Any enlargement would require extra plane, or a minimum of extra availability from current plane, so it’s anybody’s guess when this service really launches. We all know that Air Serbia is seeking to double its A330 fleet within the coming years, to eight plane.
Air Serbia deserves credit score for its spectacular success
Air Serbia is authorities owned, which all too usually appears to be a curse for airways, and a recipe for failure. Heck, needless to say in 2013, Etihad purchased a 49% stake in Air Serbia, however then deserted the airline, leaving the federal government in full management.
I’ve gotta say, Air Serbia’s administration has finished an outstanding job main the airline. Air Serbia has achieved a small revenue in each 2023 and 2024. Most significantly for a authorities owned airline, it has created jobs and elevated connectivity to the nation, which is the actual worth in a nationwide airline.
Now, admittedly one wonders about a number of the math when the federal government is the primary shareholder, however I’d argue the airline has been going about issues precisely proper. Air Serbia has been making the most of its advantageous geography to develop slowly and steadily.
In contrast to so many different authorities owned airways, the airline hasn’t been run based mostly on status, or based mostly on flying the latest planes. Fairly on the contrary, all of Serbia’s A330s are used, and beforehand flew for different airways.
Air Serbia additionally advantages from the present Russia state of affairs, since Air Serbia has entry to each the European Union and Russia. Once you mix that with the final affordability of Serbia (and subsequently low working prices), there’s no motive the airline can’t proceed to develop and achieve success, and develop into on the most important gamers in Jap Europe.
Backside line
Air Serbia is taking a look at some new locations in North America. Miami appears to be on the prime of the record, whereas Toronto continues to be into consideration, although it doesn’t sound like a lot progress has been made there. Air Serbia has been rising slowly however steadily, so hopefully we see this service launch within the close to future.
What do you make of Air Serbia planning on launching Miami flights, and possibly Toronto flights?
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