EX-YU Aviation News

PHOTOS: easyJet launches fourth Ljubljana route

2026-10-27T13:30:00.000+01:00

easyJet launched its fourth route from Ljubljana yesterday by introducing flights to London Luton, complementing its existing services from London Gatwick and Manchester, as well as seasonal operations to Edinburgh. The low cost airline planned to launch flights between Luton and Ljubljana in March 2020 but was unable to do so due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Operations will be maintained three to four times per week, depending on the month. easyJet will further expand its Ljubljana presence next April, when it introduces flights from Berlin.

Ljubljana Airport’s CEO, Juergen Deischl, said, “The UK is one of our strongest growth markets. More than 160.000 passengers travelled between Ljubljana and the UK in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 48% year on year. These figures matter. But what matters more is what connectivity makes possible: tourism, trade, investment and stronger links between people and businesses”.

Meanwhile, easyJet has completed its acquisition of the Ljubljana-based maintenance specialist Adria Tehnika following the resolution of a legal dispute that had delayed the transaction. The takeover, first announced in December 2025 and initially expected to be finalised in early 2026, had secured approval from Slovenia’s competition authority but was subsequently suspended by a court ruling linked to a dispute between the now former shareholders of Adria Tehnika’s parent company. The transaction was ultimately completed on October 12, clearing the way for the maintenance provider to become part of the easyJet Group. Adria Tehnika operates a five-bay maintenance facility at Ljubljana Airport and has performed more than 200 major maintenance checks on easyJet aircraft over the past decade. The acquisition forms part of the British low cost carrier’s strategy to bring more heavy aircraft maintenance operations in-house.

EX-YU Aviation News named best Balkan aviation publication

2026-10-27T12:00:00.000+01:00

EX-YU Aviation News has been named Best Commercial Aviation News Publication 2026 and has received the Interviews & Analysis Excellence Award 2026 at the Balkan Enterprise Awards. The winners were selected through a merit-based research and evaluation process.

Organised by EU Business News, the Balkan Enterprise Awards 2026, which will be held this November, celebrate excellence across the Balkans’ business landscape. The awards recognise organisations, media and individuals whose expertise, innovation and ambition contribute to the region’s continued growth.

The double recognition comes as EX-YU Aviation News marks its eighteenth year online. Established in 2008, the publication is on course to record its most visited year to date.

Zagreb Airport handles four-millionth passenger

2026-10-27T10:30:00.000+01:00

Zagreb Airport welcomed its four-millionth passenger of the year yesterday and anticipates for 2026 to become its busiest, which will be overtaken in 2027 as well. In a statement, the airport said, “Despite the challenging environment facing the aviation industry, including rising operational costs, geopolitical developments and capacity constraints, Zagreb Airport has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Over the past several years, passenger traffic has continued to grow significantly, exceeding 2019 levels by almost 40% and outperforming many European airports that have yet to achieve comparable growth rates”. It added, “At the same time, Zagreb Airport continues to benefit from one of its key competitive advantages: low seasonality. Unlike many leisure-focused destinations, Zagreb enjoys stable year-round traffic generated by a balanced mix of business, tourism, and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. This provides airlines with greater sustainability and supports consistent connectivity throughout the year. Building on the strong performance achieved to date, Zagreb Airport remains confident about the outlook for the remainder of the year and expects 2026 to become another record year in its history”.

Zagreb Airport handled 3.622.547 travellers during the first three quarters of the year, up 1.1% on the same period in 2025. As previously reported, Zagreb Airport faces a challenging winter season following a slowdown in growth.

Belgrade secures sixth year of long-haul network growth in 2027

2026-10-27T09:00:00.000+01:00

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is set to record its sixth consecutive year of long-haul network growth in 2027, with Air Serbia to introduce flights to Miami. Since 2022, the airport has gained nonstop services to Beijing, Chicago, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Toronto, all of which ranked among Belgrade’s ten busiest unserved long-haul destinations prior to their launch. With Miami, currently the busiest unserved US destination by passenger demand, due to be added next May, the most sought-after long-haul destinations from the Serbian capital will include Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Bangkok and Boston.

Nearly 20.000 passengers travelled between Belgrade and Miami on connecting, single-ticket itineraries in 2025, making Miami the Serbian capital’s busiest unserved US market. The figure represents point-to-point demand between the two cities, while Air Serbia will also seek to attract passengers from across its regional network. More than 120.000 passengers travelled indirectly between Miami and the wider market encompassing the Balkans and Greece, much of which falls within Air Serbia’s catchment area.

Miami is also a major hub for American Airlines, with Air Serbia to offer single-ticket itineraries with the carrier to onward destinations. South Florida’s tourism and cruise industries could provide an additional source of demand, alongside passengers visiting friends and relatives and business travellers.

Belgrade Airport's long-haul network evolution

Belgrade Airport offers incentives for the launch of new long-haul services, including discounts on passenger service charges for both departing and transfer passengers over a three-year period. New long-haul routes also benefit from a full discount on landing fees in their first year, followed by reductions of 70% in the second year and 50% in the third. To attract new long-haul carriers, the airport provides an additional one euro per departing passenger, plus a further two euros per passenger if the service is maintained throughout the winter season.

PHOTOS: Air Serbia expands Niš network

2026-10-26T13:30:00.000+01:00

Air Serbia introduced flights from Niš to both Vienna and Malta on Sunday, replacing Ryanair, which had recently vacated both routes following its exit from the Serbian market. Both routes will be maintained twice per week, with flights to the Austrian capital operated by the ATR72-600, while deploying an Airbus A319 to Malta. As a result, Air Serbia’s Niš network now counts seven year-round destinations, adding to its existing services to Belgrade, Cologne, Hahn, Istanbul and Ljubljana. The carrier also maintains seasonal summer flights to Athens and Tivat. Unlike its other Niš flights, Vienna and Malta are not operated as part of its Public Service Obligation contract.

Commenting on the new services, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “By commencing direct services from Niš to Vienna and Malta, we are continuing to develop Air Serbia’s network and offer passengers from southern Serbia additional travel opportunities. Both destinations are highly important for tourism and business travel, as well as for Serbian citizens living and working abroad. We believe the new routes will contribute to the further development of traffic from Niš Constantine the Great Airport and enable passengers from Niš and the wider region to travel more easily and affordably to important international destinations”.

PHOTOS: airBaltic launches latest Ljubljana route

2026-10-26T10:30:00.000+01:00

airBaltic commenced a new seasonal winter service between Ljubljana and Tenerife last Friday, marking its third route out of the Slovenian capital. The airline will maintain a weekly service between the two until March 19 with its Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

Commenting on the new service, Mantas Vrubliauskas, Vice President of Network Management at airBaltic, said, “With the introduction of direct flights between Ljubljana and Tenerife, we are expanding our network from Slovenia and complementing our existing services to Riga and Gran Canaria. The new route will make it easier for passengers to plan a winter getaway to one of the most popular sunshine destinations. Flights will operate at convenient times using our modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft, which we are also equipping with complimentary Starlink internet access”.

The CEO of Ljubljana Airport, Jurgen Deischl, noted, “We are delighted that airBaltic is continuing to expand its presence at Ljubljana Airport, further strengthening our successful partnership with the introduction of a third destination. Tenerife adds to the growing range of direct leisure destinations available from Ljubljana and responds to strong passenger demand for attractive year-round travel options. Working closely with airlines and tourism stakeholders, and through targeted incentive programmes, including nationally supported initiatives, we remain committed to developing a diverse and resilient route network that enhances Slovenia’s international accessibility and competitiveness. Our ambition is clear: to establish Ljubljana Airport as the airport of choice in the region, offering passengers excellent connectivity, a wide choice of destinations and a seamless travel experience”.

Ryanair to grow Zagreb operations in 2027 as Croatia’s busiest airline

2026-10-26T09:00:00.000+01:00

Ryanair plans to increase frequencies across a number of routes from Zagreb as it consolidates its position as Croatia’s busiest airline. During the 2027 summer season, the low cost carrier will expand its Zagreb operations to London Stansted, increasing from eleven weekly to twice daily, while an additional weekly service to Malta will bring frequencies on the route to twice daily as well. With an extra weekly flight, operations to Basel will increase to eight weekly, Palma de Mallorca to daily, Paris Beauvais and Dublin to six weekly, Paphos to five weekly, and Alicante, Corfu and Naples to four weekly.

The airline will also maintain its new Zagreb - Warsaw Modlin service, launching today, throughout the 2027 summer season. On the other hand, Eindhoven Airport will temporarily close all flight operations from February 1, 2027, to July 19, 2027, for major runway renovations and infrastructure upgrades. As a result, flights from Zagreb will be suspended during this period, with the first flight scheduled to resume on July 19.

Ryanair marked twenty years of operations in Croatia this month, with the airline now the busiest carrier in the country, having handled 3.6 million passengers in 2024, increasing to almost 4.1 million in 2025. Ryanair first began operations to Croatia back in 2006, with the launch of flights between London Stansted and Pula. In a statement, the airline said, “Since then, Ryanair has transformed Croatia’s air travel market by introducing low-fare competition to longstanding national flag carrier - Croatia Airlines, single-handedly driving post-pandemic traffic recovery, and delivering low cost, high-frequency connectivity to both the capital and coastal hubs”. It added, “The airline has invested over $900 million in Croatia, establishing major aircraft bases at Zagreb Airport, Zadar Airport, and Dubrovnik Airport, while also serving regional airports including Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, and Split. Ryanair is now the largest airline in Croatia with its operations supporting over 3.500 local jobs across the country, including over 270 high-paid, high-skill pilot and cabin crew jobs”.

Austrian Airlines scales back EX-YU operations for summer 2027

2026-10-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

Austrian Airlines has made significant cuts across its network for the upcoming 2027 summer season, removing between thirty and ninety weekly flights from Vienna, depending on the month. The reductions will also affect several routes to markets in the former Yugoslavia. As reported earlier this week, Zagreb will be the hardest hit, with the carrier set to discontinue services to the Croatian capital altogether.

Elsewhere in Croatia, Austrian Airlines will reduce frequencies to Dubrovnik, primarily during the peak summer months of July and August, when it plans to operate eleven weekly flights, down from fifteen and sixteen respectively. In September, frequencies will decline from nine to an average of seven weekly services. On the Vienna - Split route, one weekly flight will be removed in both June and September, bringing frequencies to eleven per week during those months, while operations in July and August will remain unchanged at twenty weekly flights.

Frequencies on the Vienna - Podgorica route will be reduced from sixteen to fourteen weekly in May and June. Operations in July and August will remain unchanged at seventeen weekly flights, while September will see a reduction of two weekly rotations, from sixteen to fourteen.

Austrian Airlines will maintain the same frequencies to Skopje during the upcoming summer season. However, the carrier currently plans to reduce seat capacity on the route by approximately 15% each month. This will primarily result from the increased deployment of smaller Embraer E195 aircraft in place of Airbus A320s and A321s. The Embraer jets were used on only a handful of Skopje flights during the 2026 summer season, while they are now scheduled on around 45% of operations.

The Austrian flag carrier has also postponed the resumption of its seasonal Vienna - Ohrid service, which was introduced this year. Flights were initially scheduled to be restored on May 16 but are now set to restart on June 1. Nevertheless, this will still represent an earlier start than in 2026, when operations commenced on June 21, following a one-month delay to the original launch date.

Further network adjustments remain possible at this early stage.

Croatia Airlines: Split - Munich via Zagreb

2026-10-25T08:59:00.000+01:00

Trip Report

I recently had an enjoyable experience flying with Croatia Airlines from Split to Munich via Zagreb, as part of a longer journey back to Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire itinerary was booked using miles, with all flights in business class. My journey would eventually take me across the Atlantic on Lufthansa flight LH428 from Munich to Charlotte, operated by one of the airline's Airbus A350-900 aircraft originally delivered to Philippine Airlines, featuring a rather unusual cabin configuration.

However, it was the two Croatia Airlines flights that made a positive impression, with friendly crews, comfortable aircraft and a pleasant onboard experience.

My journey began at Split Airport, where I boarded Croatia Airlines flight OU651 to Zagreb. The flight was operated by a brand new Airbus A220-100, part of the carrier's ongoing fleet modernisation programme. I had been looking forward to trying the aircraft, and it certainly did not disappoint. The cabin felt fresh and modern, while the aircraft itself was remarkably quiet and comfortable. Even on a relatively short domestic sector, the A220 made a noticeable difference to the overall flying experience.

The flight attendants were extremely friendly and welcoming. A small snack box was provided with a choice of drink, which was adequate for a flight of this length.

Wi Fi was available for a fee. Wi-fi for chat, advertised for 0 euros, actually only lasts 10 minutes, which is odd considering most airlines offer it for free.

After arriving in Zagreb, I continued my journey to Munich on flight OU4436. This sector offered a rather different experience, as it was operated by an ATR72 turboprop aircraft from ETF Airways on behalf of Croatia Airlines.

Having just flown on the modern A220, transferring to a turboprop was quite a contrast. However, it was an interesting experience in its own right, particularly because of the business class arrangement. Unlike the more conventional layouts I had encountered on previous flights, the business class section on this aircraft was situated towards the rear of the cabin. This was a first for me and certainly made the flight a little more memorable. The cabin is in excellent condition, and the seats are quite comfortable.

Once again, the cabin crew left an excellent impression. The flight attendant looking after the cabin was attentive, professional and genuinely friendly throughout the journey.

A small snack box was again served on this sector. I feel Croatia Airlines could perhaps try to do a bit more in the catering department on international flights. I flew on miles so can’t really complain but getting a box with nibbles for a full paying customer doesn’t look great. In my opinion they could avoid this by simply putting the snack onto a plate. It would give off a completely different impression. Interestingly, I found out that if you order any special meal, you actually get a proper looking meal on a plate, along with bread, butter etc. But if you don’t, you get the box.

The rest of the flight was uneventful.

Overall, the new A220-100 was very comfortable, modern and quiet. Both flights featured pleasant onboard service.

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

Air Serbia eyes ATR fleet expansion

2026-10-24T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia is considering expanding its ten-member ATR72-600 turboprop fleet as it continues to grow its regional network. Speaking to “Aviation Week”, the carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “The ATR fleet serves as the core feeder within what we call the wider Balkan region. We currently operate ten aircraft and are exploring opportunities for further growth. For some time, we considered ten aircraft sufficient, but with rising fuel prices, we are now looking at the possibility of expanding the fleet”. He added, “At the moment, the ATR fleet is relatively stable. However, if attractive opportunities arise on the market, we may add one, two or even three aircraft. Our main focus in terms of fleet development is currently on phasing out the Airbus A319s, replacing them with A320s and expanding our Embraer E195 fleet”.

Air Serbia launched its regional turboprop fleet renewal programme in 2022, gradually replacing its ATR72-200 and ATR72-500 aircraft with the newer and more fuel-efficient ATR72-600. The first ATR72-600 arrived in January 2022, followed by three additional units that year, three in 2023 and a further three in 2024. The process was completed in June 2024 with the arrival of the tenth ATR72-600. The transition enabled Air Serbia to standardise its regional fleet around a single aircraft variant. At the time of the programme’s completion, the average age of its turboprop fleet stood at approximately nine years, down from 22.

Commenting on long-term fleet requirements, Mr Marek said the airline will need to replace between ten and fifteen aircraft. “We strongly believe that, if we look solely at fleet replacements, we will need between ten and fifteen aircraft. However, we operate in a market that is growing significantly faster than the rest of Europe, with strong GDP growth across the region. Air travel demand typically grows at twice the rate of GDP. Even with conservative forecasts, we expect this market to grow by at least 5% annually over the next five to ten years, although growth is more likely to be closer to 8%. Based on our current fleet of 40 aircraft, it is relatively straightforward to calculate how many additional aircraft we will need each year simply to keep pace with demand”. Air Serbia has announced plans to add two A320s, which will replace two A319s, and one Embraer E195 to its fleet next year, while negotiations for a third A320 are in their final stages.

Croatia Airlines jet takes to skies five months after Split incident

2026-10-23T13:30:00.000+02:00

Croatia Airlines’ Airbus A220-300 aircraft, registered 9A-CAN, has performed its first flight in over five months following a serious incident at Split Airport in May. The aircraft was ferried from Split to Zagreb on Tuesday, October 20, having remained grounded since May 16. During the ferry flight, the aircraft maintained an altitude of just 14.000 feet and flew with its landing gear extended throughout the journey. It remains unclear when the aircraft will return to scheduled commercial operations.

The aircraft was involved in a runway excursion at Split Airport on May 16 while preparing to operate scheduled flight OU412 to Frankfurt. During its take-off roll, the jet veered to the left, prompting the crew to reject the take-off. The aircraft subsequently left the paved runway surface, coming to a stop with its nose landing gear and left main landing gear on the adjacent grass. There were 130 passengers and five crew members on board at the time, none of whom sustained injuries. The aircraft suffered damage to its landing gear and left engine.

Croatia's Air, Maritime and Railway Traffic Accidents Investigation Agency (AIN) classified the occurrence as a serious incident and launched an investigation, which remains ongoing. Preliminary findings have ruled out adverse weather and runway conditions as contributing factors, although the precise cause of the aircraft's deviation during take-off has yet to be established.

Hainan extends Belgrade Dreamliner deployment

2026-10-23T10:30:00.000+02:00

Hainan Airlines, which began deploying its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on select flights between Beijing and Belgrade during the previous winter season before extending its use throughout the summer, has further prolonged the aircraft’s deployment on the route. The B787-9 was initially scheduled to be replaced by the Airbus A330-300 from October 25, a type the carrier had utilised between the two cities for several years. However, the Dreamliner is now scheduled to remain in service throughout November, with the A330-300 tentatively set to return from December 1. Both aircraft types offer the same capacity of 292 seats and feature an identical onboard hard product. Further equipment adjustments remain possible.

Mixed winter start for EX-YU capital airports as Wizz maintains lead

2026-10-23T09:00:00.000+02:00

Two capital city airports in the former Yugoslavia are set to see scheduled seat capacity decline during the first full month of the 2026/27 winter season this November compared to the same month last year, continuing a trend observed over recent months. Wizz Air will remain the region’s largest carrier, followed by Air Serbia.

Belgrade Airport has the most available seats on scheduled flights in November, standing at 858.181. The figure represents an increase of 6.3% on 2025. Air Serbia will continue to maintain its position as the largest carrier with 435.759 seats, up a notable 15.2% or an additional 57.384. Wizz Air, as the second largest airline, will reduce seats by some 4.340, contracting by 2.5%. Zagreb follows as the second largest with 442.449 available seats on scheduled flights during the month. It represents an increase of 1.8% on the previous year, ending several months of decline. Croatia Airlines will decrease its capacity by 2.5% but will continue to be the airport’s largest carrier with 187.917 seats. It is ahead of Ryanair with 131.232 seats, up a noteworthy 15%.

Pristina Airport has 421.294 available seats, with capacity currently projected to grow 5.5%. Fuelling the growth will be Wizz Air, which opens a base in the city in mid-November. On the other hand, Skopje Airport will boast 319.000 seats, representing a decrease of 2.7% on 2025, ending months of strong double-digit growth. The decline comes amid the suspension of LOT Polish Airlines flights, the withdrawal of Lufthansa, as well as fewer services by Croatia Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Wizz Air, as the airport’s largest carrier, will continue to grow, with capacity projected to increase 7.7% during the month, standing at a total of 208.408 seats.

Podgorica Airport will continue to grow at record pace on the back of Wizz Air’s new base, with the airport registering 169.216 seats on scheduled flights during the month, up 47.7%. Wizz Air will be the largest carrier by adding 55.926 seats, representing growth of 285.4%, for a total capacity share of 44.6%. Sarajevo will have 124.933 scheduled seats in November, representing a notable drop of 31.7%. The bulk of the 58.107 seats it will shed during the month will come from the seasonal suspension of operations by Ryanair. As a result, Pegasus Airlines will now become the largest carrier, followed by Turkish Airlines.

Finally, Ljubljana has a total of 138.300 seats on scheduled services, up 10.3% on November 2025. Turkish Airlines, despite a 1.6% decrease in capacity, will become the airport’s largest airline with 19.926 seats, followed closely by Lufthansa with capacity growth of 27.4%, despite a 23.1% reduction in the number of operated flights.

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

Overall scheduled seat capacity in November across all former Yugoslav markets and airports combined: 2.648.285, up 4.9% 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.

Podgorica and Skopje plan air service

2026-10-22T13:30:00.000+02:00

Macedonia and Montenegro are working towards the introduction of nonstop flights between Skopje and Podgorica, with an agreement expected to be signed shortly. Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, said the matter was discussed during his recent official visit to Montenegro, where he met with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and senior government officials. "We also discussed air connectivity, and I expect an agreement to be signed very soon that will enable nonstop flights between Skopje and Podgorica", Mr Nikoloski said. He noted that the service would support tourism, business ties and closer cooperation between the two countries. The Montenegrin government also confirmed discussions on establishing air links between Skopje and both Podgorica and Tivat. However, no airline, launch date or planned frequencies have been disclosed.

The proposed service would restore nonstop connectivity between the two capitals. Montenegro Airlines previously operated flights between Skopje and Podgorica, having launched the route in June 2009. In 2010, the carrier maintained four weekly services, offering passengers onward connections through Podgorica to several European destinations. The route was suddenly discontinued in 2011 with immediate effect without prior warning after it was revealed the carrier owed Skopje Airport tens of thousands of euros.

TAV Macedonia, the operator of Skopje and Ohrid airports, is taking part at the Routes World conference in Frankfurt, which is currently taking place. It is being represented by Vladimir Gramatikov, TAV Macedonia Marketing and Revenue Director.

Sarajevo Airport seeks Egyptair flights

2026-10-22T10:30:00.000+02:00

Sarajevo Airport is working towards the introduction of scheduled flights between Sarajevo and Cairo, with plans to hold talks with Egyptair during the ongoing World Routes conference in Frankfurt. The airport's Acting General Manager, Dino Selimović, recently discussed the potential service with Egypt's Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Walid Ahmed Abdelfattah Haggag. “A nonstop Sarajevo - Cairo service would not only connect the two capitals but would also open up opportunities for better connectivity between Bosnia and Herzegovina and numerous destinations across Africa. At the same time, it would improve Sarajevo's accessibility for tourists, business travellers and other passengers from Egypt and the wider African region”, Mr Selimović said.

One of the main obstacles identified by the airport is Bosnia and Herzegovina's visa requirements for Egyptian citizens. Sarajevo Airport has proposed considering a temporary or seasonal visa waiver, or alternatively simplifying application procedures through digitalisation and faster processing. Sarajevo is already linked to Egypt through Air Cairo's seasonal charter flights to Hurghada. Furthermore, Petroleum Air Services operated seasonal charter flights between Cairo and Sarajevo in August 2025.

Sarajevo Airport is currently attending the Routes World 2026 conference in Frankfurt, where it is represented by Airport Services Manager Vedrana Vikić and Aviation Services Senior Associate Sead Čampara.

Austrian Airlines to discontinue Zagreb service

2026-10-22T09:00:00.000+02:00

Austrian Airlines is set to discontinue its long-standing Vienna – Zagreb service next year, with the carrier scheduling its final flight between the two capitals for January 10, 2027. The Star Alliance member has confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News that it will not resume operations during the 2027 summer season either. “We can confirm that our flights between Vienna and Zagreb will unfortunately not be continued for the summer period”, Austrian Airlines spokesperson, Andrea Hansal, told EX-YU Aviation News. The move will mark the airline’s departure from Zagreb after more than four decades of service, having launched flights to the Croatian capital in the mid-1980s, with interruptions during the war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Austrian Airlines has significantly reduced its presence on the Vienna - Zagreb route in recent years. Having previously maintained up to twelve weekly flights, the carrier scaled back operations to a single daily service during the 2026 summer season, representing a 37.5% reduction in frequencies and a 27% decline in available seat capacity compared to the previous year. The airline had already begun reducing its winter operations in late 2024, cutting frequencies and introducing smaller turboprop aircraft. The reductions have coincided with an expansion by fellow Star Alliance member Croatia Airlines, which doubled its Vienna frequencies to ten weekly flights during the summer of 2026.

Croatia Airlines will continue operating between Zagreb and Vienna during the upcoming winter season, which begins this Sunday, maintaining two daily flights in line with the previous winter. In contrast, Austrian Airlines will run daily services until the route is discontinued in January. Many of its flights will be operated by wet-leased Air Dolomiti equipment.

Austrian Airlines magazine ad for Zagreb flights, 1986

The development comes as Zagreb Airport seeks to attract additional airlines and expand its network. The airport is attending the Routes World conference, currently taking place in Frankfurt, where it is represented by its President and CEO, Huseyin Bahadır Bedir, and Route Development Manager, Yavuz Aytis.

EX-YU airlines and airports negotiate new routes

2026-10-21T13:30:00.000+02:00

Airlines and airports from across the former Yugoslavia are attending the annual Routes World conference, one of the aviation industry’s leading global route development events. Taking place in Frankfurt after being relocated from its originally planned host city of Riyadh, the conference brings together representatives of airlines, airports and tourism authorities from around the world. The 31st edition, which opened today and runs until Friday, has attracted more than 230 airlines and delegates from over 110 countries, with more than 11.000 face-to-face meetings scheduled.

Airlines from the region participating in the event include Air Montenegro, Air Serbia, Croatia Airlines and ETF Airways, while attending airports include Belgrade, Dubrovnik, Ljubljana, Pristina, Pula, Sarajevo, Zadar and Zagreb, as well as TAV Macedonia, which operates Skopje and Ohrid airports.

The event also features a conference programme with high-profile industry speakers, including Emirates President Sir Tim Clark and Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Váradi. Among those participating in panel discussions is Air Serbia’s Head of Network Planning and Scheduling, Bojan Arandjelović.

EX-YU Aviation News is attending the conference and will bring you the latest developments from the event.

Ryanair to discontinue Zadar route over taxes

2026-10-21T10:30:00.000+02:00

Ryanair will discontinue its seasonal flights between Bremen and Zadar in 2027 as part of its complete withdrawal from the German airport. The low cost carrier will cease all Bremen operations from April next year, citing high aviation taxes, airport charges and other operating costs. The move will result in the loss of approximately 500.000 annual seats at the German airport. Separately, Ryanair has announced substantial reductions to its Belgian winter schedule in response to higher aviation taxes, removing 20 routes and 1.1 million seats. However, its seasonal services from Charleroi to Dubrovnik and Sarajevo remain scheduled and on sale for summer 2027.

Lufthansa Group revises EX-YU network for summer 2027

2026-10-21T09:00:00.000+02:00

The Lufthansa Group is making a series of adjustments to its operations across the former Yugoslavia for the 2027 summer season, with changes to frequencies, aircraft deployment and operating carriers.

Air Dolomiti will take over flights between Frankfurt and Ljubljana on behalf of Lufthansa next summer, deploying Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft. The Italian carrier, which is wholly owned by Lufthansa Group, will operate the service under Lufthansa flight numbers. Services between Munich and Ljubljana, which are being suspended for the upcoming winter season, will resume next summer, although at reduced frequencies. Lufthansa has scheduled ten weekly flights, down from the fourteen initially planned and slightly below the eleven weekly rotations maintained for much of the peak 2026 summer season. One of the ten weekly flights will be operated by Air Dolomiti.

Swiss will also reduce its planned operations between Zurich and Ljubljana, scheduling two daily flights for a total of fourteen weekly services. This compares to the eighteen weekly rotations initially planned for summer 2027 and the sixteen weekly flights operated during the 2026 summer season. In contrast, Swiss will strengthen its seasonal Zurich - Niš service, increasing frequencies from two to three weekly flights and extending operations across the entire summer season. Previously flights were maintained for some two months during the peak of summer but will now run from the start on March 28.

Lufthansa mainline will return to the Frankfurt - Dubrovnik route next summer, taking over the daily service currently operated by its leisure subsidiary Discover Airlines. Lufthansa previously maintained flights between the two cities until 2023. The service will complement its existing seasonal operations between Munich and Dubrovnik.

The adjustments come as Lufthansa Group prepares its most extensive network expansion since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with ten new long-haul routes and additional frequencies across parts of its international network. The 2027 summer season runs from March 28 until October 30. Lufthansa Group member Eurowings will unveil its network changes for the upcoming summer at a later date.

First major inbound charter from Egypt lands in Belgrade

2026-10-20T10:30:00.000+02:00

Belgrade Airport welcomed the first large organised charter group from Egypt earlier this month, with 163 passengers arriving from Cairo on October 9. The flight was operated by Egyptian carrier Sky Vision Airlines using an Airbus A320 aircraft as part of a corporate incentive trip organised by Montenegro-based tour operator MTS, in cooperation with Balkan Infinity Travel and Egyptian travel agency Wastco Travel. The visitors spent five days and four nights in Serbia visitng Belgrade, Novi Sad and Zlatibor, as well as a corporate conference and gala dinner.

The charter was operated as part of a triangular service linking Cairo, Belgrade and Podgorica. On October 9, the aircraft operated Cairo - Belgrade - Podgorica - Cairo, while the return rotation on October 13 followed the Cairo - Podgorica - Belgrade - Cairo routing. The operation also carried 143 passengers from Belgrade and Podgorica to Cairo. According to the organisers, the project involved complex arrangements, particularly securing flight permits and visas for all 163 Egyptian visitors, with support from the Serbian Embassy in Cairo and relevant government institutions. MTS, which has operated charter flights between Cairo and Podgorica for several years, believes the successful programme could pave the way for further organised tourism and corporate travel from Egypt to Serbia.

Pula Airport eyes new routes and domestic links

2026-10-20T09:00:00.000+02:00

Pula Airport is seeking to strengthen its domestic air connectivity, particularly with Split and Dubrovnik, as part of Croatia's upcoming Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme. The airport's newly appointed acting Managing Director, Marko Ražem, said improving links between Croatia's coastal airports and the country's interior would be among his priorities, with a particular emphasis on developing sustainable year-round services. Speaking to the local “Glas Istre” newspaper, Mr Ražem noted there was considerable potential for domestic flights beyond seasonal tourist demand, including business, administrative and personal travel. He highlighted the lengthy road journey between Pula and southern Croatia as an opportunity for air transport to provide a more practical alternative.

The airport intends to present its case for improved domestic connectivity as Croatia prepares its next Public Service Obligation (PSO) tender, which has been delayed. The new four-year programme was originally due to commence at the end of March 2026, but the government failed to launch the tender on time, resulting in a temporary suspension of several domestic routes. The tender is now expected to be launched in early 2027, approximately nine months behind schedule.

The airport is also targeting a return to its pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels by 2028. Pula handled approximately 777.000 travellers in 2019, compared to 554.000 last year. Mr Ražem said the airport was pursuing a strategy focused on diversifying its airline partners rather than relying heavily on a single low cost carrier. Its preferred traffic mix would comprise approximately 30% to 35% low cost operations, 35% traditional airlines and 30% charter services. Prior to the pandemic, Pula was served by 36 airlines offering flights to 67 destinations. The airport believes it can restore a comparable level of connectivity by the end of 2028, provided its development plans are successfully implemented.

The airport is currently negotiating with several airlines, including low cost, legacy and charter operators, with some discussions reportedly at an advanced stage. Particular attention is being paid to reducing seasonality and encouraging services outside the peak summer months through cooperation with local tourism stakeholders and incentive measures. On the infrastructure front, new computed tomography security screening equipment is expected to become operational during the first half of December, allowing passengers to keep electronic devices and liquids in their hand luggage, subject to applicable security regulations. The longer-term development programme also envisages a phased modernisation of the passenger terminal.

Air Serbia schedules new routes, plans to add four jets in 2027

2026-10-20T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia has today finalised its schedules and put tickets on sale for its new routes from Belgrade in 2027. The development follows yesterday evening’s announcement of plans to launch services to Cluj, Chisinau, Helsinki, Miami, Menorca and Yerevan. The carrier also intends on adding four additional aircraft to its fleet in 2027. "Our selection of new destinations is neither a lottery nor a game of roulette. We have a five-year development plan backed by extensive data and market insights, which are regularly updated. The launch of new routes depends on whether we have sufficient capacity available. If a destination is deemed profitable, there is no reason not to introduce it. Next summer, we will also strengthen our existing network by increasing frequencies on a number of routes”, Mr Marek said. He added, “Belgrade has already established itself as a regional hub. Our presence across the former Yugoslavia and the wider Balkans is significant, with a substantial number of passengers connecting through Belgrade to reach more than 100 destinations".

Destination	Launch date
Yerevan	28.03.2027
Helsinki	01.04.2027
Miami	20.05.2027
Cluj	31.05.2027
Chisinau	03.06.2027
Menorca	16.06.2027

Click on link for flight details

Flights to the Armenian capital will initially operate three times per week, increasing to four from mid-June. Air Serbia will compete directly with FlyOne Armenia, which is launching its own service between the two capitals this December. Together, the carriers will offer seven weekly departures in each direction on a city pair that has never previously had a scheduled air link. Menorca will become Air Serbia’s ninth destination in Spain, further expanding its presence in the country following the introduction of three new routes this year alone. Miami will mark the sixth consecutive year in which Air Serbia has added a new destination to its long-haul network. The airline will serve Florida’s largest city twice per week.

Chisinau, with four weekly rotations, will join the carrier’s network six years after it originally planned to introduce flights to the Moldovan capital. The route was initially due to launch in 2020 but was shelved following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Helsinki, with three weekly flights, will return to Air Serbia’s network following a seven-year absence. The Finnish capital was last served in March 2020, when flights were suspended at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequently never reinstated. Having launched in June 2019, the original service lasted less than ten months. Cluj, in northwestern Romania and the country’s second-largest city by population, will be served four times per week and will become Air Serbia’s second destination in the country, complementing its existing Bucharest operations. Cluj Airport is a base for Wizz Air and is also served by Swiss, LOT Polish Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, among legacy carriers. Romania's national airline TAROM also connects the city with Bucharest.

Commenting on Air Serbia's fleet expansion, Mr Marek noted, “Following the addition of three Airbus A320s and one Embraer E195 this year, we have now secured two further A320s and another Embraer for delivery in 2027. We are also in the final stages of negotiations for an additional Airbus aircraft. Altogether, we expect to welcome four more aircraft next year”. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, one of the incoming jets is expected to feature a special centenary livery. The CEO concluded, “There is no doubt that 2026 will be our most successful year to date. Passenger numbers have increased by 6% so far, while revenue is also growing. The outlook for October, November and December remains very positive”.

Air Serbia launching six new routes including Miami

2026-10-19T19:39:50.471+02:00

Air Serbia will introduce six new routes next summer season including flights to its latest long-haul destination - Miami. The carrier's CEO, Jiri Marek, announced this evening on the "RTS" public broadcaster that Air Serbia will add Yerevan in late March, Helsinki from April, two weekly flights to Miami from May, Cluj in Romania in late May, as well as Chisinau in Moldova and Menorca in Spain in June. As a result, the airline will now serve nine destinations in Spain and three in the United States, while entering the Moldovan market for the first time. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, October 20.

Air Serbia has been considering nonstop flights between Belgrade and Miami since 2023. Miami could benefit from several sources of demand, including the sizeable diaspora from the former Yugoslavia in Florida and the wider southeastern United States. Miami's position as a major gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean would also provide opportunities for connecting traffic, particularly through an existing interline agreement with American Airlines, which operates an extensive network from its Miami hub. The city is also one of the world's leading cruise ports, offering potential demand from passengers travelling from Southeast Europe to join Caribbean cruises.

Air Serbia launched flights between Belgrade and Helsinki on June 1, 2019, marking its entry into the Finnish market. The route initially operated three times per week using Airbus A319 aircraft and was intended to cater to both point-to-point demand and connecting passengers travelling between Finland and Southeast Europe via Belgrade. However, services were suspended in March 2020 following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and have not resumed since.

The Serbian carrier first announced plans to introduce nonstop flights between Belgrade and Chisinau in February 2020, initially scheduling four weekly services to the Moldovan capital as part of a wider network expansion that summer. However, the launch was cancelled following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions on international travel. Although the route subsequently appeared in the airline's future schedules, services never materialised.

The Serbian airline has previously confirmed the launch of Yerevan flights. It will face direct competition from FlyOne Armenia, which plans to introduce operations between the two capitals this December. FlyOne recently extended its initial schedule past the winter season into next summer. Air Serbia will now serve three capitals in the Caucuses with Yerevan complementing Tbilisi and Baku.

Menorca will become Air Serbia’s ninth destination in Spain. The Spanish market has been one of the airline’s best performers this year. The second largest of Spain’s Balearic islands will join Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Seville and Tenerife. On the other hand, Cluj becomes Air Serbia’s second destination in Romania after Bucharest.

Belgrade Airport registers busiest September

2026-10-19T18:06:24.271+02:00

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport handled 962.032 passengers in September, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.3%. The number of commercial aircraft movements increased by 3.5%. During first three quarters, Belgrade Airport welcomed 7.278.044 passengers, representing growth of 7%, or 477.610 additional travellers, compared with the same period last year. In a statement, airport operator VINCI, said, “Belgrade Airport confirmed its dynamism and role as a regional hub, with strong performance on routes to Western Europe”.

Belgrade’s largest airlines by scheduled seat capacity, September 2026

FlyOne Armenia boosts Belgrade service

2026-10-19T13:30:00.000+02:00

Low cost carrier FlyOne Armenia will increase frequencies between Belgrade and Yerevan during the 2027 summer season. The service, which is scheduled to launch on December 15 with two weekly flights, will increase to three weekly from April 1, with the introduction of an additional Thursday rotation complementing the existing Tuesday and Friday services. The airline put tickets on sale for the upcoming summer season late last week. The schedule for this winter can be found here.