Air Serbia is actively exploring opportunities to expand its mid-haul network, aligning with the airline’s wider strategic growth ambitions. In an interview with the “K1” network, Boško Rupić, General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, revealed that the carrier is planning further expansion beyond Europe.
“In addition to long-haul destinations, we’re also looking at increasing our presence in the Caucasus and the Middle East,” Rupić said. When asked why airlines have yet to establish year-round services to popular leisure destinations such as the Canary Islands, he hinted that developments may be underway. “It’s not true that no one is considering it—someone is. I just can’t reveal more at this stage. But we are certainly looking at destinations of that type,” he added.
Next month, Air Serbia will enter the Caucasus market with the launch of direct flights between Belgrade and Tbilisi. In contrast, the airline currently lacks a direct presence in the Middle East, having suspended its Tel Aviv service in 2023 due to regional conflict. Before the pandemic, Air Serbia operated flights to Beirut and had also planned to launch a route to Amman, though that service never came to fruition.
“We are being careful not to grow beyond our capabilities,” Rupić explained. “Over the past year, our focus has been on maintaining reliable operations and enhancing customer satisfaction.”
Rupić emphasized that every new route undergoes a rigorous evaluation process. “Each destination is supported by a business case that analyzes cost structures and revenue potential. Based on that data, we determine whether it’s viable to launch a route and estimate the timeframe for achieving positive results,” he said. While acknowledging that not all routes are profitable from the outset, he stressed that decisions are never made lightly.
“We consider a wide range of factors—such as the presence of diaspora communities, tourism demand, visa requirements (especially relevant for leisure travelers), as well as point-to-point and transfer traffic potential,” he concluded.
Source: exyuaviation.com
