Ryanair planning expansion in Serbia – Air Serbia concerned over arrival of low cost airliners

Ryanair has held talks with the Serbian government over plans to expand its operations in the country, EX-YU Aviation News reports.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said recently that Ryanair representatives had given them suggestions on how they could expand and how they could further improve their partnership at a meeting.

– We are currently working on it but we will also continue supporting our national carrier – Branbic said, as the portal reports.

The announcement comes just several weeks after the Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlovic, noted that Belgrade Airport should see more low cost flights following its takeover by Vinci Airports in late September, EX-YU Aviation News writes.

Ryanair launched operations to Serbia in 2016 by introducing flights to Nis Constantine the Great Airport, from which it now maintains services to five destinations.

Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, David O'Brien, said last year that the company believed that the Serbian market has great potential.

As EX-YU Aviation News writes, the Serbian government has previously said that there is interest from carriers to set up a base in Nis.

– The airport lacks the capacity to act as a base, however, this is set to change with the completion of several ongoing projects. There is interest from airlines to establish a base but we have to finish a few things first. We are hopeful that the planned investments will be completed – the government said, the portal adds.

Air Serbia recently warned that a number of low cost airlines would enter its home market in the near future and added that it weighed heavily on their thoughts in terms of their future plans, EX-YU Aviation News writes.

RYANAIR Ireland

Vlada Republike Srbije

A.D. Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd

Aerodrom Konstantin Veliki Niš

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Belgrade airport doo Beograd

Air Serbia ad Beograd

Ryanair

Belgrade Airport

Constantine the Great Airport

Nis Airport

Air Serbia

Ana Brnabic

Zorana Mihajlovic

David O Brien

low cost airliners