Air Serbia: Optimization instead of canceling flights, we will try to preserve the market

General Manager of Commercial Affairs and Strategy at Air Serbia, Bosko Rupic, stated today that there is not a single airline in the world that is not feeling the effects of the current crisis, but that the company will try to remain present in all the markets in which it operates.

Rupic emphasized that Air Serbia has operated profitably in recent years, which is why it has the resources to absorb the crisis affecting the entire aviation industry over a longer period.

- The market is facing various situations. Some companies in the United States have even declared bankruptcy these days. We have operated profitably in recent years, and we have enough backing to withstand these shocks for a longer time and absorb the situation the entire industry is currently facing. Our plan is to maintain operations, and our strategy is to remain present in all the markets where we currently operate - he said during an appearance on TV Prva.

He stated that if the crisis continues, the Serbian national airline will try to optimize flights rather than cancel them.

- Whether there will be optimization in some areas, it will be aimed more at avoiding destination cancellations and instead optimizing frequencies. For example, where we currently fly 14 times per week, twice daily, we may reduce that from 14 to perhaps 11 flights. Where we fly 12 times weekly, we may reduce it to 9 or 10 - Rupic explained.

He pointed out that despite the crisis and rising prices, demand for services is not declining.

- What may be paradoxical in this situation is that we see demand not falling. Our load factor for March and April was over 80%, which is quite high for this time of year and shows that people are still traveling. Passengers are still here and, despite the crisis being at our doorstep and already being felt to some extent, they still have the need to travel - Rupic said.

According to him, Air Serbia’s plan to introduce ten new destinations this year has not been disrupted by the current crisis.

Rupic also recalled that on May 3, Air Serbia established a direct route between Serbia and Azerbaijan for the first time and added that the new service is part of the company’s strategic expansion into the Caucasus region.

- Last year we launched flights to Tbilisi for the first time, with three weekly flights. Those flights have developed quite well, so this summer we increased the number of flights from three to four. Naturally, building on Georgia, there is also Azerbaijan, and from May 3 we started direct flights to Baku, twice a week for now - he said.

Air Serbia ad Beograd

Air Serbia

Bosko Rupic

kerosene crisis

flight cancellations

flight optimization