Wizz Air: No progress in talks over Belgrade base dispute

Wizz Air has said it is still seeking to find a solution with local stakeholders over its operations in Belgrade after the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate updated its regulations earlier this year, which could lead to the closure of the low cost carrier’s base from November, the company has said, as reported by EX-YU Aviation News.

– We can’t comment on potential or upcoming litigation or other legal measures, but Wizz Air reserves and plans to exercise any and every right it has to reverse this decision. We remain committed to Serbia, to the nation, to offering great services to local and foreign passengers and also remain committed to finding a solution which is acceptable both for the local stakeholders and the airline. We will fight with all legal tools – the company points out in a statement for EX-YU Aviation News.

Wizz Air said it has contacted local stakeholders but has no positive developments to report.

– The CAD [Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate] can reverse this change and keep Serbia aligned with the rest of the European community. Our aim is to remain based in Belgrade, grow, secure the thousands of direct and indirect local jobs. By operating inbound flights only, many Serbians would lose their jobs. We've reached out to several local stakeholders but cannot report on any positive developments at this stage – Wizz Air said.

The carrier accused the Directorate of amending its regulations fifteen years after it opened its Belgrade base with the sole purpose of targeting Wizz Air.

– We’re the only foreign airline that wanted to invest in the Serbian market, because we believe in connecting the Serbian people to the rest of the world. For the last 16 years, any other airline could have done the same as us, but they chose not to. This rulebook change was specifically targeted against Wizz Air to try to limit competition for the domestic state-owned airline, plain and simple – the airline noted.

WIZZ AIR HUNGARY LTD OGRANAK U BEOGRADU

Direktorat civilnog vazduhoplovstva Srbije

Wizz Air

Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate

Wizz Air operations in Serbia