Wizz Air calls on Serbian authorities to urgently resolve dispute affecting Belgrade base

Wizz Air has called on Serbian authorities to “urgently resolve a regulatory dispute that threatens the airline’s base in Belgrade and to eliminate the uncertainty hanging over hundreds of employees and millions of Serbian passengers.”

In a statement, the airline notes that “the issue is increasingly simple: Does Serbia want international companies to invest, create jobs, and increase competition, or does it want to make doing business difficult for them?”

The airline states that it has invested hundreds of millions of euros in its operations in Serbia and transported over 14 million passengers, including 700,000 passengers across more than 3,000 flights this summer alone.

Wizz Air points out that it “supports more than 200 direct jobs and thousands more in tourism, hospitality, aviation, and the broader Serbian economy.”

However, it adds that “regulatory changes introduced this year threaten the viability of Wizz Air’s Belgrade base,” noting that this is “not just an issue for a single airline,” but also “a matter of jobs, competition, affordable travel, Serbia’s connectivity with Europe, and the confidence international investors have in the Serbian market.”

The European Commission is already reviewing whether the amendments to Serbia’s aviation regulations comply with the country’s obligations under the European Common Aviation Area Agreement, the company stated.

It is further stated that “the citizens of Serbia have also clearly demonstrated their stance,” as 25,000 of them signed a petition calling for the protection of Wizz Air’s base and operations in Belgrade.

Consequently, the company calls upon the Serbian authorities to “end the uncertainty and establish fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory rules that allow airlines to compete on an equal footing.”

The statement notes that Owain Jones, Wizz Air’s Chief Corporate Officer, has said the company has been investing in Serbia for over 15 years.

– We want to stay, grow, and continue investing. However, investments require fair rules and certainty. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal treatment and the opportunity to compete for Serbian passengers based on price, service, and our network of destinations – he said.

Jones stated that “Serbia should be attracting investment and improving connectivity, not jeopardizing both. The solution is simple: remove discriminatory restrictions and allow competition to function.”

– Wizz Air has made its choice: we choose Serbia. Now Serbia needs to decide whether it chooses competition, connectivity, and investment – he concluded.

Wizz Air concludes its statement by affirming that it “remains ready for a constructive dialogue with the Serbian authorities, the Civil Aviation Directorate and European institutions to reach an urgent solution,” believing that “Serbia can and should have a competitive air travel market where various airlines can grow side by side. Protecting one company from competition ultimately protects no one. Competition brings lower fares, more destinations, better services, and greater connectivity,” and “passengers in Serbia deserve that choice.”

Wizz Air

Owain Jones