Wizz Air to retain Belgrade base – Serbia delays implementation of new rules for foreign airlines

Wizz Air will retain its Belgrade base throughout the upcoming 2026/27 winter season after the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate officially postponed the implementation of new rules governing foreign carriers’ operations by six months at the request of the country’s Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.

In the amended Rulebook, the Directorate states that, for services operated by foreign air carriers which, on the date the Rulebook enters into force, begin and end in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the provision of Article 3(4) of this Rulebook shall apply to applications for approval relating to traffic periods beginning on or after March 28, 2027. The revised implementation date coincides with the start of the 2027 summer season.

The amendment was published in Serbia’s Official Gazette yesterday and enters into force today, EX-YU Aviation News reports.

The contentious Article 3(4) states that, where an international agreement permits the airlines of the contracting parties to operate scheduled public air services using third- and fourth-freedom traffic rights, approval shall be issued for flights that begin and end in the territory of the state that authorized the foreign air carrier, or within the territory of the European Union where the carrier concerned is an EU air carrier.

Its implementation would prevent Wizz Air from having its four aircraft stationed in Belgrade.

The low-cost airline is expected to issue a statement on the matter shortly. It will still face the same measures next year, unless further changes or delays are applied.

As reported yesterday, the development comes several days after the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Joint Committee met in Brussels last Tuesday and Wednesday, with the dispute over Wizz Air’s Belgrade base understood to have been discussed during the gathering. The issue was also addressed in bilateral talks between representatives of the European Commission and Serbia on the sidelines of the meeting.

WIZZ AIR HUNGARY LTD OGRANAK U BEOGRADU

Direktorat civilnog vazduhoplovstva Srbije

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Wizz Air

Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate

Ministry of Construction Transport and Infrastructure

Belgrade base