SkyWork to Niš

SkyWork plans Bern - Niš flights

SkyWork Airlines will begin flights to Niš Constantine the Great Airport in the summer of 2012 if a common ground is found between the airport and the Swiss based airline, its Chief Commercial Officer says. Niš Airport, which has so far this year seen a 30% increase in passenger numbers, is served by a daily flight to Podgorica operated by Montenegro Airlines. The service is subsidised by the local authorities. Similarly, future SkyWork flights would also be subsidised with negations under way between the two sides. Last year, the Italian low cost airline Wind Jet suspended services to Serbia’s third largest city after the money used to subsidise the flights dried up. Several years ago, Jat Airways operated two weekly flights from Niš to Zurich with a Boeing 737-300. However, the airline suspended the route citing poor passenger figures.

SkyWork recently launched two weekly flights from Bern to Belgrade. According to its Chief Commercial Officer, Rolf Hartleb, the new route is a hit. “Ticket sales are going extremely well. From the start of next year we will progressively increase our frequencies. Flights will operate every other day after which daily flights will be introduced”, Hartleb states. Since the start of 2011, Jat Airways and Swiss International Airlines have carried over 200.000 passengers both ways between Belgrade and Zurich.

SkyWork Airlines operates a fleet of five regional aircraft including the Dash 8 and Dornier 328. The airline’s fleet is set to expand next year. The airline has already announced that it will be launching seasonal summer flights from Bern to Split on May 5, 2012. By the end of October Niš Airport handled 20.748 passengers.