No license for Malev

Budapest delayed...until further notice

Malev will not gain a license to commence services to Belgrade despite its desires for many years. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate rejected the Hungarian national carrier, yet again, due to the impact it could have on the struggling Serbian carrier Jat Airways. Malev is a major threat to Jat due to the fact that it could take over many Serbian passengers travelling to Western Europe as well as further abroad. Realising the success Malev could have on this line, earlier this year it requested double daily flights from Budapest to Belgrade for the 2009 summer season. However it will have wait another year as Jat’s redevelopment is set to begin in February 2009 and the government does not wish to create further pressure for the airline. This also puts in doubt other airlines that requested licenses in order to commence flights to Belgrade – low-cost Wizz Air and Nikki. However there is some good news for the Serbian public. Croatia and Serbia are negotiating a free sky agreement which could see regular services restart between the two countries. Jat Airways operated seasonal flights for the first time this year, after 16 years, to Pula however the new agreement could also see Croatia Airlines in Belgrade. The Serbian Aviation Directorate is also negotiating with China for direct flights to recommence between the two countries after 8 years.

On Saturday Nebojša Starčević, former Jat CEO, was named as the head of the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate (that issues licenses to foreign airlines) starting January 2009.