Summer 2009

The 2009 summer season begins on Sunday, March 29 and lasts until the end of October. Many airlines have already published their preliminary schedules. Some European carriers have made changes to their short haul network, particularly minor changes to flights to the EX-YU region. The following article explains some of the changes that foreign carriers have made in regards to EX-YU countries.

Belgrade – Compared to last summer Lufthansa will no longer operate flights from Dusseldorf to Belgrade. Passengers can instead use Jat Airways on this line. The reformed Alitalia will be increasing its frequencies to Belgrade in the 2009 summer season. Flights will now operate daily using an Airbus A319 aircraft. Delta Airlines from the United States issued a notification that it will display its “DL” code (code share) on Air France flights to Belgrade. CSA Czech Airlines will be operated daily with an A320 operating on Sundays from June 7 to August 23. The low cost Norwegian Air Shuttle has announced new flights to and from Belgrade. Starting May 23 the airline will operate flights from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport to Belgrade once a week. The frequency will increase to 2 per week starting June 23. The flights will be accompanied by the airline’s already existing Oslo – Belgrade line.

Pegasus Airlines from Turkey, which announced flights from Istanbul to Belgrade starting January 25 has delayed the service until further notice despite the airline gaining all necessary licenses to operate flights to Belgrade.

Duborvnik – As reported, Duborvnik will be having a busy summer with many charter and low cost carriers announcing their summer seasonal services to the coastal city. Starting July 12, easyJet will operate flights from Berlin’s Schonefeld Airport to Dubrovnik 3 times per week. A month earlier easyJet will commence flights from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik. Scandinavian Airlines SAS will operate charter flights from Stockholm to Dubrovnik from July 1 until August 12. The Southampton – Dubrovnik service will operate once a week from May 3 to September 6. The airline operating the service will be flyBe. From May 3, Germanwings will offer summer seasonal flights to Dubrovnik. Compared to summer 2008, British Airways will increase its frequency from 7 to 11 weekly flights from London Gatwick. Finally, the Finnish Blue1 will commence services from Helsinki from June 22.

Ljubljana – There are currently no announcements from foreign airlines regarding changes to their operations to Ljubljana. Adria Airways dominates Slovenian air traffic holding a 77% frequency share from Ljubljana.

Podgorica – The Montenegrin capital will see charter airlines, particularly from Russia commencing seasonal operations however preliminary schedules have yet to be published.

Priština – From May 16 Swiss International Airlines will launch 1 weekly Geneva – Priština service for its leisure division. It already operates flights out of Zurich. British Airways will increase its 3 weekly flight from London Gatwick to 4 weekly.

Pula – From May 2 Norwegian Air Shuttle will commence 1 weekly service to Pula from Stockholm-Arlanda. Only a few days later, on May 5, Germanwings will commence seasonal flights to Pula from Berlin-Schoenfeld.

Sarajevo - No changes have been announced from Sarajevo yet.

Skopje – CSA Czech Airline will be increasing its frequencies to Skopje when compared to its 2008 summer schedule. It will add a 6th weekly flight (compared to 5 last year), operating from July 2 to September 10.

Split – CSA will once again operate flights from Prague to Split. Flights begin on July 2 and will operate until August 31. The flights will operate 2 times per week. Cimber Air, or now rebranded into Cimber Air Sterling, will commence services from Copenhagen from May 22. These flights will operate until August 31. From May 2 to October 3, flyBe will operate flights from Southampton. Norwegian Air Shuttle will operate flights once per week from Stockholm.

Zadar – Ryanair will commence services from Edinburgh on April 1.

Zagreb – CSA will be adding an extra seasonal flight to Zagreb from Prague. OK814/815 will operate 4 times per week. The reformed Alitalia will drop Zagreb from its schedule. Zagreb will join the 30 other international destinations dumped by the new Alitalia.

All new services will be listed in the “new route launches” on the righthand side soon. This article will be updated and reposted when more information is available. From late February and throughout March you will be able to read the changes carriers from the EX-YU are making to their summer schedule.