Eight carriers are set to operate regular wide-body services from former Yugoslav markets during the upcoming summer season, running from March 30 to October 25. A total of 1.788 wide-body flights have been scheduled so far (both directions included), marking a 47% increase compared to last year but still 19% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels. The decline is largely attributed to the Croatian market, which, unlike six years ago, is no longer served by American Airlines, Air Canada Rouge, Emirates, or Korean Air. However, United Airlines has increased its flights to Dubrovnik this year.
Belgrade will have the highest volume of wide-body capacity this summer. Air Serbia plans to operate 744 flights to and from its hub using up to four Airbus A330-200 aircraft, marking a 38.8% increase in operations. Hainan Airlines will continue deploying its A330-300 on 120 flights between Beijing and Belgrade, which is the same as last year. Additionally, China Southern Airlines, which launched operations to the Serbian capital in late September 2024, will also run 120 flights throughout the summer. Overall, Belgrade’s wide-body capacity will grow by 45% compared to last year, totalling 264.593 seats.
In Zagreb, South Korean low cost carrier T’way Air has scheduled the resumption of its seasonal flights between Seoul and Zagreb for June 10 with the A330-300, marking its second year of operations to the Croatian capital. Prior to resuming its regular service to Zagreb, T’way Air plans a one-off flight on April 24. Presently, it will have five fewer roundtrips on the route compared to last year. In addition, Air Transat will return to Zagreb this summer with the same schedule as in 2024, deploying its A330-200 aircraft. Service will resume on May 17, with a total of 132 operations – three roundtrips fewer than the previous year.
United Airlines will lead wide-body capacity growth in Croatia this summer. The carrier is increasing frequencies on its Newark–Dubrovnik route from four weekly flights to daily for most of the season, while also extending operations by a month until late October. The route will continue to be served by the Boeing 767-400, with United boosting its total operations by 129% to 326 flights.
Meanwhile, TUI Airways has scheduled a total of 88 wide-body flights to Dubrovnik, utilizing its Boeing 787-8 from London Gatwick and Manchester. Services from Manchester will run from May 8 to October 23, while flights from London Gatwick will operate between May 22 and September 25. However, TUI will offer five fewer roundtrips with twin-aisle aircraft to Dubrovnik compared to last year.
Overall, Croatia will have 668 scheduled wide-body operations this summer, providing 188.814 seats, an increase of 24.2% compared to the summer of 2024.
Edelweiss Air has scheduled wide-body flights to Pristina throughout this summer. The airline will deploy its new 339-seat A350-900 aircraft from Zurich starting April 5, operating three weekly flights between the two cities with the twin-aisle jet until May 19, after which there will be two weekly flights, EX
Yu Aviation news portal writes.
