In a surprising turn of events, various airlines have recently decided to reduce their planned service levels in the markets of the former Yugoslavia, leading to significant changes in flight schedules.
For instance, Air France has announced a cutback in its operations between Paris and Zagreb during the peak travel months of July and August next year. The airline has opted to maintain only seven flights per week on this route, a notable drop from the fourteen flights that were originally scheduled. This change also marks a decrease compared to last year's eleven weekly flights. When the high season ends, Air France will revert to an average of ten flights each week.
Similarly, Turkish Airlines is adjusting its service frequency between Istanbul and Podgorica as a direct result of new visa requirements for Turkish citizens, which have adversely affected demand. From mid-February to mid-March, the airline will reduce its flights to between sixteen and seventeen per week, down from eighteen. Meanwhile, in Pristina, Turkish Airlines plans to operate nine weekly flights during the same timeframe, a slight reduction from the ten originally planned.
Austrian Airlines is also revising its flight schedule to Dubrovnik and Split. Over the busy summer months, the airline will now offer fourteen weekly flights from Vienna to Dubrovnik, reduced from seventeen, which signifies a three-flight decrease from last year’s schedule. In Split, Austrian Airlines will maintain eleven weekly flights during June and September, down from the initially planned fourteen.
In another notable development, Air Serbia has canceled multiple flights, specifically three routes between Belgrade and Guangzhou from January 19 to January 30, and five flights to Shanghai within the same period. This decision coincides with the scheduled maintenance of two of the airline’s widebody aircraft.
LOT Polish Airlines has made adjustments to its summer schedule for Dubrovnik as well, planning to operate three weekly flights from Warsaw throughout the summer season, a reduction from the five flights that were initially proposed.
Furthermore, Air Dolomiti has halted its service to Rijeka under its own flight codes. Last summer, the airline offered one weekly flight from Munich to this coastal destination, but starting next year, Lufthansa will take over this route. In addition, Transavia will cease its twice-weekly flights connecting Eindhoven and Rijeka.
On another front, easyJet will temporarily suspend its flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Belgrade from January 9 to February 6, resulting in the cancellation of a total of seven flights.
Ryanair has pushed back the restart of its seasonal route between London Stansted and Osijek. Originally set to resume on April 2, the flights are now expected to begin on June 2, maintaining a frequency of two flights per week.
Lastly, German carrier Condor is discontinuing its seasonal service connecting Dusseldorf to Split, which had operated three times a week during the previous summer season. However, flights from Frankfurt to Split will continue as scheduled.
Given these developments, it is clear that further changes to flight networks may still be on the horizon, leaving travelers and industry observers intrigued about what will come next.
