‍DALLAS—The flag carrier of the Republic of Serbia, Air Serbia (JU), announced the opening of a new nonstop service to China from its hub in Belgrade (BEG). This destination, Shanghai-PuDong Airport (PVG), will start on January 11, 2025, and will be the third city served by the airline in the PRC.

“On Monday, 30 September 2024, we launched scheduled flights between Belgrade and Guangzhou. This is our second destination in the PRC after Tianjin, which was added to our network on 9 December 22”, said Jiri Marek, CEO of JU.

Supporting the quick Asian expansion, JU took delivery of a third Airbus A330-200 aircraft in October. A fourth unit, to be transferred from Air Belgium (KF), is expected to arrive soon. In addition to the three services to China, the airline also operates transatlantic flights to New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD).

Operating with the Right to Overfly Russia

Given its close alliance with the Russian Federation, the Republic of Serbia is one of the few European countries whose airlines can fly in and above Russian territory. Because of that, Air Serbia serves as a crucial link between the European Union and Russian cities such as Saint Petersburg (LED), Moscow (SVO) or Kazan (KZN).

For its trans-Asian flights to China, JU cannot take advantage of this privilege and cut flight time against the competition anyway because it is forced to avoid Ukrainian and South Russian airspace in conflict.

As of October 2024, Air Serbia operates a fleet of 26 aircraft, including 10 ATR 72s, 10 Airbus A319s, 3 A320s, and 3 A330s. It will soon reintroduce the Embraer E-195, beginning with two units.

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