‍DALLAS – Air Serbia (JU) experienced tremendous growth from January to December 2024. According to Cirium data, the Serbian flag carrier transported 4,298,222 passengers, a 6% increase over the previous year, operating 37,097 flights, up 4% yearly. 

The airline transported more than 7,144 tons of cargo, a 25% increase over 2023. This achievement reflects the airline's efforts to stabilize operations and improve services while growing its network across four continents. 

Their current fleet consists of 27 aircraft: three wide-body jets, fourteen narrow-body jets, and ten turboprops. The arrival of its third Airbus A330-200 in October 2024 bolstered its long-haul capabilities, with routes to New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Guangzhou (CAN), and now  Shanghai. 

In 2024, the airline added new regular flights to CAN and Mostar (OMO), reopened the  Belgrade-Nice (NCE) route, and maintained high demand for regional destinations such as  Tivat (TIV), Podgorica (TGD), and Istanbul (IST). Western European locations, including  Zurich (ZRH), Paris (CDG), and Amsterdam (AMS,) were also among the most popular. 

In March 2024, YU handed over ground handling operations at Belgrade Airport to Menzies Aviation because of its commitment to improving the customer experience. 

This change sought to increase passenger and luggage service efficiency. Furthermore, the airline's  Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport (BEG) served over 86,000 passengers in 2024, with a new and upgraded lounge slated to open soon.

New Nonstop Shanghai Route

With its first flight, JU986, departing on January 14, 2025, JU has started operating nonstop flights between BEG and Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) in the People's Republic of China using one of its Airbus A330-200. 

During the winter, the Serbian national airline will fly this route twice a week, departing from Belgrade on Tuesdays and Saturdays and returning from PVG on Wednesdays and  Sundays. Beginning on March 30, 2025, this connection will last until the summer,  demonstrating YU's continued dedication to improving connectivity between East Asia and  Serbia. 

Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia, highlighted the strategic importance of this route, “We are very  pleased to establish a new direct service between Belgrade and the People's Republic of China. Shanghai is one of the most dynamic cities in the world and an important business and cultural  centre.

Marek continued, "Direct Air Serbia flights to this city will provide passengers from Serbia and the Western Balkans region with a faster and more comfortable journey to China while making it easier for Chinese tourists and businesspeople to come to Serbia and other European cities we fly to. I would like to thank all our associates and partners for their support, as well as the employees of Air Serbia who, with their commitment, made it possible for us to start 2025 successfully."

"The launch of direct flights to Shanghai is an important step in achieving our strategic goals  and further strengthens Air Serbia's position as a leader in regional air traffic.” 

Air Serbia’s PVG flights provide seamless connections for passengers traveling onward to major European cities such as Vienna (VIE), Frankfurt (FRA), Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG),  and Milan Malpensa (MXP) via its hub in Belgrade. Pudong Airport, one of East Asia’s busiest,  handled over 54 million passengers in 2023, emphasizing the growing demand for this direct link. 

As JU expands strategically, the new Shanghai route will connect Serbia to global markets, promote tourism, and support economic growth. The airline remains devoted to connecting Serbia to the rest of the globe and providing its passengers with excellent travel experiences.

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