British Airways has announced the suspension of its flights between London Heathrow and Belgrade starting from late September, less than a year after initiating operations between the two cities on October 31, 2023.
The airline cited commercial reasons for the decision, stating in a release to EX-YU Aviation News, “We regularly review our schedule, and due to commercial reasons, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our flights to Belgrade from September 29, 2024. We’re contacting affected customers to apologise and offer them alternative options, including rebooking or a full refund.” The Oneworld alliance member indicated it would reassess the possibility of resuming flights next summer.
British Airways’ return to Belgrade last winter marked the end of a thirteen-year hiatus. At the time, the airline emphasized its strategic planning, stating, “We have taken one of the best slots at Heathrow for this flight, catering for both point-to-point passengers but also transfer passengers, particularly the East Coast of the United States, Canada, and Australia. We offer seamless connectivity to these regions, especially New York and Miami, which are very popular out of Belgrade.” Currently, British Airways operates three weekly services to the Serbian capital using its A320-family fleet. The airline faces direct competition from Air Serbia and indirect competition from Wizz Air, which operates flights from London Luton.
In response to British Airways’ market entry, both Air Serbia and Wizz Air have adjusted their operations. This summer, Air Serbia maintains nine weekly flights to Heathrow throughout the season, compared to eight and nine weekly rotations introduced last May. Wizz Air has increased its frequency to daily flights between the two capitals, up from six weekly last summer.
Both airlines have also lowered their fares on these routes since British Airways commenced its Belgrade operations. The first quarter of this year saw 51,508 passengers travel between Belgrade and London Heathrow and Luton airports, marking a 31.8% increase from the same period in 2023.
This development illustrates the competitive dynamics in the aviation sector, particularly in the Belgrade-London market, and the ongoing adjustments airlines must make in response to market conditions.