After the "Aero.rs" portal announced that changes in aviation regulations could threaten the Viz Air base in Belgrade, which "Vreme" also wrote about, he announced Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Serbia, stating that the new rulebook does not deprive any air carrier of its rights.
The directorate announced that no company was prevented from operating flights between Serbia and member states Of the European Union, nor to open new lines in accordance with valid international agreements.
Wizz Air's stay in Serbia is at risk
"The regulatory changes in question do not represent a restriction of traffic rights, but an arrangement of the regulatory framework that applies equally to all air carriers operating on the market of the Republic of Serbia," the statement of the Directorate states.
However, the answer of this body does not clarify the essential question open after the adoption of the rulebook: will Wizz Air be able to keep its base in Belgrade from November and continue operating according to the current model?
What does Wizz Air say?
Airline Meanwhile, Wizz Air has publicly accused the Serbian authorities of trying to push it out of Belgrade, in order to protect the national airline. Air Serbia from the competition.
"Wiz Air strongly condemns the Serbian authorities' plan to violate their obligations to Europe by implementing measures aimed at forcing the airline to suspend base operations in Belgrade from November 2026. Their actions represent a calculated attack on fair competition, consumer choice, connectivity and thousands of jobs in Serbia, as well as an indisputable violation of the country's obligations under the Agreement on the Common European Aviation Area," the company said in a statement.
Photo: Tanjug/ Sava RadovanovićLast year, Air Serbia transported a record 4,57 million passengers, thus surpassing the record of the former JAT from 1987.
Wizz Air's director of corporate communications, Owen Jones, told the specialized portal "Tango Six" that the measures planned against this airline are illegal.
"We call on the Serbian authorities to immediately stop discriminatory practices, respect international obligations and enable fair and transparent market conditions for all airlines operating in Serbia," said Jones.
Wizz Air claims that closing the base would result in the loss of more than 150 highly skilled and well-paid aviation jobs, while additional jobs in tourism, hospitality and airport services would also be at risk. The company also warns that less competition could lead to a reduction in the number of available flights and higher ticket prices.
According to "Vremen", the management of the company presented at a meeting with employees at the Belgrade base that due to new regulations, the base could be closed from the beginning of the winter flight schedule. In that case, the employees would be left to accept relocation to one of the other Viz Air bases or lose their jobs.
According to the information obtained by "Vreme", the company has already applied To the European Commission, the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Hungarian Directorate of Civil Aviation, because it believes that the new regulation is a violation of the Agreement on the Common European Aviation Area, also known as the Open Skies Agreement.
Who would benefit from the departure of Wiz Air
The question is whether limiting Viz Air's operations could benefit the national airline Air Serbia, which transported a record 4,57 million passengers last year and thereby exceeded the result of the former JAT in 1987. A year earlier, Air Serbia transported 4,44 million passengers.
Photo: Tanjug / Air Serbia / Ana SpremoIt is interesting that the controversial regulation was adopted on March 27, only twenty days after the change in the head of the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
However, even if Viz Air were to close its base in Belgrade, this does not mean that all passengers would automatically "overflow" to Air Serbia. Some of them could choose other airlines, low-cost flights from Niš or airports in the surrounding countries, while some would probably give up the trip if the ticket prices were significantly higher.
One of the interlocutors of "Vremen" from the aviation industry therefore assesses that the attempt to additionally help Air Serbia by removing the biggest competitor could produce significantly more harm than good: "It would be like slaughtering an ox for a kilo of meat," says the interlocutor who wished to remain anonymous.
Rulebook adopted after the changes at the head of the Directorate
It is interesting that the controversial regulation was adopted on March 27, only twenty days after the change in the head of the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
On March 5, the Government of Serbia appointed Ognjen Babić as Acting Director of the Directorate, while Verica Ječmenica, former Acting Assistant Minister for Air Transport and Transport of Dangerous Goods in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, was appointed as his deputy.
According to "Vremen" information, even then it was heard in aviation circles that the change of leadership might not be just routine and that a decision was being prepared that the former director Mirjana Chizmarov allegedly did not want to sign.
Sources: Aero.rs, Tango Six, Nova.rs, Vreme
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