Belgrade Airport targeting new markets in new incentive scheme

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has announced a comprehensive revision of its incentive plan, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, writes the EX-YU Aviation News portal. The updated plan introduces targeted incentives designed to attract new airlines, expand the airport’s route network, promote operations during off-peak hours and identifies markets of special interest including Ireland, the United Kingdom and North Africa.

– With the new (amended) incentive plan, the airport aims to create a framework for the accelerated recovery of air traffic, strengthen its position as a regional hub, and expand connections to new markets across short, medium, and intercontinental routes – the airport operator said.

The plan offers substantial financial benefits to airlines introducing new routes or those that have not been operated over the past twelve months. These incentives aim to reduce initial operational costs and encourage sustainable growth: For short- and medium-haul routes incentives include full exemption from landing fees in the first year, while Passenger Service Charges will be discounted to seven euros per departing passenger in year one, tapering to two euros by year three.

In the long-haul segment, the plan includes a full landing fee waiver in year one, followed by a 70% discount in year two. Furthermore, the Passenger Service Charges will be discounted to nine euros in the first year, reducing over three years. Additional bonuses are offered for year-round operations and off-peak operations.

To improve connectivity, the airport will incentivize increased frequencies or capacities on existing routes with fewer than four weekly flights through passenger discounts, reduced landing fees and incentives for off-peak operations.

Airlines demonstrating passenger volume growth are also eligible for scalable incentives under the plan. This includes both point-to-point and transfer passengers. The operator has also committed to waiving parking fees for airlines basing aircraft at the airport. This measure encourages carriers to establish long-term operations and use Belgrade as a primary hub.

The airport will also provide incentives for the development of routes deemed to be of “special interest”. These include destinations in Ireland, unserved destinations in the United Kingdom, Morocco, Libya and Algeria, as well as all destinations located between 2.500 kilometers and 4.000 kilometers from Belgrade.

Furthermore, the airport will also incentivize the development of regional traffic, which it deems to be destination within a 500-kilometer radius from the Serbian capital, however these will only be available on routes operated by one airline, as well as routes with over seven weekly flights during the winter season and under 21 frequencies over the summer.

As EX-YU Aviation News learns, French operator VINCI will play a more proactive role in air traffic development at the airport in the coming period.

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A.D. Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd

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