Wizz Air fights to stay in Belgrade as Serbia changes flight rules

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is fighting to keep its base in Belgrade, Serbia, after the government introduced new regulations that could force it to cease operations. The airline, along with its supporters, has submitted a petition with over 21,000 signatures to the Serbian government and the Directorate of Civil Aviation, calling for dialogue and a resolution.

Nevena Todorović, Wizz Air's base manager for cabin crew in Belgrade, stated that the company's goal is to open a dialogue with Serbian authorities to resolve the situation, which threatens jobs after 15 years of operation. She emphasized that Wizz Air operates strictly according to local laws and regulations, holding valid licenses and consistently receiving positive results in inspections.

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The purpose of all this is actually a call for dialogue. We are addressing the authorities in Serbia to enable dialogue and resolve this situation which has led to our jobs being threatened after 15 years of work in Belgrade.

However, recent amendments to regulations could prohibit EU-registered airlines, such as Wizz Air, from commencing and concluding flights in Belgrade starting in November. This change could result in fewer flight options and increased ticket costs for travelers. Wizz Air claims these changes are protectionist measures designed to eliminate competition for the national airline, Air Serbia.

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We do absolutely everything according to local laws and regulations with valid licenses. We have had regular inspections that have always shown excellent results.

Journalists from pro-government media have questioned Wizz Air's adherence to Serbian laws and procedures. In contrast, Aleksandar Milošević, a journalist from Nova Ekonomija, suggested that the regulations were specifically implemented to protect Air Serbia, which he identified as Wizz Air's main competitor. He argued that if competition cannot be won through better service and lower prices, such measures are used to remove rivals.

The Directorate of Civil Aviation has stated that the regulatory changes are not intended to restrict traffic rights but rather to establish a fair regulatory framework applicable to all airlines operating in Serbia. Despite these assurances, Wizz Air remains concerned about its future operations in Belgrade.

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I think it is obvious that this was done to protect Air Serbia, for which Wizz Air is the biggest competitor here and represents the biggest obstacle, and if you cannot solve such a situation by competitive methods, i.e. better service and lower prices, and you clearly cannot, you solve it by telling the state 'kick them out of Serbia', and the state does it.