Wizz Air Submits Petition to Keep Belgrade Base Open

Representatives from the Hungarian airline Wizz Air delivered a petition with more than 21,000 signatures to the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate, calling for the preservation of its operational base in Belgrade. The airline expressed a desire for continued operations after 15 years in the Serbian capital, but faces potential disruption due to regulatory changes.

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We are asking for uninterrupted operations of Wizz Air in Belgrade to be allowed, which is threatened after 15 years of operation.

Nevena Todorović, Wizz Air's cabin crew base manager in Belgrade, explained that amendments to the regulations for issuing permits to foreign air carriers for international public air transport with Serbia, adopted in March, could lead to approximately 200 employees losing their jobs. "The change in regulations prevents companies registered in the EU from starting and ending their flights in Belgrade, and only allows planes to take off from EU countries and return to those countries," she stated.

Todorović emphasized that the company operates in accordance with local air traffic laws and expressed a desire for continued dialogue with Serbian authorities. "The purpose of all this is a call for dialogue. We are addressing the authorities in Serbia to enable dialogue and resolve this situation, which has led to our jobs in Belgrade being threatened after 15 years of work," she said.

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The change in regulations prevents companies registered in the EU from starting and ending their flights in Belgrade, and only allows planes to take off from EU countries and return to those countries.

The Civil Aviation Directorate previously stated that the regulatory changes, set to take effect in November 2026, do not restrict traffic rights but rather regulate the framework equally for all airlines operating in the Serbian market. Wizz Air highlighted the importance of low-cost carriers for Belgrade's connectivity with European cities and stressed that the petition was signed by citizens who recognize this value.

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