Air Serbia, Serbia's national carrier in which UAE's Etihad Airways holds stake, has announced plans to launch flights from Belgrade to New York in June 2016.
 
Subject to government and regulatory approval, it will be the first non-stop service between Serbia and the US in 24 years, to provide a new air-link between the two countries which share deep cultural and commercial ties.
 
New York JFK will be Air Serbia’s first long-haul destination since its launch two years ago and the aircraft will be the first wide-body to enter the fleet of the Belgrade-based airline.
 
According to recent surveys there are more than 200,000 people of Serbian ethnicity living in the US, including New York and Chicago, which has the biggest Serbian diaspora in the US, and the number increases significantly when including other Balkan countries.
 
Dane Kondić, chief executive officer of Air Serbia, said: “The launch of the Belgrade-New York non-stop service is a fantastic example of the positive impact of the Air Serbia strategic plan, which is progressing well and continues to be on-track to meet and surpass its targets.
 
“We have been asked for many months when a new US service will start, and we are pleased now to reveal the destination and intended launch date and look forward to welcome guests on board our flights between Belgrade and New York, offering them our world-famous Serbian cuisine and hospitality as they cross the Atlantic.”

James Hogan, Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Air Serbia and President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “In addition to creating a safe and commercially-sustainable airline, one of the pledges we made when Air Serbia was launched in 2013 was to re-connect Serbia with major Serbian population centres around the world.
 
“We are naturally delighted, therefore, to announce the launch of the New York service which, as well as enhancing business and cultural ties between the two countries, will provide a major boost to inbound tourism to Serbia.
 
“The new service shows one of the main strengths of Etihad Airways Partners. In launching this trans-Atlantic service, Air Serbia can call upon the expertise and resources of pilot and cabin crew training, as well as fleet and engineering support.”
 
The five flights-a-week service will be operated by a leased two cabin A330-200 aircraft. Air Serbia is currently considering lease options with Etihad Airways Partner airlines as well as with other external companies.

The Air Serbia New York flight schedule will offer guests convenient connections from many of the airline’s regional destinations across the Balkans and Southern Europe, including Istanbul, Athens, and Tirana. – TradeArabia News Service