Air traffic between Belgrade and Turkish destinations reached a historic high in 2023. A total of 880,768 passengers were carried through flights operated by Turkish Airlines, AJet, Pegasus Airlines, and Air Serbia. This figure represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year and includes both scheduled and charter flights across six different routes. The renegotiation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement at the end of 2022 played a key role in this growth.
New Agreement Revitalises Airline Traffic
The revised air transport agreement between Turkey and Serbia enabled Air Serbia to launch new routes to Turkey and allowed AJet to enter the Serbian market. It also paved the way for closer cooperation between Turkish Airlines and Air Serbia. As a result, both scheduled and charter flights between the two countries saw a notable increase.
Belgrade–Istanbul Flights Lead: Over 470,000 Passengers
Istanbul Airport emerged as the busiest route, with more than 470,000 passengers. However, due to Air Serbia reducing its flight frequency on this route, total capacity fell by 10%, leading to a 6.5% decrease in passenger numbers. In contrast, flights to Sabiha Gökçen Airport experienced significant growth. An additional 62,504 passengers were carried on this route, operated by AJet and Pegasus. The average cabin load factor for both airlines reached 91.2%.
Antalya Charters Stand Out
The Belgrade–Antalya route, operated exclusively by Air Serbia, remained the busiest charter destination. Approximately 120,000 passengers were carried during the five-and-a-half-month operational period. The airline also operates regular flights from Niš and Kraljevo to Istanbul, as well as a Niš–Antalya charter route.
In 2023 alone, 19,076 passengers travelled on the Niš–Istanbul route. This route is subsidised under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) agreement with the Serbian government, achieving an annual average load factor of 63.1%.
Record Increase in Tourist Numbers in 2024: Turkish Visitors on Top
The number of Turkish tourists visiting Serbia rose by 15.4% in 2024, reaching 232,527. This made Turkey the top country in terms of visitor numbers to Serbia.
New Memorandum to Boost Flight Numbers
The Air Transport Memorandum of Understanding signed between Turkey and Serbia in January 2025 offers significant opportunities for the launch of new routes and increased capacity. According to a statement by Turkey’s Ambassador to Serbia:
“Currently, around 66 weekly flights operate between our countries. This number will increase shortly. New flights from Niš to Istanbul and Ankara, and from Kraljevo to Istanbul, will be launched. Demand for charter flights is growing every year, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming year.”
Key Routes and Passenger Numbers (2023)
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Belgrade – Istanbul (IST): 470,000+ passengers
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Belgrade – Istanbul (SAW): 62,504 passengers
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Belgrade – Antalya (Charter): Approx. 120,000 passengers
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Niš – Istanbul: 19,076 passengers
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Niš – Antalya (Charter): Increasing numbers
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Kraljevo – Istanbul: New route launching in 2025
