While other airlines have cut flights to Russia, Air Serbia has decided to increase capacity to the country. These flights are facing operational issues… in the form of bomb threats.
In this post:
Air Serbia increases flights to Moscow & St. Petersburg
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we’ve seen many countries take sides. The United States, Canada, the European Union, etc., have all imposed sanctions against Russia. They’ve banned Russian airlines from their airspace, and that has been made reciprocal, meaning that airlines from those countries are also banned from Russian airspace.
Serbia, on the other hand, has taken a more neutral stance, as the country often does. On the aviation front, Serbia hasn’t banned flights to & from Russia. As a result, national airline Air Serbia responded to market demand, and initially significantly increased flights to Russia.
The airline is even flying its flagship Airbus A330 to Moscow and St. Petersburg, even though that wide body typically operates flights to New York. Admittedly the demand for travel to & from Russia is significant, at least compared to capacity, with Aeroflot having suspended international flights (except to Belarus) and European Union airlines being banned from Russia. For those looking to fly between the European Union and Russia, Air Serbia is one of the only options.
As you’d expect, this is causing quite some controversy, as Air Serbia is profiting off of the demand for travel to & from Russia, as other airlines pull out. While I appreciate that frustration (and largely share it), I’m not sure we can actually unequivocally say that completely cutting off air links to & from Russia is a good thing, even if you’re heavily anti-Putin.
On the most basic level, shouldn’t we let people flee Russia, especially if they fear for their safety (for whatever reason)? Admittedly that probably doesn’t describe a majority of people taking these flights (there are also lots of people flying to Russia), but my point is that this is complicated.
Air Serbia’s Russia flights keep getting bomb threats
In March alone, Air Serbia’s flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg have received several bomb threats. These have allegedly come in the form of emails expressing displeasure at the carrier’s choice to continue flying to Russia.
In some situations these bomb threats were made while the plane was on the ground (in which case a thorough search was performed), while in other cases the threats were made after planes were airborne (causing them to turn around to Belgrade).
The first incident was on March 11, 2022, on JU652 from Belgrade (BEG) to Moscow (SVO). The plane took off from Belgrade but then turned around shortly after takeoff, when the threat came in. The plane ended up being in the air for under 30 minutes before returning to Belgrade. The plane was then extensively searched, and ended up departing to Moscow around seven hours after scheduled departure time. Ouch.
On March 14, 2022, the same exact flight faced another bomb threat, this time a bit later after takeoff. In this case the plane made it all the way to the border between Hungary and Slovakia before turning around. The plane ended up operating a 90+ minute flight to nowhere. After a thorough search, the plane eventually departed to Moscow over six hours late.
A day later, on March 15, an Air Serbia flight to Moscow had yet another bomb threat. This one was before takeoff, though, so the flight was only delayed by around three hours. Oh and then March 17? The flight had a similar delay.
In the meantime Air Serbia has backtracked on some of its Russia flight increases. Presumably that’s a combination of issues with the optics of these flights, as well as the general operational challenges of operating flights that constantly get bomb threats.
Bottom line
Air Serbia has not only maintained service to Russia, but initially tried to increase it, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The airline has faced repeated bomb threats on these flights as a result, allegedly as a way of expressing displeasure with the company’s service.
In two cases Air Serbia flights even had to return to Belgrade, as the threats came after planes were airborne. In the meantime the airline has backtracked on some of its capacity growth in Russia, but Air Serbia is still offering quite a bit of service to the country.
Where do you stand on Air Serbia’s service to Russia?
Not surprising... at all. Serbia idolizes Russia and all that it stands for. And has Serbia ever been on the right side of any humanitarian issue? I love Serbian food and have many good Serbian friends (Chicago is the largest US population) but their cultural identify and nationalistic politics are so aligned the perpetuation perceived victimization with Russia as their closest friend.
Firstly, bomb threats are not tolerable, regardless what anyone's view on Air Serbia's business model is. Even if Serbia is free not to adopt the sanctions, I would expect that they reduce their business to "business as usual", not exploiting sanctions evasion.
Firstly, why has Turkey not been condemned for still flying to Russia? It has three times as many flights.
Secondly, many Serbians see the war as brothers killing brothers and it is hard to take sides in a civil war.
So Serbia may be flying to Moscow but it has also taken in over 10,000 Ukranian refugees.
This is not a civl war, which is one part of a country fighting against another part. It is a calculated invasion and land grab by depraved dictator and his minions. Serbians cannot be so stupid and uninformed as to not know and understand the difference.
Then what has been happening since 2014? Over a million Russian refugees fled Ukranian troops yet the EU did nothing. One third of the Ukraine are ethnic Russians.
This is the reality which does not justify what Putin did but it does help understand what is happening, which is the only way to achieve peace.
Also categorizing an entire country as ''stupid'' adds nothing to the discussion especially since Serbia has been helping Ukranian refugees.
Fled Ukrainian troops on whose territory? Russian troops are now marching on whose sovereign territory?
What happened since 2014? That is when Russia invaded Ukraine to begin with. This is just a massive escalation of that.
Yeah yeah yeah. Listen all you cry babies. NATO slaughtered and murdered Serbians during the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1999.
@D3kingg
Says the lady who goes "yeah yeah yeah" like a pouty teen girl. Not much of an improvement on "cry babies" is it?
Now calm down and engage like a mature adult (I assume, but cannot prove you are actually a mature adult).
Don't think he/she is a mature adult. Still has some very big lacks in History. So, or he/she is still at school and learning, or, he/she doesn't want to acknowledge what happened in Jugoslavia. Anyway... NOT anmature adult!
@D3kingg. NATO did not "slaughter" and "murder" Serbians in the 1999. NATO's intervention was due to Yugoslavia's bloodshed and ethnic cleansing of Albanians, which drove the Albanians into neighbouring countries and had the potential to destabilize the region, and NATO succeeded. You would have to be brainwashed by Slavic propagands to believe anything else.
No, any airline, whether it be passenger or cargo, that flys into or to Russia should be denied landing rights in every country aligned against Russian.
Boo Hoo, rich Russians can’t flee to their second home in Paris or Gastad. My heart goes out to them. What about the Ukrainian have lost everything, their lives, their homes, their cities, their country.
I do not care for what Russia is doing nor do I care for bomb threats either
I guess that’s what happens when you want to take advantage of a terrible situation
What do you know. Joe Biden has started World War 3.
Oh wow... that's news to me! Didn't know that it was Biden that invaded Ukraine.
What do you know. Vladmir Putin has started World War 3.
Pretty much what the US does. Check which companies and industries are seeing massive profits from all this.
Interesting postings from all sides on this issue.
From a historical perspective no one should be surprised if Serbia is taking a neutral to pro-Russian stance. All one needs to have is a knowledge of the start of WW I in 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Bosnian Serb nationalist with the backing of Serbia. To get to the issue, Russia backed Serbia's rejection of the Austrian ultimatum, offering...
Interesting postings from all sides on this issue.
From a historical perspective no one should be surprised if Serbia is taking a neutral to pro-Russian stance. All one needs to have is a knowledge of the start of WW I in 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Bosnian Serb nationalist with the backing of Serbia. To get to the issue, Russia backed Serbia's rejection of the Austrian ultimatum, offering military support,
The rest is history. Ever since, Serbia and Russia have enjoyed a warm pan-Slavic relationship - consider the Russian support of Serbia's Milosevic when Yugoslavia disintegrated. Another example of support
@jsm. Your'e going back a hundred years to justify (or try to explain to us why Serbians today could possibly justify) this unprovoked Russian invasion? The true facts are that Serbians have been fed anti-Western and pro-Russian propaganda from childhood and could believe nothing else, even if true.
Not sanctioning Russia is not anymore neutral than watching a kid get beat up by an adult, and saying you won't get involved because you're trying to stay neutral.
Is that really a fair analogy? In this case placing sanctions on russia is like seeing a kid being bullied by an adult so we decide to place sanctions on his entire family and extended family, and their kids, but not the bully himself which is Putin, not Russia.
The Serbians themselves know better than us what's it like to be bullied, they were bombed by NATO, and no one here gave a s**t about them because we were doing the bombing.
You think there's no sanction on Putin himself? And you think Putin alone can start a war if all his top generals and aides are not on-board?
And to complain about unfair comparisons, then try to present the controversial bombing of Serbia as the same as the unanimously condemned actions of Russia. How hypocritical.
Putin was among the first to be sanctioned: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0610
Like to explain what the reason for bombing Serbia was?
@Giovana
There was once a country called Yugoslavia. And it then turned into Macedonia , Bosnia, Herzigovenia , Albania , Serbia , and Croatia. NATO raped women and children it was a war of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Exactly what does Serbia owe the EU and NATO ?
@D3kingg
You just might want to get a History book and have a read up!
Albania has never been part of Jugoslavia (and yes it's Jugoslavia and not Yugoslavia - Социјалистичка федеративна република Југославија )
And, from 1993 to 2017, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Jugoslavia tried political and military leaders from the former Jugoslavia for war crimes, genocide, and other crimes committed during those wars. NATO wasn't on trial... wonder why?!
Very well said.But he might say the trial was rigged by the West.You can't reason with brainwashed people.
Care to explain what Serbia has anything to do with whether Russia's invasion of Ukraine is justified, or whether Russia should be sanctioned for its actions?
The whataboutism is strong with all the Russian trolls. Guess they took a page out of their fellow authoritarian regime, the Chinese trolls.
Every airline, company or individual who is not acting against the Nazi Putin regime is voting to kill more Ukrainian children and top of that voting to kill more innocent Russian youngsters who are forced to go and fight in Ukraine by their Nazi masters in Moscow. Air Serbia directors should hold their heads in shame.
You might find this New Yorker column on Ukraine/Serbia/Russia interesting, and a bit more nuanced:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-the-kosovo-air-war-foreshadowed-the-crisis-in-ukraine/amp
Serbia is not neutral. They clearly took Russia's side, and are still bitter at the west for putting an end to their ethnic cleansing of minorities and for recognizing Kosovo (which Russia did not). And I am not one bit surprised that they are profiteering from the war in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, these events have uncovered the extreme racist attitudes of "The West" towards Russia and Russians. And apparently it is all being tolerated by these very nations that proclaim themselves as bastions of freedom and equality. I am ashamed of this, being a dual Australian/German citizen. The bullying and hatred has to STOP if they wish to remain even remotely credible on the world stage (remembering that the "rest of the world" is watching.
Dennis,
Is being part of Putin’s troll army a paid or volunteer position?
I love how anyone calling out Russophobia as permissible racism is assumed to be a troll.
Why not just say racism is acceptable, as long as you don't care for the group being marginalized.
JR - want to try your (pro- Russian) "keyboard war" in Odessa or Kharkiv?.... The so called "free thinkers" (read PUNKS and HIPPIES) that side with Russia and call sanctions Russophobic are beyond despicable....If anything these sanctions do not go deep enough....
Careful you insult the entire Faux News viewership
So, you pretend to know the truth and call yourself never in doubt. I'm wondering what kind of job do you do having this approach. You call people who you disagree with trolls, but you yourself live in the information bubble nourished by the media you select to believe. Good luck with that.
@ Never in Doubt
So when one is incapable of having an argument presenting factual results and evidence they resort to childish insults. Noted.
By far not a general position in the west. I am not sure where you get your data from? Care to share? (spare us some anectodes from the Daily Mail though).
Yes, removing all Russian language, books, products, sports people, historical figures, along with reports of Russians being refused service at hotels and restaurants is what I consider unacceptable. These have nothing to do with the current events except being used as an excuse to demonstrate hate towards Russians for whatever reason.
And to those calling me a "troll" etc, I guess you're unable to read because I mentioned that I am Australian and German....
Yes, removing all Russian language, books, products, sports people, historical figures, along with reports of Russians being refused service at hotels and restaurants is what I consider unacceptable. These have nothing to do with the current events except being used as an excuse to demonstrate hate towards Russians for whatever reason.
And to those calling me a "troll" etc, I guess you're unable to read because I mentioned that I am Australian and German. And I'm embarrassed and upset because clearly the values that these countries are supposed to uphold are only applied selectively. Especially for Germans who know exactly what it's like to be on the receiving end. So excuse me for calling it out.
What a load of bs and a typically Russian position. They have been moaning about how nobody likes them and nobody gets them for years now. How about you stop bombing hospitals and flattening cities and then the rest of us will try to be a bit more sympathetic to the hardship you are going through.
Have you been as vocal when other countries were performing military operations and killing innocent people?
@Karo, what other countries flattened entire cities, deliberately targeted hospitals and civilian shelters? Last time I recall anything like this taking place was in Syria (Russia) and Chechnya (Russia). Who else did you have in mind?
@VitaliU, you are naive, uneducated, or both. Any war has plenty of innocent civilians' deaths. Any single one of them. Come on man, don't pretend to be silly. In 2020, Karabakh civilians were targeted with white phosphorus, has anyone cared? Go watch videos. Second, do you have an independent evidence that Russians deliberately bombed hospitals and civilians? Which hospitals with patients and staff, could you name one? Where is your evidence coming from? Please cite...
@VitaliU, you are naive, uneducated, or both. Any war has plenty of innocent civilians' deaths. Any single one of them. Come on man, don't pretend to be silly. In 2020, Karabakh civilians were targeted with white phosphorus, has anyone cared? Go watch videos. Second, do you have an independent evidence that Russians deliberately bombed hospitals and civilians? Which hospitals with patients and staff, could you name one? Where is your evidence coming from? Please cite your source.
@Karo. seriously? "do you have an independent evidence that Russians deliberately bombed hospitals and civilians". You twisted lying sob.. not much else to say
@VitaliU
Yeah man, seriously. You made the statement and can't back it up with the evidence. Are you surprised that you need to back up your words by some evidence and not just by being so vocal? And how am I lying? Dare to explain this too?
@Karo, just in case you trill have been living under a rock with no access to Internet (vs being a Russian troll), here is a list that covers a tiny portion of all the atrocities:
1. carpet bombing of Mariupol, incl their hospital, maternity ward, theater, residential towers. sources: UN, Greek consul in Mariupol, dozens and dozens of reports by reputable news organizations
2. attacks on Kharkiv residential areas, incl people queueing for...
@Karo, just in case you trill have been living under a rock with no access to Internet (vs being a Russian troll), here is a list that covers a tiny portion of all the atrocities:
1. carpet bombing of Mariupol, incl their hospital, maternity ward, theater, residential towers. sources: UN, Greek consul in Mariupol, dozens and dozens of reports by reputable news organizations
2. attacks on Kharkiv residential areas, incl people queueing for bread, zoo, residential building, a market. source: UN, news agency
3. just yesterday, a shopping mall in Kyiv was hit by Russian missiles. Russian ministry of defense published a video themselves
Since links a not allowed here, I suggest you google "Russia targeting civilians" and see what comes up. I do predict that you will say something like "this is not proof", "it wasn't Russia" or something along those lines. Russian trolls and useful fools usually do that
@ VitaliU
Just in case you don't know the difference between read and comprehend, i'll ask you these questions:
1. How do you know that Russians hit the consulate? Why not the opposite side? Any analysis where the fire was coming from?
2. Is it the same residential areas where Ukrainian military forces use civilians as a human shield? Tons of video evidence around, go watch.
3. Was this mall functional or...
@ VitaliU
Just in case you don't know the difference between read and comprehend, i'll ask you these questions:
1. How do you know that Russians hit the consulate? Why not the opposite side? Any analysis where the fire was coming from?
2. Is it the same residential areas where Ukrainian military forces use civilians as a human shield? Tons of video evidence around, go watch.
3. Was this mall functional or not?
You can make any conclusion that fits your biased opinion as much as you want. But you showed no independent evidence. Take care and learn to be more critical about the information you're given.
It’s not racism. Russia has invaded an independent country and is bombing and murdering its citizens and forcing over 2 million to leave.
There are many Russians who oppose this, however Putain ( I prefer the French word), wants to ban any opposition and ignore article 31 of the constitution.
People who speak out in Russia are being beaten, imprisoned, losing jobs etc.
The Z symbol is the new swastika. Putain...
It’s not racism. Russia has invaded an independent country and is bombing and murdering its citizens and forcing over 2 million to leave.
There are many Russians who oppose this, however Putain ( I prefer the French word), wants to ban any opposition and ignore article 31 of the constitution.
People who speak out in Russia are being beaten, imprisoned, losing jobs etc.
The Z symbol is the new swastika. Putain talks about de-nazification, which is complete c—- . Perhaps he should look in his own back garden where there are hundreds of right wing groups and in a country which actively discriminated against the LGBTQ community.
Russians are now a race? LOL.
Moron. Russian troll. Eat shit.
@Jance, hmmm lovely. Clearly you have some issues there. Hope you get some help or I'll pity those that need to be near you.
Russophobia is wrong. The banning of Russian arts, literature, etc... is wrong. There are Russians fleeing to other countries should not be blocked. However, there are Russians that support Putin action in Ukraine, and often times the call themselves 'neutral' or 'apolitical' hide their support, but when you hear then, you can clearly notice where they stand as they talk/make their point.
I run the page @freightcaviar on IG. About a thousand of my followers are from Serbia & from what I could notice about 60-80% of them support Russia & Putin’s war. They are staunchly anti-NATO due to the fact that NATO bombed them in 1999. They also have always nurtured a strong relationship with Russia. .
Being pro NATO or pro Russia has nothing to do with this...
Bomb threats and endangering passenger airliner is terrorism and big No No! I'm not sure why even bring up everything else and try to justify this..
Serbia's government has condemned it in the UN yet fallen short of sanctions, so, not exactly a neutral view.
India, South Africa, and Morocco, to name a few haven't blamed Ukraine NATO like China and Iran have. I'd say their lacking commentary is neutral as they're not taking a side
Chinese airlines, Turkish, and the Middle Eastern 3 plus FlyDubai haven't suspended service either.
EK has upgauged to 2 daily A380 on DME-DXB.
@Never in Doubt
Not exactly. Serbia hasn't introduced sanctions onto Russia because it relies on Russian gas and other imports (its gas company is owned by Russia's Gasprom). It has however voted to condemn the Russian invasion in the UN.
"Serbia, on the other hand, has taken a more neutral stance"
Nonsense.
Serbia has taken a pro-Russia/Putin stance.
Not true, dont talk about what you dont know. The majority of Serbians hate the fact there is a war and dont condone it at all. The Serbian government is trying to be as neutral as possible, the president actually waited a few days to even comment on the war because of how delicate the situation is. Serbia made a strategic mistake by having Gazprom dominate the oil and gas business in the country, but...
Not true, dont talk about what you dont know. The majority of Serbians hate the fact there is a war and dont condone it at all. The Serbian government is trying to be as neutral as possible, the president actually waited a few days to even comment on the war because of how delicate the situation is. Serbia made a strategic mistake by having Gazprom dominate the oil and gas business in the country, but then again Germany was on the same path. Besides the Gazprom monopoly there are historical and cultural ties to Russia. Aside from that, most of the investment, jobs, economy of Serbia is with the EU and Serbs look to the “west” more than the direction of Russia. So you can imagine how delicate the balance is. Serbia is not in the EU and cannot withstand rupture with Russia. Add that Serbians are increasingly frustrated at the slow process of being accepted into the EU, which is a strategic mistake by the EU not to accept the largest economy in the balkans. The way Serbians see this conflict is NATO vs Russia, add to this the fact that Belgrade was bombed by NATO in 99 during the breakup of Yugoslavia, you should understand their despise for NATO. All my friends were in Belgrade during the bombings, not an easy thing to live through. Then, Russia supports Serbia on the Kosovo issue (but so does Spain, Greece, China, and many other countries). Many more things that you or I don’t know makes taking a stance, left or right, is just not possible for any Serbian and will remain neutral. All this heat Serbia has taken for trying to be neutral is unfair. They are a small country in the middle of Europe trying to build back from being the center of Yugoslavia after a brutal breakup. Where is the hate for India, UAE, Saudi, who have not done anything either and that the US thought were allies. I talk as an American living in Serbia for the last 5 years…
To be honest I've seen a few pro Russia marches in Serbia and not pro Ucraina.
This could be very lucrative for EU originating passengers due to the EU261/2004 compensation they are due as a result of delay to final destination. Ka-ching!!!
Sean. Serbia is a not a member of EU
Of course it isn't, but passengers who originate at an EU origin airport (connecting via Belgrade) can still claim EU 261/2004 compensation if an itinerary irregularity results in a delay on arrival at their final destination.
@Sean
The cash compensation is only due if the delay is the responsibility of the airline. A bomb threat is not in the responsibility of the airline, therefore passengers will not get any cash, only free drinks/meals depending on how long the delay is.
The bomb threat may not be the responsibility of the airline, but the decision to return to base is indeed their decision and is reasonably foreseeable in the current geopolitical situation. They could have taken additional precautions that would have allowed them to proceed with the flight without delays, but they chose not to. For that, they must pay compensation under EU 261/2004. The regulation was never intended to penalize airlines for what was their...
The bomb threat may not be the responsibility of the airline, but the decision to return to base is indeed their decision and is reasonably foreseeable in the current geopolitical situation. They could have taken additional precautions that would have allowed them to proceed with the flight without delays, but they chose not to. For that, they must pay compensation under EU 261/2004. The regulation was never intended to penalize airlines for what was their "fault" but rather to compensate passengers for their inconvenience.
Is that seriously what you’re thinking of during a crisis with hundreds of Ukrainians murdered, how to make money, because you were delayed 4 hours ???? And no, if it’s security issue there wouldn’t be compensation.
EU261/2004 does not cover delays out of the airline's control.
Ironically Israel hasn’t imposed any sanctions. El Al is still flying to Moscow