Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s abrupt choice to droop and terminate a number of European routes, together with providers to Belgrade and Sarajevo, has created a possibility for opponents to fill the hole. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways are the almost certainly carriers to step in. Each airways may capitalise on the unmet demand, particularly as passenger volumes between the Gulf and the Balkans proceed to develop, pushed by tourism, diaspora visitors and enterprise hyperlinks.
Etihad Airways is at the moment present process a wide-ranging community growth, supported by file profitability and fleet progress following its post-restructuring transformation in recent times. Simply final week, the airline introduced its twentieth new vacation spot inside the previous 12 months. In Europe, Etihad has added Prague, Warsaw and Sochi to its community in 2025, with Krakow set to launch in 2026. The provider final operated flights to Belgrade in October 2020. In 2019, Etihad carried 114.256 passengers on the every day Abu Dhabi – Belgrade route, reaching a median annual load issue of 87.2%. The robust efficiency was partly pushed by its partnership with Air Serbia, which enabled the provider to funnel a notable portion of Europe-bound passengers via Belgrade.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, a three way partnership between Sharjah-based Air Arabia and Etihad Airways, would probably entice an identical passenger profile to that of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Inside the area, the airline has beforehand served Sarajevo on a seasonal foundation in 2021 and 2022. Abu Dhabi stays a key marketplace for Sarajevo, regardless of the Bosnian capital’s already substantial connectivity to the Gulf area. Previously, Sarajevo Airport designated the Emirati capital as one in all over twenty strategically necessary routes, making it eligible for government-backed subsidies. Nonetheless, apart from Moscow, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi doesn’t at the moment serve any European locations, having largely left that market phase to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. As an alternative, the airline has centered on increasing its Sharjah-based operations, not too long ago asserting new routes to Prague, Munich and Warsaw Modlin, all set to launch this coming winter.
Air Serbia may additionally probably return to the Gulf area by launching providers to Abu Dhabi, the place it will not face direct competitors. The airline final operated flights to the Emirati capital in October 2017. Air Serbia has acknowledged that its return to the Center East is just “a matter of time”, though it’s anticipated to first deal with markets nearer to dwelling, equivalent to Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt in North Africa. Final month, the airline’s CEO, Jiri Marek, advised EX-YU Aviation Information, “It’s only a matter of time. These locations are advanced for a lot of causes, whether or not it’s airport slots, prices or total danger. So sure, they’re undoubtedly on our radar. Nonetheless, we at the moment produce other priorities the place we see stronger profitability. That stated, ultimately, these routes will return. I can’t say precisely when, all of it will depend on the correct alternative”.
