Marek: Air Serbia has become regional leader

TORONTO - At a reception that marked the launch of direct flights between Belgrade and Toronto, Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek said the Serbian national airline would keep increasing the number of new long-haul flights and that, with more than a hundred destinations operated, it had become the regional leader.

Marek said the company would set a new record this year and get close to 5 million passengers carried.

"Any new destination is always a very exciting thing, especially a new long-haul destination, especially if you are returning after 34 years, and it was very symbolic because we returned on exactly the same day when, 34 years ago, it (the Belgrade-Toronto service) stopped," Marek told Tanjug, adding that direct flights bolstered connectivity between cultures, countries and businesses.

"There is always something we call a stimulation effect, which is normally around 40 pct, so it is not only that we will tackle the current existing demand, which is mostly driven by the diaspora, but it will stimulate new tourism, new corporate travels and everything, and it is always much easier when there is a direct flight," he said, adding that five new destinations would be introduced.

Asked if there were plans for more overseas or remote destinations, Marek responded that Air Serbia currently operated five long-haul destinations, with Toronto being the fifth one as well as the fifth new destination this year.

"What we can definitely confirm is that a new record will happen. I think it is still a bit too early to tell what the amount of passengers will be but, definitely, a new record will be set and we can have some more clear prognosis after the summer season, because that is always the main driver of passenger numbers," he added.

Marek said Air Serbia would be satisfied with 3 pct growth in the number of passengers this year and that the goal was around 5 pct.

"So, it will not be over five million, but we believe we can get close to those numbers," he added.

He noted that he was proud to say Air Serbia's growth and transformation in the past several years had made the company the regional leader.

"Definitely, not only in territory of the former Yugoslavia, but we have ambitions also in the wider Balkan region. We are operating multiple destinations in the former Yugoslavia, and Belgrade has become the centre of gravity and what we have called a hub, with options to connect via Belgrade to one of our one hundred destinations," Marek said.