Air Serbia carries 4.44 million passengers in 2024

• Third best result in terms of passengers carried in nearly 98-year-long company history
• Passenger numbers up 6% and cargo numbers up 25% year over year
• Over 47,000 flights operated
• 27 aircraft in the fleet
• 87 routes to 33 countries across four continents

Air Serbia carried a total of 4.44 million passengers on scheduled and charter flights in 2024, up 6% compared to the previously-record-setting year 2023. The company operated 47,022 flights from its hub in Belgrade, as well as two other international airports in Serbia – Niš and Kraljevo, up 4% year over year. When it comes to cargo traffic, last year, the Serbian national airline transported over 7,144 tons of cargo, up 25.14% year over year, marking the best cargo result since the company started operating under its current name.

“When we entered 2024, we were aware of the success achieved in 2023 and we were determined to achieve even better results, focusing on stabilizing our operations and upgrading the services. The strong business results in 2024 demonstrate that we have accomplished what we had set out to do. Over the past 366 days, we have flown to 33 countries across four continents, carrying over 4.4 million passengers. We have also made significant steps to further develop the aviation industry in the Republic of Serbia, including training the first female captain in the company's history and launching a cadet pilot program in collaboration with the Aviation Academy, allowing us to potentially employ ten promising young pilots immediately after completing their training. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated work and commitment of our employees, whose professionalism and dedication contribute daily to achieving goals and advancing our business. Aware that passengers are at the heart of everything we do, we thank them for their trust. As the national carrier, we remain committed to connecting Serbia with the world and building bridges between people, cultures, and economies. We will continue expanding our network, modernizing the fleet, and improving all aspects of our operations to achieve even better results and strengthen the position of Serbia's national airline on the market,” said Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek.

Air Serbia’s fleet saw strong growth last year. Out of a total of 27 aircraft, three are wide-body jets, fourteen are narrow-body and there are also ten turboprops. The company’s third Airbus A330-200, registered as YU-ARD, with special EXPO 2027 livery, arrived in Belgrade in early October and joined Air Serbia’s operations on 18 October on a charter flight between Belgrade and Tokyo. This was the Serbian national airline’s longest non-stop flight time-wise. 

During the past year, Air Serbia continued to expand its network. For the first time, scheduled flights were introduced to Mostar and Guangzhou in the People's Republic of China, while the direct route between Belgrade and Nice was restored after several years. Some of Air Serbia's most sought-after destinations in 2024 within the region and nearby surroundings were Tivat, Podgorica, Istanbul, Athens, Vienna, and Ljubljana. In Western Europe and the Euro-Mediterranean region, the most popular destinations included Zurich, Paris, Larnaca, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, London, and Rome.
 
In terms of long-haul routes, Air Serbia operated flights in 2024 from Guangzhou in the East to New York and Chicago in the West. Aligning with its strategic goals and the company's aspiration to further develop long-haul traffic, a new scheduled destination between Belgrade and Shanghai was introduced to the network at the beginning of 2025.
 
Aiming to provide passengers with an enhanced customer experience and service, in March 2024 Serbia's national airline officially changed its ground handling operator at Belgrade Airport. Instead of Belgrade Airport Company, aircraft handling, passenger and baggage check-in, and boarding for the national airline's flights were taken over by Menzies Aviation, one of the leading global ground handling service providers.
 
Air Serbia's Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport welcomed over 86,000 passengers in 2024, with July being the busiest month, recording over 9,200 guests. The Serbian national airline is also preparing a new, more modern Premium Lounge, set to open soon at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
 
Thanks to the efforts of the City of Belgrade and Air Serbia, Serbia's capital hosted over 250 of the world's top leaders and leading aviation industry experts in November as part of the prestigious CAPA 2024 International Aviation Summit. This reinforced Belgrade's position on the global aviation map, with Air Serbia once again standing out as a key regional player.
 
Air Serbia's achievements were recognized globally in 2024, earning the airline a place in the ATW Hall of Fame alongside the world's most prestigious carriers. The renowned American magazine Global Traveler named it the best airline in Eastern Europe, while its commitment to customer experience was acknowledged by the specialized portal AirHelp, which ranked Air Serbia 10th on its annual list of the Best Airlines in 2024.
 
Towards the end of the year, for the first time in the company's history and in collaboration with the Union of the Blind of Serbia, Air Serbia introduced emergency procedure instructions in Braille on its planes. This initiative aimed to make travel more accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals and encourage them to fly. The partnership with the Union of the Blind of Serbia underscores the national airline's commitment to social responsibility and improving the quality of life for all citizens.
 
You can find more information about the activities of the Serbian national airline on the Air Serbia Media Centre webpage.