Wizz Air urges Serbian authorities to resolve regulatory dispute threatening Belgrade base

Wizz Air has urged Serbian authorities to promptly resolve a regulatory dispute that the airline says is endangering its base in Belgrade, creating uncertainty for hundreds of employees and millions of passengers.

Regulatory changes, Brussels scrutiny and passenger impact

The carrier said it has invested hundreds of millions of euros in its Serbian operations and has carried more than 14 million passengers. Wizz Air added that this summer alone roughly 700,000 passengers travelled on more than 3,000 flights to and from Serbia.

Wizz Air warned that regulatory changes introduced this year threaten the sustainability of its Belgrade base. The company also noted that the European Commission is already examining whether the amendments to Serbian aviation rules comply with Serbia's obligations under the Agreement on the Common European Airspace.

Public concern has grown: about 25,000 people signed a petition asking for protection of Wizz Air’s base and operations in Belgrade.

Wizz Air's Chief Corporate Officer, Oveyn Jones, stressed that the company is not seeking special treatment but equal conditions and the ability to compete for Serbian passengers on the merits of price, service and network. "Protecting one company from competition ultimately protects nobody. Competition brings lower ticket prices, more destinations, better services and greater connectivity. Passengers in Serbia deserve that choice," Jones concluded.

The airline called on Serbian authorities to act quickly to remove the legal uncertainty so staff and passengers are no longer left in limbo.

Photo: press material from the event