Wizz Air to stay in Serbia after regulator delays disputed rule until 28 March 2027

Serbia's Civil Aviation Directorate has postponed the application of a disputed regulatory provision that threatened the continued presence of low-cost carrier Wizz Air in the country, extending the deadline for implementation to 28 March 2027.

The amendment to the rule was adopted on 25 September, published in the Official Gazette on 28 September and comes into force the day after publication — on 29 September 2026.

What changed

The regulation introduced earlier this year contained an article (Article 3) setting new conditions for permits that foreign air carriers must obtain to operate international flights to and from Serbia. The Civil Aviation Directorate has now added a transitional provision — Article 15a — which expressly delays the application of Article 3 until 28 March 2027.

The decision came days after the joint committee meeting of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) and partner states, held in Brussels on 22 and 23 September, where regulatory disputes were discussed. On the margins of that event, bilateral meetings between Serbian officials and representatives of the European Commission reportedly took place. Wizz Air has involved the European Commission and Serbian citizens in the dispute.

The Directorate defended the rule change in an official statement: "The regulatory changes do not represent a restriction of traffic rights, but the regulation of a framework that equally applies to all air carriers operating on the Serbian market." The authority also said no carrier has been denied the right to operate flights between Serbia and EU member states, nor barred from launching new routes in line with existing international agreements.

Wizz Air has mobilized public support and submitted a petition to the Directorate with more than 21,000 signatures from Serbian citizens calling for the preservation of its base in Belgrade and for dialogue with state institutions. The airline opened its Belgrade base on 20 May 2010; from there four aircraft serve 25 destinations. Wizz Air employs more than 150 people in Serbia and carried nearly two million passengers on routes to and from the country last year.

Photo: press material from the event