BELGRADE, SERBIA / BARI, ITALY – July 18, 2025 – Air Serbia is significantly enhancing its connectivity to Italy, announcing the upgrade of its popular Belgrade-Bari service from seasonal summer flights to a year-round operation. This strategic move, effective with the start of the winter flight schedule on October 26, 2025, underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the Italian market and promoting year-round tourism to the Puglia region.
The route will initially operate twice weekly during the winter season, on Thursdays and Sundays, utilizing the ATR72-600 aircraft. During the peak summer season, the service currently runs three times a week. Tickets for the expanded year-round service are already available for purchase, offering travelers greater flexibility and accessibility.
Boosting Connectivity and De-seasonalizing Tourism
This upgrade marks a pivotal development for both Air Serbia and Bari Airport. Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Bari Airport operator Aeroporti di Puglia, expressed strong satisfaction with the agreement. “This strategic decision reflects our desire to boost tourist flows to our region even outside of the peak season, with a view to deseasonalising and promoting the Puglia region,” Vasile stated.
The year-round connectivity is particularly significant for Puglia’s tourism industry, aiming to attract visitors beyond the traditional summer months. This aligns with a growing trend in the aviation sector to cater to off-season travel, which offers benefits such as fewer crowds, potentially lower prices, and a more authentic cultural experience.
Strategic Importance for Air Serbia
For Air Serbia, extending the Bari service to a year-round operation solidifies its robust Italian network. With this addition, Air Serbia will maintain flights to a total of seven destinations in Italy this winter, including major cities like Rome, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Naples, and Venice. This extensive coverage positions Air Serbia as a key player in connecting the Balkans with diverse regions across Italy.
Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia, had previously hinted at such extensions, noting promising opportunities for winter operations. “This winter, for example, we see some promising opportunities. Last year, we had already evaluated certain destinations for winter extension, but unexpected maintenance issues limited our capacity. Now, we’re seriously considering extending some routes, possibly even year-round, where market conditions allow,” Marek stated earlier this year.
Religious Tourism and Regional Ties
The Belgrade-Bari route holds particular cultural and spiritual importance, especially for pilgrims devoted to Saint Nicholas, whose relics are preserved in Bari. Antonio Maria Vasile highlighted this aspect, noting, “This flight represents a concrete response to a consolidated and growing demand, especially among the faithful from Serbia and Russia.” He further emphasized Belgrade’s role as one of the few airports still connected to the Russian Federation, making the flight strategically vital for religious tourism.
Air Serbia’s expanded service to Bari is a clear indication of its ongoing commitment to developing its network, strengthening regional ties, and catering to evolving passenger demands, setting the stage for increased travel and tourism between Serbia and Italy throughout the year.
