Belgrade airport adds 15 summer routes, plus flight to Canada

Planning a beach holiday and wondering whether you even need a connection? This summer, probably not. Belgrade airport is adding 15 new routes for the summer season, which noticeably widens the network of direct flights out of Serbia. For travelers, that means less waiting around foreign terminals and more time on the sand.

The headline news is not your usual summer beach run. Air Serbia has launched a direct flight to Canada, restoring the air link between Serbia and Canada after a gap of more than three decades. For the diaspora and for families split across the ocean, that changes how summer travel works. Instead of connecting through Vienna, Frankfurt or Istanbul, there is now an option to fly straight out of Belgrade.

Which new destinations join the summer schedule?

If you are after the sea, your choice just got wider. New seasonal destinations include Santorini, Alicante and Tenerife, three names travelers have been searching for over the years and which previously usually required a connection. Santorini covers Greek romance and volcanic beaches, Alicante opens up Spain’s Costa Blanca coastline, and Tenerife reaches the Canary Islands and an Atlantic summer that stretches well beyond peak season.

Our recommendation is to treat the new routes as both an opportunity and a test of patience. Freshly launched routes often carry friendlier prices in their first weeks as airlines fill the seats, so the early sales period is worth watching. On the other hand, frequency tends to be lower than on established routes, which means fewer departure slots per week. Before you book, check that the flight days actually fit your holiday plan, because on seasonal routes that is not every day.

The advantage of a direct flight is very concrete. Direct flights from Belgrade now reach popular beach destinations in about 90 minutes, a difference you really feel with small children, with older travelers, or when you simply do not want to lose half a day to transfers. Fewer connections also mean less risk of a missed link and lost luggage.

What does all of this mean for travelers from Serbia?

For anyone planning a summer trip out of Serbia, a wider network is good news, but it calls for deciding a little earlier. Belgrade to Mykonos is among the most popular summer routes, with prices that climb quickly as the departure date approaches. That pattern repeats on sought-after island destinations, so booking early here is not a slogan but a saving.

Here is a quick step-by-step guide. First, draw up a shortlist of two or three destinations rather than just one, since that gives you room to catch a better date. Second, track prices on the new routes during the first weeks of sales, when they are usually at their lowest. Third, if you are traveling as a family, favor the days with a direct flight to avoid needless transfers. And fourth, if you are eyeing Canada, plan earlier than you would for European destinations, because transatlantic routes carry lower frequency and fewer open seats. Fifth, plan the ride to the terminal as well, especially for early morning departures, when a Belgrade airport transfer with a driver is one option alongside your own car and the parking fee.

Personal experience from past seasons says the biggest payoff comes from being flexible about your departure date. Shifting by a day or two can make a noticeable difference in price, especially on routes to the Greek islands. A wider flight offering gives you exactly that flexibility, and it is up to you to use it in time.

Which of the new destinations tops your list this summer, the beach 90 minutes away or the long-awaited flight to Canada?