Wizz Air. Photo: Shutterstock Wizz Air will keep its base in Belgrade this winter after Serbian authorities postponed the aviation measure that had threatened the airline’s local operations.
The airline welcomed the decision in a statement posted Tuesday, September 29. saying the postponement protects passenger choice and connectivity while safeguarding the jobs of more than 200 Wizz Air employees based in Belgrade.
The dispute has been developing for several months after Serbia introduced changes to the rules governing foreign airlines. Wizz Air had warned that the new requirements could force it to close its Belgrade base from the start of the winter season.
The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has now delayed application of the disputed provision until March 28, 2027. The amended regulation was published in Serbia’s Official Gazette on September 28 and entered into force the following day.
Wizz Air said the decision means it will remain in Belgrade during the coming winter, although the underlying dispute has not been permanently resolved.
The airline also highlighted the public support it received during the dispute, saying more than 25,000 people signed a petition backing the continuation of its Belgrade base.
Wizz Air has operated in Serbia since 2010 and says it has carried more than 14 million passengers to and from the country. The airline also said its Belgrade operations support more than 200 direct jobs.
Earlier this year, Wizz Air warned that closing the base could affect its network from Belgrade and reduce the number of direct connections available to Serbian passengers. The carrier has continued to argue that the rules should provide fair and transparent conditions for foreign airlines.
For now, the postponement removes the immediate threat to the Belgrade base during the winter season. Wizz Air said it hopes the additional time will result in a permanent solution that supports competition and allows the airline to continue investing in Serbia.
“We stay committed to Serbia,” the airline said in its latest statement.