Air Serbia has been growing considerably in recent years, including expanding its long haul capacity. In light of that, the airline will be improving its premium ground experience in Belgrade, with the opening of a new lounge.
The question is, when will it actually open? The concept was first announced in late May 2024, with a planned opening by the end of 2024. However, the lounge still isn’t open, so I want to take an updated look in this post. Maybe I care more than the average person, as I’ve been considering a return to Belgrade, with a stay at the new St. Regis Belgrade, and I’d love to check out the new lounge as well.
New Air Serbia Lounge Belgrade opening eventually
Air Serbia plans to open a new lounge at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG). The lounge will be 630 square meters (~6,780 square feet), will have the capacity for up to 160 guests, and will be located near gate C10.
Exact details about the lounge amenities remain limited, though Air Serbia claims that the new lounge will feature views of the runway, and that it will be divided into two zones, described as “service and relaxation.” The lounge will also be “dominated by fluid forms inspired by flight paths, as well as the recognizable colours and symbols of Air Serbia.”
Here’s how Boško Rupić, Air Serbia’s General Manager Commercial and Strategy, describes this development:
“The opening of the new Premium Lounge is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing passenger experience and providing top-notch comfort and service. The new, exclusive space will be designed to offer maximum comfort. Lounge guests will be able to enjoy a sophisticated ambience and a rich selection of food and beverages, including freshly prepared local and international specialities, while our professional and courteous team, as always, will be available to passengers to provide personalized service and meet all their needs and requests.”
The question is, when will the lounge open? The plan was for it to welcome its first guests before the end of 2024. I’ve reached out to Air Serbia multiple times for clarification, but haven’t heard back. That being said, EX-YU Aviation recently had an interview with Air Serbia’s CEO, and asked about this lounge.
The status update isn’t terribly positive. As it turns out, construction on the new lounge hasn’t even started. Air Serbia is ready to proceed with the project, but the issue is that the airline is still waiting on the airport to secure the necessary permits, which is a problem reportedly impacting a lot of construction in the terminal.
The lounge design has been established, and once the green light is given in the form of the permit, construction will begin. The expectation is that the build will take around three months. So I suspect at this point, the lounge will likely open in very late 2025, at the earliest. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if it slips further.
This will replace Air Serbia’s existing lounge
Once Air Serbia’s new lounge opens, it will replace the carrier’s existing lounge at the airport, which is only around half the size. The current lounge opened in 2015, and is the only airline-operated lounge at the airport.
I’ve reviewed the current Air Serbia Lounge in Belgrade. Physically it’s a reasonably nice lounge. However:
- It has no natural light or windows
- While the soft product was good back when Etihad had a stake in Air Serbia, unfortunately the lounge quality has deteriorated over the years
- With how much Air Serbia has grown, the lounge simply wasn’t large enough, given its small size
- Interestingly the lounge used to be open to Priority Pass members, but no longer is, given how Air Serbia has increased operations; I’m curious if the new, larger lounge participates in Priority Pass
Bottom line
Air Serbia is opening a new lounge at Belgrade Airport. The lounge will be around twice the size of the current lounge, and will feature runway views and a more modern design. I’m happy to see Air Serbia improving its premium ground experience in Belgrade, especially with how much the carrier is expanding its long haul operations. Here’s to hoping that the soft product is improved as well.
The only catch is the timeline. While the lounge was supposed to open by the end of 2024, construction hasn’t even started, due to lack of permits. Once construction can start, the project is expected to take around three months.
What do you make of the Air Serbia’s plans for a new lounge at Belgrade Airport?
