Air Serbia’s New Lounge: Patience is a (Necessary) Virtue
Air Serbia’s on a bit of a roll, it seems. They’re beefing up their long flight offerings, and now, they’re planning to polish up their premium experience on the ground in Belgrade with a snazzy new lounge. But when is this place actually going to throw open its doors? That’s the real question here!
We’ve known about the lounge since back in the wild days of late May 2024. The promise then was it’d be ready by the time we were all singing Auld Lang Syne. Well, we’re still twiddling thumbs waiting. Okay, maybe it’s just me who’s overly keen to check it out—I mean, who wouldn’t want an excuse to head back to Belgrade and swing by the spiffy new St. Regis Belgrade hotel too? But let’s look at what’s happening with this elusive lounge.
The Waiting Game for Air Serbia’s Belgrade Lounge
Air Serbia is intent on sprucing up Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport with a brand-new lounge, boasting a respectable 630 square meters (about 6,780 square feet) of space. It’s meant to accommodate up to 160 guests, a decent offering for weary travelers. You’ll find it tucked near gate C10, prime real estate for those in transit.
Details are thin on the ground when it comes to what delights await inside, although there’s talk of runway views and dual areas dedicated to service and chilling out. The design nods to flight paths, featuring Air Serbia’s iconic colors.
A tantalizing dream or something tangible soon? Here’s more from Boško Rupić, the airline’s General Manager Commercial and Strategy:
“Opening our new Premium Lounge reflects our unwavering promise to fine-tune the passenger experience. The space aims for ultimate comfort—a sophisticated ambience with a wide array of culinary delights, both local and international. Our dedicated team pledges personalized service to meet every passenger’s need.”
Alright, so when will we actually see this new lounge come to life? It was supposed to be welcoming guests before we rang in 2025, yet here we are, inquiries sent but unanswered. Turns out, a little bird at EX-YU Aviation had a word with Serbia’s CEO, shedding some light, sort of…
Sadly, it’s not the news we were hoping for. The lounge’s construction hasn’t even started, thanks to delays with the airport’s permit process. Apparently, this permit tug-of-war is holding up many projects in the terminal, not just the lounge. Air Serbia is all geared up to start when they get the nod. The construction timeframe is thought to be about three moons once they do begin, which, if we’re optimists, hints at a very late 2025 debut. Or perhaps even later!
Out with the Old, In with the New
Once this lounge is good to go, it’ll take over from the current, somewhat smaller, Air Serbia lounge from 2015, which is the airline’s exclusive property at the airport. I’ve spent a moment or two in the existing lounge—nice enough, sure, but:
- No natural light—windowless and devoid of sunshine.
- Quality used to be better when Air Serbia had Etihad behind it; now, not so much.
- The airline’s growth outstripped the lounge’s modest size.
- At one time, Priority Pass members enjoyed access, but as Air Serbia’s operations ramped up, this became a thing of the past. Curious to see if the new digs will welcome them back.
Bottom Line: What’s Next?
Air Serbia is committed to rolling out this new lounge at Belgrade Airport, offering about twice as much space as the old one, complete with actual views of the runway. Let’s hope they up their game with improved service quality too since they’re on a mission to ramp up their long-haul routes. Here’s to sunny days ahead, if the permits play along!
The only stumbling block now? Those pesky timelines. While the lounge was a big to-do for late 2024, the paperwork dance has put a pause on that. Construction should only take a short three months once it’s underway.
Meanwhile, if you’re dreaming of a similar escape, check out the Val Seny ski resort, a perfect spot for a refreshing getaway while waiting for Air Serbia’s latest lounge to finally open its doors.