Number of Russians Reaching Europe Through Serbia Spikes by 163% Since Feb. 24

Due to Russia’s invasion, the majority of European countries-imposed sanctions on the transcontinental country, which have been considered among the harshest in the recent years, banning Russian aircraft from operating their airspace; however, citizens of Russia have managed to reach other European countries despite the ban imposed on them, AtoZSerwisPlus.comreports.

Besides, according to the report of I News, wealthy Russians are exploiting travel loopholes in jet destinations like Italy, Cyprus, and America.

A large number of European airlines have registered a decrease in air traffic since the closure of airspace with Russia. But, this is not the case in Serbia.

Unlike other European countries, Serbia did not ban flights from Russia. Moreover, in March this year, the flag carrier of Serbia, Air Serbia, doubled the flights between Moscow and Belgrade, offering a total of 15 flights per week against seven.

The Balkan country refused calls from the European Union and the United States to join in sanctions against Russia.

Recently, a group of nine members of the European Union Parliament addressed a letter to the EU Commission’s President Ursula Von der Leyen, as well as the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, urging the cessation of negotiations with Serbia for the latter’s accession in the European Union.

At present, only Serbia and Belarus have not imposed direct sanctions against Russia, while Serbia’s President, Aleksander Vucic, previously refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But, recently it has been reported that Serbia has increased flights between its capital and Moscow. According to local media reports, prices for the route have marked a notable increase, but tickets have been selling rapidly.

“Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have seen a substantial increase in traffic to and from Russia via Belgrade,” vice-president of insights at travel industry analysts ForwardKeys, Olivier Ponti, pointed out in this regard.

He stressed that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, travel from Europe and the US to Russia through Serbia has marked a total of 474 per cent increase compared to three months before. In addition, Ponti said that travel in the opposite direction has increased by 163 per cent.

According to the company, the most favourite destinations from Serbia are Italy, Cyprus as well as the United States, while the most common destinations heading to Russia through Belgrade include France, Germany, as well as Austria.