Air Serbia has stopped selling tickets between Belgrade and Guangzhou for travel from December through late March, leaving November 27 as the last scheduled departure on the route. Chief executive Jiri Marek told EX-YU Aviation News the airline is reviewing the long term performance of the service after the Serbia China market shrank 26 percent this year.
If you are booked to fly the route after November, talk to the airline now about moving to another date or itinerary. The Deep Arrival airlines hub collects our route change guides so you can compare nonstop and connecting options before you rebook.
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At a Glance
- Last departure: November 27, 2026, from Belgrade to Guangzhou, under the current schedule.
- Sales pause: December 2026 through late March 2027, with tickets withdrawn from sale.
- Reason stated: a 26 percent year on year fall in the Serbia China market, cited by the airline chief.
- Still operating: Air Serbia twice weekly Belgrade Shanghai, and China Southern twice weekly Guangzhou Belgrade.
- Codeshare context: a reciprocal Air Serbia China Southern partnership covering Serbia China routes began October 16, 2026.
November 27 Last Flight Closes the Booking Window
Air Serbia suspended ticket sales for Belgrade Guangzhou services from December until late March, with the last flight currently scheduled for November 27. The report, published November 14, 2026, says tickets for next summer had not been put on sale at the time of the announcement.
The airline had already trimmed the route during 2026, operating only once weekly for much of the summer before restoring a second weekly frequency at the start of the winter season in late October, EX-YU reports. That restored second frequency lasted only weeks before the December pause decision, which makes November 27 the effective cutoff for nonstop Air Serbia travel on the city pair.
Travelers holding reservations after that date should not assume their itineraries will operate as ticketed. Schedules loaded for December through March show no Air Serbia sale inventory, so the practical step is to contact the airline or your booking agent and ask to be moved to an alternative before remaining seats on other carriers tighten.
CEO Cites 26 Percent Demand Drop Across Serbia China Market
Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, Air Serbia chief executive Jiri Marek said the carrier is reviewing the long term performance and future development of the Guangzhou route. He stressed the move is not connected to the planned Belgrade Miami service starting next May, and said fuel costs are not behind the decision.
Marek pointed instead to market size, saying traffic between Serbia and China is down 26 percent in the year to date through the end of September. He said the decline affects all carriers on the market, not only Air Serbia, and noted that the two other Chinese airlines serving the market face the same pressure.
The airline addressed the weakness during the summer by cutting back to one weekly flight, Marek added. October brought a brief improvement thanks to traffic around the Canton Fair, which helped the route perform well that month, but the broader yearly trend remained negative and forced the winter pause.
Shanghai Service and China Southern Nonstops Stay
Belgrade keeps two other direct China links through the pause. Air Serbia continues to operate twice weekly flights between Belgrade and Shanghai, the report says, giving travelers a same airline one stop path into China with a domestic connection onward to Guangzhou.
China Southern also maintains twice weekly services between Guangzhou and Belgrade, according to the same report, preserving a nonstop option on the exact city pair for travelers who must fly direct. That matters because the suspension covers Air Serbia operated flights, while the Chinese carrier keeps its own schedule in place.
The AeroRoutes schedule record adds useful context: Air Serbia and China Southern launched a reciprocal codeshare partnership from mid October 2026 covering services between Serbia and China, including Belgrade Guangzhou. Travelers rebooking should check whether their original ticket can be reissued onto the codeshare or onto China Southern metal under that framework.
Rebooking Paths for December to March Travel
Start with the simplest question, which is whether you must travel nonstop. If the answer is yes, China Southern nonstop availability is the first place to look, since it is the only carrier still ticketed direct on the pair through the winter.
If a connection works, compare Air Serbia via Shanghai against routings through other European hubs on partner airlines. Same airline connections usually keep baggage and rebooking protection simpler, while third party connections can be cheaper but split responsibility if delays strike. When comparing, weigh total travel time and baggage rules alongside price, since the cheapest split ticket can leave you uncovered during misconnections.
Decision Matrix
What to do
Summer 2027 Decision Still Open
The Guangzhou route launched in September 2024, so the winter pause arrives barely two years into its life. Marek said next summer is still under review and no final decision has been taken, which means travelers cannot yet count on the route returning when the summer season begins in late March.
The chief executive said the outcome will be driven by how the market size develops through the winter. A sustained recovery in Serbia China demand would support restoration, while a flat or falling market would point toward a longer absence or a permanent cut.
For now, treat summer 2027 Guangzhou plans as provisional. Avoid locking in hotels and onward travel that depend on this specific nonstop until Air Serbia confirms the season, and keep Shanghai and China Southern alternatives in your shortlist when costing the trip.
Planning Impact
November 27 is the last scheduled departure. Complete any must fly nonstop Air Serbia travel by this date or move the booking.
December through late March is the gap. Use China Southern nonstop or connect via Shanghai during the months with no Air Serbia sale inventory.
Late March is the decision point. Watch for the airline summer ruling before committing to Guangzhou plans that depend on this route.
Frequently Asked
No direct Air Serbia service is on sale from December through late March, so contact the airline to move your booking. Ask about China Southern nonstop space or a reroute via Shanghai.
The last flight is currently scheduled for November 27, 2026. Travel after that date needs an alternative carrier or routing.
Yes, through China Southern, which maintains twice weekly Guangzhou Belgrade services. Air Serbia has no sale inventory on the pair during the pause.
That decision is still open and will follow market demand, the airline chief says. Tickets for next summer had not gone on sale when the pause was announced.
Look up your reservation on the airline website or through your agent and confirm the operating carrier and date. If the sector shows no Air Serbia service after November 27, ask to be reissued onto China Southern or a Shanghai connection.
The airline cites a 26 percent fall in the Serbia China market this year, not fuel costs or the new Miami service. October traffic around the Canton Fair helped briefly, but the yearly trend stayed negative.