Serbia and XiamenAir ink strategic partnership, plan flights
XiamenAir and the Serbian government have signed a strategic cooperation agreement this week, with the two sides set to intensify discussions over the potential launch of flights between China and Serbia. The agreement comes two years after the Chinese carrier first began examining the feasibility of serving Belgrade, with previous talks having included a detailed assessment of passenger and cargo flows at Belgrade Airport. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarović signed the memorandum with XiamenAir General Manager Xie Bing in Xiamen. Although the agreement covers a broad range of areas, including aviation, trade, agriculture and tourism, Ms Mesarović confirmed that air services will form part of the next stage of cooperation. She noted that Serbia had been in talks with XiamenAir for an extended period, adding, “We will also discuss establishing flights to Serbia”. The memorandum foresees broader cooperation between Serbia and XiamenAir. Serbian food and beverage products are already being offered by the carrier, with Serbia seeking to expand their presence across the airline’s network. The carrier has established its first overseas “XiamenAir Farm” project in Serbia, focused on raspberries and other agricultural products. XiamenAir said this week that Serbian raspberry juice will subsequently be offered to passengers on its flights. Chinese media have also reported that Serbian wine, honey and plum brandy have featured as part of the airline’s promotion of Serbian products. The agreement was signed during the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which is being held in Xiamen this week. The development comes exactly a year after Belgrade and Xiamen formally became sister cities. XiamenAir, which is part of the China Southern Air Holding group, has a fleet of 211 aircraft and operates more than 400 domestic and international routes. Its long-haul fleet includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which the carrier deploys on its European network. XiamenAir currently maintains nonstop services from its Xiamen base to several European cities, including Amsterdam, Paris and London. A XiamenAir delegation travelled to Serbia this April, holding discussions with the Ministry of Economy, Chinese business representatives and agricultural companies. EX-YU Aviation News