In the airspace under the jurisdiction of SMATSA llc, approximately 770,000 IFR flights were realized in 2022, representing an increase of 64% compared to 2021 (about a 2% increase compared to 2019, the last reference year before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic).
In 2022, Serbia and Montenegro, taken together, stand out as a few of the European countries where air traffic recovery was observed, indicating growth compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The increase in the number of flights in the airspace under the jurisdiction of SMATSA LLC was influenced by the conflict in Ukraine, specifically the closure of Ukrainian airspace and parts of neighboring countries’ airspace to Ukraine. This led to the rerouting of traffic towards the region to which SMATSA LLC’s airspace belongs. In the summer season of 2022, a peak day was recorded with 3,400 IFR flights, and during the busiest peak hour of the season, 241 IFR flights were realized.
In 2023, the growth of air traffic continued both in Europe and the region. On the peak day, approximately 3,700 IFR flights were realized in the airspace under the jurisdiction of SMATSA llc, more than ever before, and for the first time ever, a month was noted when more than 100,000 IFR flights were serviced. By the end of the year, it is projected that around 890,000 IFR flights will be realized, representing an increase of about 16% compared to 2022.
Even in conditions of increased traffic volume, SMATSA LLC continues to provide services safely, regularly, and expeditiously to all participants in air traffic, considering environmental protection.