Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport was forced to empty the entire terminal yesterday afternoon after passengers of an Air Serbia flight arriving from Skopje were bussed from a remote platform to the wrong gate and mixed with departing passengers. It was done. As a result, in accordance with the rules and regulations, all passengers who have passed through the security checkpoint within the terminal are forced to go through the security checkpoint again, with large A long queue occurred. As a result, 17 flights were significantly delayed yesterday evening and eight were canceled, which affected flights departing this morning. All operations were halted for more than three hours.
Yesterday evening, Belgrade Airport said in a statement on its social media channels: “Due to an error in the duty to move passengers at the airport terminal, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is carrying out an emergency security inspection of the building, which will result in a safety inspection of the building. “It will be destroyed,” he said. There is a possibility of delays on a certain number of flights in the evening and morning waves. ” Air Serbia was even more critical in its own statement, saying: “Due to errors in the regular monitoring of the flow of arriving passengers by the competent service agency of Belgrade Airport, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia has ordered an extraordinary inspection of the airport.” Stated. Departure Terminal.” It added: “Air Serbia regrets the inconvenience caused and would like to thank our passengers for their understanding. For passengers whose departure time is delayed by more than two hours, the Serbian national airline will provide refreshments. However, all passengers who are unable to connect will be transferred to alternative flights by the airline.
Commenting on the issue, Velika Jecimenica, assistant to the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, said: “The passenger who arrived from Skopje at 16:16 took the bus to the wrong gate, entered the transfer zone and was unable to meet the passengers passing through. It was mixed,” he said. Through security.According to operator’s request [VINCI]At 17:22, the Ministry of Interior suspended immigration operations for departing passengers. “The Ministry of Construction and Transport will direct a thorough investigation, after which legal action will be initiated against the operator and those responsible under the Air Traffic Law.” The results will be made known to the public. The injured airlines will have to settle their compensation claims with the airport operator responsible for the incident. ”
The blunder, caused by a lack of staff and coordination, prompted the Serbian Directorate General of Civil Aviation to investigate delays and flight disruptions at Belgrade Airport that occurred in early January this year after several days of mild snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. This happened just over a week after. The regulator accused airport operator VINCI of failing to take adequate measures, primarily regarding de-icing services. VINCI has been frequently criticized for its ground handling operations in Belgrade, including frequent delays last summer when it was unprepared for record traffic. In addition, significant delays have previously been caused by baggage belts at the airport failing or construction workers accidentally cutting the airport’s power lines.
Despite new facilities opening in the past two years, passengers still complain about rude ground staff, quality of construction work, cleanliness, lack of food and beverage options, limited lounge hours, and airport operators. It’s getting higher. The 24-hour airport has retail stores and eateries, as well as unlicensed taxi drivers roaming the arrivals hall.
