CEO of airport operator Aerodrom Ljubljana Zmago Skobir pointed out at today's maiden flight that Ljubljana's Jože Pučnik Airport was importantly strengthening the connection to Belgrade and increasing the choosing of European air traffic hubs for passengers.

He believes the route will attract numerous Slovenians and travellers from beyond Slovenia's borders.

Skobir is happy that despite the difficult economic situation airliners recognised the potential in Slovenia and were expanding their network to offer flights from the Ljubljana airport at competitive prices.

Air Serbia director general Dane Kondić said Ljubljana was an attractive and popular destination for Serbian tourists, so the daily route offered important opportunities for tourism in both countries, while also serving well for business travellers.

The Serbian flag carrier further underlined the high interest in the route both among people visiting Slovenia or Serbia and among passengers that will only be passing through.

Air Serbia was established in October as the successor to Jat Aiways, in which Etihad Airways bought a 49% share earlier this year.

It provides direct flights to 29 European and Mediterranean destinations from Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, while also offering overseas flights to destinations in the Americas, in Australia and Asia as part of its partnership agreements.

The airline will use an ATR72 twin-engine turboprop plane for the flights between Ljubljana and Belgrade and Airbus A319 planes for routes continuing from Belgrade. By 2018, the airline's fleet is to be replaced with a newly ordered set of ten new Airbus A320neo worth US$1m.