Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport uses the code BEG, and LYBE in the ICAO system. It is the largest airport in Serbia and the home base of Air Serbia, with close to fifty direct destinations, from Tivat and Podgorica to New York and Guangzhou.

This page covers what people usually need before they travel: the codes, how far it is from the city, how to get there, when check in and the gate close, and where to watch flights in real time.

We are Aerogaga, a travel agency in Nis, Serbia, selling tickets since 2008. The rest of this site is in Serbian.

Belgrade airport at a glance

The airport is Air Serbia's hub. Its aircraft start and end their day here, which is also why most connecting itineraries through the region change planes in Belgrade.

Belgrade airport arrivals and departures today

The boards below are live and in English. They pull data straight from the airport rather than from a timetable that goes stale, and they cover the next 12 hours in local Belgrade time.

For a full day, filtering and a seat by seat view, the same data is on our two Serbian pages:

• Arrivals, aerodrom Nikola Tesla, with flight number, origin, airline, gate and status
• Departures, aerodrom Nikola Tesla, with the same for outbound flights

Those two pages are in Serbian and show destination names in Serbian, so Vienna reads Bec and Bucharest reads Bukurest. The board above uses English names. Flight numbers, airline names, gates and times are the same in any language.

Codeshare duplicates are filtered out on both boards, so a single aircraft appears once, under the code of the airline that actually operates it, rather than four times under four partner codes.

To follow one specific aircraft in the air, use flight tracking.

Getting from Belgrade airport to the city

Six public transport lines serve the airport and five of them are free. City transport in Belgrade has been free of charge since 1 January 2025.

If you do not mind where you get off, line 72 is the simplest choice. It costs nothing and stops in the centre. The A1 minibus is the only paid option, but it runs straight to Slavija and has room for suitcases. Bring the exact fare in dinars: it is paid to the driver, in cash, and cards are not accepted.

Full timetables and the night service are on our Serbian page about transport to Belgrade airport.

Check in and boarding deadlines

The airport advises arriving at least two hours before an international flight. That is a recommendation rather than a rule, but the queue at security tends to prove it right.

Two deadlines are firm, and after them the flight leaves without you.

Other airlines set their own deadlines, so check your ticket. Online check in usually closes earlier than the desk, and if you travel with hand baggage only it is the shortest way through the building.

Terminals, gates and the drop off zone

The airport has two terminals joined into a single building. Your airline tells you on the boarding pass which one you use, and security is shared, so in practice you walk through one building.

Gate numbers are written as a letter and a number, for example A07 or C10, and they can change after check in. Check the screens inside before you settle down.

If someone is dropping you off, the zone next to the terminal is free for the first five minutes. That is enough to unload a suitcase, not enough to wait.

Airlines flying from Belgrade

Baggage rules differ from airline to airline and are the most common source of an unexpected charge at the airport. Our Serbian page on baggage rules by airline lists them side by side, and what you may carry into the cabin is on liquids and items allowed on board.

Frequently asked questions

What is the airport code for Belgrade?

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport uses the IATA code BEG and the ICAO code LYBE. BEG is the code you will see on tickets, boarding passes and baggage tags.

What is Belgrade airport called?

Its full name is Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, named after the inventor Nikola Tesla. In Serbian it is Aerodrom Nikola Tesla, and locals usually just say aerodrom or Surcin, after the suburb it stands in.

How far is Belgrade airport from the city centre?

Between 18 and 20 kilometres west of the centre, in Surcin. By public transport the ride takes 30 to 40 minutes, longer in rush hour.

How do I get from Belgrade airport to the city?

Six public transport lines run from the terminal. Five of them are free. Line 72 goes to Zeleni Venac in the centre, line 600 to Beograd Centar railway station, and the A1 minibus to Slavija Square.

Is public transport in Belgrade really free?

Yes. City transport in Belgrade has been free of charge since 1 January 2025. The only paid connection from the airport is the A1 minibus, at 400 dinars, cash only, paid to the driver on board.

How early should I arrive at Belgrade airport?

The airport advises two hours before an international flight. With Air Serbia the check in desk closes 45 minutes before departure and the gate closes 20 minutes before, so two hours leaves real margin.

How many terminals does Belgrade airport have?

Two, joined into one building. Your airline tells you on the boarding pass which one you use, and security is shared, so the distinction matters less than it sounds.

Where can I see live arrivals and departures?

On our live boards, which pull data straight from the airport: arrivals and departures. The destination names there are in Serbian.