NEWS FLASH

From January 1, 2026, Serbia is set to become one of the first countries in the region to commence systematic alcohol testing of flight and cabin crew, the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has announced. It added that the measure further aligns Serbia’s aviation oversight framework with European Union safety standards, ensuring full compatibility with the EASA oversight system. By implementing measures already applied across a number of EU member states, Serbia is continuing to standardise its aviation safety regime in line with EU best practices, the regulator noted.

Testing will be carried out on flight and cabin crew of both domestic and foreign aircraft and carriers operating at airports in Serbia. The checks will be conducted by specially trained and authorised aviation inspectors of the Directorate. “Pursuant to Article 193, paragraph 1 of the Law on Air Transport, a zero-tolerance policy applies to the presence of alcohol among aircraft crew members. Certified and calibrated breath-alcohol testing devices, which have evidentiary value in judicial proceedings, will be used to measure alcohol levels. In cases where a flight or cabin crew member refuses to undergo testing or where the test confirms the presence of alcohol, the aviation inspector will temporarily prohibit the individual from performing crew duties and will notify the competent authorities accordingly”, the Directorate said. It added, “Based on data available to EASA, it has been determined that the Republic of Serbia is among the first countries in the region to begin implementing alcohol testing for aircraft crew, thereby further enhancing safety levels and alignment with European aviation standards”.