For the penniless flyer, the map of Europe might as well have a big swirling space void where Serbia is – direct flights from the UK are few, and most indirect flights involve either Alitalia or Lufthansa. Trains can be problematic thanks to inconvenient mountains and the wheezing spectre of yesterday's politics, but a modest wind of change is blowing, one that'll potentially invite the Serbian capital into the warm, lager-sozzled embrace of the budget airline community.

Hungarian-based regional powerhouse Wizz Air started flying between London Luton and Belgrade twice a week last summer, but as of 2011 there's a pretty good chance that not only will their fares go down, but more carriers will start making the run as Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport lowers its service charges by 7% and expands its capacity in keeping with its epic 15% boost in passenger numbers in 2010 – no doubt the most air traffic they've seen since 1999 filled the sky with shrapnel. Though fares ultimately rest in the cold, damp hands of the airlines themselves, one estimate is that it could reduce ticket prices by a saliva-worthy 100 euros, pretty exciting stuff when Wizz's cheapest existing flight from London Luton is a reasonable £156 (including blahdiblah).

Belgrade has long been making noises about wanting to echo the tourist boom of its Westerly neighbours, and in 2011 it just might – provided of course airlines are prepared to pass their substantial savings onto their customers.