MAT hopes for June restart

MAT’s future rests on front wheel

MAT Macedonian Airlines, last Tuesday, on May 26 officially announced that it has suspended all scheduled and charter flights. This is because the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency did not recognise as legitimate the servicing and repair of MAT’s sole Boeing B737-500 in Belgrade a few weeks ago. Thus, the airline’s aircraft is still grounded due to safety reasons. However, MAT authorities announced that the front wheel of the aircraft, which has been deemed unsafe, will be replaced within a month and that the Macedonian carrier will hopefully recommence services by the end of June. MAT is hoping that it will manage to begin charter flights by the beginning of July, which has been a big source of income for the airline in previous years.

Meanwhile, other airlines have been increasing frequencies and capacity to Skopje in order to deal with extra passengers. MAT is currently facing many criminal charges including those from EUROCONTROL for unpaid debt and from the Civil Aviation Agency, also for unpaid debt and selling tickets after the airline was grounded. Negotiations regarding a possible takeover by Jat Airways will be intensified in mid June with the Serbian national carrier still interested in purchasing the Macedonian airline.

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