Give a little – get a littleUPDATE: Jat dumps Dubrovnik

Problem solved

Serbian and Croatian officials met yesterday to discuss the issue of licenses which has developed into a mini scandal at the beginning of the month when Serbia’s Jat Airways resumed flights from Belgrade to Dubrovnik after 18 years, only to be ceased after a week due to the fact that the airline did not attain the needed license from Croatian authorities. After a media storm which ensued in Serbia the country’s ministry of infrastructure and the Croatian ministry of sea, transport and infrastructure met yesterday in Belgrade and talks will be finalised today when Jat is expected to receive a license to operate flights from Belgrade to Dubrovnik and Pula while Croatia Airlines will be given a license to operate flights from Zagreb to Belgrade and Niš, although it is up to the Croatian national carrier if it will take up the offer. From Wednesday all negotiations regarding services between the two countries will be in the hands of the two national carriers. Serbian officials say that that the air traffic agreement could be initiated as early as this week, but that this depends on the readiness of both sides. “The negotiation strategy not only with Croatia, but with all other countries as well, is to make one institutional and legal framework through political negotiations and then, via commercial agreements, between carriers practically identify which lines are justified commercially and see whether they want to fly them”, the Serbian official said.

Another issue to be discussed is the matter the Croatian ministry has in regards to Serbian air space. It wants Serbia to allow aircraft landing at Osijek Airport to use Serbian airspace when landing as if it were Croatian airspace. Due to the close proximity of Osijek to the Serbian boarder it would be extremely beneficial to the airport’s authorities. The Croatian side stated that this was on e of the main topics of discussion, but it remains unknown whether this issue will be resolved completely in the coming hours.

Croatian and Serbian traffic experts will talk about regulating relations by water, railway and highway travel as well, specifically regarding licenses for highway transport. Croatia and Serbia will regulate air travel between each other for the time in history.

UPDATE

Jat has received a temporary license to resume flights to Duborvnik during this summer season however the airline has chosen not to return to Dubrovnik this summer. Flights to Pula continue as normal. The Osijek airspace issue has also been resolved and the details will be finalised next Monday in Belgrade when members of the Croatian Airspace Control Agency arrive . Croatia Airlines can commence flights to Belgrade if it wishes to do so.