No growth in June

No improvement at Jat

Despite its hub airport, Belgrade, hosting this year’s largest sporting event, Jat Airways did not manage to increase passenger figures as the global financial crisis drags on. Jat transported a total of 108.959 passengers in June which is 23% less than in June 2008. The average cabin occupancy rate stood at 57%, compared to 64% in June 2008. To Jat’s most important market, Montenegro, flight operations were decreased by a hefty 33%, naturally decreasing passenger figures between Belgrade, Podgorica and Tivat by 44%. Jat’s Euro-Mediterranean services also saw a 16% passenger decrease this June when compared to last year. Jat’s B737-300 fleet spent the most time in the air. In the first six months of this year Jat transported a total of 451.779 passengers which is 22% less than the same period last year.

The airline also reported that it suspended flights to Dubrovnik because it was not given enough guarantees that the flights would be given the green light by the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, in Belgrade last week. The Croatian aviation authority says it gave enough assurances to the Serbian carrier.