UPDATED: Successful loss

Jat’s flight academy to be separated from the airline

Serbia’s Jat Airways has posted a half yearly loss of 14.9 million Euros. Despite being a significant figure, the results are better than expected and the year end loss is expected to total 21 million Euros, rather than the 25 million initially expected. Jat’s management believes that the airline will post a profit by the end of 2010. In order for the profit to be achieved the airline’s new business strategy suggests that 550 employees must leave the airline, which would leave approximately 950 people employed by Jat. 800 is the optimal amount of people needed to work for the airline, according to the managment. The strategy also suggests that Jat’s distinguished flight academy in Vršac, Jat’s agricultural aviation sector and the airline’s medicinal aviation sector should be separated from the airline itself. This news has not been welcomed by pilots.

Jat’s CEO, Srđan Radovanović has announced that Jat will be investing significant means into a new marketing campaign which will be unveiled to the public at the end of the year. He also said that he will “think about” the airline’s rebranding which was suggested by Jat’s now disgraced former CEO, Saša Vlaisavljević.

UPDATE

Jat’s technical division, Jat Tehnika, has gone on strike. The strike began at 15.00 (3pm) but all Jat flights departing this afternoon and evening have received a technical safety clearance, meaning that no flights will be affected today. For full news regarding his issue, visit the blog tomorrow.