Balkan Airways

Turkish turning Jat into Balkan Airways?

According to Sulejman Ugljanin, a minister without a portfolio within the Serbian Government, Turkish Airlines is ready to turn Jat Airways into Balkan Airways which would, besides Serbia, be based in several EX-YU countries. Ugljanin says that Turkish Airlines is ready to start talks with Jat from March 1. “There have been no terms or conditions set by Turkish Airlines”, Ugljanin was quoted by the Tanjug news agency. The minister returned from a visit to Turkey where he held talks with several members of the Turkish Government. However, it should be noted that minister Ugljanin is notorious for sensationalist announcements and forming deals with Turkish companies which have not been approved by the Serbian Government.

On the other hand, sources close to Jat Airways say that Turkish Airlines is no longer interested in purchasing Jat. In fact, the Serbian Government will give guarantees for another multi million Euro loan to the Serbian carrier in 2011 to buy Airbus aircraft and does not plan to sell the airline for at least another 2 years. The Serbian Government as a whole is the only one authorised to make decisions about Jat’s future, the daily “Danas” reports, making Ugljanin’s comments more implausible.

Analysts have concluded that the announcement made by Ugljanin is a political stunt and that both the Ministry for Infrastructure (in charge of aviation in Serbia) and Jat Airways were caught by surprise by the recent announcement.