New fleet essential by 2012

Jat needs new aircraft to compete with others

The new head of Jat Airways’ Flight Operations Department, Vladimir Banjac, has told Jat’s Media Centre that it is essential the airline receives new aircraft by January 1, 2012 if it wishes to keep flying. “Without the purchase of new aircraft this year, or at the latest by the end of 2011, Jat Airways won’t have a chance to compete with other airlines from abroad and the region”. Banjac says. He believes that with new aircraft the airline could create a more ambitious timetable. Jat is hoping to finalise a 13 year feud with Airbus and receive 4 Airbus A319s, although the arrival of the aircraft wouldn’t begin until 2012. Banjac states that if Jat were to receive Airbus aircraft, the airline’s pilots would be trained for the new type within 2 months.

Last week one of Jat’s ATR72s, which has been grounded for more than 2 years, returned to the airline’s mainstream fleet. The Serbian Government has guaranteed a 140 million Euro loan to Jat for the purchase of new aircraft in 2011.

Jat’s acting CEO, Vladimir Ognjenović, told the Serbian public broadcaster, RTS, that the company is recovering. In January it sold 11.500 promotional discounted tickets and saw income increase by 27%.