Airbus deal to be finalised?

Jat hopes for new aircraft in 2012

After 13 years, it is possible that Jat Airways’ outstanding order for 8 Airbus A319s will be revised within the next few days. Serbian President Boris Tadić is on an official state visit to France and is set to meet his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday. Economic cooperation is high on the agenda and a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries is expected to be signed. It was announced months ago that the order for the aircraft could be revised during the visit. According to sources close to Jat Airways, the airline believes it could reach a deal for 4 Airbus A319s and additional ATR72-500 aircraft. The ATR aircraft manufacturer is partly owned by Airbus’ parent company EADS. If the deal is revised, the airline expects to receive its first aircraft at the start of 2012. The Serbian Government has guaranteed a 180 million Euro bank loan to Jat for the purchase of new aircraft in 2011.

The Serbian national airline is constantly experiencing fleet shortage problems. The recent suspension of services to some North African destinations, due to political upheaval in the region, has worked in Jat’s favour fleet wise. The airline’s acting CEO recently told Serbian media that the airline is operating with a fleet of 13 aircraft this summer. Europe’s first Boeing 737-300, operating for Jat, will enter its 26^th year of service for the Serbian carrier this summer.

JAT Yugoslav Airlines ordered 8 Airbus A319s in 1998, a deal worth 580 million American Dollars. The politically motivated order did not suit the airline’s needs at the time. Although JAT deposited over 23.5 million Dollars, none of the aircraft were ever delivered. Jat Airways has been trying to revise the agreement ever since without much success with Airbus unwilling allow Jat to defer the order onto another airline. However, late last year a breakthrough was made during talks between the two sides and both have agreed to make compromises.