Déjà vu?

Adria Airways CEO, Klemen Boštjančič, has announced that if Adria Airways’ pending privatisation process fails, a single airline for the former Yugoslavia will need to be created as no carrier in the region has the chance to survive in the current economic climate. “If the sale of Adria to a foreign partner fails, then our last chance is for regional integration with Croatia Airlines, Jat Airways and Montenegro Airlines”, Boštjančič told one of Slovenia’s most popular web portals - “SiOL”. The news comes a week after the Association of European Airlines urged Adria Airways to take a leading role in the integration of the former Yugoslav aviation market.

Adria’s CEO notes that Brussels has already shown support for the creation of a single airline for the former Yugoslavia. “Croatia will soon become an EU member and Serbia and Montenegro are not far off”, Boštjančič adds. However, Adria will first attempt to put itself on the market to foreign airlines. By the end of the month a financial consultant will be chosen to assist the Slovenian carrier with its privatisation process. While Boštjančič says that there is interest in Adria, he notes, “We and the government have to do everything in order for Adria Airways to get a new owner but I do not know whether we will succeed”, adding that regional cooperation must develop simultaneously with the privatisation process. Currently, many bigger players in Europe such as LOT Polish Airlines and Czech Airlines are awaiting privatisation.

Adria Airways already enjoys cooperation with airlines in the former Yugoslavia. It has code share agreements with both Jat Airways and Montenegro Airlines. Klemen Boštjančič says that regional integration could fail out of purely political reasons. All of the national EX-YU airlines ended 2011 with multi million euro losses. Once again the debate over a single national carrier for the countries of the former Yugoslavia reopens, 21 years after its break up.

Summer changes for Croatia Airlines and Jat

On March 25 the 2012 summer season begins. Croatia Airlines and Jat Airways will both introduce new routes and increase frequencies.

Croatia Airlines has kept its summer frequencies out of Zagreb similar to last year, however, there will be some small cuts to flights in the EX-YU region. The Croatian national carrier will cut one flight each to Priština, Sarajevo and Skopje. Istanbul will see an addition of three weekly flights compared to last summer season. The airline will introduce a new service from Split to Belgrade, Rijeka to Barcelona and new flights from Zadar to Frankfurt and Paris.

Jat Airways will be increasing frequencies to most key destinations. Services to Moscow and Zuirch will see a boost of three flights with the two cities to be served ten times per week. Flights to Brussels have now been separated from the Amsterdam service and passengers will be offered a total of five weekly flights. The airline introduces new destinations this summer to London Gatwick, Malta, Pula and Split.

By clicking on the links below, you can view the 2012 summer season changes in more detail. Note that the tables display the peak weekly frequencies for each destination during the summer (keep this in mind especially for domestic flights within Croatia and flights between Belgrade - Tivat - Podgorica as some services operate only for several weeks). Over the next week the 2012 summer season changes for Adria Airways, B&H Airlines and Montenegro Airlines will also be published.

Croatia Airlines • Jat Airways

Scandinavian model for former Yugoslavia suggested

The Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines, Ulrich Schulte Strathaus, has told the Slovenian daily “Dnevnik” that in order for the national carriers of the former Yugoslavia to survive they will need to unite into a single airline. “The once single Yugoslav market is now fragmented and a regional solution is necessary. The region needs an airline that would cover local needs and connect with global hubs”, Strathaus says. He notes that he recently discussed the issue with Adria Airways’ management. “It would be great if Adria Airways, which has extensive knowledge of the Balkan market, were to initiate a regional summit which would be dedicated to this issue, however, due to political quarrels I doubt this could happen”, Strathaus adds.

The Association of European Airlines counts 34 members, mostly national carriers. Adria Airways, Croatia Airlines and Jat Airways are all members. Montenegro Airlines also used to be a member of the association but mysteriously left after a few months. Strathaus believes that certain markets in the former Yugoslavia are too small to have their own national carrier. He notes that Serbia can’t find an investor for Jat, Croatia Airlines and Montenegro Airlines are operating with mounting problems and that B&H Airlines will go bankrupt when Turkish Airlines ceases financing it.

Last year, an idea to unite the former Yugoslav aviation market was put on the table during talks between the Serbian government and Turkish Airlines. It was suggested that a regional airline, Balkan Airways, could serve as a national carrier for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. In September 2011, Croatia Airlines and Adria Airways reached an agreement over a common business plan model. The two airlines agreed to strengthen ties and cooperate on jet leasing as a means of improving efficiency and streamlining fleet utilisation.

B&H resumes operations

B&H Airlines has resumed operations with a single ATR72 and will operate flights to Istanbul. It’s Airbus A319, will soon rejoin Turkish Airlines’ fleet as the carrier abruptly ended its lease of the aircraft to B&H on February 27.

Snow hits Jat’s passenger numbers

Jat Airways has seen its passenger numbers stumble for the first time in over a year as snow storms and numerous cancellations take their toll. This February Jat handled 62.289 passengers, down 9% on the same month last year. The number of flights operated in February 2012 fell 10%. During the month, numerous flights were cancelled to one of Jat’s busiest markets - Montenegro. As a result, passenger numbers fell 33% on services to Podgorica and Tivat. On Euro Mediterranean flights passenger numbers decreased 5%, while Jat handled 37% more passengers on charter flights compared to February 2011.

So far this year, Jat Airways has welcomed 137.197 passengers onboard, the same as last year. The average cabin load factor for the two months stood at 63%, which is six points ahead of the same period last year. Despite February 2012 having an extra day, as it is a leap year, the three busiest airlines of the former Yugoslavia saw their passenger figures decline. Adria Airways saw its numbers slump due to a decrease in the number of operated flights while Croatia Airlines and Jat were forced to cancel flights due to bad weather.

Meanwhile, Jat has announced that it will resume its seasonal services to Girona in Spain this summer. Flights will launch on June 5, twice per week, with a Boeing 737-300. The aircraft will have an all economy class layout with 126 seats. As a result, this summer, besides Girona, Jat resumes flights to Malta, Dubrovnik, Pula, Split, Ohrid and launches London Gatwick.

Month	PAX	Change (%)	Average load factor (%)
JAN	74.908	▲ 8	66
FEB	62.289	▼9	63

No Tripoli comeback for Jat

Jat Airways has cancelled plans to resume services to the Libyan capital Tripoli this summer. Flights were to launch on March 26, more than a year after they were suspended due to the implementation of a no fly zone over Libya which eventually led to war. The Serbian carrier planned to operate flights to Tripoli as a triangle service via Malta (Belgrade - Malta - Tripoli - Belgrade), as it has done so in the past few years.

Most European airlines will resume flights to the Libyan capital this summer, including Austrian, British Airways, KLM and Air France. Recently, sporadic gun fighting between rival clans has been reported near Tripoli Airport. Before the fall of the Gaddafi regime several Serbian engineering and construction companies worked in Libya with Jat flights mostly being used by workers. With all investments now stalled there is little need for the planned two weekly flights to resume.

Despite the cancellation of its Tripoli service Jat will go ahead and launch flights to Malta which were suspended when services to Tripoli were dumped. The airline has pushed back the launch date for the Malta service to June 18 and has slightly revised its flight times. Details can be found here.

Passenger numbers up in 2012

Jat Airways has had a solid start to the year, by handling 74.908 passengers in January, an increase of 8% compared to the same month last year. This is despite a drop in the number of operated flights by 7%. The average cabin load factor stood at 66% a big 10 point increase on last year.

Despite persistent media speculation regarding Jat’s future and increased competition, results show passengers are returning to the Serbian carrier. In January, on flights heading to and from Podgorica and Tivat, Jat recorded a 23% passenger increase. On Euro Mediterranean services numbers were up 5% while charter flights saw a 410% passenger increase, although it should be noted that the number of operated charters increased by 100%. Last year they were mostly inexistent during the winter months.

Jat ended 2011 as the second busiest airline in the former Yugoslavia by welcoming 1.219.703 passengers. Its revenues were also significantly up although its actual profits and losses will be known once the official financial results are published. A total of nine promotional ticket sales last year could hit the airline’s finances despite them leading to passenger growth.

Without a clue what to do…

The Serbian Prime Minister has denied claims that businessmen will invest millions into Jat Airways and take a 50% share in the airline. This is despite the fact that during last week the Serbian Minister for Infrastructure, which oversees the aviation portfolio and is known for various gaffes, claimed that businessmen, together with the government, would create a successor to Jat by May. The Prime Minister says that a decision whether Jat will continue to operate in its current form or whether a new national carrier would be created hasn’t even been made yet, although he remains adamant that Serbia needs a national carrier. Some of the mentioned businessmen interested in Jat spoke out last week saying they are willing to invest.

Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com has since learned that Jat’s management is due to submit a revival plan to the government. The plan entails a solution to Jat’s future as well as a fleet plan. Furthermore, the Serbian government has approved arrangements for Jat to take out a 10 million Euro loan from the banks to be paid off within the next three years. It has not been disclosed to the public as to how the money will be spent. Jat is gearing up for one of its busiest summer operations in years, which it plans to carry out with 13 aircraft.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Russian plane manufacturer Sukhoi will be visiting Belgrade in the coming weeks in an attempt to sell its Superjet 100 model to the Serbian national carrier. The aircraft has the capacity to seat between 75 to 95 people depending on class structure. Jat still has an unsettled order for 8 Airbus A319 jets from 1998.

In your opinion, what is the way forward for Jat? Send a comment.

Businessmen taking over Jat

The Serbian Minister for Infrastructure yesterday announced that the government is finalising an agreement with local businessmen to invest into a successor to Jat Airways, which will become Serbia’s new national carrier. A total of ten businessmen are willing to invest into the new airline in return for an ownership stake. “I can’t tell you which businessmen are in question because they are very sensitive people who have their own interests and reasons. Give us another week or two", the minister told the media at a press conference.

One of the businessmen being tipped to be interested in investing into the new Jat is Miroslav Mišković, the owner of the Delta Holding company, which has been named the 86th most successful company in Central Europe by Deloitte with recorded revenue of over one billion Euros in 2011. Several years ago Mišković was interested in creating Serbia’s first low cost airline, Air Maxi, in cooperation with Aviogenex but in the end stepped away from such plans.

The Serbian minister for infrastructure states that the new company will be created before the end of the government’s four year term. Serbs are set to go to the polls on May 6 this year. The minister further states that the new Jat would have a completely new management and would take over Jat’s existing fleet with new aircraft to be ordered in 2013. He further adds that the new company would take over Jat’s employees and will operate with a profit.

More flights from Belgrade to Croatia

Jat Airways is making further changes to its upcoming seasonal flights to the Croatian coast. The airline has increased the number of weekly flights from Belgrade to Dubrovnik to three per week, from the original two flights planned. The service from Belgrade to Dubrovnik turned out to be successful for the airline when they were resumed last year after a twenty year suspension. Furthermore, Jat is expected to be the sole operator on the route in 2012 as Croatia Airlines is unlikely to resume the flights, although no firm decision has been made yet. The revised details for the service, which launches June 15, can be found here.

The Serbian carrier has also made changes to its two weekly Pula service, which is now set to begin on June 2 rather than a month later as originally planned. Flights to Split, which will be resumed after 21 years remain unchanged and are set to be inaugurated on July 3.

Back in 1963

Besides flights to Croatia, Jat will be operating seasonal flights to London Gatwick and Ohrid this summer. It is unsure whether the airline will resume its seasonal flights to Girona in Spain which it launched over the summer of 2011, proving popular with passengers. Jat plans to operate its 2012 summer network with 13 out of its 14 member fleet.

Adria and Jat plan for the summer

Adria Airways will be resuming services to Barcelona and Manchester on a seasonal basis this upcoming 2012 summer season, however, ten destinations that were operated last summer won’t make a comeback in the airline’s network. The Slovenian carrier will operate 170 scheduled flights per week to 18 destinations. The only new additions compared to last summer will be the Priština - Verona service and Ljubljana - Luton, which replaces services to Gatwick. The airline will not be resuming flights to Athens, Banja Luka, Dublin, Kiev, Paris, Ohrid, Split, Stockholm, Warsaw and Toulon, which were all featured last year. Adria will once again be operating charter service all summer round to Greece, Malta, Egypt and Turkey, with Greece to see most Adria Airways flights.

Meanwhile, Serbia’s Jat Airways will increase frequencies to many of its destinations as it formulates its preliminary summer timetable. Some highlights include a nonstop service to Brussels, which will now operate separately from the Amsterdam flights. Flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle will operate eleven times per week (up from seven) during the peak summer season, there will be new seasonal flights to London Gatwick Airport while Moscow will see ten weekly flights (up from seven) with an introduction of a late evening service from Belgrade and a morning flight from Moscow. The airline has also made minor readjustments to its new seasonal Pula flights and has moved the service forward by a month from July 2 to June 2.

More passengers for Jat in 2011

Jat Airways handled 1.219.703 passengers in 2011, an increase of 14% compared to 2010. The Serbian carrier operated a total of 17.946 commercial flights and recorded an average cabin load factor of 70%, up 8 points on 2010. The airline improved most on its Montenegro services with passenger numbers increasing 19%. Numbers were also up on Euro Mediterranean flights by 16%. On the other hand, passenger figures declined by 22% on charter flights, with a significant decrease in the number of these flights operated throughout the year. Its busiest routes continue to be those to London Heathrow, Moscow and Zurich. Financial results are expected to be made public by March.

Jat had constant growth throughout the year although it significantly slowed in December. With the number of operated flights decreasing by 10%, the Serbian carrier recorded passenger growth of only 1%. In the last month of 2011, the airline welcomed 78.054 passengers onboard while its cabin load factor stood at 66%, up by 8 points.

Jat Airways has announced that in 2012 its passengers will continue to see promotional ticket sales, which lasted throughout 2011. The first one has already been launched for January. Furthermore, Jat will be rolling out its new frequent flyer program entitled “Extra Flight Club”. Finally, its independent technical division, Jat Tehnika, will begin servicing Airbus aircraft this year. Then again, it remains to be seen whether long lasting problems such as its old fleet, threaten year old Airbus jet order, political inference and everlasting privatisation process will be resolved in the next twelve months.

You can review all of Jat Airways’ passenger results from 2011 in the table below.

Month	PAX	Change (%)
JAN	70.788	▲ 3
FEB	67.635	▲ 24
MAR	79.408	▲ 20
APR	88.597	▲ 33
MAY	96.466	▲ 17
JUN	116.105	▲ 18
JUL	156.508	▲ 8
AUG	155.163	▲ 6
SEP	125.431	▲ 18
OCT	107.624	▲ 23
NOV	77.751	▲ 10
DEC	78.054	▲ 1

Soon at Gatwick

Serbia’s Jat Airways has made changes to its upcoming London Gatwick service. Flights to London’s second busiest airport will be inaugurated on June 15 and will operate on a seasonal summer basis (to September 14) to cope with high passenger demand experienced during the summer months on the existing Belgrade - London Heathrow route. In addition to the two weekly flights to London Gatwick, Jat will also serve London Heathrow nine times per week over the summer. Passengers departing from the Serbian capital will be spoilt for choice as they will also have the option of using Wizz Air’s four weekly service to London’s Luton Airport.

A return ticket with taxes included from Belgrade to both London Gatwick and Heathrow will set passengers back 175 Euros. Flight details for the upcoming service can be viewed here.

Meanwhile, Montenegro Airlines, which also recently announced its seasonal service launch from Tivat to London Gatwick, has now announced it will launch flights from its hub Podgorica to the British capital as well. Services will operate once per week and will launch on March 30 with details available here.

The year that was … 2011

Historic passenger and traffic growth, a new airport, bankruptcies, government bailouts, failed privatisation and a bag of corporate corruption insured 2011 to be one of the more eventful years in commercial aviation in the former Yugoslavia. Read below for the most important Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com of 2011 by month.

~ JANUARY ~

• New CEO for Adria Airways chosen in face of financial trouble
• New terminal plans revealed for Priština Airport
• Tunisia flights suspended due to revolution

~ FEBRUARY ~

• Skywings International based in Skopje declares bankruptcy
• Wizz Air announces flights to Skopje
• Construction of Kraljevo’s Morava Airport begins
• B&H Airlines and Jat Airways begin evacuation flights from Tripoli
• Montenegro Airlines suspends Priština and Skopje due to unpaid debt

~ MARCH ~

• Tender for the construction of Zagreb’s new terminal begins
• Jat announces return to Spain after fourteen years
• Adria Airways expands Priština base operations
• Flights to Tripoli suspended as no fly zone introduced
• Iran Air begins refuelling stops at Belgrade Airport
• Wizz Air opens Belgrade base

~ APRIL ~

• Banja Luka Airport faces closure
• Montenegrin government bails out national carrier
• Overhaul of Ohrid Airport completed
• Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade flights announced for summer months
• Air Arabia launches Tuzla flights

~ MAY ~

• Croatia Airlines turns twenty
• Ten companies in Zagreb terminal bid
• Montenegro Airlines orders new jet
• B&H Airlines suspends Vienna and Frankfurt flights
• Eagle flies into Montenegro Airlines Fokker nose cone

~ JUNE ~

• Adria celebrates fifty years
• Adria requests 50 million Euro bailout
• Jat Airways resumes Dubrovnik service after two decades
• Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade flights cancelled hours before inauguration
• Croatia Airlines launches Belgrade service

~ JULY ~

• Mat Airways ceases operations
• Record year for Croatia Airlines
• Construction begins on new Priština Airport terminal
• B&H suspends Stockholm and Gothenburg

~ AUGUST ~

• The tender to find a partner for Serbia’s “new Jat” begins
• Flydubai announces Belgrade flights

~ SEPTEMBER ~

• A new era for Skopje Airport as new terminal opens
• Adria announces network suspensions
• B&H Airlines launches Pescara flights
• airBaltic expresses interest for the “new Jat”
• Croatia Airlines and Adria join forces
• Adria saved from bankruptcy

~ OCTOBER ~

• First flight to Kraljevo Airport
• New Maribor based airline Golden Air launches flights
• Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com reveals party politics at Jat Airways
• Golden Air grounded
• Dubrovnik Airline grounded
• Baltic Aviation System buys Jat tender documents

~ NOVEMBER ~

• Family rules at Montenegro’s airports
• Qatar Airways announces Zagreb flights in 2012
• Jat Airways announces Croatia expansion in 2012
• Qatar Airways announces Belgrade flights in 2012
• US blocks Adria jet sale to Iran

~ DECEMBER ~

• Baltic Aviation System looses Jat interest
• Single offer for Zagreb’s new terminal
• Record year for Tivat Airport
• Belgrade Airport tops three million passengers
• Belgrade Airport expansion begins

With 370.000 visits in 2011 and 365 news items, thank you for visiting, reading, contributing and interacting with Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com.
See you in 2012!

Sly Srpska left in the cold in favour of Jat

The government of the entity of Repubilka Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina will pay Jat Airways four million Euros over the upcoming 2012 summer season to operate flights from Banja Luka to Belgrade and Vienna. Sky Srpska, the Banja Luka based airline which is still without aircraft of its own, is unhappy with the deal as it means it will not get its own jet until at least the 2012/2013 winter season. “We are very surprised. We nominated Sky Srpska to operate the flights from Banja Luka and now we hear that Jat will operate the service”, Zoran Injac, Sky Srpska’s CEO, said. “It’s completely irrational”, he adds.

The government on the other hand says its agreement with Jat is a done deal. “We have a few technical details to sort out. We need to obtain all necessary licenses from the Civil Aviation Authorities of Serbia and Austria”, the Minister for Traffic and Infrastructure, Nenad Čubrilović, says. He notes that 8 million Convertible Bosnian Marks (just over 4 million Euros) will be provided in subsidies for the service. Although flight details haven’t been revealed yet sources close to the airline say it has been suggested for the service to operate two to three times per week with an ATR72. The additional flights could impact Jat’s plans to launch flights to Pula and Split in the summer of 2012.

Despite a helpless Sky Srpska, it is believed the government concluded that it would cost less to subsidise the flights from Belgrade instead of having to pay not only for an aircraft lease or purchase but also for air crew and other staff in what is still a very small market. During the year, the government of Repubilka Srpska subsidised Adria Airways’ flight from Ljubljana which saw only an average of five passengers per flight. Once the subsidies dried out, Adria suspended the service.

New plans envisages new aircraft and less employees

The Serbian government is preparing a restructuring plan for its national carrier to be implemented in 2012. Although the task-group working on the restructuring program has yet to decide whether the state should create a new national carrier to replace Jat or leave the airline with its current brand name, it is believed they are leaning towards the latter. “Since there was no interest earlier in the year for a strategic partner to purchase Jat, we have decided to prepare a development strategy because we believe it is important for the country to have a national airline”, the office of the Prime Minister said in a statement. The new program outlines that Jat will have 700 employees (down from the current 1.200), but adds that no one will lose their job. Instead, employees will leave by choice and will be offered bonuses and stimulus packages, which could prove worthwhile for employees who have a few years left until retirement. An attempt to forcefully sack employees several years ago ended in failure as all of those dismissed launched legal battles and were returned to work.

Fleet wise, the plan envisages the purchase of five to eight new aircraft, although Jat’s existing fleet wouldn’t be retired in the near future. Negotiations with Airbus regarding the 1998 order for 8 Airbus A319s will be resumed while cooperation with the ATR aircraft manufacturer will also begin.

Economists have heavily criticised the government over the past few months for not restructuring the airline before putting it on offer in an ambiguous international tender, which ended in failure a few months ago. Once again millions were wasted on financial and privatisation advisors, of which there was no use in the end. Meanwhile, Jat’s catering division, which was divided from the carrier several years ago, will be put up on auction tomorrow. It is the fourth time this year that a 70% stake in Jat Catering has been put up on sale as there has been no interest previously. The minimal asking price is just over 1 million Euros, significantly down on previous sale attempts. The company has 137 employees.

Banja Luka phones a friend

The beset Banja Luka Airport has offered Serbia’s Jat Airways the opportunity to launch flights from the Serbian capital Belgrade to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city. Since such flights have proved as loss making in the past, the airport has suggested for the service to continue on to Vienna, thus connecting Banja Luka with two cities. If such an offer is accepted, services would begin next summer. Jat has already announced the launch of six new routes during the 2012 summer season. Sky Srpska, based in Banja Luka, still does not have any aircraft of its own but would code share on Jat’s flights to both Belgrade and Vienna. “Our research shows that there is a need for flights to Vienna”, Zoran Injac, the CEO of Sky Srpska, said recently as he outlined the airline’s plan for 2012.

Banja Luka Airport is currently only served by four weekly B&H Airlines flights to Zurich. The Bosnian national carrier recently suspended flights from Banja Luka to Copenhagen which operated for a record two weeks. Due to its inability to attract flights and passengers, the airport has found itself in substantial financial problems. Earlier in the year it nearly lost its license to handle commercial flights.

Jat Airways has operated flights to Banja Luka on and off for several years. Services were cancelled each time due to low loads. B&H Airlines was scheduled to launch flights between Banja Luka and Vienna last winter but cancelled them in face of low interest. The airline planned two flights per week between the two cities which is the frequency reportedly being offered to the Serbian carrier, internal sources say.

Jat Tehnika to maintain Airbus jets from 2012

Jat Airways’ technical division, Jat Tehnika, will begin servicing Airbus aircraft next year. The deal between the European aircraft manufacturer and Jat Tehnika was signed on December 5. Airbus will train over 300 employees at the Belgrade based company from February 2012. At the same time, work will begin on the upgrade of “Hanger 2” at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport which will be used for servicing Airbus jets. As a result, Tehnika will be able to carry out line and spot maintenance on Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 models. The company already has existing licenses to service ATR42 and 72 models as well as Boeing jets. The maintenance of Airbus aircraft will begin in July 2012.

Jat Tehnika outlines that the deal is significant not only because it will boost business but it will also allow Jat Airways to purchase Airbus jets if it wishes to without additional costs of maintaining the aircraft outside the country. Jat Tehnika currently holds contracts with British low cost airline Jet2.com, Transaero and UTair Aviation while Jat Airways accounts for more than half of its business. Jat Tehnika, which was separated from Jat Airways in 2005, is wholly owned by the Serbian government and employs some 1.000 people.

Meanwhile, Jat Airways’ acting CEO, Vadimir Ognjenović has been promoted to the post of CEO, despite government promises that the management would be professionalised and chosen upon merit rather than party lines. Ognjenović became Jat’s acting CEO in December last year.

EX-YU’s busiest airlines count their numbers

With 2011 coming to an end, the three busiest airlines of the former Yugoslavia - Croatia Airlines, Jat Airways and Adria Airways have carried a combined total of almost 3.770.000 passengers so far this year.

With the exception of a few industrial spats with its employees, Croatia Airlines has had a good year by decreasing losses and increasing passenger numbers. By the end of October, the Croatian carrier welcomed 1.596.235 passengers onboard, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year. Its average cabin load factor has so far this year amounted to 66%, slightly up on last year when it stood at 62%.

On the other hand, Serbia’s national carrier, Jat Airways, handled 1.141.476 passengers by the end of November, an increase of 15% compared to the same period in 2010. Its average cabin load factor currently stands at 70%, significantly up on last year when it was 60%. The airline recently revealed its latest results for November to Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com, as it recorded its seventeenth consecutive month of rising passenger numbers. In November, the Serbian carrier welcomed 77.751 passengers onboard, an increase of 10% despite a 14% reduction in the number of operated flights. The average cabin load factor stood at 68%, 14 points up on November 2010. Passengers using Jat’s Montenegro services increased 22%, figures for Euro-Mediterranean flights were up 7% while passengers using Jat’s charter flights doubled compared to last November.

Finally, Slovenia’s Adria Airways, which has had to deal with plenty of negative publicity in the past few months in regards to its future, has managed to serve 1.032.238 passengers by the end of October, an increase of 1% compared to last year. However, since news of Adria’s delicate financial situation began to spread a few months ago numbers took a tumble. In October alone passenger figures were down 4% compared to last year. However, with its network reductions coming into force during November, it will be a few more days before its affect on passenger numbers is revealed. So far this year, Adria’s average cabin load occupancy stands at 64%, down on 2010 when it amounted to 69%.

Croatia Airlines to Moscow, Jat to London Gatwick

The national carriers of Serbia and Croatia will be launching new destinations during the 2012 summer season.

Jat Airways will be heading to London Gatwick Airport next summer which will accompany its nine weekly flights to London’s Heathrow Airport. Plans for Jat to commence flights to London’s second largest airport were made a year ago when Wizz Air launched flights from London Luton to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport while British Airways suspended the London – Belgrade route, hit by increased competition. London is one of Jat’s most popular destinations with an extremely high load factor. The two weekly flights to London Gatwick will be inaugurated on March 29, according to the airline’s preliminary summer timetable. It joins Malta, Tripoli, Dubai, Split and Pula as the Serbian carrier’s new additions next summer. Flight details can be found here.

Meanwhile, Croatia Airlines is set to expand eastwards with the flag carrier finalising plans to launch flights to the Russian capital Moscow. The airline will utilise its fleet sharing agreement with Adria Airways this summer in order to launch the new route. Croatia Airlines is set to lease Adria’s Airbus A319s. Besides launching flights to Moscow, Croatia Airline is also planning to open new flights from Dubrovnik to Munich and Zadar to Paris. More new destinations in Eastern Europe are planned for the 2012 summer season.

Jat to Tripoli and Malta soon

Jat Airways will be resuming flights to the Libyan capital Tripoli in March 2012, the first time since services were disrupted earlier in the spring due to a bombing campaign and rebellion uprising. Flights are scheduled to operate twice per week, every Monday and Thursday with a Boeing 737-300 via Malta. The return flight from Tripoli continues on directly to Belgrade, thus forming a triangle service. As a result, Malta will also stage a comeback in Jat’s 2012 summer timetable. The route was suspended simultaneously with the Tripoli flights. Tickets are already on sale. Flights commence on March 26.

Jat Airways was the last European airline togeather with Air Malta to suspend flights to Tripoli on March 17, when it maintained a one weekly service between the Serbian, Maltese and Libyan capitals. The Serbian carrier operated a total of five evacuation flights to Libya before a United Nations no fly zone was implemented across the country.

Flight details for the Belgrade - Tripoli service can be viewed here while more information regarding the Malta sector can be found here. Besides Malta and Tripoli, Jat is also launching flights to Dubai, Split and Pula next summer and will resume seasonal flights to Ohrid and Dubrovnik as well.