Only weeks after the failed privatisation of Serbia’s national carrier Jat Airways, its maintenance company, Jat Tehnika, has also failed to be privatised. The tender for the purchase of documentation for the privatisation of Jat Tehnika began on June 16. Despite the tender documentation being purchased by two Israeli companies – El Al and the Bedek Aviation Group as well as Malev Hungarian Airlines and a fourth company which has remained unnamed, none sent in an offer for the company’s purchase. Offers had to be sent in by October 27, 2008 and this was already an extension on a previous deadline. Jat Tehnika gained its independence from Jat Airways in 2005 after major strikes which paralysed the national carrier. It is 100% owned by the Serbian government. However unlike its old partner, Jat Tehnika is operating with a profit which is expected to reach 45 million Euros by the end of the year. The company’s value had been placed between 100 and 200 million Euros.

Yesterday the Jat Tehnika union responded with an ad in the Serbian national newspaper “Politika” blaming the government for the privatisation’s failure. The Serbian Privatisation Agency will officially announce the privatisations failure within the next few days. Only yesterday did it officially announce that the privatisation of Jat Airways had failed.

Whats this then ?
What type of aircraft does this belong to ?

Zagreb Airport is the second largest airport in terms of passenger numbers out of all the airports in the EX-YU. The most lucrative destinations that could be served from Croatia’s capital are those found inside the European Union while transatlantic flights could be profitable and sustainable through charter flights or seasonal summer flights. A total of 6 profitable destinations could be added to the current network from Zagreb.

Madrid is not served directly from Zagreb. In 2007, 10.785 passengers travelled from the Spanish capita; to Zagreb, which was an increase of 20% on the previous year. Madrid accounts for 38% of the total market to Spain from Zagreb. In 2007, 153.860 Spaniards visited Croatia, an increase of 35% compared to the previous year while 2008 data is even more promising. Warsaw in Poland is currently only indirectly served from Zagreb. In 2007, 7.965 passengers travelled from Warsaw to Zagreb, an increase of 15% from the previous year. Warsaw accounts for 67% of the total market from Zagreb to Poland. Polish visitors from Croatia increased 17% in 2007 to 323.000. In 2008 these numbers are even more impressive as by November this tear already 357.230 passengers from Poland have visited Croatia. Milan is also only indirectly served from Zagreb. In 2007, 11.524 passengers travelled from Milan to Zagreb, an increase of 20% compared to 2007. Milan accounts for 28 % of the total market from Zagreb to Italy. Italian visitors from Italy to Croatia exceeded 1 million in 2007 and a small increase is expected in 2008. Bucharest is another underserved destination from Zagreb. In 2007, 8.209 passengers travelled from Bucharest to Zagreb, an increase of 22% compared to the previous year. Bucharest accounts for 90% of the total market from Zagreb to Romania. Visitors to Croatia from Romania increased 40% in 2007 to 47.057.

As for transatlantic services New York and Toronto would, for now, be most profitable if operated on a charter or seasonal basis. Toronto has been served only during the summer period. In 2007 18.263 passengers travelled from Toronto to Zagreb. Passenger traffic to Canada grew by 7% in 2007 compared to 2006. In addition, Skyservice resumed their summer service to Zagreb from Toronto. Visitors from Canada totalled 36.474, an increase of 26% on the previous year. As for New York in 2007, 24.657 passengers travelled to Zagreb from the Big Apple, an increase of 7.7% on the previous year. New York accounts for 19.2% of the total market to the USA from Zagreb. Visitors from the USA totalled 181.381, an increase of 18% when compared with visitors in 2006. The total number of visitors from the USA and Canada to Croatia totalled 218.000 in 2007.

According to the airport’s management it would support any new route to the airport with a 5-year incentive scheme to reduce airline start-up costs. Based on the individual merits of the proposed route growth, the airport may look to offer additional backing through marketing support. In addition the airport has a host of other marketing initiatives - consumer magazine, e-mail database, website banners and other which would be used to promote any new service.

Zagreb Airport is currently served by 15 scheduled airlines and 2 low cost airlines. 1.992.455 passengers used the airport in 2007.

Beech B-60 Duke N60TE , c/n P361 , has been a regular site around NZ since it arrived here from Oakland on 14-07-2008. It is still listed on the US register to Nolan Aviation LLC of Broomfield, Colorado.

It is now based at Momona (Dunedin) and operated by George Glaister who also operates the Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six ZK-OMT (ex ZK-ECV) c/n 32-40927.

N60TE photographed at Momona 17-10-08. ZK-OMT at Wigram 05-02-08.

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is aiming to attract at least 2 low cost airlines by mid 2009 to compliment the current two operating to Serbia’s main hub – German Wings and Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airport management will lower its handling costs in order to attract more low cost companies. The airport is organising a summit in November where low cost airline representatives have been invited to discuss possible destinations to Belgrade. The airport will lower its handling costs by 10-20% and will allow low costers to choose handling services that they wish Belgrade Airport to conduct, an option unavailable for scheduled airlines. One of the main obstacles for low cost carriers is the visa regime currently in place on behalf of the European Union towards Serbia which does not allow Serbs to travel without visas to a large amount of European countries. These visas are costly and difficult to get. This visa regime however should come to an end during 2009.

The low cost airline most interested in operating to Belgrade is Fly Nikki from Vienna which requested to start operations during summer 2008 although this was made impossible due the agreement between Austria and Serbia which only allows 2 airlines to operate between the two countries (this right is exercised by Jat Airways and Austrian Airlines). Wizz Air is expected to be the other low cost airline anticipating to start operations to Serbia next year.

The reason these talks with low cost airlines have been delayed is in order to protect the struggling national carrier Jat. However with the new development strategy the Serbian Aviation Directorate expects that Jat will grow as low cost airlines arrive and will therefore not affect the national carrier. When analysed Wizz Air is potentially the most harmful to Jat’s existence especially if they commence flights from their hub in Budapest. Malev, the national airline of Hungary, had been rejected flying rights to Serbia for years as it would attract many Jat passengers and Jat has also been staying clear of Hungary due to the same reason.

Jat Airways has responded today by lowering prices to its entire European network.

Robinson R22A Alpha ZK-HXR c/n 0459 was lost in Lake Wanaka on the evening of 01-11-2008 whilst on a positioning flight to Wanaka for expected frost protection duties that night. The pilot is still missing, a great loss to the NZ aviation fraternity.

Pic taken at Rangiora on 10-05-2007.

The above two Zlins as seen at Taieri on 17-10-2008. Nearest is ZK-DOZ3 , c/n 010, pretty much time expired. They are only certified for 3000 flying hours.
The partially dismantled green machine behind is trying to become ZK-BOC2. I believe it has not flown in NZ.


These three fuselages sections as seen in the open hangar at Alexandra on 08-10-2008.
From left to right we have c/n 015 which was ZK-RJI. It was damaged at Pukekohe East on 29-04-2005: Central airframe is c/n 011 which to my knowledge has not reached our register. On the right we have C/n 040 which was ZK-RZN and originally ZK-RDZ. It was damaged near Mangaweka on 16-11-07, it still has the engine & bent prop attached.


Now a few pics of some of them in better days.


The green beast . c/n 008 as seen at Taieri on 14-01-07. At this stage it was trying to become ZK-KRB. Now it is working on ZK-BOC but its paper trail is still incomplete.


ZK-DOZ c/n 010 at Rangiora on 20-11-06 before being withdrawn from use, time expired.

ZK-WLO c/n 020 at Taieri on 18-08-2006. This one is still active out of Balclutha with Willow Air. (ZK-PJO c/n 004 is also still active with Kairanga Aviation).

ZK-RZN c/n 040 at Feilding on 11-02-07.