Fleet shortage hits Jat

Jat revises winter operations

Jat Airways has been forced to revise its winter 2012/2013 schedule due to a chronic fleet shortage. The airline will cut down on frequencies to several cities in the coming months due to a lack of aircraft. Flights to Brussels will be temporarily suspended and will be reintroduced in March. On Monday, EX-YU Aviation News exclusively reported a plan to lease six new aircraft for the 2013 summer season as the airline will have only eight jets on hand for use in several months. Some aircraft are planned to go in for regular maintenance while others are to be retired.

Yesterday, the Serbian Minister for Transport, Milutin Mrkonjić, confirmed the carrier will lease aircraft and added the government has decided against creating a successor national carrier. “I’m becoming more and more sure that Jat will stay as it is. The current debt has to be transferred to the state and Jat, with its current slots, employees, fleet and the financial lease of new aircraft, will be viable”. Due to the current fleet shortage, the proposal to lease two ATR72-500s, two Airbus A319s and two A320s is bound to be adopted by the task group working on restructuring the carrier.

Questions remain how the current CEO of Jat Airways, Vladimir Ognjenović, has been able to keep his job, having in mind the situation the airline has found itself in. During the summer of 2012 the Serbian carrier experienced similar problems. It was forced to revise its schedule and significantly cut down on frequencies. However, sources close to the airline state Mr. Ognjenović is not the one running the show. In fact, it is his Chief of Cabinet, Stanimir Jovanović, that is pulling the strings. Neither one of them has been held accountable for the state of the national carrier finds itself in.

Comments

  1. BA88809:06

    BA888....parked...

    Good old times :-(((

    ReplyDelete
  2. DAN SYD09:14

    Why do we always wait till things go to shit?

    Why were these leases not secured a year ago?

    Mrkonjic is an utter fukwit with this statement
    "The current debt has to be transferred to the state and Jat, with its current slots, employees, fleet and the financial lease of new aircraft, will be viable”

    Their are 600 people wanking off to porn due from how over employed the company is....

    Its not rocket science commit to new fleet even Embraer's are a option considering efficient, Right PAX Cap and a JET fleet or if you really cant afford to make a purchase of new aircraft there are plenty of airlines retiring 737NG... Virgin Australia just sold of there 737-7s surely they could find something that suits them.

    Cut 50% of employees without it will never turn a profit compared to the investment over last 10 yrs.

    Then with its current slots attack the other airlines.


    You dont need a LH consulting, Dont need to be part of an alliance just rectify 2 simple problems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:45

      x2

      Also jat should be looking at alternative to Boeing and Airbus, Su100 is a fine jet, why not talk to the Russians. at least Russians will ive JAT east credit line, something others won't.


      Su-100SJ is a good aircraft, loads of airlines are ordering that jet, Across the globe not just in Russia, you have Swiss, Italian, Canadian, US operators as well as Russian...

      JAT can't afford new aircraft, at least not from Airbus or Boeing, they're way to expensive, Brazilians and Canadians are unlikely to give Serbia or JAT easy credits line for purchase of their aircraft, at least not when much of the world is facing deep economic crisis.

      JAT's only option is to lease older aircraft and hope to buy some new aicraft when airline recovers in few years time or to try to make a deal with the Russians and get Su-100SJ for 40$ million per aircraft.

      SSJ 100-95LR has range of 4500km with 98 passengers on board. which is more than sufficient for regional and European operations, and as JAt can purchase western engines as SSJ 100-95LR offers these as well.

      "better spearow in a hand than a pigeon on a branch"

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:57

      I don't know about now but until last year for Serbia the world had only one side: West. So they'll need to turn their head the other way around to contemplate the SSJ possibilities. That would be the perfect plane for Jat, while Sukhoi could outsource maintenance to Belgrade for other customers as part of the deal.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous10:01

    "the government has decided against creating a successor national carrier"

    Noooo? How surprised I am? So was it Jatovanje? Yes it was! Again! And those leased A319, A320 and ATR 72-500 would be Jatovanje again!

    ReplyDelete
  4. With Milanovic in Belgrade today, could Croatia offer some A319/320s to Jat as an interim for the next few months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:46

      NO, Croatia needs them just as much,

      Delete
    2. Come summer time yes, but the article states that Jat has a fleet shortage now and Croatia has aircraft to spare during the winter months.

      Delete
    3. Purger19:18

      Yes, now CTN can spare up to 2 A319/320. But that is up to end of March, after than no way!

      But what about Aviogenex, Trade air, Montenegro, Adria... they all have space planes.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:18

      adria has spare planes at the moment.but during summer months not!(maybe only crj200).crj900s, a319a320 are needed badly for adria during summer.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous10:14

    I really don't understand why some kind of cooperation with Montenegro Airlines is not possible. According to the link below YM has some aircraft available for lease (or sale?) and JU has a fleet shortage at the moment. In the whole world 1 + 1 should be 2 and not 11.

    http://www.globalplanesearch.com/embraer/pax/jets/airliners/erj_195.htm

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chief of Cabinet?CEO?
    An expert?
    Both should be fired immediately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobody succeeded in destroying JAT despite all the efforts made the last two decades.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:51

    Bue, Bue JAT... Air Museum will have new exhibition soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But for the CEO and Chief of Cabinet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. Pismeni anonimus18:15

      Its Bye bye, not bue bue, nepismeni anonimusu :)

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:17

    Whennn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope that it's a matter of days!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous11:59

    There was some guy Vaso talking few days ago about Hainan starting PEK-KBP-BEG, can i talk to you please? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12:03

    This is a joke. None of JAT B733 or AT7 are that old, that they need to be retired. They were quite idle during the time of sanctions and have not that many cycles. So, its just that JAT has no money for spareparts or maintenance. Mrkonjic changes his ideas every second week and no one should listen to this jerk. He drank too much whisky with his best friend Milosevic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Time flies,

      Jat parked the 737's for about 5 years and airlines started replacing the 737-300 with NG's about 10 years ago. so they are about 5 years behind the eight ball and yes already old too.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous12:40

    We keep hearing on the increase in passenger volumes at Belgrade airport.If Jat management had and have any brains, they could have leased aircraft and enjoyed this substantial growth. Maybe Belgrade airport is also telling us that they are making huge traffic gains and they actually are not?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous14:10

    Anybody has got the BUD airport statistics for 2012, have they been published?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:50

      Roughly 8.48 millions.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:28

      So what is the drop of passengers/2011, around 5%?

      Delete
  13. Anonymous16:21

    To cancel BRU, and some other flights is just an excuse. They can not have problem with capacity because of reduction in winter time-table, but if they have it, it is very easy to lease plane for those flights as now there are hundreds of planes on ground doing nothing. Even in region they could rend Aviogenex 737-200, Trade Air Fokker 100, Montenegro... Now, prices are more than low...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:28

      So what's the problem in Jat according to you?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:43

      My personal favourites would be the Embraerjets E175/195 because then Jat could easily increase frequencies to double daily
      on most of their destinations.
      Look LOTs service to Warsaw or LHs triple daily to Munich...
      Not to forget YMs double daily to Podgorica.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:21

      Problem is in lack of money!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous19:37

      And lack of brains!

      Delete
    5. Good old Aviogenex 737-200.. the company with the oldest plane in europe lol. I would better lease 2 busses than fly with that, who is gonna take you serieus when you arrive with that @ big european airports :/

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:44

      And 28 years old 737-300 is much better picture? You really think someone take Jat seriously with those planes?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous21:29

      Aviogenex’s B732 was the last one ever produced. It is actually younger than many of Jat’s B733s. It is currently on D check in France.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:41

      Thanks for the info. Since Aviogenex is investing in that D check they plan to continue usign that plane for the next >5 years. Good to still see the skinny cigar engines around - real piece of aviation history. I wouldn't mind flying it, especially if seats are properly cushioned (LH skinny recaro seats make my spine hurt even on an 1h flight :( ).

      Delete
  14. Anonymous19:33

    Jat will have to discontinue some of their routes.
    That should be the ones where they face the most competition next summer :

    Istanbul, TK 2x daily + 4x weekly Pegasus
    Rome, 2x daily Alitalia + 2x weekly Wizzair
    Moscow, 2x daily Aeroflot

    Jats strenghts are their monopoly routes to LHR,CDG,AMS,MXP and DUS.
    That should be the last destinations they drop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:02

      Rome and Moscow are one of their most profitable and popular routes. Why on earth would they suspend them? They suspended BRU because it is one of their weakest routes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:09

      Yeah,why on earth suspend them ?
      The competitors will masively increase frequency and thus profitability of Jat on this routes will water down like snow on a warm day !

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:15

      Pegasus will fly daily to Belgrade from S13. Surprised ?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:31

      Just to point out that JU has actually managed several times to kill its competition on routes – BA, Air France … to name a few

      Delete
    5. Anonymous22:09

      Where is written that Pegasus flies daily to Belgrade in summer...
      Any sources ?


      Delete
  15. JATBEGMEL20:52

    JAT has a fleet of 14 aircraft (4 AT7's and 10 B733's), however:

    ATR-72:
    only 2 are flying at the moment. 1 is in maintenance (surprise) and the other is set to return to its lessor.

    B733:
    Currently 5 are airworthy and in regular service, out of 10!!! YU-ANH has not been flying for years and will not return to skies. YU-AON is said to be next to be scrapped.

    JAT is finding it more costly to maintain the B733's and therefore there are a lack of spare parts available, hence why other aircraft are being cannibalised. The ac are in need of alot of attention

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous22:18

    I just read on Jat's website that the luggage allowance on economy class flight's in Europe is 30kg. That seems very generous and more then the industry average of 20-23kg!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doot10:42

      This is true

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:43

      Also no piece limit. You can easily pack two suitcases, weighing up to 35kg and are likely to not pay anything extra.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous22:51

    Do they have an official twitter or Facebook account? Cutting unprofitable routes is a normal procedure with all airlines. Besides Serbia is still not in EU, so BRU is not top priority. They can stick to MOW, AMS, ROM and VIE. Routes where code share with the bigger ones is vital for connections. It will be interesting how they will cope in summer with the current fleet!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous23:37

    WH

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous23:46

    Better ground that oldies before falling like pears..However if they don't lease aircraft as soon as possible this will be definitively the very end of JAT!

    Does somebody know which registrations are considered for scrapping? Btw. although under sanctions most of the aircraft were flying for african airlines and MAT.

    P.S. Does somebody know if the MAT Airways/KonTiki Sky B735 Z3-AAM can step into deal as this ac is grounded 1.5 years at SKP Airport? In which shape is this aircraft now? Who owns MAT Airways now? As for the ac it 1991 production series and in last 5 years was flying only for 2 years (former MAT and and MAT Airways) so it has very very low cycles.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous00:45

    If someone thinks that Brussels will be the only destination that has to be discontinued this summer
    he will get a hard lesson to learn!

    ReplyDelete
  21. If the fleet problems are not addressed could we see the Croatian Coast scrapped by Jat? This will be a big win for OU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:43

      I am confident that there wont be any flight between the two countries.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:14

      Why, last summer the flights were very popular.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:19

      They are also popular in african countries, as well as greece and turkey.

      Delete
  22. Daniel Syd10:16

    733 are reaching the same fate as YU-AMB too costy to maintain them ... How I miss that bird

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:09

      Why didn't they gave it to the airport museum instead of just scrapping it?

      Delete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.