Government determined to set up new national airline
The Serbian Ministry for Infrastructure has announced that it will go ahead with the creation of a successor national carrier to Jat Airways even if a strategic partner for the new venture is not found. The Ministry said it hopes to begin talks with Baltic Aviation Systems, the only enterprise to purchase the tender documentation for the creation of the new state carrier. They have been given a month to send in their offer, after which “flexible” negations are set to take place in December. Baltic Aviation Systems is headed by a group of businessmen who partly own Latvia’s national carrier, airBaltic.Milutin Mrkonjić, the Minister for Infrastructure, said that neither Turkish Airlines nor Aeroflot, who have in the past been linked to Jat’s privatisation process, have participated in the tender. He explains that this is because of the bad experience airlines from the two countries have had in similar ventures, giving the example of Turkish’s takeover of B&H Airlines. The new company which will be set up would be freed of Jat’s debt, according to Mrkonjić, while a social benefits program for Jat’s employees would be drafted. This is in stark contrast to the minister’s announcement from last week when he promised job security for the airline’s workforce.
Meanwhile, the acting CEO of Jat Airways, Vladimir Ognjenović, has said that the carrier will need new aircraft next year regardless of the privatisation process outcome. He adds that the airline will hire younger cabin crew next year while negotiations regarding commercial cooperation with AZAL Airlines from Azerbaijan will begin later on in the month. Such an agreement could pave way for AZAL to begin flights to Belgrade.
Do you think a new Serbian national carrier will be created next year? Will Jat become history in 2012? Send a comment with your thoughts.
Comments
Fleet: 8x DH8-400, 2x 737-700, 2x 737-800.
It would also be nice if the new airport began flights from other Serbian cities such as Niš. Even if they're seasonal flights it would still be great :)
Any ideas what might happen with the old fleet once the new one comes in?
why?
Now is a good time for Serbia to start shedding some useless and expensive communist ideas.
Why, let's ask ourselves, is the government in the airline business at all??
This isn't a monument. This is a business. And, if successful business could make a successful business out of a Serbian airline, then they would have bought the debt-free version of JAT.
But they didn't
The answer isn't for government to do it. why?
If it's not a viable business, just let it die.
Also, with a smart leadership, Belgrade could be transformed into a mini-Dubai in terms of transfers from Ex-Yu and West-Europe to Asia, Mid-East and Eastern Europe. Just think and it could be very realistic. Even a cargo branch should be operated, when you just think that BUD has a 10 times higher cargo handled than Belgrade per year, without having a better geographical position nor airport capacities.
5xAT7 (1 in Niš and 1 in Kraljevo)
5xAT4
8 737-7
option:
5 E70 (1 in Niš and 1 in Kraljevo)
5 E90
3 to 5 787
and the name:
Aeroput or SAT - Serbian Airlines
Juzno-Evropski AeroTransport or transalted to Southern European Airlines....This would enable JAT to keep its "JAT" name which is well recognized and has a long tradition. The aircraft can be all white and the tail section could be the original blue wth the logo. This way I feel JAT would actually open it's doors to more passengers. As for the transfer idea, I have a hard time seeing this being successful. My reason is simple, with the new technologies out there, there are aircraft which can fly further and longer. Why then for the transfer? Just some thoughts I had.
I just hope they get rid of the amateurs in management.
Better to have fresh start with a neutral name.
Fleet size 12 a/c maximum!
does anybody think that would be a good opportunity to acquire long range aircraft?
best is daily !
With daily flights problem comes of how to have good loadfactor .
So you have to go daily with small aircraft...best is Embraer 170 version !
Montenegros 190 version is already too big ...better is LOT on its flights to Warsaw which is
also 170 !
A small plane is filled immediately so comes a good loadfactor !
But where is the prestige?
No, we want to have big planes to show off!
Boeing 777! Airbus 380!
Boeing 747 400!
Load factor is something for girls...pff!
Profitability is not necessary!
Let the taxpayers pay it!
And why connecting Belgrade with Split or Mostar?
No,Belgrade to Vladivostok!
With stopover in Aserbiajan!
Malev, CSA and lot others (much bigger companies than Jat and markets than Belgrade) can not do it... but Jat with just 1 million pax can do it? Get real!!!!!
Gr8 names of the company:
Adria Airways and Adria Express :)
The same story as SAS!!! Blue1 :)
Or Air Serbia,Serbair,Aeroserbia...
sonds like a banana republic... imagine Royal Serbian Orthodox Airways with crowns painted everywhere...like a kitchy girly dream !
What should people think about Serbia ?
Serbia a backward Eastern European banana monarchy
somewhere between Siberia and Transsylvania ?
Serbia is a land with a future and
therefore deserve an modern,pragmatic name and image !
Please no Neo-Communist or Neo-
Byzantino-Monarchist nightmares !
This makes everywhere a bad impression !
Or Air Serbia,Serbair,Aeroserbia...
sonds like a banana republic... imagine Royal Serbian Orthodox Airways with crowns painted everywhere...like a kitchy girly dream !
What should people think about Serbia ?
Serbia a backward Eastern European banana monarchy
somewhere between Siberia and Transsylvania ?
Serbia is a land with a future and
therefore deserve an modern,pragmatic name and image !
Please no Neo-Communist or Neo-
Byzantino-Monarchist nightmares !
This makes everywhere a bad impression !
Newer planes are needed to decrease operating expenses, decrease down-time, increase range, increase reliability and improve branding.
For a while now, Jat struggles with keeping its entire fleet in operation; the opportunity cost for not having all its planes available for the summer season is huge. This is the time where lots of money is made, yet, when one or two 737s are sitting in the hangar is a huge lost opportunity to operate profitable flights.
A new airline can bring a new organizational structure with clearly defined lines of accountability and leadership.
I would favor having Jat maintenance and catering marged with the airline; it was silly to seperate in such a small market base.
When discussing the fleet it is difficult to maintain a low-cost structure with the clear need to operate at least two aircraft types. The current structure (but in a modernized form) seems rational. However, I must say that Embraer jets would be hugely benficial to promote frequency on routes throughout the existing network.
Lastly, the name. I think Aeroput carries a lot of meaning and the name has a great deal of charm. I also like giving a name like "Serbiana" ...its hip and still underlines its origin.
Byzantino-Monarchist nightmares !' Something fresh, original, maybe alittle cheeky, fun...
I'm sure we had the same discussion a few years back and look at what has happened since!
Unfortunately we won’t see any decent change in Serbia until the country is a few years away from EU membership and change is forced on them for the better.
5 tipes of planes in fleet of 12 planes? Boeing and Airbus in little fleet? Bankruptcy in 3 years!
Just 1 767-300? Too expensive and too risky (what if you have problem with maintenance, no urgent replacement) - no sirious company will have just one plane in fleet
And what you will use this 767? Malev, CSA and much bigger companies than Jat can not fly intercontinental....
2 AT7 and 2 A319 in INI and Morava?
Why? What will A319 do in Morava or INI? Bancuptcy in 2 years! How will you organise maintenace for 2 different planes out of BEG?
This plan of yours is not plan but child play!
Aeroput-Aeroflot .
Aeroput carrying a lot of meaning
...yes,for aviation nostalgics but not for foreigners !
For foreigners it will make no difference to Aeroflot !
You should not associate Serbia too much with Russia and Communism ...
most people think already Serbia or Siberia are Russian provinces !
If you want to attract tourism ...this naming is a tourists nightmare...big fail !
The fleet....
2 Airbus 319
2 Airbus 321
4 Atr-72-500
For Jat ideal fleet would be:
4x AT7
10x E90
I know that they are big(321)but they can easily fill them to Dubai,Moscow,London and Paris if they continue with lower price on their tickets.
cabin load from dubai was 95+% issue its only seasonal
i had to travel air france because jats dubai flights were booked out from dubai that whole week
get ur facts straight i garantee jat can pull off a 321 with 90+% load from dubai issue is its only seasonal