Jat’s busiest May in 12 years

Record May for Jat Airways

Jat Airways has recorded its best May results since 2000. The Serbian carrier welcomed 122.273 passengers on board, an increase of 16% compared to the same month last year. Furthermore, its average cabin load factor stood at 78%, an increase compared to 2011’s 70%. The airline’s most popular destinations were London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich. Jat’s new evening service to Moscow and its red eye return flight have also proved to be a hit with passengers. The airline has also seen sensational results on flights to Skopje and Sarajevo, with the bulk of passengers on the flights transiting from Australia and the United States.

In the first five months of this year Jat Airways has welcomed 450.394 passengers, up by 9% on last year. So far, its average cabin load factor has stood at 71%. In the coming weeks Jat will introduce flights to Pula, Dubrovnik, Split, Malta, Girona and London Gatwick which will all go towards boosting passenger numbers.

Meanwhile, Egypt Air and the Egyptian government have announced their interest in entering a strategic partnership with the Serbian national carrier. “Serbia must not sell Jat, rather it should find a strategic partner. We have many examples in Africa where airlines were sold but this wasn’t a good move. A national airline forms is a part of the country’s identity and therefore it must stay government owned”, Huessin Massoud, the Egyptian Minister for Civil Aviation said. At the same time Egypt Air has announced that its subsidiary, Air Cairo, will commence regular scheduled flights from the Egyptian capital to Belgrade this coming winter season. The airline already operates summer charters from Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Month	PAX	Change (%)	Average load factor (%)
JAN	74.908	▲ 8	66
FEB	62.289	▼ 9	63
MAR	83.369	▲ 4	68
APR	107.555	▲ 21	78
MAY	122.273	▲ 16	78