Government undecided on successor national carrier
After realising the extensive procedures relating to the creation of a new national carrier, the Serbian government is likely to restructure Jat Airways and keep it operating as the country’s flag carrier. Earlier in the month the government decided it would create a new national airline to be launched in March 2013 and named Jat Serbian Airlines, which would take over Jat’s fleet, slots and staff and would be free of debt. However, due to strict aviation regulations the new carrier would likely need over a year and a half to take off.
Only a few weeks ago the government created a task group to deal with the transition process, however, its original mission has now been changed. Instead of making way for a new carrier the task group has until November 2013 to present its plan for the “stabilisation, recovery and profitability of Jat Airways”. The task group is made up of representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, State Privatisation Agency, the Chief of Staff of the President of Serbia, the head of the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate, the CEO of Jat Airways, the CEO of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport as well as two senior pilots.
Former Jat Airways CEO, Predrag Vujović, has labelled plans for a successor carrier as “utter nonsense”. “The government has to decide what it wants and set a goal for the company’s management. It can take over Jat’s debts immediately, it doesn’t have to create a new airline to do so. Creating a new airline just proves they have no idea what they want”, Vujović says. Experts warn that a successor carrier would be unable to takeover Jat’s lucrative slots as they would be void the minute the “old Jat” officially ceases operations. Next month the Serbian government is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the financial lease of four Airbus A319s and four ATR72-600s, set for arrival from March next year. In January a formal order for four Airbus A320s, for delivery in 2015, is to be made. Jat Airways has begun formulating its 2013 summer season timetable as if operating with its existing fleet.
Oh, come on! Is there anyone in this country who knows how to do their job? Seriously, new carrier regulations didn't change overnight, why no one complained in the past month since we first heard about this plan?
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I hope that: 1) slots stay as they are, 2) leased a319s arrive in March and 3) they really go ahead with restructuring. Unfortunately, "task group" made up mostly of politicians is not giving me many reasons to be optimistic...
I bet there will be no change at all!
ReplyDeleteI still want Jat to fly their classics 737 for at least a decade. Please intall the winglets and repaid them. I do not want two faced europe to get any airbus orders. They do not deserve it, and they can always carry guns in Afganistan.
ReplyDeleteGo jat go and muslim brothers from UAE/QAtar @BEG.
Pathetic comment. All those positive airport figures are mainly thanks for the Europe you think doesn't deserve...
DeleteBesides, what's wrong with Airbus? What's your point?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteYeah keep waiting for jat to order airbus. Since 1998? Hahhaha just keep waiting.
ReplyDeleteGuess the haters were wrong when they said jat is first to declare backruptcy lololol. Oh well I'm sure u will have a god at something jat lives proud for a serbian airline to be in the top 10 oldest world airline companies still operating proud history goes wit the fantastic beograd results .... Srbija should be the envy of the balkans
DeleteWhen Jat
DeleteBRAVO for the comment! JAT will survive as always did in the past (1992-1994, 1999, ...)
ReplyDeleteSee! I told you other day jat are full of bull shit. I guarantee you there will be no new jets next year!
ReplyDeleteGood. No money for europe.
ReplyDeleteSo? Airbus won't go bankrupt because JAT are not going to order a couple of aircraft. Are you an airline specialist?
DeleteThis is positively news for JAT, But why lease, Is it not possible to set up an found from Serbian goverment, Either buy new planes. The passengerstatistics are rising to BEG and im sure JAT will suceed to. Anyway wish JAT sucsess on the new plans.
ReplyDeleteNo new Jat, no new planes,
Deletei fear we will get nothing as usual!
As usually " Much ado about nothing".
ReplyDeleteAs usually " Much ado about nothing".
ReplyDeleteAnd in the end nothing happens because our government realizes that:
ReplyDelete1.it is difficult.
2.they would have to do something.
3.they would have to do something difficult.
well said
DeleteBrilliant post!
DeleteThe last sentence in the article is the most important one.
ReplyDeleteThey do not think that the lease of eight aircraft will happen!
Nothing new from Jat. Every time the same story!
ReplyDeleteSorry for OT:
ReplyDeleteAdria unofficial statistics for November 2012, approx. numbers
Flight # and PAX #
1364 sch 59359
242 ch 9515
1606 total 68874
Index 12/11 flight and pax
91 sch 98
168 ch 146
98 total 103
Index of operated hours is 119 and km flown 130.
A bit less pax on sch flights though that is because of less flts operated. A big increas in charter area due to Jaguar deal
Overall a bit less flights but more pax flown (due charter again).
Pegasus Airlines from Istanbul to Sarajevo
ReplyDeletenext year will start on 1.April 2013.
Could you state a source? That would be awesome!
DeleteMy only source is Wikipedia page about Sarajevo and Istanbul airport(SAW).
Deleteah good old wikipedia.. Not a really reliable source though, let's just wait and see :)
DeleteQATAR AIRWAYS to launch Athens-New York
ReplyDeleteflights daily nonstop with 787
said Mr.Al Baker in a press conference!
They have the rights to do so and my question is:
Wouldnt it be wonderful if they launch
Belgrade-Chicago and Belgrade-Toronto?!
As Qatar Airways becomes a new member of Oneworld Alliance their flights could be easily fed
by American Airlines.
Why would you want to launch BEG-CHI? And who will choose a technical stop from DOH via BEG?! JU can instead simply code share with the bigger ones on bigger airports and destinations e.g. AF and problem is solved :)
DeleteNOT Jat opening Chicago route..
Deletehe means Qatar Airways flying between Belgrade and Chicago with 787 !
Codeshare with JAT?
DeleteDude its about Qatar Airways flying from Belgrade to North America nonstop,
not about technical stops or that shit!
Then we could say goodbye to Air France,Lufthansa and the likes with useless stops in Frankfurt etc.
This would be perfect man!
JU simply need a restructuring plan. They may launch a market strategy but not with planes dating from 1980's and a lifeless logo for example. Current destinations are very good but they are not proving to be competitive with W6, OS/LH now that BA is gone and AF on their way....They should also FORGET about the idea of transforming BEG into a hub but to rather enhance the current routes they have....
ReplyDeleteagreed. logo and especially livery need to be changed or added on to. Doesn't matter to me if the name stays the same.
DeleteIs there a reason JU is completely neglecting much less expensive Embraer jets? Would it not be much less expensive to buy or lease 4 A319 and nothing else, and then acquire a further 4 Embraer E-190 and two long-haul Boeing planes (762ER would be best until queue for the 788 opens up) which could also be used for DXB, LHR, IST, etc. Pominje se Lufthansa Consulting, to dovoljno govori kako Erbas jedino zeli da ogranicava Jatove planove za kupovinu nove flote
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteWell Embraer jets are very popular at this moment so maybe there is a problem with finding quality on the market. But I think there is a clear lack of quality within Jat's management.
DeleteHave MEA-carriers fifth freedom rights for Serbia
ReplyDeleteor Croatia?
If they have then flying from Belgrade or Zagreb
to the US would be no legal problem for them.
This also would be very,very bad news for Star Alliance...
EU countries will forbid this but Serbia is not in EU.
ReplyDeleteSo Belgrade will eventually see Qatar flying to America.
Prize to the next person who enlightens us about how unsafe old planes are!!!
ReplyDeleteWow Jat is still alive
ReplyDelete