Air Serbia granted regulatory approval

Competition watchdog approves Etihad takeover

Air Serbia was last night granted regulatory approval after the Serbian Competition Protection Commission ruled the Etihad takeover of Jat Airways would not restrict or distort competition in the Serbian aviation industry. “The Commission based its decision on through analysis of the legislation signed by all parties taking part in the takeover agreement as well as other documents and future business plans”, a statement from the regulatory watchdog reads. The move now paves way for the launch of ticket sales for the 2013/14 winter season which were originally to begin this week. The approval will also see a change in management. With the end to all bureaucratic procedures, Etihad is now not only officially a 49% stakeholder in Jat Airways but also Jat Catering and the airline’s handling division SU-PORT.

Following yesterday's decision, the Serbian government will next week advise the Jat Airways Joint Stock Assembly to name Dane Kondić as the airline’s new CEO. Siniša Mali, the Finance Advisor to the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, who has played an instrumental role in the Etihad takeover of Jat Airways, noted the first Airbus A319, which is to wear the Air Serbia branding, is scheduled to enter service on October 27, with the jet to arrive in Belgrade a week earlier. He added that all ten A319s are set to enter service by March 2014, which corresponds to the exclusive information published last Sunday by EX-YU Aviation News.

Air Serbia will not be treated as a new company, instead it will be the legal successor to Jat Airways and will continue using its international agreements, the “JU” IATA airline designator as well as time slots, though it has opted to change them at most airports from next winter. However, Air Serbia will be issued a new air operator’s certificate (AOC). Air Serbia is preparing for its October launch with new cabin crew to be hired over the weekend. Jat Airways pilots have now begun their training for the A319 aircraft at centres in Berlin and Dusseldorf. Furthermore, the airline is hiring new pilots for the ATR turboprops as well as the A319s.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:26

    This is really great news! Hopefully soon we will be able to book flights with Air Serbia! :) I think this is the biggest news in ex-Yugoslavia in the past decade. Or at least the biggest success story.


    One question, how come no other Serbian aviation source is reporting on this? I am really curious. Some like aviokarta.net have reported a few minor things as if this was not a big deal. They are more interested in Etihad nannies. lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:41

    OT:
    WIZZ AIR GROWS FLEET IN BULGARIA

    4th BASED AIRCRAFT IN SOFIA, 1 NEW ROUTE IN 2014

    Looks like competition will be tough vs. Air Serbia. They will increase capacity by 30%!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who cares for WIZZ....i was flying with them o once and would never again.Too much unprofessional company!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:06

      lol and you call JAT professional

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:15

      You might call Jat many things but unprofessional is not one of them, especially not the crew working on the aircraft.

      I doubt Wizz Air in Sofia is a big threat for Air Serbia. The distance from Belgrade is too great and the road from Nis to Sofia is disastrous. The first one to be affected will be Montenegro Airlines in Nis.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:38

      however, no need for a BEG-SOF link. no bulgarian is gonna transit through BEG when they have direct flights to almost everywhere in Europe.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:42

      Transit is ALWAYS an option.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:53

      Exactly, that one comment was such a stupid one, full of envy and bitterness.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:11

      lol, only beeing realistic. that link is never gonna work

      yea stupid , envy and bitter , get it on!

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:17

      So I guess all airlines operating out of Sofia are there for the O&D market? Are you for real? Or maybe people would connect via Zagreb if Croatia Airlines operated the flight.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:37

      LMAO, very predictable , no matter which topic , someone always has to nail it down on that neverending JU vs OU sh*t .

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:24

      Well, that's because one nation can't come to terms with the fact that Air Serbia has become a reality.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:58

      LOL you must be right

      Delete
    12. Anonymous14:52

      SOF has lost many direct connections in the last 2 years or so mainly due to the economic crisis but a cheaper transfer is always an option if no carrier appears until April 2014. TAROM for example will soon offer 3 daily flights to/from SOF, Qatar Airways 5 weekly and by next summer it is expected that more carriers will increase their frequency. Air Serbia should focus more on Varna which definitely needs another cheaper airline vs. Austrian.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:52

    When will they finally release their new timetable + ticket sales??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      Any info about new Air Serbia site?

      Delete
  4. Airbus A319 -132 1140 YU- Air Serbia in full cs at GYR 01sep13 prior delivery ex N473TA

    Not really a new aircraft is not it :?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's your source?

      Delete
    2. Nikola12:28

      it's on Planespotters. hell, it's way better than 23+ yo current planes

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:35

      Can you please provide us with a link to planespotters? Thanks!

      Delete
    4. Nikola13:37

      http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Air-Serbia (for the company)
      http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Airbus/A319/1140,YU--Air-Serbia.php (for the plane)

      Delete
    5. Zanimljivo je da se avion registruje na nepostojecu kompaniju.AirSebia jos uvek nije registrovana i nema AOC tako da me ovo sve podseca na traceve kojima smo bombardovani svaki dan sa svih strana.Da je Volarisov avion registrovan za Jat, poverovao bih, ovako, mislim da su Marsovci umesali prste

      Delete
    6. http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4

      Skyliner is the source for all.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous20:55

      Shvatite vec jednom da Air Serbia nece biti ni registrovana kao nova kompanija, vec da je Air Serbia samo rebrending JAT-a/Jat Airwaysa.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous12:30

    Why is actually OU9330 operated with A319 heading now to Belgrade :) any informations?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nikola12:41

      it's bringing Croatian football team for tonights game with Serbia (or fans, but i highly doubt)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:41

      Serbia vs Croatia world cup qualifier tomorrow in Belgrade

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:42

      Neviđeno smaraš. Ajd idi radi nešto korisno...

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:14

      Ja se ne nerviram, već naprotiv jedva čekam, nego ti deluješ kao da imaš 15 godina i ništa pametnije nego da troluješ ovde, potpaljuješ stalno neku atmosferu.. Ne vidim poentu... Hejteri će hejtovati... Ali tvoji postovi su samo dosadni i nepotrebni.

      Delete
  7. Nikola13:41

    OT: LOT stays in Belgrade for winter, they'll fly 1--45--, WAW departure 1150, BEG departure 1405
    source: http://www.aviokarta.net/vesti/2015-lot-odlucio-da-ne-napusta-beograd-tokom-zime/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:41

      I think that has to do with the fact that Air Serbia wants to launch its own flights to Warsaw. If they leave the market once more they will lose the competitive advantage.
      It's nice to see airline fighting for the Serbian market, it means it is considered as an important one.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:31

      WAW is not included in Air Serbia's schedule for W13/14.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:00

      Doesn't matter, it is coming next year. On top of everything it will be a daily service. They can't just leave now, it will be harder later on.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous14:20

    Professional:

    I also found JU e-booking dept very professional. They react immediately, offer very good replacement tkts when schedule is changed and promptly answer emails and phone calls.

    I hope those people (ladies) will keep their job.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous19:09

    Any info on Sarajevo Airport figures for July and August

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:07

      July only about 1% rise but August a whopping +31%. Almost 80000 pax. Overall up 16% from 2012

      Delete
  10. Anonymous19:39

    Ju female staff are very sexy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. When can we expect the new JU timetable for W13/14 to be available? When? WHEN?:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:36

      It's available.... Check ex - yu's other posts

      Delete
    2. I meant the whole timetable, with the actual flight times and numbers for all destinations not just the new ones.

      Delete
  12. Nikola23:19

    August in BEG 441.088 pax (7% higher then last year). so far this year we have 2.380.911 (3% higher than last year)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous23:21

    Here is the Air Serbia plane http://www.dodaj.rs/f/2u/K1/2e46o6is/as01.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nikola23:25

    btw, first pic od JU-s А319:
    http://tangosix.rs/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/AS_01.jpg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:44

      That looks even better than in pictures!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:50

      ...and it is 14 years old

      Delete
  15. Drugi A319 stize ipak od JP

    http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Airbus/A319/4282,YU--JAT-Airways.php

    ReplyDelete
  16. Contrails16:12

    Adria frame 4301 (S5-AAR) is also due to JU (according to that same source).

    ReplyDelete

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