Air Serbia's CEO, Dane Kondić, has announced that the carrier will welcome its first of ten ordered Airbus A320neo aircraft in the second half of 2018, with which the airline plans to boost frequencies across its network. Speaking to the "Airways Magazine", Mr Kondić noted that the new aircraft, which will have the capacity to seat up to 165 passengers in a two-class configuration, will give the carrier "more flexibility". "We started the airline with a vision of exiting the broken and old fleet that we inherited. We are moving to a newer generation of Airbus A320neos. These will start entering our fleet in the second half of 2018. Based on where we’re located, there are good opportunities for us, and having a new aircraft is a big part of that", Mr Kondić said.
Air Serbia will take delivery of all ten jets by 2020. Commenting on the aircraft order, Mr Kondić previously said, "The new fleet of A320neo aircraft are a key part of our strategy with which we intend to redefine our position on the market, with the most modern and comfortable single-aisle aircraft. As we expand our destination network throughout Europe, we will set new standards with the A320neo both in comfort and quality of service". He added, "It is the best option from the A320 family of aircraft and features new engines as well as sharklet technology, allowing added efficiency”. The only other carrier in the former Yugoslavia to have ordered the type is Croatia Airlines, which will take delivery of four jets from 2021.
Mr Kondić notes that Air Serbia already serves all of its main markets in Europe and will therefore focus on adding more departures to existing destinations. "We serve 43 destination in Europe and the Mediterranean, and that’s a good start for our network. We carried 2.6 million people last year, compared to 1.3 million before 2013. With many of the destinations that we fly today, we want to add frequencies. We don’t see a lot more opportunity for new destinations, because our network in Europe is set", the CEO said. Commenting on the carrier's recently launched transatlantic operations, he added, "We’re a boutique airline that doesn’t have fifty aircraft flying across the Atlantic. That’s not our goal. We’re here to provide an alternative. We know we’re punching above our weight against bigger carriers. We’re not afraid of competition because we genuinely believe that we have something good to offer".
What will happen with the current A319/A320s? Are the neos a replacement for them?
ReplyDeleteGood. Thanks. It will be a capacity upgrade though.
DeleteGreat news to rising Air Serbia. New wings in Europe✈
DeleteRodney & fan team. KVO✈SYD
Good news but something has to be done about the regional fleet until then.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! A320 might be tricky to fill in some destinations.
DeletePostovani Anon 9:13 AM.
DeleteVerujem da u ovom momentu Er Srbija nema velikih mogucnosti za nabavku novih manjih regionalnih aviona. To i jeste razlog nemogucnosti njenog razvoja na sekundarnim aerodromima. Ne mislim samo u Srbiji, vec u krugu do 700 km. od Beograda. Zbog kaptivacije trzista. U iducih deset godina bi i to bilo pozeljno da pocne da se razvija. Po mojem skromnom misljenju. Uz toplo leto, iskren pozdrav. Rod, Kraljevo✈Sydney.
Agree. They need to replace those ATRs ASAP.
DeleteAnon 9:49 AM.
DeleteKaptivacija trzista znaci sa letovima po vecem broju aerodrome prikupljati, prevoziti putnike. Ako na mrezu aerodroma slecu drugi a nema se sa cime leteti, ocigledno da to trziste preuzimaju oni koji su sposobni da prilagodjavaju cene i uslove podrucjima koje opsluzuju. Rec kaptivacija potice iz engleskog jezika. Znaci, prikupljanje, skupljane. Moze se odnositi na trziste, izvore vode, tecnosti... Vama pozdrav. Svako dobro. R✈
Kaptivacija trzista, kao izraz, ne postoji na srpkom jeziku,
DeleteIpak ste postovani Anon 2:11 PM.
DeleteProcitali znacenje. Verujem da vi znate engleski jezik za razliku od mene. Verovatno srpski jezik nema stranih reci? Nazalost jedva I srpskim jezikom vladam. Ostajte u dobru. Ako mozete, oprostite mi... Radovan.
U Kontekstu obnove flote Er Srbije cvrsto verujem da ce implementirati cetiri Erbasova A330 NEO, za buduciinter-kontinentalni saobracaj. Prirodno je da bi vrhunski odgovarali A350 ili Boingov B787, ali je to preveliki zalogaj do pune privatizacije Er Srbije. A posle toga je druga prica. Do tada lizing A330 jeste pristojno kretanje napred. Siguran sam da Kondic i tim idu korak po korak realnim putem. Pozdrav iz letnjeg Kraljeva. Rodney & fanovi Airport Morava Kraljevo✈
ReplyDeleteRadovane, znate da "pune privatizacije" ne moze da bude?
DeleteDragi Anon 9:31 AM.
DeleteNisam znao da u Srbiji ''ne moze'' biti pune privatizacije. Dali je to ''zakletva najvecem sinu naroda i narodnosti'' to znaju ti koji tvrde da nemoze biti pune privatizacije nacionalne kompanije u Srbiji. Vama su dostupne ''direktive'' od ostarelih ''tata''. Meni je dostupno da nikada netreba reci nikad. Mozda sam neskroman. Ipak sve se menja, sem kamenja. I ono se pretvara u prah kroz vreme. Mogucnost privatnog u Srbiji? ''Sta kaze tata iz zatrpan u Dedinjskom brdu?. ''No prvatision''. You must be joking. Vama svako dobro. Time will tell. Radovan, Kraljevo
Previše ste obsednuti prošlosti. Live for today Mr. Radovane. The wings of Europe await you.
Deletene može jer pravila ECAA zabranjuju više od 49% u vlasništvu firme van ECAA prostora
DeleteRadovane, lepo je da vas secanje lepo sluzi, samo nema vise "ostaralih tata" i Broza znate.. Kao sto rece @10:12 kompanije izvan Evrope ne mogu biti vlasnici preko 49%
DeleteDakle ukoliko je firma formalno iz Evrope, ipak može da bude pune privatizacije. Radovan je u pravu, a Vi što ga ispravljate ste u krivu. Pošto ste dali Radovanu par saveta imam ja za Vas savet: pre nego što potražite trunje u tuđem oku, pogledajte da nije možda deblo u vašim očima. Uzdravlje!
Delete@10:46 Postoji Skupstina kompanije, da li stvarno mislite da bi drzava prodala deo svog vlasnistva u ASL a da se pritom Etihad ne slaze? cak i da se too desi, Etihad bi izasao iz kompanije, pa to je i deci jasno.
DeleteFirma koja bi kupila preostali deo državnog vlasništva mora da bude iz Evrope. Ali vlasnici firme mogu da budu odakle god bilo ili i oni moraju da budu državljani neke od zemalja ECAA?
Delete+1 for Rodney, a true original of this blog!
DeleteRadovane, Srbija i ni jedna druga zemlja balkana nece biti jaka i stabilna kao SFRJ za vreme Tita. Er Srbija nikada nece biti kao JAT (iz milion razloga). Niko nece moci tek tako da emigrira kao starije generacije, pogadjate, u vreme Tita. Toliko.
Delete@1:57 Uporedjivanje JAT-a i ASL kao i SFRJ i novonastalih drzava je potpuno suludo. Sve u svoje vreme moj prijatelju. Da je nesto zaista bilo "jako" a pogotovo "stabilno" ne bi se raspalo u komade.
DeleteMoj dragi Anon 1:57 PM.
DeleteMeni je dao Gospod oci da gledam napred!. Sav teret proslosti nisam nikad vukao za sobom. Od proslosti koristim iskustvo o kojem Promislim. Ova zemlja Srbija je prepuna zakona iz proslosti koji nisu promenjeni. A koji gnjave ljude od saltera do sahrana. Birokrarsko adminastrativna azdaja na mnogim mestima. Gotovo bez izbora mogucnosti. Nacin razmisljanj vecina ljudi iznad 40 godina starosti kojim je puna gla ''miti se kunemo''... Pojedinaca ima predivnih. Mnogo ljudi je ekstra sposobno u korektnom biznisu. Sto se privatizacije i administracije tice sto se vise i brze bude menjalo i korigovalo ''mrtviji ce biti marsal''. Kome je on uzor neka uziva u svojoj ''sfrj'' sa dozivotnim (mrtvim)vodjom. Neka dize svoju zastavu, pa makar ni boju ne video... Da, moze se svaka kompanija u Srbiji privatizovati. Ukljucujuci naravno i Er Srbiju. Time will tell. Iskreni pozdravi. Air Serbia, New Wings of Europe!
Rodney & Son. KVO✈SYD.
Gledaš napred ali svaku priliku koristiš da kritikuješ prošlosti. Interesantan pogled na svet imaš.
DeleteI still think there are a few more markets in Europe which they could fly to - Spain, a few more points in Italy...
ReplyDeletePriština, Munich, Cairo, maybe Tehran, to name a few.
DeleteAS & BEG can become the gateway for Iranian investment in the Balkans.
DeleteBut IKA is not in Europe :)
DeleteHe was talking specifically about the network in Europe.
For a network carrier (an airline that wants to have a hub in BEG and intends to be the leading airline of the region) these are the missing European must-have destinations:
DeleteShort-haul (70-seater prop):
- VCE
- PRN (some rotations may be B733/A319)
- ZAD (in summer B733/A319)
- BWK (2x weekly summer seasonal)
- INI (2x daily feeder)
Med haul (100-seater jet):
- LYS (5pw)
- MUC (7pw)
- LIS (5pw)
- MAD (5pw, some rotations may be B733/A319)
- DUB (5pw, some rotations may be B733/A319)
- OSL (4pw)
Med haul (140-170 seater):
- BCN (7pw)
So there are still a whole bunch of destinations missing and they should both serve
- these 12 additional airports
- incerase frequencies to fly at least 2x daily to most ex yu destinations, some of them 3x daily, in order to allow an acceptable connectivity at their BEG hub.
You make some good points, I would question, DUB & LIS.
DeleteI am eager to know the June numbers Of Airports BEG,PRN,SKP,Sarajevo,PDG,...
ReplyDeleteAre they going to be owned by ASL those NEO's?
ReplyDeleteThey will be owned and payed for by Etihad.
DeleteNo they are not. JU bought the planes via Etihad, to get better pricing. They planes will be 49% owned by Etihad, through the division of investment, and 100% owned by JU entity.
DeleteNot exactly, the planes will belong to Etihad and will be leased to JU.
DeleteAnon. 11.32 got it right.
DeleteAnonymous July 1, 2016 at 11:26 AM
DeleteAnonymous July 1, 2016 at 1:24 PM
Same person trolling.
It isn't the same person. I wrote the comment at 11.26. I thought that they are being payed by Etihad and therefore owned by them. I stand corrected if it's different.
DeleteAnon 1:24 got it right.
DeleteSooner or later they will have to replace the B737s for Aviolet too.
ReplyDeleteThese have pretty low flying mileage, due to sanctions in the 90's, so they are like a 15-20 year old Boeing plane, in terms of their usage. Still a few more years of exploitation for them, for sure.
DeleteNO! Because if you want to be called a boutique airline, those worn out 30 years old planes must leave immediately!
DeleteThe argument about sanctions does not apply as that was 20 years ago. They have way too many cycles on them by now.
DeleteThey are not worn out. They have been touched up.
DeleteThe argument about sanctions does very well apply, as they still have significantly low number of flight miles, for the age of the aircraft.
As I said, they are good for another 5 years of exploitation, easily.
My friend I'm not talking about flight miles. When somebody hears the world " boutique " he expects some alpha class product, so in my opinion these boeings 733 does not have a place in a boutique airline. They can replace them with some newer leased planes.
DeleteBut my friend, Aviolet is not a boutique company, but a subdivision of Air Serbia for charter flights. And I am not certain if boutiques services of Air Serbia are primarily for JFK, or for each and every flight.
DeleteCEO of AirSerbia was certain:boutique airline in general not just fot the jfk route.Aviolet might be a subdivision for charter flights but as you already know they also fly many routes for airserbia everyday,I got nothing more to say, have a nice afternoon.
DeleteSorry for the delay. CEO of air serbia was crystal clear: boutique airline in general and not just for the jfk route and as for aviolet, come on my friend you already know that they fly everyday for airserbia and customers lets say for example in stockholm expecting an airbus and they see a 733. I think it is not appropriate.
DeleteSince we are talking about JU B737-300 here is a trip report I found:
Deletehttp://flight-report.com/en/report/16423/Air-Serbia-JU350-Belgrad-BEG-Berlin-TXL
I agree with anon 3:25 as well. While some companies in Europe are still using B737-300, if you want to get your name known as a prestigious airline, you def do not want to send this plane to Western European routes. This might not be a great comparison, but if a car is 30 years old regardless of how many km it has it is still a "bad" car requiring frequent repairs.
Why should it be bad? they can use these aircrafts 3-4 years more without a problem! i dont care anything about the age but i do care about high decibel, worn out sets or no space for my legs for ex.
DeleteMali said in recent T6 interview that Belgrade airport needs to develop in direction of Air Serbia and listed hotel, new terminals, satellite terminals and possibly new runway. Today we read that Air Serbia does not see a lot more opportunity for new destinations because their network in Europe is set. Those two visions are not aligned.
ReplyDeleteEven with increase in frequency, Air Serbia will not be able to add more than a million new passengers in the next 5 years (if the European network is set), and airport does not need new terminals if growth is under a million. Unless there is growth outside of Europe, that is.
So it looks like Air Serbia will add Chicago, Toronto, Beijing and possibly a few more while frequency increase in the region will offer better conectivity.
On the other hand, upsizing (from 8x A319/ 2x A320 to 10x A320neo) and frequency increase does not go hand in hand. Frequency increase will likely happen with smaller planes. Will it be through newer ATR's or regional jets on wet lease from Adria, Montenegro or some other way, we don't officially know.
I am afraid those 737s will be filing in the fleet gaps you mention.
DeleteOh no... they are not aligned. What will we do now Decko Tzar? :/
DeleteAir Serbia should have the same network as Aegean. In Europe only Spain and Munich are missing.
ReplyDeleteAny future Expansion will be in the west of Abu Dhabi.
Kuwait,Jordan;Turkey,Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Beyrut and Tel Aviv are in already .
Tel Aviv,Beyrut,Izmir,Kuwait City,Tehran,Jeddah,Riyadh,Amman,Damascus,Cairo,Tbilisi,Yerevan.
DeleteJust to keep thew discussion based on reality. Here's Aegean's NON charter destinations:
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegean_Airlines_destinations
Also it carried last year 11.6 million passengers.
Keep it real people.
The same reality that JAT has no future and flying to North America is impossible?
DeleteI am talking about the reality of comparing the Serbian domestic and international market with that of Greece's and expecting JU to have the same size and potential as A3.
DeleteNow go back to sleep to dream about JU becoming like OS or LX too...
Read the rest of it. In addition, last year CEO said ATR fleet would be added/replaced in 2-3 years. That translates in 1-2 years from now, which aligns well with rumored 1-2 additional A330 to join by next summer. More regional frequency, better connectivity and more feed for more long haul destinations.
ReplyDeleteAfter Kiev and St Petersburg were announced, CEO also said Air Serbia could fly to some 5-10 new destinations including some in Italy, so the planned growth might be more aggressive than outlined in this interview. If stars align for Air Serbia, Mali scenario for BEG could unfold in the coming years.
I hope it does unless Mali is totally humiliated and forced out of his job after a series of scandals. Then again, we should be electing a new mayor soon and he will most certainly not win.
DeleteAnd yet, he can still keep his job in JU - Air Serbia and Belgrade Airport are state-owned, rather than city owned companies.
DeleteNo one is irreplaceable. Concession contract gets signed with the government, not individual.
DeleteWhy would they keep him if he gets discredited? It's not like he is super competent, especially on city level. Djilas was a much better mayor. Not to mention that he was actually elected.
DeleteOT Vreme je da se malo nasmejemo. Urednik Draža Petrović i novinar Milan Brkić su pre početka letova pisali o desetinama navodnih prepreka da Er Srbija dobije dozvole za let za Njujork. Iz sadašnje perspektive tekst je čist humor (ili tragedija ako ozbiljno shvatate novinarstvo). Uživajte:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.danas.rs/dodaci/nedelja/hoce_li_premijer_leteti_za_njujork.26.html?news_id=320914
A320 Neo izgleda malo lepse od A320 zbog veceg Turbofana pa deluje malo kao da je veci.
ReplyDeleteNadam se da ce sadasnji 8 A319 i 2 A320 takodje ostati u Floti zajedno sa A320 Neo i da ce uslediti jos jedna veca ekspanzija.
I takodje se nadam da ce se poruciti A330 Neo sto bi bilo odlicno.
INN-NS
Iz Vasih usta u Bozje usi IN-NIS 2:18 AM. Sa flotom od tridesetak putnickih i par kargo aviona i potpuno rekonstruisanim Beogradskim aerodromom Er Srbija i drzava Srbija bi dobili pravo mesto u oblasti putnicke avijacije. Buduci ekonomski razvoj zemnje moci ce da to ostvari u iducih devet godina. Naravno, ne i za one koji ne veruju u Srbiju I njen razvoj. Jedno je izvesno. u iducih petnaest godina, aerodromska struktura i avio saobracaj Srbije bice veci nego sto je imala bivsa drzava prije raspada. Logicno, srazmerno velicini Srbije. Radovan, Kraljevo.
Deletebog vam je dao oči da gledate u napred ali svaku priliku koristite da kritikujete prošlosti.
Deletepoint made.
ot massive delays at JFK tonight. JU501 is stuck just like others, with most departure delays in 2-3 hour range. JFK issued ground stop earlier because of weather.
ReplyDeleteLook at the JetBlue flight 417. It was supposed to depart at 1435 and it still hasn't taken off! It's 23.34 local time.
ReplyDeleteNext time others wonder why JU might be delayed, remember how crazy the summer storms are on the East cost!
Yeah bro, true that but then BEG-JFK will be delayed by like 7 hours today. JetBlue can always work around it, they are more flexible.
Delete