The three national carriers in the former Yugoslavia - Croatia Airlines, Air Montenegro and Air Serbia - are all adding aircraft to their fleet this summer season. The Croatian carrier is set to begin the process next month with the lease of an Airbus A320-family jet. The company has said it plans to use the aircraft primarily as a backup for its existing fleet, while at the same time significantly increasing the use of the type. The plane will be leased on a longer-term basis and will increase the overall size of the fleet to thirteen, with a total of seven Airbuses and six Dash 8 Q400 turboprops.
Air Montenegro has concluded a wet-lease for an Airbus A320 aircraft from Croatia’s Trade Air, which began operations on behalf of the Montenegrin carrier over the weekend. As part of the wet-lease arrangement, Trade Air is providing the aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance. The jet will operate on behalf of the Montenegrin carrier until the end of the 2022 summer season in late October. Air Montenegro had initially considered dry-leasing an A320, however, following detailed analysis of the market and existing circumstances, the company opted for a short-term lease instead. The A320 joins the carrier’s two Embraer E190 jets.
Air Serbia began the process of its fleet renewal and expansion prior to the start of the summer season, with the arrival of its first of five ATR72-600 turboprops. More aircraft of the same type are set to be delivered to Belgrade in the coming weeks, with the process expected to be completed by the end of summer. Furthermore, the airline will take delivery of an Airbus A319 aircraft in the coming days. The jet, registered YU-APN, will undergo cabin refurbishment in Belgrade, after which it will enter the fleet. Depending on market conditions, the carrier is considering leasing additional Airbus A320-family aircraft this summer.
Isn't it a bit costly for Croatia Airlines to lease a plane just for back up?
ReplyDeleteIt is highly likely that the lease is arranged so that they pay for the plane only when it is flying.
DeleteOU should focus on replacing Airbuses rather than getting one as back up if the other(s) go tech.
DeleteI would rather see them first focus on new markets and deal with Ryanair. There fleet is fine.
DeleteOU needs to add more Q400 to their fleet. They are cheap to get now and they have the right capaciy.
DeleteThey are good for winter operations.
DeleteQ400s were a savior for them during Covid.
DeleteSo Croatia Airlines sent back one of the A320 paid 600k for getting it back in original state, just to get a newer aircraft with the same core product? Hmmm
ReplyDeleteGreat planning...
DeleteWhat the hell did they do to that plane if it took that much money to restore it in its previous state.
DeleteAir Montenegro made the right choice. A long term dry lease would be problemtaic. What would they do with the plane in winter?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if 9A-BTK will be painted in their livery (simmilar to MyWings Tradeair a319)
DeleteI don't think so because it will be with Air Montenegro just for a few months. The one with Mywings is a long term wet lease lease.
DeleteConsidering it took Air Montenegro almost a year to paint its own aircraft which were white, I doubt there will be any attempts to paint this one.
DeleteOn the other hand F100 has IdealTours sticker on it, and one of the "old" TradeAir a320 is still in white livery, so it could be fast switch around. Would be cool to see A320 in the new livery of AMNE
DeleteYes would be nice to have the AMNE livery but I think the most we will get is a sticker on the plane.like "operated for Air Montenegro".
DeleteWhich Trade Air A320 is being used by Air Montenegro?
DeleteCurrently BTH; but i think BTK is designated for them - but it's not ready yet
DeleteThanks!
DeleteWhat's up with BTK?
DeleteSo the whole story about Croatia Airlines buying A220s was a hoax?
ReplyDeleteNot a hoax, but pure PR, as I said for the first moment. One needs to be seriously delusional to think that OU can afford to buy new aircraft.
DeleteOU made it clear some time ago that the likely scenario was that they would replace their Airbus fleet with 8-10 year old Aircraft. Buying brand new Aircraft is just a PR stunt, as they can't afford any
DeleteBut I can't believe they actually got Airbus and Embraer to bring planes to Zagreb to demonstrate their products.
DeleteIt is still unresolved what is going to happen with the deposit they made to Airbus for the neos.
DeleteAnd people were saying they would order 14 A220s!
DeleteYeah after seeing their phenomenal performance in Q1 I doubt they will be getting any brand new aircraft.
DeleteExactly, there is simply no money for it and that was clear from the very beginning.
Delete@Anon 9.43 they even got Boeing involved and discussed acquiring the Max... knowing full well they have no money for anything.
DeleteIf they eventually do decide to renew their fleet it will be with Airbus. They have several million euros locked up with them, BCG clients have mostly opted for Airbus orders and politically it will look good for them.
DeleteI guess getting some gas-guzzling ceos will help them be very competitive in the following years, when the competition is going for MAX/neo.
DeleteFinally some progress among these airlines.
ReplyDeleteThe real progress will be when one of these airlines buys a brand new plane. Until then they are just replacing old planes with old planes.
DeleteGood news!
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia has to introduce regional planes, if they want to be more competitive on the market.
ReplyDeleteBy regional I mean regional jets.
DeleteAgree. They need more regional Jets to launch more regional routes and increase frequencies on routes that cannot fill a A319/A320 daily.
DeleteE190 would be perfect, and with Alitalia and Flybe going bust over past year the lease should be lower
DeleteI still think JU could make use of pair of ATR42s for short regional hops.
DeleteCan't they just use the ATR72 that they already have?
DeletePoint is that they don't have enough ATRs to have a decent regional network. That is why they need new planes, ancient ATRs wre becoming increasingly unreliable so it was impossible to rely on them. At the end of the day, JU needs at least 10 ATRs to have a decent room for maneuvering.
DeleteI would say their regional network is decent. Launching some routes just for the sake of it makes no sense.
DeleteThat's how airlines operate, they launch routes just for the sake of it.
DeleteNo, they launch routes to make money.
Delete@10,31
DeleteFor their current size, their ATR fleet would be sufficient if they stopped using them on the longer sectors such as PRG. Routes such as TIA and SKG should be seeing more A319's rather than ATR's. The larger aircraft on those routes would help them to be more competitive against LCC while offering a competitive product for transfer pax. The spare capacity would help them boost frequencies and add extra destinations such as OMO and OHD.
@09,43
ATR42 is a terrible aircraft for JU. Similar operating costs as the ATR72, with less pax and cargo. With LCC's in every other hub and village across Europe, JU would be uncompetitive.
ATR72's have had cargo restrictions on routes to SJJ, imagine what the ATR42 would do. Similar operating expenses with smaller capacity would mean higher ticket prices, and JU's current fares across the region is expensive.
@09,11
This is where the A220 would come in great. It would be a fantastic replacement to the A319's and the DC9's they used to have.
that is why Q400 are superior in all aspects to Atr...other then fuel. Can lift 80pax with all bags and take you anywhere up to 2hr cruising range (1000nm).
DeleteHas Cat3A for low vis
Can be boarded via air bridge and even using both doors.
Has APU for all weather passenger comfort.
Yes it burns more gas then Atr but less rhen E190 or CRJ:)
Q400 also has its setbacks. I believe landing gear issues was one of them. For the routes JU mostly uses the ATR on, Q400 would end up increasing operational expenses and wouldn't benefit them. There are days in winter in BEG when even jet aircraft don't land due to fog, Q400 wouldn't help there.
DeleteOverall, regardless of the aircraft, sitting 2 hours in a prop isn't great.
What is happening with the third Montenegro Airlines plane that was supposed to go to Air Montenegro?
ReplyDeleteThey waiting for the government to buy it for them.
Delete*They are
DeleteWho knows what will happen with that considering a new government is now in charge in Montenegro.
DeleteI wouldn't ne surprised they resurrect Montenegro Airlines.
DeleteBoth JU and OU missing a plane in between the ATR/Q400 and Airbus.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Mix of turbo props and regional Jets would make most sense for JU, as it would allow them to achieve good financial returns on short routes and open new routes that are uncomfortable on a turbo props.
DeleteI think both regional and long haul fleet expansion is needed for both airlines.
DeleteOU first has to have a long haul fleet for it to be expanded...
DeleteAnd where are all those airplanes are going to be paid from?
ReplyDeleteFrom you and me mate; Those type of questions are funny; literally noone complains about goverments buying trains, buses etc. Balkan is a wierd part of the world
DeleteThey are all state owned loss making airlines. From taxpayers of course
DeleteI am happy to see my money goes to AirSerbia and I would triple it instead of buying some military planes ... Although that has its purpose, too.
Delete+1
DeleteSo the fuzz about is that each airline is going to add one airplane??!!! Okay.......
ReplyDeleteConsidering most have been shrinking their fleets over the years, yes.
DeleteThe biggest fleet issue for JU is now being resolved. The 30 year old ATR's needed to be replaced ASAP.
ReplyDeleteKeeping these old dinosaurs in the fleet was becoming more and more costly.
DeleteThey often create major problems to the daily schedule by experiencing technical problems. So the sooner they replace them all the better.
DeleteThese replacement ATR72 are quite slow coming in; it proves once again great planning capabilities of Air Serbia managers as they will have the type renewed by the end of the summer only.
DeleteThey were never planned to arrive all at once. They are timed to arrive as each of the old's ATR's resources run out.
DeleteMakes sense
DeleteNow that JU will replace the ATRs, we need the arrival of more widebodies :D preferably with the beautiful original livery like on the photo :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I really like the special livery I also miss seeing the original on the A330. Looks great.
DeleteI doubt that the second wide-body will join JU's fleet soon.
DeleteIt was primarily intended to connect Belgrade with a mix of new China/North America destinations.
Apart from China still being closed for international travel and uncertainty of its opening, Serbian sanctions to Russia (impose is a matter of time) and Russian response could force JU to opt for longer flight routes, increasing the flight time and costs. All these make the China flights unlikely and leasing a wide-body just for a mix of two flights to YYZ (as per current bilateral) and two or three to ORD at the peak of a season doesn't seem as a wise move. That's why I doubt in the arrival of the second wb in the foreseeable future.
What are you talking about?
DeleteWhat do you not understnad?
Delete@10,27
Delete1 of 2 scenarios I can think of.
1) They could launch YYZ at the end of the summer season when JFK frequencies drop. 2 pw are the frequencies to JFK so 2pw to YYZ wouldn't be too bad for a start. Try to use those 6 months to build up a case to request extra frequencies from the Canadians in time for the summer schedule.
2) Launch ORD. Boost frequencies to JFK, daily in the summer and launch ORD at 4 pw. ORD flight times would make for impossible ground times on 1 aircraft, but swapping aircraft in BEG between JFK and ORD should do the trick.
ORD bih bio jako dobar uz to bih dodao i LAX u letnjoj sezoni mozda i sa nekoliko stop-overa u SPU ili DBV ako bi se mogla napraviti solidna saradnja i ako to vise nije toliko popularno.
DeleteSvakako bih drugi A330 mogao uz YYZ da leti i zimi na dosta destinacija kad bih se popravila saradnja sa regionalnim Agencijama tu ne mislim samo na ex yu nego i na HU,BG, RO i cak GR.
I mozda uspostaviti neku saradnju sa QF opet kao i pre prema Australiji.
INN-NS
A220s are perfect for OU but I would not retire the Q400s.
ReplyDeleteI think a mix of E175 E190/E195 would be perfect for Croatia
DeleteAir Montenegro is thriving!
ReplyDeleteThriving might be a bit of a strong word.
Deleteit is still a shadow of Montenegro Airlines while it is still producing the same kind of losses.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if Air Serbia will have to resort to wet leasing planes this summer like last year.
ReplyDeleteBefore Covid they used to wet lease a CRJ900 during the summer.
DeleteAnd they deployed them on softer routes at the time like Helsinki and Hamburg. Incidentally, both are no longer in the network now that they no longer have this aircraft type.
DeleteThey also got that Smartwings B737-700 jet. I believe it was last year. It operated on both scheduled and charter flights.
DeleteIt was already confirmed that JU will be wet leasing 1 or 2 aircraft this summer. 1 I believe is an A319 from Carpatair. It would of been better if it was 2 A320's.
DeleteIt's questionable if they will need it. Remember, they cancelled Sochi, Amman and Nice and I think it is a matter of time before Moscow and St Petersburg flights end because sanctions will probably be introduced.
DeleteThe 3 routes is only 8 flights a week, which isn't drastic enough to be canceling aircraft. Those frequencies can be replaced. Even including KRR and ROV it isn't too bad. JU has made late frequency adjustments before. KRR, AMM and AER were all midnight rotations, NCE split morning and evening 2 pw which could easily go to any Western European destination in their network, ROV was at midday and 8pm and that too could easily be reallocated elsewhere.
DeleteWet leases would be focused on the charter flights anyway, while their main fleet won't be as tightly scheduled.
Biggest problem I see here is the loss of the Middle East flights as well as aircraft utilisation during the midnight wave.
JU has done a lot with its fleet in the last year. They retired the B737s, taking on new ATRs, replaced their A330 and leased 2 A319s.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThey also retired two A319 so they are only now where they were some years ago. They still have a long way to go. They are going to irrelevant as a player until they reach 4 million passengers per year. Everything below that is not making them to be very relevant or competitive.
DeleteI wish them all the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteLike with the numerous privatization advisors which have been paid over the last 5 years, it seems that BCG advisor was just another one of those where Croatia Airlines or the Croatian government gives numerous amounts of money for absolutely nothing. In the end, we will end up with an old leased A319.
ReplyDeleteThe A320neo production line is booked for years in advance. The only way to get them earlier, would be to lease them from one of the leasing companies, which would not be cheap either.
DeleteAir Serbia should lease A321 for summer charters.
ReplyDeleteOf course.
DeleteIt would make most sense. Even a wet lease
DeleteDry lease should be A320. A321 would be too large considering you need to fill it all year. JU should not consider A321's until they have at least a few A320's in their fleet.
DeleteWhat are the aircraft leasing rates? I mean, have they gone up since the lows of the Covid crisis?
ReplyDeleteLots of variables with lease rates, but average prices have stabilised, that is there isn't any drastic change as seen the past 2 years. A recent KPMG report commented that airlines have been busy replacing aircraft for new, fuel efficient models. Narrowbody and widebody leases are 2 different stories, numbers of widebody leases are still slowly dropping. Demand is focused on the A320neo and B737MAX, which is reflected in their lease rates.
DeleteVelika je steta sto je ASL onda odustala od cele porudzbine A320 NEO makar jedan deo da se preuzeo , i sad bi moglo uz nove ATR da se jos dodaju A220 koji bi bili odlicno resenje. Najveca je steta sto se zapostavlja Bliski Istok i delovi Afrike gde se moglo posle ici i na A330 Neo ili cak A350 posto tu imaju velike feed linije.
ReplyDeleteINN-NS
350?Izvini,ali i jedan 330 je previse za ASL.330 je trosak,da nema donacija drzave!Na balkanu je nemoguce/neisplativo imati cak i 330 a kamoli 350.Nazalost,ali je tako.ASL je neisplativo imati i 321!
DeleteNiko nije rekao da se sutra nabavi. Prvo se treba mreza linija da razradi prema africi i bliskom istoku gde je velik potencijal. Ima nekoliko linija gde bi A350 bio isplativ , i ima ih nekoliko na Balkanu. Imaju i manje zemlje od Srbije takve avione.
DeleteINN-NS