Air Serbia finalising sale of its last remaining Boeing jet


Air Serbia is arranging the sale of its last remaining Boeing 737-300 aircraft, which has been grounded since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Furthermore, the carrier has ruled out plans to resurrect the Aviolet charter brand name, under which the aircraft operated. Over the past two years, Air Serbia has sold one B737-300, registered YU-ANK, to a university in China for training purposes. Another aircraft of the same type, registered YU-AND, is believed to be destined for the Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade where it will be put on display, while the third, registered YU-ANI, is expected to be sold soon.

Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “These planes were very old and at the end of their life cycle. It was difficult to operate them along with the ATRs and Airbus jets. And it was very expensive to keep them operational three months a year. Therefore, during the pandemic, and also from a sustainability perspective, we decided to retire the oldest aircraft in the fleet. We are currently in the process of finalising the sale of the last aircraft”. The phase-out of the Boeing 737s from the national airline’s fleet was planned by the end of 2021, but the pandemic accelerated their retirement. All three aircraft are over 35 years old.

The three jets operated under the Aviolet brand from 2014 and primarily utilised on charter flights, although they were often put into use on scheduled services as well. Between 2014 and 2018, Aviolet flights included a buy-on-board menu, which at the time differed from Air Serbia’s mainline service offering, did not feature a business class cabin and cabin crew wore different uniforms. However, in 2019, this concept was abandoned by the airline and flights operated by the three aircraft were similar to others. “We have stopped using the Aviolet brand name. We don't really have any plans to use it again, but we're keeping it anyway, you never know. At the moment we prefer to operate everything under the Air Serbia brand”, Mr Marek noted.

Air Serbia is continuing its drive to renew its fleet with an Airbus A320 jet, registered YU-APO, set to enter commercial operations at the start of next week. The aircraft has been scheduled on next Monday’s flights from Belgrade to Zurich and Milan. The carrier will also take delivery of an A330-200 jet later this month, as well as another two ATR72-600 turboprops by the end of the year. As a result, the airline’s average fleet age should be reduced from the current twenty to around twelve years.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    I wonder how much they can get for this old bird

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:28

      Even if they got peanuts, it's more than one could expect.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:03

      I'm also genuienly interested in what a 37 year old B737 could fetch.

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

      Delete
    4. 1.25 mil according to google, if in flying condition.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous21:49

      1.25 million euros, dollars or dinars?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    The service on Aviolet and Air Serbia became the same. Of course there was no point of its existence anymore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:04

      True. Service on Aviolet before is what service on Air Serbia is today, minus the business class.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    I thought that YU-ANI was sold too.

    Where is that plane located now? In China?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      YU-ANI is in Belgrade

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      Interesting, as I was sure YU-ANI flew away to China together with YU-ANK.

      Do you know where it is located in Belgrade? I have not seen in Jat Tehnika,

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:13

      I believe it is on the apron in front of Tehnika.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:45

      This is what T6 announced last year

      "Odluka Er Srbije dolazi samo dan nakon što je juče, kako je javio portal ExYu Aviation, avion YU-ANK je odleteo u Kinu kod novog vlasnika. Uskoro će mu se pridružiti i YU-ANI."

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:23

      And this is what aviation direct announced (translated from German)

      The airline Air Serbia was able to sell two Boeing 737-300, which were last in the air with the registrations YU-ANI and YU-ANK. The aircraft mentioned were in service under the charter and holiday flight brand Aviolet.
      This did not have its own AOC, but was only a brand of Air Serbia. However, a few months ago it was decided that this should no longer be continued. Therefore, the last Boeing 737-300 were put up for sale.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Unfortunate that these planes never got some special send off. They were a big part of the company's history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:36

      Given the history of these aircraft, they absolutely should have organised a farewell flight.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:12

      There is still time to farewell flight, and some good PR for JU, but unfortunately most of the time JU management trying to erase past company

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:12

      It is a shame to put on onto entire JU managment team for not advertizing and capturing that historical moment! The retirement of these birds should have been indeed a special event that would assemble all aviation lovers from accross ex Yu. They demonstrated their lack of vision and do not care attitude...

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:08

    When they finally display YU-AND I really hope it won't be in the Aviolet livery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Me too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:47

      I hope they restore it into JU "egg" (actually globe) B737 livery.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:08

    Thank God they kept one for the museum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      I do not find this sentence as a confirmation it will surely happen

      "Another aircraft of the same type, registered YU-AND, is believed to be destined for the Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade".

      It is "believed".

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      That's because the CEO is not Serbian so he doesn't care about such things. He'd rather get some peanuts for it to improve the dire financial situation in the airline. JU the other day increased it's fares.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      "dire financial situation"

      I'm sure you have access to their finances to make such conclusions.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:36

      JU increased the prices as their 2 weeks campaign was over. What is so strange about it?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:47

      I just don't get where they are going to place the 737 at the museum. The Museum courtyard is full.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:51

      It is supposed to be expanded.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:41

      YU-AKF i still waiting to get to the museum, after how many years???

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:49

      The problem is in the museum itself, not JU.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:41

      "I'm sure you have access to their finances to make such conclusions."

      You can get their financial statements online.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    " The airline's average fleet age should be 12 years old " . Is that gonna happen when the 3 ATR -72-200 will leave the fleet or with them ? Thanks a lot .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      Yes, they are the oldest planed in the fleet.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:14

      *planes

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:30

      The fleet will be younger by several years compared to OU which is interesting.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:51

      Let's hope they will keep 1 ATR-72-200 for the museum also .

      Delete
    5. Anonymous17:03

      I'd rather have them convert ATRs to cargo than for them to sit in a museum.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:18

    sad to see them go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      But it was time.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:26

    It is good that they have reduced the average age of their fleet so much in just a single year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:28

    I can't believe someone was actually interested in this plane

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:28

    And to think that Etihad declared those planes rubbish in 2013 when the new management came and said how they would retire them ASAP only to turn out that those planes have been a saviour for JU on so many occasions.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:33

    It will probably be sold for spare parts

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:37

    If the A320neo will be in service next Monday already, I'm guessing it has already got fitted with new cabins? I mean it won't come to Belgrade and then be fitted with the seats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      Apologies I didn't mean NEO, don't know where I got that from haha. I mean YU-APO.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:45

      Yes, it will have short entry into service from when it arrives in BEG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:53

      They released a timelapse of it being painted :)

      https://www.linkedin.com/posts/airserbia_timelapse-painting-of-an-airbus-a320-activity-6982963694511005696-S4FX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:23

      Nice video

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:24

      Do we know the exact date when it will arrive in Belgrade?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:26

      Thanks for video.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:27

      No but it should be some time this week.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:37

      Well that much I knew considering it will be in service in a few days.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:40

    End of an era

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:40

    What happened to the Boeing pilots?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:48

      At the time the Boeings were retired, there were no more JU pilots with valid B737 license.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:54

      Didn't know that. Thanks

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:50

    Maybe they should have converted them to cargo? They are looking to enter the cargo business anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      That would involve lots of investment and more money spent.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:56

      Yes but it would bring extra revenue and profits.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:59

      Converting 35-year old 737s to freighter is pointless.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:20

      Exactly. What would be the point? You would have to retire it even as a cargo plane fairly soon.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:52

    Congratulations on actually selling them. More than I could expect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      Same!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:21

      And surprisingly, the first one that was sold to China has not been cut into spare parts.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:52

    What happened to those general aviation aircraft put on sale in 2018? Did they manage to sell them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Wonder how much money they got for all of them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:25

      It was a few million in total from what I can remember. It was listed in their financial report for 2018.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:55

    Timeless classic :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:55

    If ever there was a type of plane that has been fully exploited by an airline then it was this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20

      They will be remembered by many

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL14:07

      The first DC9 in the JAT fleet (I-DIKY), which was on lease from AZ, went on to fly for NW before being scrapped at 40 years old. I believe there were some more DC9's that went on being removed from service after 40 years of flying.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:00

    What happened to YU-ANL and YU-ANW?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Yes, they were cannibalized in BEG.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous10:10

    The Aviolet webpage now redirects to aiserbia.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      I didn't notice

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:22

    The costs of flying very old aircraft and having a separate pilot and flight attendant groups just for them was too high. Makes sense that they were retired, and surprising it didn't happen earlier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:44

      Flight attendants can easily operate on multiple types of aircraft at the same time. You are correct about pilots, though.

      Delete
  24. Those kind of planes are perfect for African market like UN Missions and stuff and delivery of cargo. Still hard to see that 30 years old planes are flying so good when here in Nigeria we have full airports of much newer planes that do not fly and will never fly. I congratulate to Air Serbia on this sale and to University of China for buying one and to Aviation museum in Belgrade for another one with hopes that one day I can visit museum as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous11:18

    It is interesting how Mr. Marek changed story, since when they retired 737 one of the goals was to reduce fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions. But what about wet leasing the same 733 and 734?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prepelica11:38

      Overarching goal is profitability which is way more important than reducing gas emissions. You need to balance those carefully.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL14:26

      I believe the B734 was a reaction to fleet and staffing issues and they didn't plan for it joining the fleet. The summer before, they had 2 B737NG's from Smartwings.

      They're making moves towards fuel savings and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Here is a recent article from Bloomberg.

      https://rs.bloombergadria.com/biznis/kompanije/10260/air-serbia-ozbiljno-razmislja-o-odrzivom-gorivu/news/

      For a cash strapped airline I guess they've done fairly well in that area. Hopefully next summer better fleet and staff planning will prevail so they don't need to rely soo heavily on wet leases.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous11:40

    And I'm flying on Friday to ZRH with a B737. When I saw the equipment I was shocked, I thought they actually brought back one of these planes to use :D but it seems like it's the Air Mediterranean wet-lease which I forgot all about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:07

      If you flew just a few days later you would have got the new A320.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous11:40

    If they sell it to someone, how much it will cost to get this plane back into flying state? It has been sitting on the ground for 2 years.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Covek odlazi u penziju. Avion takodje. Prirodan put u zivotu
    Ljudi i masina. Verujem da ce pored Karavele, B727, DC9, naci mesto i jedan B737. To bi bilo vise nego potrebno za buduci park ispred i izmedju Terminala, Vazduhoplovnog Muzeja, zgrade Kontrole letenja sa Kontrolnim Tornjem.
    Obzirom da se ni jedan avion Aeroputa, kao niti B707 ni
    DC10 nije zadrzao za ukras i dekoraciju buduceg vazdusnog Hab-a Jugo Istocne Evrope. Verovatno da nepostoje ni replike. Steta.
    Pod nebom Gospodnjim se plovi u komercijalnom vazduhoplovstvu ceo vek. Verujmo da ce ljudi koji donose odluku o izgledu buducnosti Aerodroma Nikola Tesla Beograd posvetiti najvecu paznju imidzu i esterici ove
    rasuce vazdusne luke ovog dela Evrope i sire.
    Let see what will be. And hope.
    Rodney. 😀✈🛫🌐✈

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous05:13

      Pretpostavljam da mislite da mašine idu u penziju u simbolično smislu.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous13:23

    Lepo CE IH iseci na komade,niti AKF, niti bilo koji drugi CE dospeti do muzeja, zbog ograde a i radi vojnog razmisljanja retarda iz muzeja

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous14:32

    Yey!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous15:04

    I never liked the Aviolet branding anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous18:35

    YU-AND 737 is more likely to end up parked behind extended C concourse than being protected within future hangar at the Aviaton Museum. It should be repainted to JAT livery, ideally original one as delivered from Boeing if possible, and then stored indoors until new Museum hangar is built.

    Judging by inept reconstruction at the Museum where large dugout was made months ago and then left abandoned, future for YU-AND is bleak: keep rotting under acid rains in Aviolet livery and then get towed to the other side of new C gates.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous19:50

    Considering the history of this type of aircraft, and what they have put over their wings, they deserved not one, but several farewell flights. JU should look at how some of the world's companies retired their planes

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous22:06

    No worthy for parts.
    This plane can be used for Universities, to make some landing and take off, plus mechanical work engineering.
    C check,D check, no sense.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous23:45

    Dinosaur

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous21:33

    I believe this is the most comfortable plane I have ever flown in. It is indeed sad that the B737 is being retired.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.