Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, has said the airline has no plans to acquire a stake in Air Serbia after Serbia’s President floated the idea in Doha in March. Speaking at a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai yesterday, Mr Al Baker said, “We have invested in airlines that have synergies with Qatar Airways in order for us to feed into each other’s networks. At the same time, we have assisted each other in growing and developing joint ventures. We do not have any intention in Air Serbia, although we are always open to expanding codeshares and joint flights with each other. We have a lot of partnerships”. Qatar Airways owns stakes in seven airlines.
Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vučić, said in February he requested for the Emir of Qatar to review the possibility of Qatar Airways becoming Air Serbia’s future strategic partner. He added that further talks on the matter would be held during the Emir’s visit to Serbia, which is yet to be scheduled. The Serbian carrier is currently majority state-owned with a minority 16.2% stake held by Etihad Airways, which is expected to exit from the arrangement in the near future. The Serbian carrier had previously made no secret that it wishes to work closely with a larger airline. In its 2021 annual report, the carrier noted as part of its future development goals, “We will work with all major carriers in the short-term and seek comprehensive cooperation with one of the main airline groups in the long-term”.
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| Qatar Airways and Air Serbia have a wide-ranging mutual codeshare agreement in place |
Air Serbia and Qatar Airways inked a wide-ranging mutual codeshare agreement earlier this year, which has seen both airlines place their designator codes and flight numbers on over a dozen of each other’s routes. Air Serbia has said it is open to strategic partnerships, noting it could be one of the tools used to further expand and ensure the carrier’s long-term sustainability amid an uncertain global market. The Serbian airline will mark the tenth anniversary since its relaunch with Etihad’s assistance this October. Today, the Emirati carrier has little influence over the airline. Earlier this year, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, told EX-YU Aviation News, “Etihad is a minority shareholder and they have no involvement in the management of the airline”.
So TK it is.
ReplyDeleteConsidering TK's track record with B&H Airlines, I'm not sure if that would be the best solution.
DeleteLet's first see what happens with TK if the government changes in Turkey this month.
DeleteAnd Air Albania.
DeleteIf it happens with TK, may as well throw the entirety of Air Serbia away. Will be supporting Air Bulgaria and Croatia for a great future.
DeleteNot likely since the airline is no longer on the state budget. Furthermore its CEO is not politically appointed.
DeleteTo be honest, I think this is the best for both Air Serbia and Qatar Airways.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteOMG. I am literally so surprised. Can't even talk. Dunno what to say... Such a successful and big, probably the best European airline and this. It makes me cry really.
ReplyDeleteMeridiana was neither the most successful or biggest or best European airline. Qatar Airways bought it and bankrupted it with a new business model.
DeleteAnon 09;04
DeleteI think he's being ironic.
I think he was trying to be smart.
DeleteCynical, more than ironic.
DeleteWill they restore SKP soon? :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe in 2032. Fingers crossed until then if Wizzair. Be optimistic, momko.
DeleteI don't see what Qatar would have brought to Air Serbia that would have beeen any different than Etihad
ReplyDeletelong haul development.
DeleteTheir long haul development is doing fine on its own.
DeleteJU could benefit from joint aircraft order with QR. Not too many things QR can get from partnership.
DeleteQR gets access to entire Balkan region which they barely serve.
DeleteTheir investment in Meridiana was a complete disaster so I'm happy with this outcome.
ReplyDeleteAre you really comparing investment in Italy and Serbia?
DeleteYes, if they couldn't make it work in such a big market, they can't make it work in Serbia.
DeleteLOL, that was unexpected. Not!
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia doesn't need Qatar. This was just the Serbian government looking for some extra income. Their logic was that they could get millions into the national budget from selling a part of their shares.
ReplyDeleteJU is doing well despite their many flaws especially in the commercial affairs department.Once these are fixed Air Serbia will become truly competitive. Remains to be seen if it will be done during Marek's tenure or after.
Who on earth would invest in Air Serbia when they know the value of their investment will be reduced the next time the government decides to issue new shares?
DeleteFunny try from Vucic, but the very direct anwer from Al Baker is very telling how every investor feels about this.
The government issued new shares for the first time during Covid. It did that in agreement with Etihad when Etihad decided it no longer had any interest in JU. So your comment makes absolutely no sense.
DeleteI think it would be most profitable for a European carrier to acquire a stake like KLM, TK, A3, LH Group.
ReplyDeleteAlso have you considered that if JU acquires an airline in Europe it will be able to have stronger access to the EU market.
What makes you think that KLM, TK, A3, LH Group would make profits from having a stake at JU?
DeleteJU could actually be a very good investment for a major carrier in a year or two considering their growth and profit.
DeleteDude there will only be losses if JU made all the necessary investments in fleet, personnel, operations, customer support and maintenance that it currently does not.
DeleteThey are building up profit and finances in order to make the necessary investments in those areas in the next few years. In terms of on board service, there will be some nice surprises and improvements coming soon across JU.
DeleteRose tinted glasses for its passengers? :D
DeleteYou are so funny...
DeleteStarting this month there will be a couple of changes to the onboard service at JU which is a posstive step forward. Small steps forward but in the right direction.
DeleteCustomer support should see some improvement with the enhancement of the call centre.
Fleet enhancement has been talked about and is underway. New aircraft are entering the fleet, although currently not at the pace that it should be. YU-APS being the latest that has arrived and entered service, 1 more Airbus narrowbody to go on dry lease, 2 more ATR's (1 this month). ATR fleet was last year finally completely modernised and are fantastic. This should enable them to now focus on ATR expansion rather than also having to think about modernisation as well. This summer will be the first time ever that they will have 7 ATR's in their fleet carrying the JU livery, with a total of 10 expected in the near future. ATR's will also soon see business class come back. Airbus narrowbodies will also have some attention with a cabin overhaul. The seat coverings will be made in Serbia.
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/08/air-serbia-seeks-product-commonality.html?m=1
Not to mention that 1 A330 is expected to join the fleet sometime this year while the 4th will quickly follow. Plans for 5 A330's have turned into 8.
I see BEG being the bigger problem as they seem to be currently struggling to keep up with operations and it isn't peak season. They are hiring and advertising job positions on billboards around Belgrade.
@Anon 14:04
DeleteYou are trolling pro bono, son
In any case Air Serbia is doing something, unlike Croatia Airlines, son
DeleteBoring...
Delete@15,00
DeleteAny information that wasn't correct that you would like to mention?
Regardless, I still think it would be good for Air Serbia to work towards joining Oneworld alliance.
ReplyDeleteAgree. And I believe that Oneworld is the least risky alliance JU could join.
DeleteWhy is Oneworld the least risky ? I guess joining Star Alliance or SkyTeam would be better
DeleteIt is least risky because there is the least chance of becoming a feeder and being blocked by partner airlines in its growth. Were they to join Star Alliance, they would become another Croatia Airlines. SkyTeam wouldn't be a bad choice either.
Delete^^^
DeleteWhy would SkyTeam be a bad choice?
I said wouldn't be a bad choice.
DeleteTrue dat. Sorry.
DeleteActually, that would not be a bad thing to get some foreign control in order to get Air Serbia into order. They are lousy in all aspects on their own.
ReplyDeleteYes very lousy becoming profitable and launching 40+ new routes, increasing market share, increasing load factor, managing to overtake Covid figures less than 2 years from complete grounding.
DeleteAll of that happened because of Marek, there are still so many incompetent and brainless people at JU
DeleteI think AS’s development in the past few years show it’s anything but lousy.
DeleteBravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteProbably never…
DeleteDoes anyone know when the Qatari emir is supposed to come to Serbia?
ReplyDeleteFrom the article: "He added that further talks on the matter would be held during the Emir’s visit to Serbia, which is yet to be scheduled."
DeleteProbably never…
DeleteGood, This would have been a step in the wrong direction for JU.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteThis happens when president is sticking his nose into other things, sure we believed that Qatar would acquire a stake. Nice joke!
ReplyDeletePresidente of Serbia, the govt being the largest shareholder of the company? How is he sticking his nose into 'other' things considering JU is state-owned?
DeleteQatar could have been the sponsor needed to get Air Serbia into One World alliance, if Air Serbia ever wanted to join. They currently don't want to join. Other than alliance, Air Serbia really didn't need Qatar. Codeshare is all both sides need at this time. Air Serbia will keep expanding, like they plan to expand to Toronto, without the need for Qatar to be part owner.
ReplyDeleteThey can still be a sponsor. They have a good relationship. They don't have to be owned by QR to get sponsorship. Air France was willing to sponsor Jat Airways' membership in Skyteam despite them having just a codeshare agreement.
DeleteTrue, they don't. But that's not the point here.
DeleteUnless the headline says "Air Serbia decided to launch Toronto" (still unofficially) no one is going to notice it in the comments. Some don't even read the article, people frequently ask questions already answered in the article. So the headline or bust.
DeleteLets be honest here. What would an airline like JU would be of benefit for QR? Perhaps the most valuble features are the Heathrow and NYC slots, which QR already have in abundance.
ReplyDeleteThe current JU fleet is not the oldest, but not the newest and does not really fit with their vision.
Balkan market important destinations are covered by them: ATH, BEG, OTP, SOF, ZAG
QR has invested in the IAG for logical reasons: to have access to huge markets such as both Americas.
Also QR are part of oneworld and we have seen that JU is more linked to SkyTeam.
Finally, QR are not in their best shape with the lack of the A320s waiting for the arrival of the Max.
With their return to New Zealand in September and the deployment of the Maxes things will begin to change.
QR definitely made a research an found out that the Etihad partnership was not beneficial neither for JU. It is just better to go their own seperate ways and focus on code-shares or exisiting frequencies to BEG.
I have no idea what biased mind everyone has when stating that Jay Airways had no benefits from EY whatsoever. If you know better, JU is now having processed and business procedures taken over from EY, know-how was still in use from EY, Network was mostly point-to-point oriented, standards across JU is now changed to follow new business models airlines have (and not following old 40-year-old 'jat school of doing business'.
DeleteNo one is saying EY didn't extract money from JU, but let's be realistic. AirSerbia will not be here now without UAE investment.
It would have been funny going from one Arab sugardaddy to another :D
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteAfter the first one went broke because he had too many girlfriends.
DeleteHaha good one
DeleteRegardless of Qatar Airways, it would be interesting to see what the government does in the future. They definitely want to get rid of part of their share so it will be interesting to see if they find someone else.
ReplyDeleteEspecially since they are no longer providing subsidies.
DeleteSo Etihad is definitely pulling out?
ReplyDeleteThey just have a minor ownership stake on paper. They have no influence on JU.
DeleteAnother scam by the president. Nothing new.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhats the scam?
DeleteWhy would they tie themselves to another Middle East company?
ReplyDeleteBetween EY and QR I would definitely choose QR.
DeleteBecause that kind of deal doesn't have to follow EU rules (or any rules) and can be done with djafte kurafte economy including hotels on Kopaonik or whatever emir wants...
DeleteYes yes, it's all corruption, EU good, everyone else bad. I for one am glad the state is doing their best in not handing over both JU and the aviation market to EU (totally not corrupt) behemoths.
DeleteNice to see JU logo next to destination Singapore :)
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhat Qatar routes does Air Serbia codeshare on?
DeleteAdelaide, Belgrade, Baku, Brisbane, Tbilisi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Muscat, Nairobi, Perth, Seychelles, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Phuket, Seoul, Tokyo, Yerevan and Zanzibar.
DeleteThat's a lot! Thanks
DeleteAs it looks like the government is trying to get rid of JU, the carriers that might be interested would be from Europe: LH Group, AF-KLM (+ Delta) and TK. Since LH just makes feeders from their investment that is a no go. TK doesn't have good investment portfolio in the region (BH Airlines went bust, AirAlbania stagnating for years), I think the best solution is the AF-KLM Group. They have a vast coopeartion with JU that is lasting decades now, they posted their biggest profit in decades for 2022 and they are a close partner to Delta and a codeshare with Delta would open so much more possibilities in the JU's US market.
ReplyDeletePlease not LH
DeleteLH has been nothing but hostile to JU for many many years. The chances of LH ever being a good partner to JU is the same as hell freezing over.
DeleteLook this might be an out of the box idea, BUT;
ReplyDeleteWhat if this agressive expansion is directed from the goverment and the only goal is to sell the airline to either TK or QR?
Some of the moves strive thowards that idea
Highly doubt it. Similar to EY, the Serbian government is no longer that interested in Air Serbia. They lost interest at the time JU's boutique model collapsed and Dane left. Since then JU has been completely independent in its decisionmaking.
DeleteNišta ovde nije završeno. Ako šeik naloži partnerstvo JU i QTR, Akbar Al Baker će promeniti ploču. Više će se znati nakon posete šeika Beogradu.
ReplyDeleteWe will see
Deletetrue that
DeleteAegean was interest in buying OU maybe that has to do with JU??
ReplyDeleteI think Qatar gave up Air Serbia because they fight at the moment with Aegean which of the two would take over Croatia Airlines, the most succesful, the most developed and the most profitable european carrier. Jasmin rocks!!! 😃😅
DeleteA3 investing in JU would be awesome, but don't think they are interested.
DeleteFinally, some positivity from pozdrav. Lol. Even the uhljebs wouldn't call it that as they don't even have that much of a vision. Pozdrav, did you hear the next partnership will be with the intercity bike rentals?
DeleteYou must be a good friend of Jasmin if he disclosed to you such a brilliant move, only him could invent and execute. Plus you got permission to go with it publicly. Wow..... 😃😅
DeleteSeamless transition - plane to train to bike
DeleteAir Serbia does not need any financial help the way they are progressing. Unfortunately , the same cannot be said of the Serbian government, which like any government needs many sources of cash to implement it's domestic policies.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I am glad they are not interested. Their investments in other companies didn't turn out well.
ReplyDeleteWith this one Air Serbia dodged a bullet .
ReplyDeleteWhen self proclaimed expert guests have no clue:
ReplyDeletehttps://n1info.rs/biznis/gosti-n1-o-partnerstvu-er-srbije-i-katara-ima-li-nekog-skrivenog-interesa/
And again a fairy tale from Vicic... that does not end happily. Politicians talk a lot but you hardly see so much unseriousness
ReplyDeleteI dislike Vucic but I'm sorry what fairytale did he say in this regard? He said he suggested the idea to the Emir and that they will talk about it in the future. So where is the fairytale? He didn't say QR all acquire JU.
DeleteVucic's wishful thinking
Delete