Air Serbia is set to take delivery of its tenth and last ATR72-600 aircraft, which was recently painted in the carrier’s livery in Toulouse. The eight-year-old frame previously operated for Azul and TAP Air Portugal. It has been registered YU-ASC. It marks the completion of Air Serbia’s drive to refleet and expand its turboprop fleet, a process it began in 2022. It previously operated three ATR72-200s and three ATR72-500s, most of which were almost thirty years old and delivered new to the carrier’s predecessor JAT Yugoslav Airlines. The average age of Air Serbia’s ATR72-600 fleet is now eight years. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, the airline will utilise two ATRs during the peak summer months as back-up to avoid operational disruptions, and, as a result will not immediately use the extra capacity to grow its network.
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| YU-ASC |
Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, previously said that a ten-member ATR fleet would suit the carrier’s needs. “The optimal size of the [ATR72 fleet] I would say is ten because then you can start benefiting from some economies of scale”, Mr Marek said. The airline is looking into potentially introducing business class on its ATR aircraft. The plane manufacturer presented its X-Space Table seating concept in 2022. ATR describes X-Space as a “plug and play” solution that allows airlines to convert double seats into premium seats, with the seatback and armrest on one side removed and replaced with a side table. Similar to Eurobusiness-style seats, where the central seat in a row of three aboard a narrow-body is not sold to provide more space, X-Space will allow ATR operators to offer a 1-1 layout in support of a premium class configuration. Air Serbia is considering becoming the launch customer for the seat. “This is an idea we strongly believe we have the business segment for. We are looking into it, but much depends on the progress of the project. A lot of these projects are presented now but will take time to develop”, Mr Marek said.
Since the Serbian carrier owns some of the ATR aircraft it has retired, the company studied the possibility of entering the freighter market and using the planes for cargo flights. However, those plans have been put on hold with passenger to freighter conversion slots being sparse. The carrier has also previously floated the idea of a naming concept for the ATR fleet, which would be related to the country’s geography rather than personalities, as featured on some of its Airbus jets. The carrier now moves its focus onto taking delivery of its first two Embraer E195 aircraft, as well as an additional two Airbus A330-200 jets.
Congratulations
ReplyDeleteFinally Aus Serbia reach good number of Atr-s. They should increase frequencies on some regional routes such as Banja Luka
DeleteWhen Ryanair and Lauda can fill A320 to Vienna 5 per week and 737-800 to Memmingen 7-10 Times per week, Air Serbia should start with daily flights to Banja Luka
DeleteAre two ATRs really necessary for back up?
ReplyDeleteFor this summer I mean
DeleteNo they are not since they are not being fully used while leases have to be paid. JU lacks pilots that's why.
DeleteDefinitely two backups are way too much
DeleteI gues they do not have crew for theese 2 aditional aircrafts. Also, it is good to have at least one spare aircraft in top season, in order to avoid cancelations...
DeleteThe problem is that not too many young pilots want to fly ATRs or any prop aircraft for that matter.
DeletePay is lower than jet aircraft pilots, the demand from airlines is huge all over the world and so they choose Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Yes, sure… they leased aircrafts without pilots prepared
DeletePilots left after the leases were signed. Why do you think they have 4 spare aircraft. Even with 3 spare now they still have delays. Marek failed once again.
Delete“Marek failed once again” indictes either your geographical location or your political party conviction. Marek brought in a renaissance to JU, and that’s where the core issue of your so called observation lies.
DeleteHahahahahaha Renaissance to JU? Are you for real? Pass whatever you are smoking so that we can enjoy it as well.
DeleteMarek's time at AS is famous for people leaving in large number and all of his big projects failing. Where is MRO, where is JV with other airlines, why isn't the app working correctly, why does he have 4 planes parked in busy summer months, why he has spare planes and still delays?
As long as the net profit and number of passengers continues to soar each year, I’d leave the way he achieves those targets to the expert himself and not a layman like yourself.
DeleteHahahahahaha!
You seem to have a personal issue with him. Probably disgruntled ex- employee. It would also be nice if you didn't turn an entire topic about fleet renewal into your personal vendetta.
DeletePoenta obnove i rasta flote je da oni budu stvarni rezultati. Osim prihoda za bogaćenje menadžmenta, napredak na drugim mestima nije primećen. Odlično je što sada ima 10 ATR-a i oni su mladi i novi. ali ako i dalje ima kašnjenja i nema značajnijeg povećanja frekvencije do regionalnih destinacija, kao što je drugi dan za Sarajevo. malo je za aplaudirati za novi dodatak.
Delete@anon 10:39… couldn’t have said it better myself. Always some conspiracies on here and we constantly hear the same people screaming about JU’s demise ‘any day’. For the country size, the achievement thus far is commendable. Pilots and staff always leave, and new ones arrive, it’s the circle of aviation life.
DeleteHahh do not listen to Anonymous10:35, his typical hate for JU. We hardly had anyone left the company. Actually more people joined us and we are expecting bunch to comeback this summer from maternity leave.
DeleteI must say they replaced their ATR fleet relatively quickly, and expanded too.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIndeed, not a small task for any airline!
DeleteWould have been interesting to see those ATRs turned into freighters.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of money for a Airline to have two Aircraft just sitting there doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteIf they survived when YU-ARA was sitting every single winter except for two days, they'll be fine.
DeleteThere was an article here where Marek said they would have several aircraft as back up and that it will impact their bottom line but that they can't have operational disruptions like last summer.
DeleteThey also have two A319 as back up. Very poor planning
Delete^ Why is it poor planning? They planned it that way. Last year you were complaining about delays and how when one aircraft goes tech their entire network falls apart. Now you are complaining why they have planned buffers to prevent that scenario.
DeleteWell delays are still very common, it's good that they have some spare aircraft, but something's still going wrong there
DeleteThey have 1 ATR and 2 A319 as spare right now and they still have delays.
DeleteFinally
ReplyDeleteGreat news. Flew recently with the ATR72-600 and it can't be compared to the dinosaurs from before.
ReplyDeleteThe only bad thing is that the number of seats on this aircraft type is not the same, they should've searched only 72-seaters
ReplyDeleteWhat are the different configurations?
DeleteSome of them have 70 seats because of only 2 seats in last row, also not sure if some have a row less / 68 seats.
DeleteOh i see, didn't know, Thanks
DeleteNo, only 3 recent have 70 seats. Older ones have 72 seats all
DeleteX-Space Table seating concept looks like a very good solution for premium seating in ATRs - otherwise it makes no sense to offer premium class in such an aircraft where there is so little space.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is because of transfer passengers. Many flying, especially on A330s in business and connecting onto regional flights can't continue in business. As their A330 fleet is growing, there will be more premium passengers.
DeleteGood that they're evaluating business class, but ATR is simply not business class friendly even if they install new seat concept. Like, how will one get a business experience if you have to board a plane via bus.
DeleteIf someone's is willing to pay double the price or even more on ATR, then good luck JU!
Aegean disagrees, you board/deboard as business pax by a bus very often at ATH. They just set aside a bus for business pax only, so you're not in a crowded place.
DeleteUmm, many airlines use busses to get people to planes. Gulf carriers which have some of the best premium cabins in the world heavily use busses to get people to their aircraft.
Delete@09:32 but there's no way that business pax will get their own bus to board an ATR
DeleteBusiness pax board the same bus as everyone else across most European airlines.
DeleteDeboard? Interesting.
DeleteFlown Swiss business before and they usually have the business passengers go first on the jetbridge or bus, then have the other passengers go after
DeleteI quite like the idea of backup aircraft, especially as everyone complained about delays last year.
ReplyDeleteThe hope here is that they'll use 2024 as a year where they normalize the operations and then expand in 2025, use 2026 to normalize that schedule and expand again in 2027
Are you aware they still have big delays so spare planes are not a problem
DeleteNo they don’t have big delays. Not more than usual 5-10% for every airline
DeleteComfortable cabin, much quieter. Great overall.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAre there any plans to add more ATRs into the fleet in the future?
ReplyDeleteNot for now
DeleteFinally. Should have been done a decade ago.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteHow much do brand new ATRs cost? The ATR72-600?
ReplyDeleteThese things change and vary based on numerous things but the -600 list price is $26.8M
DeleteGoogle is your friend!
DeleteJust answer the man if you have the answer.
Delete👍.
DeleteThey finally have a respectable fleet of ATR's
ReplyDeleteYes 10 props is not bad
DeleteGood but I believe they also need to expand Airbus fleet.
ReplyDeleteThey need to get rid of most A319s, replace some of them with A320s but most with Embraers.
DeleteHow many planes do they have now?
ReplyDelete25:
DeleteATR: 10
A319: 10
A320: 3
A330: 2
Orders:
A330: 2
E195: 2
So at the end of the summer they will have at least 29 of them, all in YU registry.
They also have
2 A320 on long term wet lease (summer+winter)
1-2 E190 on long term wet lease (there is more and more talk about E190 staying in the fleet long term)
No idea about summer only wet leases, apart from 2 more A320 from GetJet (in addition to the 2 on long term wet lease) and 1 from Bulgarian ACMI provider
Two Boeing 737 are flying again.
DeleteIs this aircraft somewhat unreliable since they need 2 of them as spare? I realize in the past they were older birds therefore subject to more maintenance but now that the fleet has been renewed that should not be the case anymore.
ReplyDeleteNot enough crew to operate
DeleteFrom where you got info that there are two backups?
Delete^ Maybe read the article?
DeleteSorry, someone mentioned also 2 a319 as backup
DeleteI wonder why they wouldn't use those old ATR's in Kraljevo or Nis?
ReplyDeleteThey are too costly to operate plus require constant supervision from someone in maintenance.
DeleteCould they be converted to cargo?
DeleteFor Kraljevo there is the added problem that they can't refuel there. So operations would be strange.
DeleteI'm nervous about their plane naming :D
ReplyDeleteConsidering they announced it over a year ago and it still hasn't happened, it probaly won't.
DeleteIt’s definitely studpid paying lease and keeping the plane on the ground, except if lease is paid by usage hours.
DeleteNormally, for unplanned maintenance, companies use short term wet leases, but situation with ACMI providers is very bad due to lack of airplanes across the Europe (mainly PW engine problems). So maybe this season is not that stupid having a backup plane.
They should rent it ACMI to Wizz Air so they can start flying from ZAG.
DeleteAnon 11:34 ... you definitely disagree with yourself :) :) :)
DeleteGreat news!
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Air Serbia have ATR-42 in their fleet?
ReplyDeleteBecause they do not need them.
DeleteThey can't get them because they can't find enough pilots and crew to fly the ATRS they have now.
Delete^ Lol, they never even considered ATR42s.
DeleteLast year we got informed it's stupid for an airline to have backup plane, I'm wondering what changed?
ReplyDeleteAnd now people like yourself who said it was necessary are claiming it's stupid. I'm wondering what changed?
Delete@11:25
Delete+1000
No, I think it's smart, but I was also thinking that last year too.
DeleteWould love to see Air Serbia Cargo logo on the ATR72s :D
ReplyDeletehttp://92.249.52.115/img/logo/ASL_Cargo_Logo.svg
DeleteI don't know what they are waiting for it. Cargo at BEG is abysmal.
Delete^ it has the most cargo out of all other ex-Yu airports.
DeleteGood. No more wet leases for tubroprops.
ReplyDeleteSome people will absolutely pay double to fly first class on the ATR. It's not a lot of money if you have money. And for many people 300 or 400 euros for a one or two hour plane ride is absolutely affordable.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I think it's gonna be the first and the last european airline who will put business class in ATR !
DeleteTAROM and Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum have business class on ATR72.
DeleteCSA also had business class on their ATR72 in the past. LOT still has it on their Q400.
Deletehttps://www.lot.com/de/de/explore/about-lot/fleet/bombardier-q400
Luxair has it as well on their Q400 the same like OU.
Not enough pilots/crew claims: 6. Without any names, examples, numbers or evidence. I would call that disinformation effort against Air Serbia.
ReplyDeleteWhatever, at least two aircraft sitting around unused is not good news.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be the same person who posted those crew shortage comments? Well it is good news but not for you. Air Serbia only received 9th ATR, not both. Once both are operational they will have enough wiggle room to install those business class seats without disrupting schedule, if they decide to go ahead. They will also benefit from having larger fleet, as they talked about economies of scale. They might also decide to change their mind once all 10 are functional and introduce more frequencies or announce new ATR routes for winter season. But you would already know that if you were respectable aviation analyst, which you are not.
DeleteI am glad this process is coming to the end. I also hope Air Serbia will get new ATR planes one day :)
ReplyDeleteThey are eight years old on average, some were sitting idle for a couple of years so even less. ATR 72-600 version is the latest version from the manufactures so brand new would be exactly the same.
DeleteGreat, now that they have the short-haul fleet complete it is time to work on medium and long range. I hear that those new Chinese birds are going for a good price.
ReplyDelete