Air Serbia plans to wet-lease two additional Embraer E190 aircraft from Bulgaria Air this summer, bringing the total to four. According to the airline’s current schedule, a third 108-seat E190 will begin operating on behalf of Air Serbia at the start of the 2025 summer season in April, while a fourth aircraft of the same type is expected to enter service from Belgrade in June. “As in the previous season, our aircraft will continue to operate scheduled flights under the Serbian national carrier’s code. However, their external branding and the uniforms of all crew members will remain in Bulgaria Air’s livery, featuring our logo and the colours of the Bulgarian flag”, Bulgaria Air said.
Air Serbia initially began wet-leasing two Bulgaria Air E190 jets in April 2024, with the agreement extended for another year in late October. “Both airlines discussed expanding their cooperation and agreed that this partnership would benefit not only the growth of their aviation businesses but also strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries”, Bulgaria Air said. Earlier this month, the Bulgarian flag carrier hosted a recruitment event in Belgrade to hire Serbian cabin crew, who are expected to be deployed on flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia. For the upcoming summer, Bulgaria Air’s E190s are currently scheduled to be most frequently deployed on Air Serbia’s behalf from Belgrade to Frankfurt, followed by Bucharest, Zurich and Copenhagen, though further adjustments may occur.
Air Serbia is also looking to expand its in-house Embraer operations. The airline recently resumed service with its sole 118-seat E195 jet after nearly two months of maintenance. Additionally, the carrier expects to receive a second E195, originally scheduled to join the fleet in November last year, by the first quarter of 2025. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News last year, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “Our market study shows that we can accommodate around fifteen of them [Embraers], however, it will be a gradual introduction”.
It's great to see Air Serbia expanding its fleet with more Embraers, but I wish they were using their own aircraft instead of wet-leasing from Bulgaria Air.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI agree. Unfortunately there's equipment shortages across the aviation sector worldwide, so it's either this or no growth
Delete+1
DeleteSame with the crews
DeleteAko radi onda radi. Najbitnije da ima dobre rezultate za JU i za FB. Ali žalosno da JU nema svoje samoleti. I za FB što ne koriste za svoje putnike. Nego gube od Ryanair onda ovako moraju da zarade pare.
DeleteAir Serbia owns three A319 jets. Not lease, own.
DeleteWe know. Everyone here talking about the embraers. Which JU sadly doesn't own or ordered any new.
DeleteThey dry leased Airbus planes for more than a decade before purchasing them. They started operating dry leased Embraer just a couple of months ago. Air Serbia said they could have up to 15 of them. Sounds like they will eventually own some, new or used.
DeleteIf it works, it works
ReplyDeleteWell we’ll well
DeleteI recently flew on one of these wet-leased E190s and it was a pleasent experience.
ReplyDeleteMe too. If people are selecting seats on this plane, would warmly recommend row 3. Huge legroom as there is one row missing in front.
DeleteSeems to me the airline is allergic to getting this aircraft and operating them with its own crews.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAbsolutely. They only got 3 additional A330's, replaced 6 ageing ATR's for 10 newer ATR's, grew the A319 fleet from 8 to 10 aircraft, brought in 2 extra A320's, 1 ERJ with another set to arrive. 12 aircraft in roughly 3 years is really nothing, it's a measley 70% fleet growth without factoring in wet leases.
DeleteAnon 9:07 How is Air Serbia allergic when they actually operate Embraer with own pilots and are apparently getting another one in a month? Are you allergic to truth?
DeleteAnon @15:27 It’s allergic in a sense that it got only one Embraer into their fleet, struggles to get the second one, and continues to get more of wet leases.
DeleteIf they were allergic they wouldn't get even one Embraer. Failed logic, again.
DeleteBefore concluding thay are allergic we should check how many aircrafts were offered to them, how many they refused... Or maybe they got what they could get?!
DeleteThat makes no sense at all. They are not allergic to Embraers, full stop.
DeleteI thought they were having issues getting these planes on the Serbian registry because of previous bad maintenance records??
DeleteJust one plane, YU-ATA previously OY-GDB.
DeleteIt's good that are hiring Serbian crew. That's one of the biggest complaints with these wet leases.
ReplyDeleteI guess it does not make a bit of a problem communicating with Bulgarian FAs even in Serbian.
DeleteThe reason why I don't fly JU is this patchwork fleet. A big patchwork, no unity, no uniform on-board experience, no JU DNA, no emotions. Even with the best will in the world, you can't identify with JU. But their success proves them right, at least they are profitable!
ReplyDeleteThen you also don't fly Ryan. It could be Buzz, it could be Malta Air, or in your case Lauda plane. No real Ryan emotions, right? LOL
DeleteNo worries, JU is doing perfectly fine without you
DeleteOr in your case Lauda plane....
DeleteHahaha, I can't stop laughing!
@09:15 All I can tell is that you have a wrong attitude and little knowledge as to what is required to run a successful business. JU needs every passenger it can get as that is the core of JU's (any airline) business.
DeleteHahaha, yes, of course...
DeleteWe have the situation where for example customer needs to fly from Belgrade to Amsterdam. He checked the prices and KLM offers return ticket for 300 EUR while Air Serbia offers 200 EUR with similiar flying times.
Our dissapointed passenger, full of anger and bitterness, decides to purchase KLM ticket and to avoid JU only because JU has "patchwork fleet" and "no DNA and emotions". 🤣
Some people really...
I live in Eindhoven, and in the last five months, I have had the same guest sleep over three times. He lives in Amsterdam and needed to catch an early flight from Eindhoven to Belgrade. So, I guess Wizz Air is significantly cheaper than JU.
DeleteWizz Air is a low cost airline.
DeleteJU definitely is worth the price premium.
DeleteW6 doesn't give you a plazma biscuit.
Nobody was talking here about Eindhven but Amsterdam.
DeleteNice attempt of spinning, but useless...
Anonymous 0910h is unfortunately right. How is a customer supposed to identify with a brand if it practically doesn't exist? If you want to build up a long-term base of frequent flyer customers, for example, you have to create an identity. A uniform product that appeals and shines with repetitive and consistent quality. So JU remains one thing above all, an airline for Gastarbeiter and passengers with a small travel budget.
DeleteTranslated with DeepL.com (free version)
Actually, it does exists, with 28 planes painted in its own livery. And yes, it's passengers are mainly lower or middle economically class people, unable to buy expensive first or business class tickets. That's why it uses middle aged planes or wet leases at the end. As economy on Balkans grow, JU will upgrade it's hardware accordingly
Deleteits funny when ppl with no money try to impose their way of thinking to ppl with money. Yes for some ppl 100€ more is nothing ...
DeleteToo many people are Balkans-focused. Obviosuly there is still growth potential within Serbia and the region, but for the airline to truly grow, they need to attract transfer passngers. For this brand, visual identidy, smooth online bookign experience etc are crucial...
DeleteConsidering their share of transfer passengers has increased to over 40%, they are obviously doing something right.
DeleteEven if new short haul routes would be added, it would still be most likely Caucus, middle East, northern Africa, Baltics and similar not too much developed markets.
Delete^ Not too developed markets? What are you smoking? FYI they are adding Alghero, Florence and Mykonos this year.
Delete@09:10
DeleteJU doesn't have strong brand recognition behind them outside of the ex YU countries so the situation with wet leases can pass for the moment. It is after all a small regional carrier. The bigger problem is when major carriers do this as it is a bigger brand. Even QR had wet leases and a huge difference in onboard product depending on the aircraft you flew on.
^ QR actually still has many wet leases. Oman Air is operating flights for them to BUD.
Delete@14:13
DeleteThanks for the info. I wasn't sure they still used Oman Air ac.
@13:31
DeleteI do not smoke, watch your language. If you expect that transfer passengers from Egypt, Libya, Tunis, Morocco, Algeria, Azerbeijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia will demand business class seats and lounges, you know nothing about aviation industry.
Florence, Mykonos, Ibiza are leisure destinations, not transfer routes.
^ they don't fly to any of the destinations you mentioned so I don't know what you are seething about.
DeleteAnon 9:33 >>All I can tell is that you have a wrong attitude and little knowledge as to what is required to run a successful business.
DeleteTell that to Ryanair, gave you example that completely denied statements from thread starter.
>> JU needs every passenger it can get as that is the core of JU's (any airline) business.
Other that already given examples above, take a look at year 2012: The only air link between Serbia and Croatia was operated by Croatia Airlines SPU-BEG. Air Serbia realized they need every passenger they can get and expanded all over Croatia including BEG-SPU, kicking OU out.
@16:11
DeleteJat resumed flights to Croatia long before OU opened SPU-BEG. First was BEG-PUY in 2008, then BEG-DBV in 2011 and finally BEG-SPU in 2012. In fact, OU initially announced DBV-BEG when JU announced the route and never launched flights. Again they announced SPU-BEG only after Jat launched sales.
Before Jat, Centavia wanted to launch BEG-ZAG in 2006 and was blocked by the Croatian government.
Thank you for this interesting info. JU is the only airline now linking two countries with service to six airports.
DeleteAre those two additional E190 already reflected in Air Serbia summer schedule?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteYes, these are in the system. The second Air Serbia E195 isn't though.
DeleteBulgaria Air leasing planes to Air Serbia is a win-win. More utilization for our aircraft and crew while also helping our neighbors expand. Good to see regional cooperation in aviation!
ReplyDeleteThis cooperation between Air Serbia and Bulgaria Air is interesting. Could this lead to a broader partnership in the future, maybe even a joint venture? The Balkan market could use more stability and collaboration.
DeleteSince these are long term wet leases, why didn't they paint them in JU livery?
ReplyDeleteOr even easier buy them and then paint them. Bulgaria air is receiving more A220's, so Ejets have no future for them
DeleteJU management sure likes to avoid owing more of its fleet and hiring the aircrews to serve it.
DeleteThey just bought 3 aircraft. Really get help.
Delete^^^ They bought 15-20 year old A319s.
DeleteAn aircraft that all airlines are retiring fast because its economics are no longer competitive.
^^ But once again you lied, even though they did buy planes.
Delete@ anon 09:43
DeleteYes, they did, because they got them for dirty cheap prices.
"Fast retiring" seems not to be the case with following insignificant companies that still fly them:
Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, American Airlines, AZAL, British Airways, Delta, easyJet, Eurowings, Finnair, Iberia, ITA, Latam, Lufthansa, SAS, TAP, Turkish, United, Volotea, Vueling.
Meanwhile Air Canada bringing out of retirement 30+ year old B767s for this summer.
DeleteThe 3 JU bought was almost certainly for a fantastic price. It would of been stupid to not take up on the offer. I see this as more of a replacement for the B737's that were active during the summer and dormant during the winter, which will eventually lead to lower costs and lowering the need for wet leases in the winter. To start, at least now they have fleet communality as the A319 and A320 is the same aircraft, same crew, same parts, same everything practically. Those 3 A319's will be perfect for charter runs in the years to come once JU starts replacing the A319 fleet.
DeleteMaybe they could reinstate Helsinki and Marseille again. With 6 Ejets, seems there is enough hardware for softer demand routes
ReplyDeleteApparently they applied for slots in GVA.
DeleteHEL would be nice to see return.
I would love to see Marseille back
DeleteSo they should have 6 Embraers in operation this summer in total?
ReplyDeleteYes, 4 Bulgaria Air and 2 of their own.
DeleteGreat, thanks
DeleteThat is all Marathon planes missing from last year
DeleteI wonder what is Bulgaria Air doing when they have spare metal in summer season.
ReplyDeleteThey are replacing the E190s with the A220s.
DeleteAnd expecting a decrease with only 100 pax planes such E190 and less ATR. JU change the models!
ReplyDeleteWhat?
DeleteAir Serbia is unable to atract new crew members, pilot’s especially, hence they are forced to go with a money losing wet lease concept. While they also have cancelled flights, decreased number of weekly rotations during both winter and summer, non-functioning frequent flyer programme and 2 wide bodies seating unemployed on the tarmac, they post multimillion Euro profits. I wonder, how is that really possible? That’s like magic.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the reason that ASL has difficulty attracting pilots?
DeleteBecause you made half of the things you wrote up. They have more flights planned this summer than last summer and they have more flights operating this winter than they had last winter. They use Etihad Guest, which is certainly a functioning frequent flyer program. In fact you could have read a trip report here the other day where the person who wrote it said they purchased the ticket by redeeming Etihad Guest miles.
DeleteFinally, Marek said that Embraer implementation would be slower because there isn't a sufficient number of trained Embraer pilots in Serbia, which is logical considering no airline in the country ever had this type of aircraft.
Unfortunately, there is little magic that can cure your hate.
@anon 09:38
DeleteTouché.
@anon 9:38: let me try to explain all the points that you are referring: JU is decreasing weekly frequencies all the time - during the summer and especially during the winter. They always announce and sell more, and then they are decreasing - this is a fact, very easy to check.
DeleteYes, they are using Etihad Guest, but for months they are not entering miles unless you push them by few e-mails (my personal experience). The programme itself is pointless as you cannot use Etihad at all from Belgrade. At the end, I have lot of miles and I don’t want to fly anymore with JU because I consider them as unreliable - explain to me, how can I exchange my miles for the products published on Etihad Guest website? It is impossible if you live in Serbia. That is a clear consumer’s fraud done by JU who promotes this FF programme as their.
About the sufficient number pf Embraer pilots - if you recall, JU moved 80% of their pilots from Boeing to Airbus in just a few months, hundreds of them. So, it is easy to have qualified Embraer pilots, if you have enough pilots to train. Unfortunately, JU don’t have enough pilots and is unable to attract new because of the poor working conditions and lower salaries packages than with competitors.
At the end, you forgot (unintentionally I guess) the two and a half widebodies sitting unemployed on the tarmac at BEG.
Airlines globally adjust schedules seasonally based on demand, and Air Serbia is no exception. However, your claim that JU “always announces and sells more, then decreases” is misleading. The airline has been expanding its network year after year (as it is this year), and while some frequency reductions happen in the winter (as is standard in aviation), they have been increasing their overall number of flights, routes, and fleet size. A quick look at their recent expansions contradicts your claim that they are cutting back.
DeleteWhile it is true that the integration between Air Serbia and Etihad Guest has had issues, the claim that it is “consumer fraud” is incorrect. Air Serbia never claimed full Etihad availability from Belgrade; they have a separate reward structure within the programme. If miles are not being credited, that’s an operational issue, not fraud. Also, Etihad Guest miles can still be used for non-flight redemptions, and many frequent flyers successfully redeem them—so the idea that it’s completely unusable is not accurate.
Comparing the Boeing-to-Airbus transition with Embraer pilot availability is misleading. Moving pilots between two established fleets (Boeing-Airbus) in a structured process is very different from ramping up a new aircraft type like Embraer, which requires new training, additional resources, and time. The claim that “JU can easily have enough Embraer pilots” ignores the realities of certification, training costs, and pilot retention. While pilot shortages are an industry-wide issue, Air Serbia has been steadily recruiting and even held hiring events for cabin crew and pilots in recent months.
And again you are misleading about wide body fleet and I am sure you are well aware of it but it simply sounds good to add to your argument. Using term "two and a half" a hallmark of a regional aviation 'analyst' recently accused of all sorts of crimes. One A330 arrived several days ago. It is currently undergoing checks by the the Serbian CAA, whch is standard procedures. Perhaps you would like them not to follow procedure? One A330 has been temporarily underutilized due to winter demand fluctuations. . Keeping an aircraft on standby for operational flexibility (charters, wet-leases, or additional summer routes) is not the same as it being permanently "unemployed."
^ I can guarantee you that the person at @10.19 is neither from Serbia nor has a single Etihad guest mile. He sits on another site which is fixated on spitting on JU/Belgrade/Serbia, often with completely fabricated news.
DeleteHahaha! Moving along...
DeleteTouche
Delete@_anon 10:39
DeleteYes, I agree fully with you. And we all know who PUSSYcat is.
Etihad Guest is a functioning ff program?! 1.You can’t enter your ff number during the purchase process online. You need to call them. 2. Miles are not registered automatically. You need to call them and literally dictate your ff number. 3. It takes several emails and months to get your miles registered after your flight. 4. To use your miles you need to call them TWICE to get your award ticket. After the first call you get a reservation number and then only the day after you can call them to get the ticket. There’s no way to get your award ticket online.
DeleteYou can give your ff card at airport check-in and miles are automatically registered.
Delete@anon 09:37
DeleteI can tell you from my own experience.
Air Serbia assess candidates in the Vrsac simulator and partly emphasizing obsolete procedures like NDB interceptions. I have Canadian experience in passenger service on an aircraft with modern systems but somehow I failed the test and according to someone I know from Air Serbia, it’s not uncommon for experience pilots to fail the assessment. Assessment is something that should only determine if someone is trainable, period. On the other hand young pilots passing the assessment because they are fresh from training and know requirements initially get hired only to fail type rating check ride. Air Serbia hiring personnel are still stuck in sixties and that must be changed immediately. Unfortunately instead of flying for my home country airline I am forced to be with Westjet where I got a position easy
What Vrsac simulator? CAI A320 sim will be installed in Belgrade.
Delete"I am forced to be with Westjet"
DeleteI doubt this is true. Why would they force you?
2 and 3/4 widebody planes are sitting on tarmac, and 1 and 2/3 will be sitting in summer, that's a very countable facts...Apart of that, Air Serbia is doing well so far this winter, I've traveled many times since january, and only one time, saturday morning from Barcelona, plane was half empty, all other ones had LF around 75-80%
Delete@16:18 anon
DeleteThats just a figure of speech. Feel that way. I’d rather be at home flying for Air Serbia
So essentially, BG AIR is wet-leasing their entire Embraer fleet to JU
ReplyDeleteSurprised to see that they are planning the 190 fro Zurich, Frankfurt and Copenhagen. I thought Zurich was one of their best performing routes so why scale down the AC type? Frankfurt I guess makes sense as they can't compete against LH...
ReplyDeleteNo, they have increased frequencies on both the last year thanks to usage of smaller aircraft. Therefore one of two daily flights to Frankfurt operates with E190 and one of the 4 Zurich flights operate with E190. But it is always nice to make things up in your head, make conspiracies and conclusions without actually checking anything.
DeleteJU for decades was stuck on a daily FRA rotation, the ERJ's have allowed them to finally double that. Remember, 100 pax on an A319 is 69,4% CLF while on the ERJ it's 84,7%.
DeleteThis in turn has allowed JU to be more competitive to competition, offer better connectivity via BEG and more choice for the O&D pax. FRA went from 144 daily seats to 236, an increase of 64%.
ZRH has heavy competition with LX, who increases frequencies the moment JU does. They have the ERJ's available, JU didn't putting JU at a disadvantage. Now that JU have ERJ's, JU can adequately compete with LX on frequencies and offer more capacity.
Why not painted
ReplyDeleteThey don't care
DeleteWet-leases are fine as a short-term solution, but Air Serbia should focus on acquiring and operating its own fleet. Relying on other airlines long-term isn't great for brand consistency or passenger experience.
ReplyDeleteI fly Air Serbia regularly for work, and I’ve noticed service differences between their own aircraft and the wet-leased ones. If they’re going to do this long-term, they should ensure the onboard experience is the same across all flights.
DeleteAs long as the flights are on time and the seats are comfortable, I don’t care which airline owns the plane.
DeleteYes, that's what expert claimed, until OU announced that it will permanently wet lease turboprops, since they sold their's own. Now, that is totally acceptable business model
Delete@anon 11:09
DeleteHahaha, exactly!
At the end of the day, more planes mean more routes and better connectivity. If wet-leasing helps Air Serbia grow faster, I’m all for it.
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteThe E190 is a great little jet
ReplyDeleteNice pic!
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia should get some of their own dry leased E190s and not only stick with E195. Also, does anyone know registration of the second E195 that is coming to Air Serbia?
ReplyDeleteG-SNEY
DeleteIt says on Air Fleets website that G-NSEY will be going to helvetic? Guessing that changed and will go to Air Serbia?
DeleteAirfleets isn't the most reliable. JU's fleet for example isn't properly listed.
DeleteThats great for air Serbia. Bg air’s E190s are still young, but I’m surprised they are not going to be painted in the Air Serbia livery. Regarding crews, didn’t air Serbia pilots started flying Bg air E190? As part of their E190 training? Also remember that Bg air had cabin crew recruitment a week ago in BEG? I guess this happened so they can bring Serbian cabin crews to the planes this summer which is a really nice gesture in my opinion to Air Serbia.
ReplyDeleteThis means that this summer JU will have fleet of 38 aircrafts, right?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't plan on booking AirSerbia to be flown on BG planes. I'd rather fly LH group for similar prices.
ReplyDeleteSo instead of flying direct Belgrade - Mostar on wet-leased Embraer you will pay a lot more to fly for example LH+OU Belgrade - Frankfurt - Zagreb - Mostar? I don't even know if that routing would be possible? And just because you have something against flying on Bulgarian planes? Wow what an *****!
DeleteActually, they are Brasilian, not Bulgarian
DeleteIt's a Bulgarian airline flying under the Bulgarian flag. And I am not from Belgrade nor flying to Mostar so that's irrelevant to me. I would rather do a stopover at a hub with a decent business lounge...
DeleteYou mean the one in FRA infested with rats?
Delete