Air Serbia has reinstated its sole 118-seat Embraer E195 aircraft, registered YU-ATB (pictured), into service after nearly two months of maintenance in Naples. The jet resumed operations yesterday on a flight between Belgrade and Dusseldorf. Initially scheduled to join the fleet in early July 2024, the E-Jet was delayed by almost four months before entering service in late October. Meanwhile, the second E195, currently parked in Belgrade, was expected to begin operations in November, but this has yet to materialise. When asked by EX-YU Aviation News about its status in late December, the airline declined to comment. Reports suggest Air Serbia may be considering an alternative aircraft instead.
In October of last year, the head of the airline’s maintenance division Air Serbia Tehnika, Miroslav Musulin, told the “TangoSix” portal the delay in introducing Embraer aircraft primarily stems from two reasons: a thorough verification of the aircraft's technical history and supply chain issues impacting parts availability. Since this is a new type for the fleet, Air Serbia wanted to ensure a proper integration, which involved extensive documentation review and technical inspections, according to Mr Musulin. Complications arose because the previous operator, who was also the owner, had disorganised records, requiring Air Serbia to trace every component's service history. Additionally, parts that previously took a week to procure now take several weeks due to current market conditions. As EX-YU Aviation News learns the documentation process for the second Embraer is significantly more complex than it was for the first.
Speaking in October, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said the delay in introducing Embraer aircraft to the fleet did not have a financial impact on the carrier. “I want to emphasise that the two aircraft, although parked at Belgrade Airport, are not our expense since their lease payments only start from the moment the aircraft pass our technical acceptance. Our goal was to have them in the fleet during the summer season. However, we also had a plan that if any potential delays occurred or if we observed strong growth in demand, we had enough capacity within our Airbus fleet to respond to market changes, as we have done several times in the past. When we determined that the increase in passenger numbers was higher than our available capacity, we decided to engage additional resources. Therefore, in no way were we financially disadvantaged by their planned delay in entering service. On the contrary, we earned more due to high demand and their replacement with Airbuses that have a larger capacity”.
Air Serbia has since inked a multi-year contract with Embraer for its Pool Program, enabling the carrier to receive support for a wide range of repairable components for its E195 fleet. Currently, the Pool Program supports more than sixty airlines worldwide. “Joining Embraer's Pool Program represents an important milestone for Air Serbia as we integrate the E195 aircraft into our fleet. This collaboration ensures access to a reliable and efficient support system, enabling us to maintain the highest standards of safety and operational excellence while optimising costs and minimising downtime”, Mr Musulin said.
This has been an incredibly slow process.
ReplyDeleteIt's disappointing because these aircraft are ideal for a number of routes during the winter when demand is generally much softer. Shame.
DeleteWhy operate your own plane when you can just wet lease capacity from the Bulgarians on a year round basis? 🤪
DeleteWhy not if it's cheaper?
Delete4 different types of aircraft in the fleet has a huge demand in each sector of the company and safety in general.
DeleteA wet lease is not part of the airline's fleet. It is callrd an ACMI meaning the aircraft is completely handled by the airline leasing it out, in every aspect.
Delete@15:42 why pretend that the airline does not have 4 ai8rcraft families?
DeleteA319/320/330 is basically the same family from pilot's viewpoint.
DeleteYou are clearly not a pilot.
DeleteType rating difference is small between a320 and a330 family. Only few days training
DeleteDid YU-ATB go for a d-check and was out of service so long or had some issue?
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering that too. I did see a video recently of the plane being taxied in Naples without engine covers.
DeleteHow come JU always seems to lease aircraft right before they need heavy maintenance?
DeleteLessors must love our planning department.
It's done on purpose because the price of the lease is significantly less expensive when it has upcoming maintenance or checks.
DeleteSo good of us to pay millions for heavy maintenance on aircraft we don't own.
DeleteI really would not comment since you really don't seem to know how much these things cost.
DeleteLook aviation is not romantic game or let’s “be better then our neighbor game”. Aviation is at its core numbers game and you do whatever necessary in order to have healthier profits and lower operating costs. But PW1500G is most reliable engine at the moment! 🤣
DeleteLet's all be honest here
ReplyDeleteThey should order 10 E290 or E295 directly from the Embraer.
I'm sure they would get them fast and the size would be the perfect replacement for the A319s
Only with government money can JU make such a purchase.
DeleteWill Air Serbia continue to be profitable if they order 10 Profit Hunters now? Or will they be burdened like Croatia Airlines?
DeleteTheir potential for growing profits would greatly increase with an aircraft over 25% more efficient per seat than their 15-21 years old A319 fleet.
DeleteNo, that profit would be eaten by very high leasing fees
DeleteDepends Embraer might give the frames for reduced price. Just look at LOT deal for their new E2s. They got them within 2 months too
Delete@09:22 LOL, you should really inform hundreds of airlines around the world who fly new generation aircraft instead of 15-20 year olds! 🤪
Delete10:09. LOLLLL If you wound have any clue about aviation or business generally, you would have to know that you need high end customers to offer high end service. Which means, if you would have enough first/business class passengers you could afford new jets. But unfortunately, JU doesn't have. But that doesn't stop you trying to post "smart" comments
DeleteEfficient aircraft are not a high end product, it's smart product.
DeleteBut all you know about aviation is praising management no matter what. 😆
Anon 10:24
DeleteSo that's why Nouvelair has A320neo?
Same as OU have A220. Somebody else paid for it.
Delete@10:48
DeletePraising management?? Of course, they should be praised because they are profit makers.
If Serbia would buy new planes to JU as Croatia did for OU, you would be first to say that management is bad because it's using state money for their business.
There is a saying: Koliko je cebe, toliko se i noge pruzaju
Air Serbia should look into getting E190s as well and not only E195s, and in the near future they should also plan on getting the E2 aircraft, it would be perfect for Air Serbia's operations. Hopefully the embraer fleet grows soon for Air Serbia and they find additional units.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe embraer really looks good in Air Serbia livery.
ReplyDeleteOf course , the usual Marek ! Big announcements and then..........
ReplyDeleteStory as old as time. There are so many E95 on the market. They could always find other planes with better paperwork. Reality is that they don't have pilots
Delete^ It has absolutely nothing to do with pilots and crew for two aircraft have already been trained. It does have to do with paperwork. Alternative E195 has already been found and will be joining the fleet relatively soon.
DeleteI love how people like anon 9.44 always shoot their mouth without any inside information or knowledge but are always so confident in the misinformation they spread.
DeleteIt's a fact, there are not enough pilots for the two E95 to operate fully. If they had then they would just get another E95 from the market, there are so many of them around. So maybe I am not the one without inside information. ;)
DeleteJU needs to be careful. Wizz Air started boosting BEG in April and May (LCA and NCE). Seems like Belgrade is finally on their radar.
Your knowledge of aviation seems very limited if you think you can just get another plane on the market over night. ;)
DeleteThere are dozens of available E-190/95s.
DeleteYou can get one in a matter of weeks.
But you also need the infrastructure and manpower to utilize it.
It’s about time this E195 is back in service. Two months in maintenance seems excessive
ReplyDeleteClassic Air Serbia… always something delayed, always some excuse. If they knew the records were messy, why wasn’t this sorted before they even got the aircraft? Not very professional.
ReplyDeleteBureaucratic obstacles is a very common excuse in our region.
DeleteTheir fleet planning always seems chaotic.
Delete50 million profit says it all..
DeleteImagine how big their profit would be if they were not so chaotic.
Delete41 million is closer to 40 million than 50 million.
DeleteIf you want to round it, then you should round it properly.
^ they actually had over 50 million profit before tax. Your hatred will eat you alive.
Delete9:12 Your opinions are far from professional but you keep calling yourself a professional.
DeleteSo why did
ReplyDelete“Joining Embraer's Pool Program represents an important milestone for Air Serbia as we integrate the E195 aircraft into our fleet. This collaboration ensures access to a reliable and efficient support system, enabling us to maintain the highest standards of safety and operational excellence while optimising costs and minimising downtime” as Mr Musulin said did not help with getting enough parts?
Or is this just another excuse for further delay in E-195 leases?
They joined the pool program in December. The second aircraft does not have an issue with parts.
DeleteHe mention parts availability specifically in the interview as a reason for the delay.
DeleteYes and they joined the pool program in December. The first aircraft entered the fleet in October.
DeleteThe first aircraft took two months for a service and the 2nd is lost in bureaucracy and lack of spare parts.
DeleteOn the positive side, at least we’re seeing some fleet diversification. Air Serbia needs more flexibility with aircraft sizes and the E195 could fill that gap if managed properly
ReplyDeleteJatovanje.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThose who use that term NEVER appologize when promises are delivered. Remember Air Serbia plans to launch long haul when this term was thrown around, same for delayed third A330? Not one appology when those thing actually happened.
DeleteAnd what is the meaning of it? It's aviation forum, not linguistical one, company doesn't use JAT as it's name for many years now... This is something stupid and it belongs to other forums not this one.
DeleteLast anon +1
DeleteOY-GDA is now operating as YU-ATB, however OY-GDB - the second Embraer painted in ASL colors is still in Belgrade and most likely will be scrapped. Issue was and still is lack of documentation about everything related to any maintenance work on this aircraft which made it very hard to get a plane back into service. ASL simply rejected to fly a plane without a history of repairs, and even if they wanted to do so - CAD would not issue a registration certificate.
ReplyDeleteEven with YU-ATB, registration was a lenghty process that was returned back to ASL for additional documentation lasting for couple of months, where ultimately Italian CAD had to be involved to check and verify ATB documentation before CAD allowed it to enter service under Serbian registration and AOC.
So, YU-ATA will be a new plane that has already been procured and in a painting process at the moment.
What is the registration of this plane that is being painted and joining Air Serbia fleet?
DeleteThat I can't yet successfuly confirm however it'll be out publicly - shortly.
DeleteWhere did you manage to get this news from? And/ or the previous owner of the aircraft order how old it is? If this happens to be true it's good that Air Serbia has already found a replacement, embraers are needed, and hopefully this one is younger in age.
DeleteSomeone posted the registration under an article here recently but I can't find it now.
Delete@Anon 0935
DeleteI work in the field.
Source: trust me bro!
DeleteAnon 1052
DeleteExactly! I love how your deduction works! :-)
Anon 10:02 if the registration that you're talking about is G-NSEY I don't think that aircraft is for Air Serbis since on the Air Fleet website it says it will join helvetic.
DeleteThe plane is scrapped because of lost papers? I get that, but damn, that’s sad to hear.
DeleteThey really need new planes.
ReplyDeleteLet’s hope they get it right before summer 2025.
ReplyDeleteTechnical history issues and disorganised documentation? Sounds like Air Serbia got a headache instead of an aircraft. No wonder it took so long to get it operational.
ReplyDeleteThey should have gone for less problematic frames.
DeleteThis is why thorough due diligence is important before leasing or buying planes.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia clearly underestimated how much work was needed to get these Embraers flying.
DeleteIt has nothing to do with due diligence. You can't access aircraft technical logs and other specific airframe related documentation without signing a contract for it. The lessor confirms to your Letter of Intent that they guarantee that documentation is in order and based on this, and bank guarantees - you sign the contract.
DeleteAnother issue here was that the aircraft was leased by Marathon for Air Serbia. Then Marathon dropped the aircraft, Air Serbia negotiated through their own broker for the aircraft with a false information that basically everything is in order.
Once they signed the contract, they had to see a lot.
So even though ASL gives lots of "jatovanje" moments, this is not one of those moments really.
JU always seems to get the most complicated cases...
DeleteWere these planes formerly operate by Marathon?
ReplyDeleteAt least they are part of Embraer’s Pool Program now. That should help in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love Air Serbia, their fleet strategy always seems reactive rather than proactive. They got the Embraers without having a clear plan for quick integration.
ReplyDeleteHave you forgotten Marathon?
DeleteAt this point, I wouldn’t be shocked if they never operate more than one of these jets.
ReplyDeleteYeah, especially as they now suddenly bought some A319 out of the blue. Their fleet strategy is really chaotic. It’s time for brand new planes..
DeleteNothing changed in terms of fleet strategy when 3xA319 were converted from lease to own. Where do you see "chaotic"?
DeleteIdemo dalje.
ReplyDeleteConstantly reading excuses due to spare parts (landing gear parts on A330, now missing part for Embraer etc.). Sounds like a good business idea to set up a plane spare parts production company xD
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Wizz Air CEO also said the same a few days ago because he is a liar. OU CEO also said the same 10 days ago because he is a liar. Some of you are completely detached from reality.
Delete+1
DeleteEU's oversight over their operators seems to be severely lacking. Quite scary.
ReplyDeleteBased on what evidence?
Delete@Anon 13:29
DeleteId disagree. Look at our neighbors, the Romanians have grounded a notable number of airlines in the last 4 years, one of which is the to us infamous AirConnect
Well reading between the lines the JAT Tehnika representative says they are unsure whether Marathon used genuine spare parts.
DeleteYour "reading between the lines" is no evidence.
DeleteNational authorities have the oversight over their operators, not EU, not EASA.
DeleteThe plane currently known as YU-ATA has very bad documentation and besides that corossion appeared in the main landing gear bay, on the actual gondola. Since it was not in the Serbian registry another airplane will become YU-ATA. The amount of money Marathon owes AirSerbia for all the failures to provide is enough that they might give YU-ATB as compensation and close the company.
ReplyDeleteYU-ATB was cheap because Marathon owes a lot of money to AirSerbia for their failures. AirSerbia accepted the aircraft that was due for big service, but also had some kinks that had to be dealt with.
YU-ARE had smoke indication during ground tests and parts of the cabin are disassembled to trace the root cause. It might be two months until delivered to AirSerbia.
The three old a319 are basically a good deal providing that AirSerbia keeps to the 5year a319 retirement plan. The airframes were to be scrapped after finishing the lease with ASL. But if they end up keeping them longer (and by the looks of things and how organized they are they will) it will be their demise because of the maintenance costs.
German engineering, YU-ARE the problem.
DeleteMade up. yu-are is coming this week
DeleteI heard that they sent ATB to change some parts for which documentation and origin was unclear and suspicious. Those parts were late and that's why it took so long. Service was done prior coming to BEG
DeleteAnon 1710
DeleteNot entirely true. YU-ATB ex OY-GDA was on a check in WAW before it was ferried to ATH and thereafter to BEG, last January (2024). It never flew for Air Serbia until a check flight was done prior to entering Serbian registry.
ATB had a major check in NAP with Atitech that took 2 months to complete and it returned back to BEG 2 days ago.
Anon 16:28 Keep believing mr Marek
DeleteYU-ARE didn't arrive this week.
DeleteAir serbia has no more grow capacity
ReplyDeleteNonsense, it has with more transfer passengers. Which means new short and long haul routes
DeleteThey have more capacity than last summer as published here recently. Two planes, 3rd A330 and 1st Embraer joined fleet since last September. They are getting 4th A330 soon. More wet lease planes are likely to be operating this summer. They added CAN, NCE, PVG since last August and announced 3 more destinations starting in a couple of months. On top of that, Air Serbia LF is trending upwards, meaning they overall have a solid base to grow passenger numbers.
Delete