Air Serbia and Bulgaria Air have signed a new two-year ACMI agreement for the continued operation of the Bulgarian carrier’s four Embraer E190 aircraft on behalf of the Serbian airline. The deal, reached during a meeting in Belgrade, marks the third wet-lease arrangement between the two companies since 2024. Under the renewed contract, Bulgaria Air’s E190 fleet, registered LZ-SOF, LZ-PLO, LZ-VAR and LZ-BUR, will remain deployed across Air Serbia’s network for the next four flying seasons, covering two winter and two summer schedules. A wet-lease (ACMI) arrangement includes the provision of the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance by the lessor.
The aircraft will continue operating in Bulgaria Air’s livery with its cabin crew sporing the company uniform, while all maintenance will remain carried out in Sofia. Each E190 offers 108 seats, including eight in business class and 100 in economy. “This ongoing partnership further strengthens the close cooperation established more than a decade ago between the national airlines of Bulgaria and Serbia. In 2014, the two carriers introduced a codeshare agreement on the Belgrade - Sofia route, ensuring continued air connectivity between the two capitals”, Bulgaria Air said in a statement.
This winter, the Bulgaria Air-operated E190s are most frequently deployed on services to Frankfurt, with strong utilisation also on routes to Athens, Zurich, Copenhagen, Thessaloniki and Brussels. In total, the aircraft have been scheduled at least once on 31 destinations across Air Serbia’s network during the ongoing winter season. The Serbian carrier previously said the wet-lease arrangement with Bulgaria Air contributes to operational flexibility and supports its broader network ambitions. It also noted that ACMI agreements have played an important role in mitigating industry-wide challenges, including aircraft delivery delays and capacity shortages. Air Serbia recently inked a two-year wet-lease agreement with airBaltic for Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The arrangement covers two jets this winter, increasing to four from the start of the 2026 summer season in late March.
A shame would be good to have them in JU livery since they are fully deployed in BEG.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same. If they are going to be in the fleet till 2027 they could have negotiated to paint them.
DeleteIf they paint them, then first buy them
DeleteI think Bulgarians are against it as on this way JU promotes their brand no matter they fly on JU flight.
DeleteI wouldn't put my brand on anything not controlled 100% by me. Remember Marathon?
DeleteI think JU has learned its lesson from that, which is why we don't see their logo on any of the wet leases anymore.
DeleteNothing wrong with Marathon.
DeleteGood thing no one asks you. Disney puts their brand and characters on airplanes not controlled 100% by them.
DeleteIt seems no one asks you since JU doesn't have brand on these wet leases.
DeleteThey have learned the lesson with Marathon, on the flip side new a220’s or e2 are most probably going into fleet since a319,320’s are getting older
DeleteJU is not getting any A220s or E2s.
DeleteIt is going to be wet leasing A220s from BT.
Based on Air Serbia comments, they will be getting newer generation engine aircraft in the near future. It could mean A320NEO but it could also mean A220 or E2. Unless you have some proof, JU might purchase or dry lease E2 or A220.
DeleteJU hasn't ordered any new generation jets.
DeleteIf they get some in the future they will be leased, not ordered new from Airbus, Embraer or Boeing.
These short-term solutions can’t go on forever.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing at least is that we now only have 2 wet lease partners.
DeleteTwo reliable partners
DeleteSix wet leases. ACMI is going down in Europe since there is less demand. JU should focus on building their own Embraer fleet. Their E95s are not flying as much as they could.
DeleteGetting certified E-jet captains and first officers is difficult.
DeleteEspecially captains. And it is difficult to keep them once you have them.
Maybe JU should offer a cadet program where it pays for the type training and certification of Embraer pilots with an 8-10 year commitment of flying for the airline.
Delete^ +100
Delete10 year commitment is crazy
DeleteBoth deals seem to be in with their earlier announcement that they may order new planes in 2027.
ReplyDeleteEven when they order them, it will likely take several years for the planes to be delivered.
DeleteThey'll probably get more dry leases in the meantime, as they're already planning. We see that wet leases will stay until extra demand is generated by Expo. I assume after 2027 they'll significantly reduce wet lease operations as they slowly build their own A320 and E195 fleet.
DeleteAgree, I think it unlikely JU will buy factory new aircraft from Airbus or Embraer.
DeleteIt is both expensive and due to loooong backlogs it will start getting aircraft delivered in the 2030s.
They'll probably lease NEOs once their initial operators return them after the 10-12 year long lease.
Nice photo of all Bulgaria Air E190s lined up side by side at BEG :)
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAnd the tractor haha
Delete^ Technologia!
DeleteAre there Serbian crew on these Bulgaria Air Embraers too?
ReplyDeletePilots are Bulgarian and stewardesses are Serbian.
DeleteThanks, didn't know that
DeleteI fly with Serbian captain 2 times.
DeleteDon't get me wrong...These planes are quite ok but when I fly with JU I like to see their pilots and their livery.
ReplyDeleteDo you say that to all other airlines using ACMI? For example Swiss to ZRH, Austrian to VIE etc?
DeleteWhat's the point of that comment Anon 09.21? Also LX stopped sending wetleases to BEG since JU introduced the A220 to ZRH. So obviously Swiss knows that their brand plays a role.
DeleteI have a flight with LX in November from BEG and it says operated by Air Baltic.
DeleteHow does Swiss know that their brand plays a role when they have been sending airBaltic and Helvetic plans for the past 2 years? And they have not stopped sending airBaltic planes to BEG.
Delete@anon 09:21
DeleteIt's not the same, wet leases are 20% of JU's fleet.
Don't forget Wizz operating white tails instead of that amazing Wizz livery. And soon Anon 09:09 will be able to enjoy wet-leased ATR from ETF instead of OU planes.
DeleteWet leased planes are part of aviation, get used to it.
I am not flying to Croatia at all.
DeleteWrong guess amigo.
Swiss has Air Baltic operating on 17 flights to Belgrade in November. They have certainly not stopped sending them.
DeleteI think once Serbia enters the EU and has adopted EASA’s rules completely, even with “wet leased planes” from other airlines in the EU, JU Serbian crews can legally fly on other’s countries registrated planes as long as they EU registered and have valid licenses and medicals for the respective aircraft type. There were Condor crews flying on the A320s of Bulgaria air during summer. Plane is registered in Bulgaria while the crews were both Germans and Bulgarians. So, if JU orders A220s and Bulgaria air has to lease some of its A220s to JU, if finally Serbia is in the EU and is completely under EASA, JU crews can step on pretty much immediately even if the reg is LZ and not YU.
Delete^ When that happens Serbian crews, especially pilots will move to other EU airlines for way better pay.
DeleteIts what happened to most East European countries once they joined the EU.
Well, some of them will leave, much more of them won`t. People are not that keen of moving.
DeleteThe pilots can move even today, and they do, not even just to EU companies, Middle East is also popular. For them it's completely irrelevant if Serbia is in EU or not, they'll get work permits easily today.
DeleteHow long will JU depend on wetleased jets? They need to get more of their own planes so the brand isn’t diluted.
ReplyDeleteAs it seems another 2 years.
DeleteSo many airlines across Europe are wet leasing. It isn't unique to JU.
DeleteI agree, but I also like that they're careful with investments and money spending so far.
DeleteI don’t care who’s operating it as long as the ticket price stays good and flights are on time.
ReplyDeletepeople board anything that flies
DeleteHow many other aircraft does Bulgaria Air have if they are wet leasing 4 planes to JU?
ReplyDeleteThey have 5 A320s, 1 A319 and 7 A220s. The entire Embraer fleet is in BEG.
DeleteThanks. Much bigger fleet than I thought.
DeleteTrue dat!
DeleteThe smallest are with Air Serbia. Was surprised the E-Jet has only 108 seats.
DeleteActually prefer the E190 over the A319. Cabin feels more spacious even if it’s smaller.
ReplyDeleteCan we expect some Serbian ACMI leasing airline in the future, would that make sense? There are businesses of that kind west of Serbia and east of Serbia, why not here?
ReplyDeleteWe need EU corrupt government for that, not our type of corruption. Air Baltic, ETF, Trade Air, Bulgarian Air come from EU corruption. All gets money from taxpayers.
DeleteHow much did ETF get?
Delete@Anonymous 09:45
DeleteSMFH
They just recently added ATR for OU. Obviously, Dr. Watson.
DeleteBetter Bulgaria Air than some random operator
ReplyDeleteAgree, better than Fly2sky, Getjet, Klasjet, Marathon and whatever other no name airlines they used.
DeleteFly2Sky and Get Jet are normal airlines not like Marathon.
DeleteMarathon is currently operating for Aeroitalia. Both are EU registered and operating businesses.
DeleteJoke airline Aeroitalia.
DeleteThe Marathon incident was because of the stupid Italian pilot who insisted on taking off from the wrong exit.
DeleteAeroitalia is a joke: confirmed by my personal impression
DeleteWho hires stupid pilots for God's sake
DeleteHow can you know beforehand that an experienced captain with a valid license would choose to take off from only half the runway?
DeleteMaybe JU should invest in training more pilots so they can actually fly their own planes…
ReplyDeleteOr maybe they will get A220 is the future, so why invest in purchase and training for more Embraers?
DeleteThey definitely won't go for A220s. It will be Embraers. And they are getting more Embraers in just around 2 weeks.
DeleteThey already have 18 Ejet type rated pilots, which is not enough but number is rising every month
Delete10:04 How do you know that? They are wet leasing both Ejets and A220.
DeleteAnd they are dry leasing E195s and have Embraer pilots and cabin crew. They are attending Embraer symposiums. You will see. it will be E jets they order in the end.
DeleteHopefully they order E2.
DeleteOf course it will be Ejets. Much cheaper, comfortable, cheaper to use and most adequate for hub&spoke system JU are doing
DeleteIt's amazing how many people say, I don't care about the livery or that other do that... Swiss does it... Lufthansa does it...
ReplyDeleteYes, they do. Let them do it. It doesn't mean that Air Serbia should do the same. This is part of the image of the company, of building a brand. So, ideally Air Serbia should avoid wet leases. Swiss and LH already have well-known brands. Air Serbia is working on it now...
People are simply saying its a common aviation practice.
DeleteNot surprised. While all A320s of Bulgaria air will be wet leased to Cebu in Asia. My only question is why during the last few summers when Bulgaria air wet leased(or hybrid of both wet/dry lease in terms of the crews) all of its A320s to Condor they were all painted in Condor’s livery? But for another year, the E190s won’t be in JU livery. While even the flight attendants and some pilots are provided of JU at this point to operate on them? I have a feeling it has something to do with the contract. And most likely Bg air has to pay for the JU livery for all aircrafts. And as a Bulgarian, I can assure you that for some reason Bg air hates spending money on liveries. When the “new” A320s arrived 5 years ago they were flying white for months and given the pretty much non existent scheduled flights of Bg air, it wasn’t because they didn’t have enough planes to operate while painting the A320s. But then my other question is why JU didn’t demand a livery too like Condor most likely did? Anyway, glad that we can help our neighbours with their airline expansion. I wish we had a strong national airline as well, but at the same time we have Ryanair and I’m not complaining 🤣
ReplyDeleteThe A320 replaced some old 737s. The A320s were bought at a very good price, they were always for ACMI and Russia, but after the war started they were leased to other airlines.
Delete...A220, A320 (acquired in 2020) are on financial leasing till 2030/2032. Ten years.
DeleteLike Embraers. Now they're owned by them. The deal was 2012-2022.
DeleteThese Bulgarian Embraers are the worst planes that fly on AS routes, dry or wet leased..Whoever was a pax on one of those Bulgarin E190 can confirm this..
ReplyDeleteSorry but I don't agree. Flew with it from Frankfurt recently. Booked third row which was great because it has huge legroom as there is a row missing in front and then it's business class. 2x2 seating. I had a good flight
DeleteIf you think Bulgarian E190's, I suggest you try Air Serbia's A320....
DeleteI agree that they are great planes.
DeleteLeg space is very narrow, worse than A320 and A319, seats are hard and completely worn out, very uncomfortable especially on longer flights, and AS sends it on even 4 hours flights, also air blows through the slit above your head directly into the face..and cannot be switched off, its cold air, very unpleasent especially during winter months..it mostly affects aisle seats, window are better..
DeleteA lot of people here fly on all those planes and know you are not telling the truth.
DeleteAir Serbia should get some of its own E190s
ReplyDeleteIt needs to first get enough pilots for the E jets already here.
DeleteRepeating that claim won't make it true. They have enough pilots.
DeleteRepeating that claim won't make it true. They have nowhere near enough pilots and especially captains for the E jets already here, let alone new ones.
DeleteProve it
DeleteProof is in the current utilisation.
DeleteThat's not the proof, utilization in November is expected to be low.
DeleteAir Serbia talked about getting two more dry leased E195 in the coming months, bringing its total E195 fleet to four. That's proof they have enough pilots to fly them.
They took the aircraft and yet the aircraft is not delivered yet for a very simple reason - they do not have the required amount of crews available to fly the aircraft. Approximately 5 crews needed per airframe. On Embraer they operate with 3 per aircraft at the moment!
DeleteAirline can't take the aircraft that's not delivered yet. Hope you grow up soon.
Delete