Air Serbia plans to retain wet-lease capacity in its operational planning until at least the start of the 2027/28 winter season, which begins in late October next year. Both airBaltic and Bulgaria Air will continue providing ACMI support over this period. Under a wet-lease arrangement, the lessor supplies the aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance to the contracting airline.
Air Serbia concluded a two-year wet-lease arrangement with airBaltic in October last year, initially for two Airbus A220-300 aircraft, which will grow to four over the coming summer. At the same time, the airline inked another two-year wet-lease partnership with Bulgaria Air for the provision of four Embraer E190 jets. The deal, reached in October last year, marks the third wet-lease arrangement between the two companies since 2024. Last year, the Bulgarian flag carrier began recruiting Serbian cabin crew members, which now operate on the airline’s E190 fleet on its Belgrade services.
Air Serbia will deploy wet-lease capacity on roughly 20% of its scheduled flights during the upcoming summer season, which begins on March 29 and runs until October 25. The Serbian carrier previously said it is working towards reducing its dependence on wet-leased equipment but noted that a growing number of airlines are bringing in capacity operated by other carriers due to the current state of the aviation industry. Last year, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, hinted that the airline may place on order for aircraft next year, "While we’re certainly examining future fleet renewal, I wouldn’t expect any firm decisions before 2027. And even then, deliveries will depend on availability. We are working hard to be able to have sufficient capacity to grow on our own”.
To be honest, the A220s are now the best aircraft at JU.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, the A220s are a huge improvement in customer experience.
DeleteJU can be the launch customer for the A220-500 😇
Delete@aleksandar don't know if that was tongue in cheek but I fully agree that this would the best choice for JU's needs.
DeletePlus if ordering it this year as part of its official launch it would also get favorable pricing from Airbus as a lunch customer.
I don't see how ordering now A320neos would get you aircraft sooner with the huge backlog. The A220-500 is the best option available.
^ +100
DeleteThat will, God help, never happen. A220 is a crappy plane, uncomfortable, loud, inappropriate for cargo, high fuel consumpting and requires whole different crews. That would be a suicidal move by JU, after LO and OS already did by EU direct orders
DeleteI don't think JU will be going for the A220s. They will be going for the Embraers.
DeleteGoing for Embraers means of course that they'll need to order A320neos at some point too.
DeleteMaybe with the A220 they can standardize the single isle jet fleet around one family of aircraft.
Whatever JU chooses will be good fit for them, a220-500 and 100 would fit perfectly but also mix of E195E2 and mid life a320neo wound also be good choice. At the end, market will decide
Deletesta je wet leAse? name para da kupi avione
DeletePise ti u trecoj recenici sta je, samo moras da procitas.
DeleteI see...I jump right to the comments of blog first and read article afterwards
Delete20% of its scheduled flights operated by wet leases is wild to me.
ReplyDeleteWhich other European flag carrier does this to such an extent?
Swiss wet leases a huge number of aircraft.
DeleteAir Serbia sits in a rather unique position in terms of size for a 'flag carrier'. There arent really any of its size to compare with very easily. This seems like OK medium-term plans tbh.
DeleteI believe they have fewer wet leases now than in the past
DeleteDoes Swiss also has 20% of its scheduled flights operated by wet leases?
Delete@09:08 is Swiss an airline that can be compared with JU in any way? No
Delete^ yes. According to ch aviation 30% of its flights in 2025 were operated by wet leases. It is the second biggest operator of wet lease equipment in the world.
DeleteSwiss uses wet lease (Air Baltic) because it costs them much less (than their local crews and planes).
DeleteNot sure this is the case for JU
They use much more than air baltic. 30% of their flights being operated by wet leases is a lot.
DeleteI too seriously doubt Air Baltic pays less for its aircrews than JU does.
DeleteCrew are NOT the dominant cost driver in any wet lease arrangement, the aircraft is. In an ACMI deal, the biggest financial burden is the plane itself. Longer wet leases are cheaper on a per-hour basis. It is questionable whather JU can find a lease for a young aircraft, which over two years with maintenance costs would come out much cheaper. But wet lease pricing is not driven by crew payroll.
Delete@9:18 what is the source of this claim that Swiss wet lease is cheaper than using own planes? Your imagination does not count as a source.
Delete^ Do you really think Estonian salaries are as high as Swiss salaries?
DeleteAgain, what is your source?
DeletePeople thinking that crew salaries are what determines the price of wet leases. Goodness.
Delete@Anon 10:29
DeleteI agree with him. I'm pretty certain Swiss wages are higher than Estonian.
Apologies, I do not mean to dispute your expertise in wet lease financials:
DeleteAn average salary of a Swiss flight attendant is 4000CHF gross, vs an Estonian one who earns 1500. (not to mention pilots). A220-300 typically has 3 flight attendants.
Airbaltic got carried away with their A220 orders and has no real use for them in the small baltic markets, their finances are not that good, so they are more than open for good financial deals for using their metal.
Once again, what is your source for the clam Swiss wet lease was cheaper than using own? Is it your own thinking or do you actually have a source? Or you made a mistake and are now trying to avoid the response?
DeleteSwiss is indeed having an increased amount of wet leased operations. It is due to a shortage of pilots on the especially airbus long haul fleet as well as due to the unavailabilty of their own fleet caused by the shortage of slots for p&w engines overhaul. This results in having grounded a good portion of the a320 neo and a220 arround europe, waiting for engines.
Delete..... As for the salary difference between Switzerland, Estonia or other contries please bear in mind also the difference of the costs of living. You can`t compare the cost of living in Switzerland with the cost of living in Estonia, Serbia etc. And for your information the brutto salary of ca. 4000 CHF is in Switzerland BELOW the minimum. ( i am living in CH and working the aviation sector).
DeleteWhy you all keep comparing Swiss and Estonian salaries? Air Baltic is Latvian company and wages in Latvia are even lower than in Estonia
DeleteThis “temporary” solution is becoming semi-permanent. I'm sure they will extend leases past winter 27/28.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAnything but hiring enough flight crews and dry lease enough E-jets.
I’m sure that you are sure what they will be extending past 2027. lol
DeleteWe will see, but they have extended the Bulgaria Air leases 4 times already and they have been leasing A320 equivalents for many years.
Delete@9:03 you were also sure Airbus planes would never arrive to Air Serbia in 2013?
DeleteErm no. Airbuses were already being painted when they announced they would transition from Boeings to Airbuses.
Delete@10:18
DeleteHow exactly do you know what each Anon commenter wrote 13 years ago?
Same school of thought.
DeleteThe only school of thought here is yours which centers around the premise that every decision JU management makes is 100% correct and nobody ever should be allowed to question it.
DeleteThere is no question in "I am sure leases will be extended", no proof, nothing. Just the same pattern every time Air Serbia is the topic
DeleteThe only pattern here is JU extending its wet leases and/or replacing them with different wet lease providers.
DeletePatterns from the past does not mean you can be sure what will happen in 2027 and 2028. If you read the text you would know what their plans are.
DeleteThe text clearly says that we are looking at another two years of wet leases. At least.
DeleteWhere does it say that? It says they have wet leases secured until late October 2027.
Delete@11:29
Delete"Air Serbia plans to retain wet-lease capacity in its operational planning until at least the start of the 2027/28 winter season, which begins in late October next year"
The A220 from airBaltic is actually a good product. I’ve flown it from Belgrade and the passenger experience is noticeably better than on most JU aircraft. Also it is a massive improvement on GetJet.
ReplyDeletePassengers benefit from newer aircraft even if they are operated by another airline.
DeleteThe good thing is that at least there are just 2 wet lease providers. Not like in the past where you had numerous ones.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNow they can evaluate Embraers and A220 face to face in real world use with big enough sample
ReplyDeleteWas he commenting on just the short haul fleet or on the wide-bodies too?
ReplyDeleteNice pic with Genex in the background :)
ReplyDeletewhich routes will rely on wet leases the most? Or are they evenly spread out?
ReplyDeleteThe bigger question is what kind of order Air Serbia could place in 2027. More A320neo? Embraers? Or something entirely different?
ReplyDeleteWet-leasing makes sense short term, but margins are thinner compared to operating your own aircraft. Long-term profitability depends on fleet ownership or at least dry leases.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteTo be fair, many airlines much larger than Air Serbia rely on ACMI these days. Lufthansa Group, SAS, British Airways...
ReplyDeleteBA hardly 'relies' on ACMI. But yes i agree its quite common and not a bad thing for JU to do.
DeleteAir Serbia’s growth ambitions and reliance on wet-lease show the airline is still in transition mode. They really need an aircraft order in 2027 to define the next decade.
ReplyDeleteAgree. But I feel in the Balkans, management never thinks long term because their logic is they won't be in those positions in 10 years time so why worry about that.
DeleteTrue. Long term planning is not something this region is known for.
DeleteAs we see from JU's hub. Which is really not going to stand the test of time will ultimately be something that puts constraits on the airline.
DeleteVinci and the ministry should have done a much better job with the concession and how the airport is being developed.
DeleteAgree 100%
DeleteThe government should also have made far greater long term planning for the airport and railway. Serbia as a transit country is one of its most important features. In 10years time the whole thing will need to be redone properly.
DeleteFour A220s and four E190s under ACMI is not small scale. That’s a subfleet.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more . In a 30 dry leased fleet , 8 wet additional leases is way a lot ! And that shows mainly the crew shortage they have .
DeleteNo it does not mean crew shortage. You bring it up every time and you get schooled every si gle time.
DeleteAnon 10:22 has never been able to justify how JU is not understaffed and yet it has so many wet leases year round while its own the jet fleet is underutilized! 😂
DeleteNot equal to fleet shortage. But easy to identify Analyst who repeats same thing every time Air Serbia is the topic and thinks no one will notice that repetition.
Delete@Anonymous 10:40
DeleteReality does not stop to be real just because it upsets some people.
JU has both a fleet shortage as demonstrated by they year round wet leasing and is underutilizing its Airbus and Embraer fleet.
Wet lease is not equal to crew shortage. Proven 100 times. Start with the wrong premise, arrive at repeatedly wrong and debunked conclusions.
DeleteThere aren't any crews shitting around playing candy crash. There are JU aircraft shitting around though and wet leases covering 20% of the flight program.
DeleteUsing that language will not make it true. Repeating it next time Air Serbia is the topic will also not make it true, but will make even more people aware of your agenda.
DeleteNo, there is not enough crews! That's why we wetlease... you're clueless or blind...or someone is lying to you at work. No one wet leases in the winter months unless you absolutely have to. Summer is ok to a point but even that can be mitigated once winter comes.
DeleteI have the number of crews for our 30 dry leased fleet and we all feel constant pressure and stress in our daily operations because of not enough pilots on the line. Maybe a certain fleet is ok at the moment like A320, but ATR and ERJ definitely don't have enough pilots.
How come Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss and Air France all wet lease in winter if "no one wet leases in winter months".
Delete@12:57 You claim ATR subfleet doesn't have enough pilots yet Air Serbia doesn't wet lease any ATRs! What a clown 🤡
DeleteAirlines wet lease in winter months primarily to manage seasonal demand, address crew shortages due to sickness, and handle unexpected capacity disruptions, such as severe weather delays. It allows carriers to add capacity quickly without long-term commitments.
DeleteYou're a clown yoursefl. JU won't wet lease an ATR because it doesn't give them a flexibility like the A220 or ERJ gives them. At lease that is reasonable use of a wet lease, I'll give them that. But, no they don't have enough ATR crews because A320s jump in too often even in winter fo cover the network. And no its not just because of Low Vis operations. Do you work at JU since you're so smart and have the insight what goes on here???
DeleteI certainly don't work for self proclaimed aviation academy publishing same conspiracy theories about pilot shortage at Air Serbia. Readers of this fine blog don't need AI tools to find striking similarities between the two.
DeleteIt is interesting that some people constantly bring up this Zama guy as if he's the only blogger on this forum. You are far from the truth. In fact , your lack of internal understanding of current operational strains at JU is having is telling me that you are naive. And I could easily put you in the same basket as those "JU supporters" or that other "Bravo Hrvatska" dude. But I won't do that. I will give you the same respect as everyone else here, and I'll stop at the "clown" attacks as that doesn't bring any positive construction to the discussion. But on the other hand there are people here who do "fly the line" daily, and know really well how stressful the past 8 months have been for many us of. And it's because there isn't enough of us, period! And I could care less if JU wet leases 5 more aircraft to cover the demand and lack of crewing... But for goodness sake just do your job right and plan accordingly or find someone who can. And please stop saying this is normal.
DeleteIf you are a commercial pilot, is it normal to expect posting on aviation blog would really help whatever your cause is?
DeleteAs for zamaAcademy, there are also followers and parrots all over the place.
As for positive discussion, everyone would love to see more of it. Online comments on any topic are negative in general but Air Serbia topics are predictable for repetitive negative posts about broken seats, lack of crew, wet leases etc. Creative, constructive suggestions are few and far in between.
If Expo 2027 is the key growth driver then securing capacity until winter 2027/28 makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThe terminal capacity needs to increase by then as well as the new lounge opened.
Delete^ So true!
DeleteThe inability to compelte very minor construction projects within the airport is a shame.
DeleteMy only hope is that because of the upcoming EXPO the people responsible for issuing the permits would be forced to allow construction of the new shops and lounge and hopefully all will be ready in time for the visitors.
DeleteIt seems to me that no one cares about where Air Serbia will be in 10 or 20 years. The current CEO will have moved on, so he's fine maintaining the current model for another few years. And to the extent that anyone in the government cares about Air Serbia, it's probably just about how they can squeeze some money out of it, or employ their mistress. There is no sign of strategic thinking from anywhere.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
DeleteNot necessarily. If there was no planning, they would not have 100 destinations already. If there was no planning, they would not have decided to go for Embraers and grow the fleet. If there was no planning, they would not be operating soon 5 long haul routes. They develop 5 year development plans. But you also have to have in mind that this is still a small airline with a limited profit that is more impacted by certain developments on the market than large airlines. For example, I'm sure that the US having one of the highest tariffs in the world on Serbian products has had an impact on Air Serbia cargo loads to the US, which changes the profitability of these flights. You also have to keep in mind that the aviation industry has gone through massive changes in just 5 years.
DeleteSaying that Air Serbia has no strategy after everything it has achieved in just 5 years is wild.
DeleteAnd will change hugely in the next ten. There is no guarantee JU of 100 destinations will be the same in 10years. Keeping the flexibility is a good idea i think for now.
Delete@9:59 where will you be in 10-20 years to write caring comments about Air Serbia?
DeleteWell its for the government to plan long term. And Serbian politics has been very very poor at this for a very very long time.
DeleteAir Serbia revival is one of the best things they did, and it's not something that was short term only
DeleteIdemo dalje....
ReplyDeleteSo at least two more years of extensive wet leasing.
ReplyDeleteHow is October 2027 two tears from now?
DeleteYou think by October 2027 JU will have replaced the wet leases that cover so much of its flight program?
DeleteWith what exactly?
Did you notice Air Serbia doubled Embraer fleet in the past two months?
DeleteDid they also doubled the number of Embraer rated pilots?
DeleteYou really think that airline older than Lufthansa wouldn't think of that before doubling Embraer subfleet?
Delete