Every year on May 31, the aviation community comes together to celebrate International Flight Attendants’ Day- a heartfelt occasion to thank a group of professionals who add a personal touch at 10,000 meters in the sky. For most of the passengers, flight attendants are the kind, friendly faces that greet them onboard, serve refreshments, and work hard to make sure their journey is smooth and comfortable. But behind those calm smiles are dedicated and highly trained safety professionals, ready to handle emergencies, provide first aid, manage complex situations, and make sure everyone on board reaches their destination safely. Along with the tales of some remarkable individuals in EX-YU aviation, this story illustrates how the role of flight attendants has evolved over time.
First Yugoslav flight attendant» First JAT flight attendant» First millionaire on EX-YU sky» Dragica Pavlović Njanja, 1949
The first cabin crew members, flight attendants or stewardesses and stewards on YU-marked aircraft made their debut in 1947. In August of that year, the Belgrade-based daily Politika announced a competition held by the Chief of the Aviation Transportation Administration. They were looking for a number of young women and men to join the team and work on international flights. Applicants needed to know foreign languages, and the age limit was set at 35. Initially, five candidates were hired, but three of them didn’t stay long. The training lasted seven months and covered everything from emergency procedures to meteorology, commercial matters, tourism geography, and the history of the destinations served by JAT at the time.
Like any new beginning, those early days were quite challenging, especially in the post-war years. The working conditions and passenger service by flight attendants were quite different from today - in fact, they were more than Spartan. For example, there was no proper transportation for crew members to and from the airport. At first, a truck would leave from the Old Bridge on the Sava River. Later, when Belgrade’s new airport began operating at the current site, bus transportation was organised from the JAT office near St. Mark's Church. However, the buses only ran a few times a day, so cabin crew often had to wait several hours at the airport for their flights. In those early years, if a flight attendant was late for the bus and a replacement was already on standby, the plane might leave without them.
On board JAT DC-3, inflight service » JAT steward Krsta Janković and flight crew: Marković Milorad-Markos and Živorad-Žika Janković » Helena Pursnik, preparing for boarding on YU-ABM (the bottom row, the first picture) » Gymnast Vera Marić swapped her competition leotard for the blue JAT uniform and welcomed passengers on domestic and international flights » 1950s
In the early years, all flights were operated by DC-3 aircraft, which lacked on-ground heating or cooling, making the crew's task even more challenging. Typically, only one flight attendant was on duty for the entire flight, which, due to the plane's slow cruising speed and multiple stops, could last several hours or even a whole day. The absence of cabin pressurisation on the DC-3 meant less comfort, especially when flying over high mountains. Considering that for most passengers it was their very first flight ever, understandably, fear was quite common, adding extra pressure on the cabin crew. When seats were eventually added to the DC-3, the flight attendant didn’t have a seat of her own but sat in a pre-reserved 28-seat area next to the passengers, leading to many amusing stories during flights. Stewardesses would greet each passenger personally, assist with coats, fasten seatbelts, and share all important flight information. They also served tea and cakes during the journey, and sandwiches on longer flights - preparing these themselves during the flight, since in those early days, there was no modern catering as we have today.
Back in those early days, flight attendants warmly greeted passengers at the aircraft door, saluting with a raise of the hand. Since the DC-3's door was quite low, flight attendants would gently protect passengers' heads with their white-gloved hands as they boarded. Milica Lukić, in her book "Memoirs of a Flight Attendant", recalls that some passengers would deliberately shake hands with flight attendants simply to boast about it later, a reflection of the prestige and respect the profession commanded in former Yugoslav society.
The first stewardess hired was the then-33-year-old Dragica Pavlović-Njanja, who became a beloved and well-known figure in Yugoslav aviation. She was admired as a pioneer who helped lay the groundwork for the profession of the flight attendant. Interestingly, though Dragica had first heard about JAT through an advertisement and entered a job competition, she did not expect to be accepted because of the stiff competition from other beautiful women. As a result, she found another job in the meantime.
However, her impressive multilingual skills in French, Italian, English, German and Spanish ultimately helped her secure a position at JAT - even though she had never flown on a plane before. In 1954, Dragica broke a new record as the first stewardess and woman in Yugoslav aviation to receive the Order of Labor III class for flying a million kilometers. She became the first Yugoslav millionaire among pilots and radio operators. After her flying career, she became head of ground crew at Belgrade Airport, where she worked until retirement (in 1978). Dragica passed away at the age of 75 in Belgrade.
Dragica Pavlović-Njanja in retirement and during her working days
Commemorative plaque awarded to Dragica Pavlović for flying over 1.000.000 kilometers
Alongside Dragica, it's important to highlight other cabin crew members who left a lasting impact during JAT's early years, pioneers in this demanding profession, like Ana Barišić, Ivanka Delaš, Mića Hinić (the most famous JAT steward), Milica Lukić, Ksenija Radulović, Marija Gmazel, and Jagoda Slijepčević.
Ana began her career with JAT in 1955 and was the first flight attendant to retire from the position after 22 years, during which she logged 20.000 flying hours on various aircraft types in the fleet. Jagoda’s life was truly extraordinary. Born in 1935 in present-day Croatia, she was taken to the Jasenovac concentration camp at age six during the onset of World War II and survived thanks to Dijana Budisavljević. At 15, she forged her birth certificate to start working as a typist for JAT, and by 20, in 1956, she was flying as a stewardess on a DC-3. Over her thirty-year flying career, she earned licenses for all aircraft types in the fleet, served as an instructor, head of service, and later head of the DC-10 department. She was among the few who flew all types - from piston-engine planes to wide-body jets - and accumulated over 16.000 hours in the air. After retiring from flying, Jagoda worked at the JAT office on Fifth Avenue in New York from 1985. Following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, she transferred to Delta Airlines, retiring in 2016. Jagoda Slijepčević passed away in 2020 at age 85.
JAT STW Ana Barišić serving President Tito » Tito photographed and signed the picture featuring STWs Milica Jakulić and Spomenka Janjušević. Until the mid-1970s, JAT cabin crews were flying on all presidential flights on the Convair 340/400, DC-6B, and Caravelle SE-210 aircraft. After the acquisition of the B727, selected cabin crew members were specially trained at JAT’s training center and flew exclusively on presidential flights » JAT STWs Vujka Đurić and Lela Barić in front of Convair YU-ADM, 1969 » Marija Kuhar, Ksenija Radulović, and Persida Radić (from left to right). Marija and Ksenija began flying in 1950, while Persida started in 1956 » After flight » Anica Ostojić, during service onboard JAT DC-3. She was awarded the Order of Courage - a wartime honor for extraordinary bravery
JAT STWs during the opening of the new Zadar airport, 1969 » In-flight service » STW Milena Ribar (top, right corner) » Slobodanka Gavranović with her colleague Goran Kovačević at Frankfurt Airport. Slobodanka was one of the crew members who lost their lives in the explosion of JAT’s DC-9 aircraft over Czechoslovakia (1972) » JAT STW Radmila Živković was chosen as Miss Elegance at the beauty contest for the world’s most beautiful flight attendant in Uruguay, 1969
In 1961, the second Yugoslav airline, Adria Aviopromet (later known as Adria Airways), began operations. The first flight attendant for Adria was Ida Globočnik Pernuš, who was already a seasoned cabin crew member with previous experience at JAT. She assembled a team of four additional flight attendants: Maja Pečar, Gordana Tomljenović, Miša Grünfeld, and Metka Zavašnik. Ida ensured that the team acquired essential knowledge and passed exams in aviation subjects, foreign languages, emergency procedures, navigation, meteorology, geography, art history and first aid. After passing these exams and medical checks at the military medical commission in Belgrade, they started their duties. Soon, Vida Jarc, another notable figure in EX-YU aviation, joined the team.
Cover page of the Slovenian magazine Tovariš from 1962, featuring the first Adria Airways flight attendants: Maja Pečar, Gordana Tomljenović, Miša Grünfeld, Metka Zavašnik, and Ida Globočnik Pernuš
Initially, unlike JAT, Adria mainly operated charter flights with the DC-6B aircraft, including notable flights to the United States and Canada. Working conditions were demanding - flights often lasted over ten hours, and the crew had to prepare multiple meals. Before the opening of Ljubljana’s new Brnik Airport, flights operated from Zagreb, necessitating additional ground travel from Ljubljana to Zagreb. Despite these challenges, the professionalism of the cabin crew was evident from the beginning, significantly contributing to Adria's growth and reputation.
There is no available data about the first flight attendants at Pan Adria and Aviogenex.
Adria Airways crew with DC-6B and DC-8 » Vesna Bezlaj, Vili Konte and Ida Globočnik Pernuš before flight to Algiers » Adria STWs during opening of the new airport in Ohrid » First Adria STW Ida Globočnik Pernuš » Maja Pečar during service onboard DC-6B YU-AFB » Crew in front of DC-8: Jože Leban, Slavko Zupančić, Nataša Šramel, Metka Jančar-Kvas, Silvo Popov and Drago Krstić (1972) » Posing with the DC-9: Captain Krumpak, Nadja Flajs, Nada Serjanik, Andrej Srjaka » Rebeka Porenta, Bronja Slatnar, Mojca Sedej, Jerka Žmavac, 1980s » Duška Stružnik, 1980s » Vida Jarc, last flight, after 30 years of flying. Vida was among the first flight attendants to begin flying with Adria Airways. Behind her were flights on DC-8, DC-6, DC-9 and A320 aircraft, with which she traveled to all continents and trained several new generation of young flight attendants, 1990 » One of Adria's first STW, Miša Tičar, 1960s
Onboard Adira Airways DC-6B, DC-9 and Airbus A320 » JP STW Desanka Bassin, 1970s » Inauguration of a charter route to Israel, 1987 » Crew for delivery flight of the first A320, 1988
In the first years of flying, JAT's flight attendant count was limited to five. The deployment of CV-340/440s on international routes increased the cabin crew to two per aircraft, prompting JAT to hire additional staff. With the introduction of the Caravelle jet, crew numbers rose to 70 by 1970 and continued to grow rapidly, reaching around 1.000 by the late 1980s.
Meanwhile, Adria had roughly 200 air hostesses in the late 80s, and Aviogenex about ninety during peak season. During JAT’s best days, the airline’s hiring ratio favored stewardesses, with the rule that for every two new female cabin crew members, one steward was hired. In contrast, Aviogenex did not employ men as cabin crew on its flights. Due to the strong seasonality of flights, newly hired cabin crew at JAT, after completing their training at the airline’s training center and fulfilling the necessary flights to obtain their licenses, were not immediately offered permanent positions. Instead, they were placed on "stand-by" status, flying only occasionally or as required. This arrangement often lasted for several years before they were finally granted permanent employment.
Aviogenex’s first cabin crew members with Tupolev TU-134 » 1970s
Onboard Aviogenex TU-134, Boeing 737-200adv and Boeing 727-200adv
Larger aircraft changed cabin crew operations and expanded responsibilities. For instance, emergency procedures evolved with Convair aircraft, requiring crew to be trained for rope evacuations, unlike the DC-3. First class onboard Caravelle also necessitated extra training for hot meals and equipment use. The DC-9 introduced trolleys for service, simplifying work but demanding additional training. Flights became shorter yet more frequent; crews previously stayed for days during layovers, often in private homes at the Adriatic coast, but later stayed in hotels.
First Yugoslav jet aircraft, Caravelle and its crew » JAT purser Zora Petrović, last briefing before departure to Paris (1967) » JAT STW Mirjana Đurić welcoming passengers with a smile in front of the aircraft. She has been flying for JAT for three years, and before becoming a flight attendant, she wanted to be an actress (1967) » Dragica Mitrić during meal preparation. On the flight from Belgrade to Munich via Zagreb, hot cheese pie, a popular gibanica, was served, while on the return flight, the lunch menu included roast meat, cake and fruits (1967)
The remaining memories highlight that crews often requested an extra flight when their layover destination was Beirut, known as the "Paris of the Middle East", especially during the 1960s and early 1970s. Beirut was celebrated for its cosmopolitan culture, French influence, lively nightlife and high-fashion scene. Among domestic routes, crews typically avoided the so-called "čavka flights", which involved an early-morning departure from Belgrade to Podgorica, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Tivat, and back to Zagreb. After an overnight stay in Zagreb, the return flight in the early morning would follow a route through Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje, Tivat and finally Belgrade. Initially, mail was also carried on morning flights to Podgorica, requiring the cabin to switch from cargo to passenger mode - a task that was part of the flight attendant’s responsibilities.
Service onboard Caravelle jet » Service onboard Boeing 707, from Bangkok to Belgrade » New uniforms (1974) » Ksenija Radulović and Dragan Đukanović, crew members of the JU210 to London (1967)
The bravery and dedication of cabin crew have been recorded countless times throughout the history of EX-YU aviation. Here are just a few examples.
It was a Friday, June 10, 1951. The DC-3 YU-ABE was flying on its route from Belgrade to Zagreb, Munich and Frankfurt. The crew onboard was truly memorable: Captain Branislav Majcen, F/O Marko Nikolajčević, mechanic Vasilije Vorkapić, telegraph operator Dujo Delaš, and stewardess Anica Ostojić. Anica, a lovely blonde from Zemun and one of the first JAT flight attendants, had started her career in the summer of 1950. The weather was bright and clear that day. On the return flight from Frankfurt to Belgrade, somewhere before Munich, at an altitude of about 1.500 meters, the cabin suddenly filled with smoke. Soon, they discovered that a package in the baggage compartment - located between the cockpit and passenger cabin - was completely on fire. The passengers didn't notice the danger until Captain Majcen entered the passenger area, completely on fire, trying to put out the flames. The sight of the burning captain surprised everyone. Calmly and confidently, Anica Ostojić reassured the passengers, telling them to stay calm since there was no danger. Together, they patiently waited with their seatbelts fastened for the emergency landing, demonstrating remarkable courage and composure.
The crew skillfully landed the DC-3 in a nearby field after its cabin filled with thick, black smoke, just before reaching Munich Airport. Stewardess Anica and Delaš quickly evacuated all the passengers from the burning aircraft. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Anica even managed to retrieve the mail from the plane. Interestingly, Captain Majcen returned to the smoky aircraft to ensure all passengers had been safely evacuated, discovered his pilot's jacket, and took it because it contained important flight data. The crew sustained burns across their bodies, except for Anica, who cared for the passengers, and they were later accommodated in a hotel. The rest of the crew was taken to a Munich hospital. Despite having only flown for a year, 24-year-old Anica Ostojić was awarded the Order of Courage - an honor typically given during wartime for extraordinary bravery. She received this recognition while serving as a flight attendant. She stopped flying a year later after getting married, as, at that time, married flight attendants were no longer permitted to continue in the profession.
It’s truly impressive how flight attendants need to be fully prepared for every possible situation and surprise during a flight. A great example is the JU 600 flight from Belgrade to Sydney, where the crew, led by purser Radoje Rakočević-Roki, skillfully handled the remarkable event of delivering a baby boy onboard a JAT Boeing 707. Based on the available information, there had only been one previous case in aviation history, highlighting the dedication and versatility of aviation professionals. Roki later found a new passion and shifted his career from serving passengers to piloting aircraft, safely flying JAT's Boeing 727 across Europe and the Mediterranean for many years.
In 1974, an incident showcased the crews' professionalism during a return flight from Paris. As the aircraft approached Belgrade Airport, a dry-leased YU-AJN DC-9-30 from Inex Adria-Aviopromet to JAT, landed 2.5 kilometers short of runway 30 at Bežanija Hills. This occurred when the pilots lost visual contact with the runway due to poor crew management and failure to follow standard procedures during the final approach. Although there were no signs of an imminent crash, the cabin crew - Anđelka Pandžić, Milica Panić, and Izabela Novosel - along with a JAT pilot onboard as a passenger (Adam Anđelković), stayed calm, professional and efficiently evacuated all 44 passengers in just over a minute. The DC-9, which was then engulfed in flames, was damaged beyond repair. Subsequently, JAT management reworded the cabin crew's roles.
Regrettably, the tragic events involving JAT, Inex Adria-Aviopromet and Aviogenex resulted in the loss of life among crew members carrying out their work duties. The first Yugoslav flight attendant to lose her life in an aviation accident was 19-year-old Marija Gmazel. She died in the DC-3 YU-ACC crash near Skopje in 1951, having been a flight attendant for just six months. Interestingly, Marija always dreamed of becoming a pilot. She often visited the cockpit, eager to learn more about flying. On a flight from Belgrade to Ljubljana in May 1951, the captain kindly let her take the controls. She recorded her first flight hours as a first officer in her logbook, unofficially making her the first female pilot in the region.
Today, we remember and honor the brave flight and cabin crews who tragically lost their lives in aviation accidents, including the JAT Convair crash in Vienna, the Caravelle crash near Podgorica, the Adria MD-accidents on Corsica and over Zagreb, the JP crash during landing at Prague Airport, and the Aviogenex Tupolev Tu-134A (YU-AHZ) that crashed on approach to Rijeka Airport on Krk Island in 1971. Their dedication and service are remembered with deep respect and gratitude. During one such tragic event, the name of another flight attendant - Vesna Vulović - remains etched in the history of EX YU aviation.
Vesna Vulović » 1970s
On January 26, 1972, Vesna was on board DC-9-32 YU-AHT, flying from Stockholm to Belgrade with a scheduled stop in Copenhagen, as JAT Yugoslav Airlines flight JU367. Interestingly, she shouldn’t have been on the flight initially, as reports suggest she was assigned to the five-person crew that day due to a mix-up with another flight attendant of the same name.
While flying over Czechoslovakia, the JAT DC-9 exploded in mid-air, breaking into three sections that crashed near Srbska Kamenica close to the East German border, in what is now the Czech Republic. Vesna was ejected at an altitude of 33.300 feet (10.160 meters) after the explosion, caught by a food cart in the tail section, and fell into a mountain range in Czechoslovakia. She survived, setting a Guinness World Record for the highest fall without a parachute, at just 23 years old. Sadly, all 27 other passengers and crew died.
Vulović was rescued by Bruno Honke, a woodsman who heard her screaming amid the debris. She spent 16 months in the hospital after emerging from a 27-day coma but eventually made a near-complete recovery and returned to work at JAT's sales office. Though she had no memory of the crash or her rescue, Vesna continued flying as a passenger. She became a Yugoslav national heroine and actively participated in protests for democracy in the 1990s, becoming a role model who is more than needed nowadays. She passed away in Belgrade in 2016 at age 66. Her incredible survival story continues to inspire globally, and she remains a symbol of resilience against all odds, inspiring generations with her courage and extraordinary story of survival.
Vesna Vulović at her new workplace in the JAT sales office on Kralja Milana Street in Belgrade (1976) » Guinness Hall of Fame: Paul McCartney, Vesna Vulović, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Billy Jean King, and Col. Jole Kittinger (1979) » At Tito’s New Year’s Party » Newspaper article about Vesna published in Polish daily - Skrzydlata Polska (1973).
The launch of JAT's intercontinental flights in 1970 brought exciting changes for the cabin crew profession and truly helped make the flight attendant role a highly appealing career choice. Flying on the Boeing 707, the largest aircraft in the fleet at the time, was an unforgettable experience for many crew members who remembered it vividly. The size of the plane, new operational procedures, and the overall picture had a big influence on the crew.
For example, the Boeing 707, especially on those routes over water, carried inflatable life rafts stored along the ceiling of the passenger cabin. These were compact, ready-to-deploy emergency life-saving devices in case of an emergency water landing (ditching). Flights became longer, often during the night, crossing multiple time zones. Departing from snow-covered Belgrade in winter and arriving at tropical destinations took a toll on crew health. On flights to Australia, crews spent a month in Singapore, flying between Singapore and Sydney, which meant being away from their families. In those early years of intercontinental flights, only charter flights operated. JAT didn’t have station managers at all stopover airports, so cabin crew members often took on extra duties, such as arranging accommodations or meals for passengers during delays or cancellations, even providing transportation to hotels, and handling various impossible situations.
In the JAT training center » In New York, on Times Square, 1980s » JAT spokesmodel Ksenija Pavlović-Petrovski, 1973 (middle row, first pics from the left). In 1970, when JAT was set to renew its fleet with modern jet aircraft, out of 170 stewardesses, after intensive observation and consultation, Ksenija was selected to become the company’s first mascot. Ksenija, then a student of Philology at the University of Belgrade, became the public face and symbol of JAT. In the years that followed, she appeared on the covers of domestic and international magazines, her voice was heard on Yugoslav radio stations, and her presence aboard aircraft bearing the YU registration markings attracted the attention, curiosity, and sympathy of passengers. After her flying career, Ksenija continued working in JAT’s Advertising and Public Relations Department until her retirement » JAT crew and brand new DC-9, on the right STWD Sava Vojvodić » Crew before delivery flight of the first JAT DC-10, YU-AMA » Zagreb Airport ground stuff » Ljiljana Petrovska and Slavica Radulović in front of the Boeing 707, 1972 » JAT crew in front of the JAT Green Train in Ljubljana, 1985
On the other hand, flights to distant destinations always carried a certain prestige. Flight attendants had the special opportunity to visit places most citizens of the former Yugoslavia could only dream of; the opportunity to get to know other cultures and peoples, and to purchase items that were not available locally. This made JAT's job advertisements particularly attractive, often drawing more applicants than there were vacant positions.
It’s no surprise that, throughout Yugoslav aviation history, the profession of flight attendant attracted a diverse range of young men and women- many of whom later became well-known or had connections to famous people. For instance, Edvard Broz, Tito's grandson, served as a JAT flight attendant for several years, while his wife, Vera, dedicated her entire career to flying with JAT. Mirko, the son of renowned footballer Blagoja Moše Marjanović, also proudly wore JAT’s blue uniform. There were even children of prominent Yugoslav generals and politicians among them. Interestingly, before her successful career in journalism, Mira Adanja Polak spent six months flying as a flight attendant on both domestic and international routes. Radmila Živković, Miss Yugoslavia 1969/1970, was a familiar face on JAT flights, just like Tamara Raonić, who later became a well-known TV personality. Among them were also flight attendants married to well-known personalities, such as Biljana, the wife of Milovan Ilić Minimaks, and Emilija Jović, the wife of Leo Martin. The current President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, was flying as a flight attendant for Adria Airways and Croatia Airlines while she was a student.
Tamara Raonić - the winner of the competition for the most beautiful JAT flight attendant, 1989 » JAT cabin crew and DC-10 and Boeing 737 during the 1980s
Cover page of the magazine Ilustrovana Politika. At the initiative of the magazine and with the assistance of JAT, which provided the tickets, Irina Magarašević Deng (pictured with her husband) arrived in Belgrade from the Chinese city of Harbin to meet her father’s family for the first time. The moment of arrival at Belgrade Airport » 1987
The mid-1980s are often regarded as the golden age for the flight attendant profession in EX-YU aviation. Working on a DC-10 in the JAT fleet, flying to long-haul destinations, marked a complete shift in the nature of the job and was the dream of every flight attendant. The introduction of the most modern aircraft at the time, the Boeing 737-300, further improved working conditions and brought innovations. According to crew testimonies, whenever JAT’s first 737, YU-AND - with Europe’s first in-flight entertainment system - landed at a foreign airport, it drew the attention of other crews and filled the domestic crew with pride and a smile. They eagerly shared, in every detail, what the new aircraft was capable of. The breakup of Yugoslavia also affected the profession of flight attendants, who over time began flying for foreign airlines as well.
JAT and Jat Airways crew during the 1990s and 2000s
Being a flight attendant today is quite a demanding role. The job involves irregular schedules, long working hours, often pushing close to the legal limit, while managing pressure from both management and passenger sides. Additionally, it means being away from loved ones. A cabin crew member today must simultaneously be a rescuer, firefighter, representative of the airline, ambassador of the country, mother and father, diplomat, social worker, nurse, translator, and much more.
Despite these challenges, flight attendants consistently demonstrate professionalism and warmth, reminding us that aviation is about more than just the size of the fleet, new destinations, or profits - it is about people. As Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić once expressed, he admired flight attendants who “endure to the end of the flight with a smile, even though she knows that something on the plane is not working properly”.
Sources:
JAT inflight magazine: JAT Review and JAT New Review, JAT News
JAT: The story of Yugoslav airlines, Čedomir Janić, Grizelj Jug, Lukač Sergije, 1987
JAT: A seventy-year-long flight, Kovač Lidija, Simišić, Jovo, Janić, Čedomir, Pršić Milutin, 1997
JAT: More Than Flying: eight decades of Aeroput and JAT, Simišić Jovo, Janić Čedomir, 2007
There was once a JAT, Simišić Jovo, 2022, 2025
Memoirs of a Flight Attendant, Milica Lukić, 2000
The Profession of a Flight Attendant - How to Become an Air Hostess, Zoran Modli
Avijatika magazine
Politika newspapers and magazines
Borba newspapers
More EX-YU Aviation vintage features
DC-3 in the JAT fleet - a plane that shaped an era
The complete story of JAT’s iconic Boeing 737 fleet
50 years since the launch of Yugoslavia - Australia flights
50-year throwback: JAT's tour around the world
95 years of Belgrade - Skopje flights
75 years of Belgrade - Zurich flights
Convair 340/440: JAT’s gamechanger aircraft
Sarajevo Airport and the 1984 Winter Olympic Games
Celebrating sixty years of Ljubljana Airport
A century of flying from Belgrade
Sixty years of the jet age and the first Caravelle in Yugoslavia
Sixty years of Belgrade Airport
World's oldest passenger B737-300 in operation turns 35
Great article. Great photos
ReplyDeleteVery informative read. Vesna Vulović - a megastar. I remember being told about her growing up in the 90s in SLO. Also, being a flight attendant really was beyond words, even in the 90s. I remember seeing Nataša Pirc Musar on television (I think she worked for Pop TV back then) and someone mentioned she used to be an FA, and we looked at her like in awe. It really was a prestigious profession but is now, sadly, among many that has been devalued and dehumanised, IMHO.
DeleteVery nice article! Thank you!
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
DeleteEvery morning, I start my day by reading ex yu aviation news, and I always enjoy them. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and emotional pieces published so far. It is truly wonderful content that should be shared everywhere. Thank you for effort
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteCouldn't agree more, 100+ beautiful pics. It's odd that Air Serbia never shared anything about this anniversary vintage features. @admin is it true rumor that you are very strict regarding copyrights, and that is the reason?
DeleteNo
DeleteFantastic article, what a pleasure to read!
ReplyDeleteTruly proud that we have such a history. I could never have imagined that the working conditions were so difficult, yet everyone are smiling, proud. As for Vesna, are there any more words to say, she has been through so muchyl. It's sad she was even fired from her job
ReplyDeleteVesna je prinudno penzionisana nije otpustena, danas to rade i za manje stvari. Imala je mizernu penziju i to za vreme sankcija, ali duhom je bila fanatsticna.
DeleteSvaka cast autoru
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! As a flight attd/Purser myself with Lufthansa I enjoyed very much to read the article and to look at all these fantastic pictures. Despite in the past years it might be hard to work as a Flight attd, for sure it was a very nice way of life and a time to make great memories. As a little boy I dreamed of becoming a flight attendant with JAT, at that time THE Airline and a world class Airline!
ReplyDeleteNow I am in my 33rd year of flying with Lufthansa, and still enjoy every my flight and moment up in the sky!
My dear colleagues on the last picture Nadica, Jelena, Aleksandra, Ivan...❤️❤️❤️ Thank you Veljko ❤️
ReplyDeleteBtw, does anyone know what happened with Nadica or Anica Rakonjac (not sure now) from last pic. She was also later a promotional face of Air Serbia and purser there. She just disappeared
DeleteWonderful article. Many thanks
ReplyDeleteDear Luka, thank you and Mr Marinković for this extraordinary piece! Anyone who trully cherishes aviation knows how crucial and important cabin crew really are.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful article! I am proud to be a son of a JU flight attendant soon to celebrate 40 years of flying for JAT/Air Serbia
ReplyDelete