Air Serbia has retired its third Airbus A319 aircraft, registered YU-APB. The 22-year-old aircraft left Belgrade yesterday for Teesside, with its last revenue service operated on September 8 from Tivat to Nikola Tesla Airport. Air Serbia initiated a gradual, phased retirement of its A319 fleet last year with the withdrawal of its first aircraft of the type, registered YU-APK. It was followed by the second this June, YU-APD. The flag carrier plans to completely phase out the A319s over a three to five-year period, replacing them with larger A320s and more Embraer E195 jets. All three A319s that have now left the fleet were either 21 or 22 years old. So far this year, the airline has taken delivery of three A320s and one E195. The carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, noted that in addition to the incoming aircraft, it is seeking further capacity for the 2027 summer season.
With the planned arrival of two aircraft, Air Serbia’s in-house Embraer fleet will grow to five, supplemented by four Bulgaria Air E190s wet-leased until the end of the 2027 summer season. Meanwhile, its A320 fleet will increase to seven aircraft.
Commenting on its Embraer fleet earlier this year, Mr Marek previously noted, “There will be a significant number of [E195]-E1 aircraft available on the market. At present, several carriers, including Azul and JetBlue, are phasing out E1 aircraft, while LOT Polish Airlines is set to transition to the A220, creating favourable market availability. For us, this represents an ideal opportunity. This type allows us not only to further increase frequencies, but also to sustain routes year-round. Given the strong seasonality in our network, such aircraft enable us to maintain most destinations during the winter season as well”.
On the A320s, the CEO added, “Introducing more A320s into service is part of Air Serbia’s continuous fleet renewal process. We are gradually replacing older A319 models with these aircraft, increasing the number of available seats and improving operational efficiency. Our goal is to develop the fleet in a long-term and planned manner, adapting its structure to market needs and the company’s future growth. We will continue to rely on Airbus aircraft, most likely the A320ceo, as we expect a number of these units to return to the market over the next few years at favourable prices”.
Replacing the A319 with the A320 makes sense on busier routes, but the Embraer is probably the more important part of this strategy. It should allow Air Serbia to maintain many thinner routes throughout winter.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Routes such as CDG, MAD, BCN, LIS can sustain A320 operations, but routes such as HAM, HAJ, CPH, NCE, GVA need E195s.
DeleteRegional jets should have been the backbone of JU's short haul fleet from the start.
DeleteThe issue is they are lately getting A320s which are the same age as the A319s they are replacing. Fleet renewal should mean more than simply replacing one 20 year old aircraft with another.
DeleteAgree. Start should have been ATR, E195 and A319. And then later introduce A320.
Delete09:29 easy to say, but JU has 'grown' into its network remarkably well over the years. I don't think they have made mistakes this far. They are being financially prudent which is a rare thing in thr world of airlines with close governmental links and makes their progress quite a success.
DeleteJU fleet is improving because they finally have the right team doing their job.
Delete@9.33
DeleteAircraft age alone means very little if maintenance is good. The main benefit of the A320 is the additional capacity, not necessarily that it will be much newer.
The latest A320's have a much better interior compared to the ones leaving the fleet, despite having a similar age.
DeleteSeven A320s and five in-house E195s would be a very solid short-haul fleet. Hopefully, the airline will eventually replace the Bulgaria Air wet leases with its own aircraft as well.
ReplyDelete+ Air Baltic A220s
DeleteThat is the goal. But for that, you need to grow your pilot and cabin crew team. Replacing 8 wet lease aircraft requires at least 100 in house pilots! That's one third of current pilot population at JU. You can't do that overnight..
DeleteWonder if it is going to another operator or it will be scrapped
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the other two?
DeleteAPK scrapped.
DeleteAPD stored.
YU=APD is now OE-IBE. It has been withdrawn from service for the time being.
DeleteThank you. Let's see what happens with this one.
DeleteI hope YU-APB finds another operator rather than being scrapped. 22 years is old but not at the end of an aircraft’s useful life.
DeleteDepends on the number of cycles. If lessor finds out that aircraft is not worth more than the cost of D-check, then it will be scrapped.
DeleteNot bad at all
ReplyDeleteSve što nije CCQ je skupo i nefleksibillno.
ReplyDeleteWhen will those two aircraft come?
ReplyDeleteProbably during the winter.
DeleteWe need A321's.
ReplyDeleteShould be wet-leased during summer.
Delete@09:28 who is we? JU don't. That would be a mistake financially.
DeleteThe E195s are a much better fit for regional routes than the A319 ever was.
ReplyDeleteDon't be so sure. Ejets can not typical Euro carry crates.
DeleteThe fleet is finally starting to look coherent.
ReplyDeleteThe mix of E195s and A320s is ideal for Belgrade. The Embraers can operate thinner regional routes, while the A320s can cover high-demand destinations and peak summer services.
DeleteFleet and network management should be congratulated on the introduction of E95. This was a brilliant move by them. Congrats guys.
ReplyDeleteGiven the number of airline bankruptcies lately, Air Serbia could really pick up some bargains
ReplyDeleteWhat bankruptcies?
DeleteSpirit for starters
DeleteACMI companies have gone bankrupt in recent months.
DeleteNice pic of YU-APB
ReplyDeleteIt was a very photogenic plane.
DeleteHopefully, the cabin condition of the incoming A320s will be improved. Some of the current aircraft have noticeably different interiors, and the passenger experience is inconsistent.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteOn my last flight from Lisbon over the weekend they didn't even have a curtain between business and economy.
DeleteIt's a well known fact that their cabins are not in the best shape, especially on the A330. Maybe they are saving on fabric as part of their sustainability push. lol
DeleteWho cares until is safe, affordable and on time?
DeleteBrand awareness and corporate image do care
DeleteWhy not go for the neo. Many now available after Spirit went bust.
ReplyDeleteBecause the cost would go almost totally to the bottom line.
DeleteOn my last two flights in August A319 was scheduled but with last moment equipment changed to A320, flying with around 110 pax onboard. Not sure how it will work during winter with so much huge gap
ReplyDeletePerhaps the return flight had 150+ pax.
ReplyDeleteFor Air Serbia, Embraer 195 is basically what DC-9-32 was for JAT long ago.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but JAT had 733 and 727
DeleteMoving in the right direction
ReplyDelete