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.
DeleteWell one still has the Wizz Air interior
DeleteThey don't have to have the exact same seat but they could upholster them all the same so there is some cabin commonality.
DeleteI flew on YU-APA recently and the cabin interior is really bad. I don't think they did anything since they refurbished it.
DeleteSure they don't. It's not their plane, its just leased. Lesor doesn't allow any changes. And who on earth cares about cabin commonality? Most of the passengers fly Air Serbia once or twice per year. They don't even remember cabin colours and layout.
DeleteLesors do allow changes. All initial JU A319's and A320's had a cabin refresh when removing the dedicated business class cabins in 2017. YU-ARB does not have the SU cabin configuration. YU-ARD and -ARE have had their upholstery changed the past winter. YU-APO also had the Vistara cabin removed as it came with a proper business class cabin unlike the Euro business cabin at JU.
DeleteSure, if you are ready to pay for it and put it back at the end of leasing period
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
ReplyDeleteThe A319 may be leaving, but replacing it with second-hand A320ceos is hardly a revolutionary fleet renewal programme.
DeleteNot every airline needs brand-new aircraft. If these A320s are available at attractive rates and remain reliable, they can be a sensible investment.
DeleteSve što nije CCQ je skupo i nefleksibillno.
ReplyDelete?
DeleteWhen 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.
DeleteActually JU does need A321 during summer. Primarily for charters to Antalya.
DeleteAnd where to for the other 8 months of the year? More A320's make alot more sense.
DeleteRead the comment once again. I said WET-LEASED DURING SUMMER.
DeleteWet-lease one or two A321s from 1.6. to 31.8. and use it for charters to Antalya primarily. So there is no "other 8 months of the year".
Wet leasing an A321 during summer peak months, while every tour agency is trying to rent one? That must be a financially sane decision. Year-long the A321 could sustain operations to Russia for sure.
DeleteWell SPU can handle the A321. They can't grow past 6 weekly and they have no problem filling an A320.
DeleteThey can always add second daily to SPU on some days. Better have more frequencies than more capacity.
DeleteA321 makes sense only when they already have more than daily frequencies, so that connections are not hurt.
They need SPU in the midday wave.
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.
DeleteTo get Spirit planes is probably too expensive because they would have to retrofit them. The pitch is terrible, and the tray tables are the size of the palm of a hand. I don't think even Air Serbia could pass that off to passengers.
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
DeletePassengers care
Delete^ in the Balkans very few do.
DeleteAha is that why Wizz Air has immaculate cabins? They might be an LCC but their cabins are good and always in perfect condition.
DeleteOnly cabin guy cares. In every thread
DeleteWhy not go for the neo. Many now available after Spirit went bust.
ReplyDeleteBecause the cost would go almost totally to the bottom line.
DeleteA320neos are expensive. Air Serbia can probably lease several A320ceos for the price of a single newer aircraft, which is important while the airline is expanding quickly.
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
ReplyDeleteA320 isn't much more expensive to fly around than A319.
DeletePerhaps the return flight had 150+ pax.
ReplyDeleteLol sure, that's why it was a lady minute swap
Delete^ yes this is often the case. Especially with airline relying on transfer passengers . You LOLing about it says a lot about you.
DeleteNo, it's not the case because sales are tied to the plane in the system. That means that when it's a last minute swap sales were suited for an A319, not A320. So I think your comment says more about you and how little you know.
DeleteFor Air Serbia, Embraer 195 is basically what DC-9-32 was for JAT long ago.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but JAT had 733 and 727
Delete727 is A320, 737 was envisaged as the replacement for DC9.
Delete737 had same capacity as A319
DeleteActually no. Jat had a dedicated business class product so the B733 had 126 seats. Same as the old A319s when they had a special business class cabin. Current A319s have 144 seats.
DeleteMoving in the right direction
ReplyDeleteI wonder which A319 will be next to leave. The remaining examples are not getting any younger, although some appear to be in better condition than others.
ReplyDeleteAPC is the logical one to be retired next.
DeleteAPA, APE, APF are owned.
APL, APM, APN are younger, and they will fly for 5 years more for sure.
I know they won't do it but YU-APC should be placed in the museum. It's a plane which market a major turnaround moment in Serbian aviation history.
DeleteMarked, sorry typo.
DeleteWell it was a first aircraft in Air Serbia's fleet, but why would that mean it deserves to go in museum?
DeleteI flew on that plane last Saturday. The cabin interior looks better than that of the planes that joined the fleet later.
DeleteThree A320s and an E195 delivered in one year is a significant fleet expansion for an airline of Air Serbia's size.
ReplyDeleteActually 4 A320s and 2 Embraers by the end of the year.
DeleteA mix of 7 A319s and 7 A320s is a good one, so there is a proper place for every 30 or so extra passengers going from 72 to 180
Yes but they retired three A319s at the same time.
DeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteIncreasing capacity with A320s is fine during summer, but filling those additional seats between November and March could be more challenging.
ReplyDeleteIs there any timeline when they will actually finally order new planes?
ReplyDeleteThere is no need for the new planes. They are way smarter than do that mistake .
DeleteSo what is next in terms of the A319? How many are expected to be retired next year?
ReplyDeleteIt seems Air Serbia is building its fleet around whatever is available at favourable prices rather than selecting one long-term replacement type.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia does care how much it pays aircraft. Unlike Croatia Airlines with their "bright and shiny" aircraft.
DeleteMaybe they can extend the Air Bulgaria lease next year.
ReplyDeleteMust say that these aircraft do a fantastic job and are at the right place at the right time.
Perfect replacement for intraeuropean routes for which atrs would take to long time.
But also for upgrading atr routes.
They will most likely. However, that depends also on Bulgaria Air if they are going to continue with ACMI business.
DeleteIf they wont continue ACMI business they can just sell those planes to JU.
DeleteI guess these Embraers would be dirt cheap.
The question is how old those aircraft are and how many cycles they have left.
DeleteReplacing old planes with old planes… the strategy.
ReplyDeleteand remaining profitable.
DeleteNot just profitable but growing, both airline and hub airport. As opposed to example from the neighbourhood where new planes didn't bring profit to OU and where ZAG hub airport recorded decline during both Jul and Aug peak months.
Delete