Vintage

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Vintage photos celebrating the rich legacy of the aviation industry in the former Yugoslavia, published by EX-YU Aviation News throughout 2025

Updated each Saturday evening, click on photo to enlarge

Past volumes: 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

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Aviogenex ad, “550.000 foreign tourists in 1985”. In the 1980s, Aviogenex operated an extensive network of charter flights, particularly between Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom, serving the growing demand for holiday travel to the Adriatic coast. The airline maintained regular seasonal services from coastal airports such as Pula, Split, Dubrovnik and Rijeka to key UK cities including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and East Midlands. Using its fleet of Tupolev Tu-134 and Boeing 727 aircraft, Aviogenex became a familiar presence at UK airports during the summer months, contributing significantly to Yugoslavia’s inbound tourism

JAT DC-10 preparing for departure at Belgrade Airport, 1982. By 1990, JAT had the highest utilisation of DC-10 aircraft in Europe. Its fleet of four DC-10s at the time had flown an average of 13.22 hours per day, which was the most ever logged by a European airline. It was in front of Finnair with 12.31 hours. Apart from using the aircraft on its entire long-haul network, JAT also utilised the DC-10s on select short-haul routes, including Baghdad and some European services with high demand, such as the Belgrade - Ljubljana - London route over the winter months

Onboard Aviogenex, 1986. Aviogenex became the preferred charter airline for Yugoslavia’s largest tour operator, Yugotours, expanding its fleet in the 1980s to Boeing 727s and 737s and transporting a record 633.932 passengers, mostly tourists, to the country's coast in 1990. At its peak, the airline had a fleet of ten aircraft

Dubrovnik Airport, 1974. Pan Am operated seasonal charter and scheduled flights to Dubrovnik primarily in the 1970s and 1980s. While not as central to Pan Am’s Eastern European network as Belgrade and Zagreb, Dubrovnik was served during the summer months. Services to Dubrovnik were mainly from New York and sometimes Chicago, often with a stopover in a European hub like Frankfurt, London or Paris, although on occasion operated nonstop as well. Dubrovnik was positioned alongside other upscale destinations like Nice, Venice and Palma de Mallorca in Pan Am's Mediterranean network. The flights operated alongside JAT’s seasonal services between Dubrovnik and New York

JAT’s sales office in downtown Sydney in 1979, located at126–130 Phillip Street, just a short walk from Saint Mary’s Cathedral and around ten minutes from the iconic Sydney Opera House. The airline also maintained a presence in other major Australian cities. In Melbourne, JAT’s first office was located at 500 Collins Street, before relocating in 1977 to a larger space at 124 Exhibition Street in the city’s central business district, staffed by ten employees. In Perth—then Australia’s fifth-most-populous city—JAT operated an office at 111 St. Georges Terrace, in the heart of the city

Inex-Adria crew on DC-9 (YU-AJT) in 1980. To the right is captain and instructor Marjan Vilman, among the initial group of pilots to join the airline in 1962. He piloted Adria’s first new DC9-50 from Long Beach to Ljubljana

“Qantastic”, Qantas ad for Belgrade flights, 1975. Qantas launched flights to Belgrade in 1975 utilising its Boeing 747 aircraft “Queen of the Skies”. It was the first airline to utilise the jumbo jet at Belgrade Airport. Only a handful of European cities, including London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Athens, Rome, Istanbul and Vienna, had an opportunity to handle the mighty 747 arriving from Australia. In addition to marketing Belgrade as its new gateway to Europe, Qantas also offered different stopover excursions to other regions in Yugoslavia, including visits to Sarajevo, Mostar and the Adriatic coast. Qantas ceased operations between Sydney and Belgrade after 12 years of operation in 1987

In the late 1980s, JAT introduced an inter-city bus service between Niš and Belgrade. Departing each morning at 05.15 from the Ambassador Hotel in Niš to Belgrade Airport. The luxury minibus transfer was included in JAT's reservation system and was treated like any other scheduled service. This meant passengers could enjoy newspapers, sandwiches, drinks and desserts on the three-hour drive up the motorway to Belgrade. This service was primarily intended for travellers on JAT's international network who could book the complimentary transfer. Those continuing on domestic flights had to pay an additional fee. The return service from Belgrade departed daily at 20.00 and passengers would be driven to the front door of their home within Niš or to the Ambassador Hotel

Inex-Adria operated a DC-9-33RC (Rapid Change) aircraft, named “Sarajevo”, which was designed to be quickly reconfigured between passenger and cargo configurations. Specifically, the aircraft registered as YU-AHW, and later S5-ABG, had a higher maximum takeoff weight and stronger airframe compared to earlier DC-9-30 models, as well as a large forward cargo door. The aircraft was leased to Macedonia’s Avioimpex in 1995 and withdrawn from use in 2003. It is still grounded in Naples

First JAT B737-300 on the assembly line at Boeing's Renton plant, May 6, 1985. JAT was the second European airline to place an order for the B737-300 and the seventh in the world. It became the first European operator to introduce the type into scheduled service and, at that time, it had at its disposal one of the most modern fleets in the world. JAT's first B737 landed in Belgrade with the registration YU-AND (MSN: 23329) on August 8, 1985. A day later, JAT deployed YU-AND on its first revenue service from Belgrade to Amman via Istanbul, replacing the Boeing 727

"Visit relatives in Australia and New Zealand", JAT ad for new Australia flights, 1975. Following the acquisition of its first Boeing 707, JAT operated its first flights to Australia in June 1970, although solely on a charter basis, with scheduled services commencing in 1975. JAT became one of the few major airlines in the world to operate transoceanic flights, particularly of this length. It would go on to serve scheduled flights to Sydney and Melbourne along with regular annual charters to Perth all the way up until 1991

Passengers disembark an Inex-Adria DC-9 aircraft at Ljubljana Airport in the 1970s. Inex-Adria Airways acquired its first McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 aircraft in 1969. The delivery marked a turning point in the airline’s development, transitioning from older piston-engine aircraft (like the Convair 440 and Douglas DC-6B) to modern jet-powered aircraft. The DC-9s enabled Inex-Adria to expand its charter operations to Western Europe more efficiently and with greater passenger capacity, especially serving the booming Yugoslav Adriatic tourist market. By the early 1970s, the DC-9 had become the backbone of Inex-Adria’s fleet

Passengers disembark a JAT B707 at Singapore's Paya Lebar Airport, 1975. JAT aircraft operating charters to Australia began refuelling in Singapore in 1972 but the first scheduled flights to the city state commenced in 1976. Initially, the carrier utilised its Boeing 707 on the route but would deploy the DC-10 from 1979. Shortly after launching scheduled flights, Singapore became an important forwarding point for JAT cargo destined to Europe, Africa, the Near East, US and Canada. Apart from being used as a stop to Australia, terminator flights to Singapore were introduced too. Furthermore, the airline commenced flights to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur as well

Construction of Tivat Airport’s new control tower and terminal in 1971. The redeveloped facility was opened on September 25, 1971 with the arrival of JAT’s DC-9 aircraft from Belgrade named “Tivat:”. The lavish opening ceremony drew attendees from Tivat, Kotor Bay and neighbouring towns, along with representatives from Montenegro’s social and political organisations, domestic and international airlines, head of the Federal Administration for Civil Aviation of Yugoslavia, members of the press and other distinguished guests. Blažo Jovanović, President of the Constitutional Court of Yugoslavia, had the honour to open the airport by cutting the ribbon

JAT crew, late 1980s. During the 1980s, JAT introduced its famous blue uniform, which would have several variations over the decade. The uniform went on to be named as the world's best at the Paris world cabin crew uniform competition in 1988. It was created by Yugoslav designer Gorica Popesku and manufactured by Tarateks from Bajina Bašta

Loading cargo onto a JAT B727, 1979. By 1986, JAT uplifted 36.038 tons of cargo per year. In addition to carrying imports and exports by Yugoslav companies, the airline also accounted for a notable amount of cargo transferred via Belgrade. The most cargo-heavy transfer routes in the airline’s network were London to Sydney and London to Kuala Lumpur, followed by Milan to Singapore and New York to Warsaw.

Inex-Adria's first DC9-80 on the assembly line in March 1981. In the early 1980s, Inex-Adria ordered five of the extended DC-9 Super 80 series aircraft, called MD-80s, to help further expand its international operations. Inex-Adria received the first 165-seat MD-80, registered YU-AJZ, on June 10, 1981

JAT B727 in front of Rijeka Airport in the 1970s. Rijeka Airport was built within a record time of just two years, featuring a 2.500 metre runway and an apron capable of handling twelve aircraft, while the terminal was designed to process 1.600 passengers per hour. The construction included the excavation of 862.000 cubic metres of land and the installation of 58.300 metres of cables

JAT’s first DC-10 at Long Beach production plant a day prior to its delivery. The aircraft undertook an 11 hour and 20 minute journey to Belgrade on December 12, 1978 where it was welcomed by employees and dignitaries. The aircraft was delivered by captains Slobodan Tanasković and Živko Jerinić. The jetentered scheduled commercial service on December 15, between Belgrade and New York via Zagreb

Following the 1984 Farnborough Airshow, the Dash 8 -100 series embarked on a three-month promotional tour around Europe. A special presentation for aviation stakeholders and the press was held at Ljubljana Airport in October of that year with the aim of securing an order from Inex-Adria, which had earlier that year taken delivery of its first Dash 7s

Loading cargo onto a JAT B707, 1979. JAT ran sizeable cargo operations, which brought it significant revenue. The carrier used two B707s for cargo operations, with a joint capacity to uplift 100.000 tons and later also ran two cargo-only routes – to London and Paris using leased Antonov An-12 aircraft. Yugoslavia’s export-oriented economy also contributed to the success of its cargo division

JAT sales office in downtown Sarajevo. Located in the city’s first highrise building, the Vakufski Tower, commonly referred to as the JAT Tower by locals. It not only featured the airline’s sales office but also boasted a large JAT logo at the top of the 40-metre building. JAT also had another sales office in Sarajevo, at the Holiday Inn Hotel

Inex-Adria 1983 newspaper ad for its new scheduled Ljubljana - Belgrade - Larnaca service (JP934/935). Six years later, on May 22, 1989, the route was the first on which Adria deployed its brand new A320 aircraft

Future JAT crew undergoing training at the JAT school academy. During the 1977/78 academic year, the JAT school academy in Belgrade and JAT flight academy in Vršac welcomed 50 cadet pilots, 90 pilots transitioning to different aircraft types, 20 mechanics, 40 new ground staff, 70 new cabin crew members and 400 cabin crew undergoing recurrent training

Adria Airways' first A320 undergoing painting in April 1989 prior to delivery. The aircraft was the 43rd A320 ever produced, the first A320 in Yugoslavia's register (YU-AOA) and the first A320 powered by new IAE engines

JAT’s flagship sales office in downtown Belgrade. Located in Marshall Tito Street, it was the largest sales office within JAT’s network, employing 145 people. The office had special sales desks for premium, as well as corporate travellers. It was closed in 2013 when Jat Airways was acquired by Etihad Airways

Delivery of JAT's first DC-10 aircraft named "Nikola Tesla" on December 12, 1979. Instead of champagne, the aircraft was welcomed with spring water from Tesla's native Smiljan (pictured), while the act of christening the jet was performed by the best pupil from Smiljan elementary school