Vintage photos 2025

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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

Click on photo to enlarge

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

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Maribor Airport, 1986. That year, Maribor Airport was served by both Adria Airways and JAT Yugoslav Airlines. Adria maintained a scheduled two weekly service to Sarajevo, as well as two weekly flights to Ljubljana, which had a block time of thirty minutes. Meanwhile, JAT maintained services to Belgrade and Dubrovnik. Both carriers offered onward international connections through their main hubs. Maribor Airport last had scheduled services over seven years ago

Interflug ad for Belgrade and Zagreb flights, 1983. Interflug, the national airline of East Germany, commenced operations to Yugoslavia in the early 1960s. Initially, the carrier operated under the name Deutsche Lufthansa, which led to a legal dispute with West Germany’s Lufthansa over trademark rights. The matter escalated to the point where legal proceedings were initiated before Yugoslav courts, which were considered neutral in the dispute. When it became apparent that the East German airline was likely to lose the case before the Belgrade court, it dissolved Deutsche Lufthansa and re-established itself as Interflug. Following its rebranding, the airline launched services to Belgrade and, at one stage, operated an extensive routing linking Berlin - Belgrade - Algiers - Bamako - Freetown - Conakry. Later in the 1960s, Interflug expanded its Yugoslav network by adding flights to Zagreb and, for several summer seasons, operated services to Dubrovnik via Belgrade. The carrier marketed its services aggressively in Yugoslavia, primarily promoting transfer connections to Africa via East Berlin. By the early 1980s, Interflug further expanded its seasonal presence in the country with flights to Ljubljana and Split

JAT Yugoslav Airlines acquired its first Boeing 707 (YU-AGA) in May 1970 from Pan Am, marking the start of its long-haul routes to North America and Australia and enabling flights to China and beyond, transforming JAT into a major international carrier with these four-engine jets. The acquisition of these B707s, including leased and purchased models, was crucial for JAT's global expansion, allowing for transoceanic travel and significant cargo operations before being phased out for DC-10s later on.

Tail surface of an Aviogenex Tu-134 being cleaned in the 1980s. During the decade, Aviogenex was at the height of its operations, serving as one of Yugoslavia’s leading charter airlines and a key player in the booming leisure market across Europe. Operating flights on behalf of the Yugotours tour operator, it shuttled holidaymakers from Western Europe, especially the UK and Germany, helping drive inbound tourism to Yugoslav resorts. The decade was marked by growing demand, modernisation efforts and a reputation for reliable seasonal services, positioning Aviogenex as an important contributor to the country’s tourism industry and international connectivity

JAT ad for new Boeing 737-300 aircraft. “Now with refreshments and in-flight entertainment”. Each of JAT’s new Boeing 737-300s featured an advanced in-flight entertainment system, including overhead video monitors and an eight-channel audio setup. With this, JAT became the first European carrier to offer IFE on short-haul Euro-Mediterranean routes. Passengers could enjoy short films, safety demonstrations, duty-free shopping presentations, and 15-minute promotional features highlighting Yugoslavia’s tourism attractions. The investment in this pioneering onboard technology amounted to around $190.000 per aircraft. In order to showcase its new features, in September 1985, JAT’s B737 registered YU-AND was promoted at a special event in Paris, organised by Boeing, JAT and CFM/SNECMA engine manufacturer. JAT cabin crew in national costume greeted over 700 visitors from various parts of the aviation sector

PAN AM ad for the Yugoslav market in 1988. “With PAN AM, you expect more and better. You know what you want, and PAN AM always delivers more. For your journey to America, you’ve chosen the experience and top-class service of PAN AM, and that means: an airline ticket paid in dinars to any city in the USA, seat reservations and seat selection at your departure point for all PAN AM flights taking you to your final destination, a special discount for Yugoslav citizens working in West Germany, as well as for their family members. Departures from Belgrade, Dubrovnik and Zagreb. Comfortable, carefree and always on time. Expect more from PAN AM”

The opening of JAT’s new hangar facilities at Belgrade Airport on July 22, 1986. The foundation stone was laid on May 21, 1984, with construction commencing shortly afterwards on August 6. Upon completion, the facility became one of the largest hangars in Europe, spanning 22.500 square metres and supported by an additional 1.350-square-metre energy plant. Standing 22 metres tall and 68 metres wide, its hangar door was also among the continent’s biggest at the time. The hangar was designed to accommodate two Boeing 747s simultaneously, three DC-10s, or up to seven smaller aircraft such as the Boeing 727s, B737-300s or DC-9s. JAT proudly promoted it as “the hangar of its generation”. The facility remains in use today, almost 40 years since its opening, still bearing the original JAT logo above its main entrance

Adria Airways cabin crew in 1988 wearing blue uniforms introduced during the late 1980s as the airline modernised its brand image, by introducing a new logo and livery. That year, the carrier also introduced its first in-flight magazine, named “Welcome onboard”, as it started to shift more prominently towards scheduled services rather than charters. Adria Airways carried 1.74 million passengers in 1987, a record it was unable to surpass in the aftermath of Yugoslavia’s collapse until its bankruptcy in 2019. The record traffic was mostly driven by strong charter demand out of Western Europe, especially Germany, to the Adriatic coast. 1987 is deemed as the most successful year for Yugoslav aviation as a whole

JAT crew that delivered the first B737-300, August 1985. The delivery flight spanned over 12.000 kilometres from Seattle, with fuel stops in Canada and Shannon. For the final sector from Shannon to Belgrade, JAT Captains Radišević and Šajn took over from the Boeing crew, becoming the first Yugoslav crew to operate a “Classic” Boeing 737. The very next day, the aircraft entered revenue service in a striking silver livery, used exclusively by JAT on this type, operating its inaugural commercial flight on the Belgrade - Istanbul - Amman route. Two days later the aircraft operated its first domestic flight, between Belgrade and Podgorica, a promotional service carrying passengers who had won their seats in a special raffle

De-icing at Belgrade Airport, 1986. The Boeing 737-300 on the photo, registered YU-ANI, held the record for being the world’s oldest passenger Boeing 737 series 300 in scheduled service (excluding cargo and military VIP configurations), in 2020. Delivered to JAT in December 1985, it completed its final flight on January 17, 2021, from Stockholm to Belgrade, and remained grounded at Belgrade Airport until 2023, when it was sold to China for training purposes. Later that year, it was dismantled at Tianjin Airport and subsequently moved to Changzhou Aviation Vocational College, where it has been displayed since March 2025

JAT ad for new Baghdad service, November 1 1975. JAT began scheduled service to the Middle East in 1955 with Beirut being its first destination in the region with the routing Belgrade - Istanbul - Beirut. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the airline began growing its Middle East network with the arrival of Boeing 727 aircraft. Baghdad was followed by the introduction of flights to Kuwait City, Amman, Damascus and Dubai. Flights between Yugoslavia and the Middle East catered for a diverse range of passengers. They included the significant number of Yugoslav workers employed on major infrastructure projects across the region, where Yugoslav construction and engineering companies had been contracted to design and build airports, roads, hospitals and industrial complexes. The services were also used by a considerable number of students from the Middle East who pursued higher education in Yugoslavia, as well as by transfer passengers connecting onto JAT’s wider international network. In addition to passenger traffic, these routes carried significant volumes of cargo. For example, the Baghdad service was notable for the large quantities of poultry and other perishable goods transported from Yugoslavia to Iraq

Pristina Airport opened for commercial traffic in 1965, serving as a joint military and civilian facility. The first scheduled services were introduced by JAT Yugoslav Airlines, linking Pristina with Belgrade and Dubrovnik using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Over the following years, domestic connectivity expanded as Inex-Adria Airways and Aviogenex launched operations from the city. In 1984, under a JAT initiative, Pristina Airport was cleared to handle international traffic, marking a milestone with the introduction of the airport’s first nonstop international service - to Zurich, which remains the city’s busiest route to date

Ljubljana Airport, 1980s. Between 1972 and 1982, passenger traffic at Ljubljana Airport more than doubled, rising from 275.460 to 627.931. Cargo volumes followed a similar growth trajectory. At the time, the airport ranked fifth in the country by passenger numbers but was close behind Belgrade and Zagreb in terms of cargo handled. Belgrade was Ljubljana’s most served destination, with over thirty weekly flights, while JAT and Inex Adria maintained connections from Ljubljana to all other Yugoslav capitals. On the international front, the airport offered nonstop services to Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Zurich and New York. It also established itself as a key winter travel hub, with charter operations continuing to provide an important source of revenue. Traffic peaked in 1987 when 886.248 passengers passed through the airport. JAT held a dominant 51% share of the market, while Adria Airways accounted for around 40%, solidifying the two carriers’ leading positions at Ljubljana Airport

"Australia is not far", Qantas ad for Belgrade flights, 1984. The text reads, "Would you like to spend your holiday in Australia, visit relatives and friends, or establish new business contacts? QANTAS is at your service. Today, you can travel from Belgrade to Australia in almost a single day aboard the modern Boeing 747 Jumbo. With sixteen attentive crew members, your journey via Bangkok to Melbourne and Sydney will be both comfortable and enjoyable. Our scheduled flights operate year-round, every week. Best of all, fares from all cities in Yugoslavia to all cities in Australia are payable in Dinars. Welcome aboard!"

Preparing for departure in Belgrade, January, 1986. The aircraft in the photo, registered YU-ANH, was the third Boeing 737-300 to join the JAT fleet in December 1985. ANH was the first 737 that JAT owned, purchased directly from the Boeing Company, with the other two on a ten-year financial lease. The contract included a clause allowing the purchase of the two jets at favourable prices without additional costs, which was later done. YU-ANH would operate for JAT and its Jat Airways successor until 2007. It was the first B737-300 to be retired by the airline. It was used for spare parts until it was scrapped at Belgrade Airport in 2020

Ljubljana Airport, 1988. That year, Adria Airways introduced a new logo and livery. While the aircraft in the background had yet to receive the fresh visual identity, the service vehicles already displayed the updated image. Adria had first selected a new logo and livery in 1983, but the airline was unable to successfully implement the design on its fleet. A second attempt in 1988 proved successful, with the visual identity created by Airbus designer Knut Marsen. Using computerised colour analysis of aerial photographs of Slovenia, Marsen developed two key shades, blue and turquoise green, that became the foundation of the new brand image. The logo itself carried symbolic meaning: the two “A”s at the beginning and end represented mirror images of wings, the “D” symbolised a heart, the “I” a twig and the “R” depicted a linden leaf

JAT’s downtown sales and representative office in Prague in 1978, located on Parizska Street 20. The site of the office is today a Versace store. JAT had offices in over 60 cities across the world, from Algiers to Zurich. Offices were located in 20 cities in Yugoslavia. Internationally, the airline had five offices in the US alone, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Long Beach, the latter used for cooperation with McDonnel Douglas. All international offices were centrally located, while street-side sales offices were designed by the airline’s in-house interior designer. Some of the locations of JAT’s sales offices included Fifth Avenue in New York, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Orchard Road in Singapore, Pitt Street in Sydney, Exhibition Street in Melbourne, Gran Via in Madrid, Via Veneto in Rome, Queen Street in Toronto and Shinbashi in Tokyo to name a few

Zagreb Airport closure notice for runway overhaul, 1974. Zagreb Airport was closed for several months to undergo major reconstruction aimed at preparing it for the new generation of widebody aircraft and growing passenger traffic. During the closure, all flights were mainly diverted to Ljubljana. The works included a complete renovation and strengthening of the runway, expansion of taxiways and the apron to accommodate larger aircraft, as well as upgrades to navigation and safety equipment in line with ICAO standards. When the airport reopened later that year, it was fully capable of handling widebodies such as JAT’s DC-10 which entered into operation the following year, enabling the airline to launch flights between Zagreb and New York

Overhaul of Belgrade Airport's runway, 1979. The runway was extended by 400 metres in 1977, and in 1979 it was modernised and coated with an asphalt layer for the first time, significantly increasing its weight-bearing capacity, giving greater support for the DC-10s and B747s which were serving the airport. At the same time, the new Terminal 2 opened, covering 33.000 square metres and boosting the airport’s capacity to 5.5 million passengers per year, while greatly enhancing the overall travel experience. In the photo, note the construction of the Yugoslav Aviation Museum in the background, adjacent to the control tower

Loading cargo onto a JAT B727, 1975. By 1988, JAT had positioned itself among the world’s top ten carriers by cargo volume growth. The airline focused heavily on transfer cargo, with its New York service seeing around 60% of all cargo capacity routed via Belgrade to the Middle East and vice versa. Thanks to favourable rates, a significant amount of freight from Western Europe was also transferred through JAT to the United States, Africa and Australia. In September 1984, the airline introduced the popular “JAT Express” service, designed for the urgent delivery of small packages directly to recipients’ doors

A new electric aircraft cleaner being being used on an Adria DC-9 in front of the airline’s hangar at Ljubljana Airport, 1987. Adria’s maintenance division traces its routes back to the 1960s, however, it wasn’t until 1977 that the airline built its own hangar facilities at Ljubljana Airport, enabling it to perform in-house heavy maintenance on its growing fleet of DC-9s and, later, MD-80s, Airbus aircraft, and other types. In 2002, it became the first maintenance organisation in Europe to authorised to service Bombardier CRJ aircraft. Adria continued to modernise its maintenance infrastructure, culminating in the opening of an additional large hangar in 2005. In 2010, the division was restructured as Adria Airways Tehnika, a standalone MRO provider, which went on to serve carriers from across Europe while retaining its base at Ljubljana

Yugo cars being loaded onto the DC-10 bound for US market, 1985. In the summer of 1985, Yugo cars, manufactured in Kragujevac, began being exported to the United States in what became known as the "Deal of the Century", the last major commercial agreement between the two countries before Yugoslavia’s collapse. Between 1985 and 1991, nearly 150.000 Yugo vehicles were shipped by air and sea. Priced at just $3.990, it remains the cheapest new car ever sold on the US market. Despite scorn from the American media, the Yugo achieved notable success in the American market, particularly in its early years. Today, around 200 Yugo cars are still registered in the United States

On December 25, 1982, JAT introduced its "Welcome Drink" service on flights to the US, Canada and Australia. This saw a member of the cabin crew don the Yugoslav national dress prior to departure and greet passengers upon boarding, while also serving business class travellers a beverage of their choice prior to take off. Alcoholic beverages served as part of the "Welcome Drink" included spirits produced in Yugoslavia and various types of brandy - Lozovača, Klekovača, Monastirka, Baradaklija and Vinjak. The national costumes were changed once per month, with each month dedicated to one of Yugoslavia's republics

JAT B707 preparing for departure, Belgrade Airport, 1980. JAT’s first Boeing 707, registered YU-AGA, landed in Belgrade on May 19, 1970, enabling the airline to commence long-haul flights. It was leased from Pan Am. That same year, the carrier utilised the aircraft to commence flights to Australia, Canada and the United States. Another two B707s were leased from Pan Am in 1971, with the airline commencing operations to China. A year later, a further two aircraft of the same type joined the fleet, leased from PIA, with both later purchased by JAT. Another two were purchased in 1974. From 1979, the aircraft begun to be replaced by the more advanced DC-10. As it was slowly taken out of service, the airline decided to utilise the B707 for cargo flights. In 1987 the airline sold its last jet of the type (YU-AGI)

Zagreb Airport, 1968. In early 1967, four years after construction began, a new passenger terminal was opened at Zagreb Airport (pictured behind the aircraft) designed by architect Josip Uhlik, while the interior was designed by Bernardo Bernardi. The terminal was valued at 100 million new dinars (32 million German marks), with a further 800.000 spent on utilities, parking lots and work on the surrounding area. This marked the end of the first stage of construction work, as further expansion plans were drafted in September 1967. By 1968, regular scheduled flights were run by local carriers and seven foreign ones, including Lufthansa, Swissair, KLM, Interflug, ČSA and LOT. Air France announced the opening of its own scheduled flight between Paris via Zagreb to Sofia for the following year, and Austrian Airlines started talks over the introduction of flights from Vienna to Belgrade via Zagreb.

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 at 126-130 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 jet entered 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