Air Serbia (JU, Belgrade) is considering several decisions regarding its fleet, according to EX-YU Aviation.
As part of a five-year development plan, the carrier plans to renew its regional fleet of six ATR72s, although it is likely to stick with the type.
"There are a few options we are looking at as part of the five-year plan," CEO Dane Kondic is reported as saying. "We are still wedded to the ATRs as an aircraft type, that's for sure, because the ATR has great economics. It is not as fast as the Dash 8-400 and does not carry as many people but on the short routes that we employ those aircraft the ATR is the perfect aircraft."
In an emailed statement to ch-aviation, an Air Serbia representative said that the airline doesn't have any official statement regarding its ATR fleet.
Under its five-year plan, Kondic says that the airline will also review the potential of its charter subsidiary Aviolet (Belgrade) with an eye to expanding its offering. But Kondic admits that the market is difficult. "There are very few destinations where you can fly the A330 that are going to be appealing to tour operators," Kondic said. "Serbia is a price sensitive market and when we gauged interest for charters to Thailand – which is further to fly to than New York – the economics required to make it break even were too large. Another option we considered was the Caribbean, but that also can't be sustained from a market such as Serbia."
EX-YU Aviation also reports that Air Serbia plans to lease out one of its A319-100s – of which it has eight – in the coming winter season on a short-term basis. The rest of Air Serbia's fleet comprises two A320-200s, one A330-200, and four B737-300s which it deploys on flights throughout Europe as well as destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, USA, and Israel.
