Gov't increases stake in Air Serbia through recapitalisation

Air Serbia eyes up to six E-Jets for Summer 2024

Air Serbia (JU, Belgrade) is planning to grow its cooperation with Greece's Marathon Airlines (O8, Athens) and wet-lease up to six Embraer regional jets from the carrier during the Summer 2024 season, according to its chief executive.

"It's not a typical wet lease, it's a growing partnership towards a capacity purchase agreement. At the moment, we're targeting five to six units for next summer. That depends very much on how Marathon will be able to source aircraft," Jiri Marek told Aviation Week.

The Serbian carrier is currently wet-leasing one E175, one E190, and two E195s from the Greek carrier. The E175 is an interim solution pending the delivery of another E195 by the end of the year. A fourth E195 will be delivered in early 2024. The aircraft are filling the capacity gap between Air Serbia's 70-72-seat ATR72-600s and 144-seat A319-100s. Marek stressed that as a hub carrier, Air Serbia is focused on growing frequencies rather than adding capacity to existing services, a role for which the...

Belgrade retakes full control of Air Serbia as Etihad exits

The state of Serbia will acquire the stake in its flag carrier Air Serbia (JU, Belgrade) held by Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International), the country’s finance minister, Sinisa Mali, revealed during a news conference, allowing it to take full ownership of the airline.

“From a company that was in bankruptcy, we turned it into a leader that now flies on four continents, in a large number of countries, and we have become an example of how, through a successful airline, you can further contribute to the economic development of your country,” Mali exclaimed. “All necessary paperwork will be completed [on November 13],” he added without giving further details about the transaction.

However, he described the move as “their business decision”. The state now intends to further develop Air Serbia, he said, and “next will be the procurement of large aircraft, the opening up of new destinations.”

The United Arab Emirates airline will quit its co-ownership by selling its remaining 18% share. It bought a 49% stake in loss-making flag carrier Jat...

Romania's Dan Air to deploy A319 on scheduled ops

Air Serbia wet-leases two more A320s, four in summer 2024