Drama in the sky

Close encounter with Air France

Two passenger jets nearly collided over Belgrade on Monday, Serbian air traffic authorities said yesterday. The Directorate for Civil Aviation said an Air France Airbus A318 and an Israeli El-Al Boeing B777 came within 213 meters of each before the French airliner stopped descending under orders from Serbian air controllers. The statement said an investigation has shown that the French jet was on an unauthorized flight course. It said the airliner was instructed to fly at 35.000 feet but was 300 feet further down toward the Israeli jet, which was flying at 34.000 feet.

Asked for its comment on Wednesday, Air France only said that "the pilots reacted to a proximity alert", applying the necessary procedures, and "the flight continued normally." A press official refused to answer questions, including the number of passengers the Airbus was carrying on its flight from Paris to Sofia, Bulgaria. In Israel, an El-Al spokesman Ran Rahav confirmed that Flight 007 from Tel Aviv to New York, carrying 120 passengers, lowered its altitude over Belgrade to avoid an Air France aircraft, which, he said, had been given mistaken instructions by an air traffic controller. "At no time was there a danger to the passengers, the crew or the plane", Rahav said in a statement.

After a swift investigation The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate confirmed that the Air France pilot was at fault. It has been a week of drama in the Serbian skies as 3 emergency landings took place at Belgrade. Two Turkish charter airlines had to make an emergency landing at the Serbian capital after the first reported pressurization problems and the second had an ill passenger on board who was proclaimed dead upon landing. Furthermore an Air Berlin jet also made an emergency landing after one of its passengers was reported ill.

Zagreb surpasses 2 million mark

2 millionth passenger at Zagreb Airport

On December 22, 2009 Zagreb Airport handled its 2 millionth passenger of the year. This number has been reached 20 days later than last year as passenger numbers have declined by almost 6% compared to 2008. The passenger, Haris Alodbašić, who was preparing to board an Air France flight bound for Paris, received a 200 Euro voucher that he can use at the airport’s duty-free shops. Air France also gave the passenger a round-trip ticket for flights between any two of its European destinations.

Zagreb Airport welcomed its 1 millionth passenger this year on July 9, which was 8 days later than last year. The airport management claims, however, that the passenger decline is less than the average being recorded across European airports, which amounts to 7.2%.

Zagreb Airport’s terminal has the capacity to handle 2 million passengers annually. The airport has managed to surpass this number for a second year in a row. In 2008, Zagreb handled 2.192.453 passengers. In passenger terms, Zagreb Airport will once again be in second place when it comes to the EX-YU, behind Belgrade, but ahead of Ljubljana.

Montenegro to set up Niš airline

Montenegro spreads its wings

Montenegro Airlines has given up trying to secure a license to operate flights between the Serbian city of Niš and Zurich. Even though the airline received necessary licenses from Serbian authorise, their Swiss counterparts refused to do the same. Despite this setback, the Montenegrin national carrier will go ahead with the planed 2 weekly Podgorica – Niš service operated by the airline’s Fokker F100. After establishing flights from Niš to Zurich, Montenegro Airlines hoped to commence services between Niš and Paris and Budapest.

Montenegro Airlines is now planning to create an airline which would be registered in Serbia and based at Niš Constantine the Great Airport, using 1 aircraft. The airline already tried to do the same in 2006 when it infamously set up Master Airways in hope of reinstating flights from Niš and Belgrade to Zurich, which it lost rights to when the state union of Serbia and Montenegro dissolved and Montenegro Airlines was considered a foreign airline in Serbia’s skies. In 2009, a Montenegrin court accused the CEO’s of Montenegro Airlines and Master Airways of corruption concerning illegally leased aircraft.

Nevertheless, the city of Niš supports Montenegro Airlines’ future plans. The new airline is expected to be set up by the 2010 summer season which begins in late March. Registering and starting up an airline in Serbia would allow it to operate flights out of Belgrade as well.

Recently, the low cost Italian airline Wind Jet began flights from Forli to Niš. It is the only airline currently serving the airport which has the capacity to handle 100.000 passengers per year.

Mat secures aircraft

Mat Airways will be using former MAT B737-500

The new MAT under the name Mat Airways, headed by the Serbian tour operator Kontiki Travel, will be using the Boeing B737-500 previously operated by Macedonia’s grounded national carrier. Since the airline’s demise the aircraft has been in Belgrade and is now being repainted. The news was revealed last week at the opening of the first Kontiki Travel office in Skopje. Its Macedonian branch is named Kontiki Sky. The initial investment Kontiki has made in Macedonia amounts to 5 million dollars. For the time being, anyone who wishes to travel with this agency from Macedonia will receive free transportation to Belgrade and from there will travel to their desired destination. This will change in late March when Mat Arways is expected to be launched from Skopje. However, the airline must first be granted a license by Macedonia’s Civil Aviation Directorate (ACV). Ironically, the Boeing the new Mat will be using was grounded by the ACV due to security reasons and even after repairs in Belgrade was not given authorisation to fly. Without any new repairs done to the aircraft in the meantime, it will be interesting to see whether the ACV looks the other way.

Mat Arways will not only be taking over the MAT brand and employees but also former CEO Živko Gruevski, who is heading the project from the shadows. Mat Airways will at first offer charter flights to popular holiday destinations in Egypt and Spain. Later it will introduce scheduled flights.

Profit for Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Airport passenger terminal

Dubrovnik Airport is set to end the year with a profit of 2.7 million Euros indicating that the airport has not been financially hit by the global recession. Airport boss Roko Tolić told the Croatian Times that he was "satisfied" with the results, bearing in mind the period of economic decline. He is expecting a 2% rise in passenger numbers next year, mainly due to the opening of the airport's much anticipated new terminal which will make it the largest in Croatia, ahead of Zagreb.

The terminal, whose construction cost amounted to approximately 22 million Euros, is expected to bring the total number of visitors up to almost 1.2 million. Airlines with a strong presence at Dubrovnik Airport include Croatia Airlines, British Airways and easyJet, with the most travellers arriving from Britain. EasyJet has linked Dubrovnik with six European resorts in 2009, while the airport is also in negotiations with Ryanair to open routes.

From January to December this year the airport recorded a 5.6% passenger decline when compared to last year. By December the airport handled 1.091.079 passengers.

Jat sale tops 11.000

Jat’s new campaign a success

Jat’s discounted ticket sale entitled “Europe for all of us” is doing extremely well according to the airline. Serbia’s national carrier has managed to sell 10.613 tickets by December 23. The discounted fares to 19 European destinations amount to 19 Euros (one way with no taxes included). The airline extended the ticket sale and says that its goal is to fill its cabins to the last seat as more discounted fares are available. The current average occupancy index on Jat’s flights amount to 61% although this could increase for the months of December and January due to the promotional fares. The ticket sale began on December 1 when it was officially announced that from December 19 the citizens of Serbia would no longer need visas for travel to Schengen Zone countries. The sale will last until January 12, 2010 or until all available seats are sold.

This late rush of sales could help Jat which has had a bad year in passenger terms. The airline’s passenger numbers decreased on average by 20% each month of this year when compared to 2008. Meanwhile, Serbia’s infrastructure minister announced that the Government will work hard to find the airline a strategic partner in 2010 and will continue to help the airline in its restructuring process. On Thursday it was announced that the airline’s agricultural aviation sector has been separated from the Serbian carrier and will, from now, be controlled directly by the Serbian Government which will, it is believed, decrease the airline’s losses.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Ljubljana, Slovenia

To all frequent visitors and guests marking the holiday today, Merry Christmas!

Sretan Božić

Vesel Božić

Since December 25, 2008 until today there have been a total of 367 news items published here at exyuaviation.blogspot.com

Visit tomorrow for the latest aviation news from the EX-YU!

Ljubljana Airport to close

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport

In April 2010, Slovenia’s largest airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik, will close for 2 weeks as the third and final phase of the airport’s runway redevelopment project will be carried out. The third phase of the project comprises of the reconditioning of the central section of the runway. The overhaul of the runway includes resurfacing the asphalt as well as expanding parts of the taxiways, replacing the lighting system and installing additional cable conduits. The first phase, covering around 800 metres, was concluded on June 25, while the reconditioning of the other section, involving over 1.000 metres of runway, was completed in the early hours of July 15, this year. The final phase is the most time consuming.

Work will begin on April 7 and will be completed by April 21. During this period aircraft will be rerouted to Maribor, which is approximately 100 kilometres north-east from the Slovenian capital. The entire runway upgrade project will cost Ljubljana Airport 9 million Euros. It will be the first time since 1978 that the runway has been upgraded.

The resurfacing of the runway is just one in a line of many projects being carried out or planned for the airport. More about the complete project can be found here.

The mysterious case of Jat’s engine

The cursed Istanbul service

On Sunday evening, a Jat Airways Boeing B737-300 on route from Belgrade to Istanbul made an emergency landing in Sofia after irregularities with one of the aircraft’s engines were noted by the pilot. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Sofia Airport at 19.01, local time. Passengers were later flown to Istanbul. However, over the next 48 hours wide scale media hype pursued, claiming that a piece of the fuselage flew into the engine which caught on fire and exploded mid air.

Yesterday, in Sofia, the aircraft was checked by Lufthansa technicians who concluded that there was no damage to the engine or fuselage. Reportedly, one of the engines produced unusual noise, followed by vibrations.

Serbia’s ministry for infrastructure said that the media has blown the incident out of proportion and that such incidents happen everywhere around world. Jat Airways said that its technical division will also check the entire aircraft in order to find the cause of the noise and vibrations. The airline states its pilot acted in line with protocol. There were a total of 56 passengers on board.

Starting 2010 all engines on Jat’s Boeing B737-300 fleet will be replaced. Only a few months ago one of Jat’s aircraft skidded off the runway at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. It was later concluded that the runway had a dent causing multiple aircraft to skid off it during heavy rain and storms.

InterSky to Pula

Soon in Pula

Bosses at the Austrian airline InterSky have revealed plans for more flights, including some to Croatia. Company CEO Claus Bernatzik said the carrier, based at the airport in neighbouring Friedrichshafen, Germany, planned to offer "around 10% more flights" next summer. He said that would be made possible by "strict management of expenses and an increase in the company’s efficiency”. Bernatzik added that he expects InterSky’s turnover to grow in 2010. Speaking about additions to the schedule, the chief executive said InterSky would offer direct flights from Friedrichshafen to the Croatian city of Pula, Calvi in Corsica and Naples in Italy as of next May.

Pula has seen a big decrease in passenger figures this year. Its numbers have decreased by 20%. The airport’s previous plans to handle over 700.000 passengers in 2010 (beating the 1990 record of 672.000 passengers) seem impossible. The airport handled 300.837 passengers this year (excluding the current month of December).

InterSky operates from Friedrichshafen in Germany with 4 Bombardier Dash 8s. The airline already operates seasonal summer flights to Split.

Meanwhile, Croatia Airlines has launched special flight discounts for the Christmas holidays under the slogan "An ideal amusement …or a gift?" One can purchase round-trip tickets for flights from Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Pula to Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, London, Munich, Paris, Podgorica, Priština, Rome, Sarajevo, Skopje and Zurich with prices starting at 119 Euros (return tickets with taxes included). The largest discount applies only to tickets purchased via the Internet. All other tickets will cost 15 Euros more.

Finally, British Airways travel experts have included Dubrovnik among its top ten destinations in 2010. Dubrovnik comes in at number 6. British Airways operates year round flights from London Gatwick Airport to Dubrovnik.

Rejected

Will the name live on?

Aeromak, Laluna Airlines and Monte Air will not be flying out of Skopje any time soon. The Macedonian Civil Aviation Directorate (ACV) rejected Aeromak’s application for an Air Operators Certificate (AOC), which would have allowed it to commence passenger flights. Whether the Aeromak project (headed by Serbia’s Jat Airways) has been suspended entirely with this set back or whether more applications will be made remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Laluna Airlines and Monte Air have decided not to apply for a license and have axed plans which would see them establish airlines in Macedonia. A Turkish company stood behind the Laluna project while Dubrovnik Airline from Croatia was the mastermind behind Monte Air.

However, one project is on track. The Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki is moving quickly in order to set up Mat Airways. The tour operator raised Mat Airways’ capital by a further 2 million Euros, the Macedonian Central Registry recently announced. Mat Airways will offer charter flights from Macedonia to tourist destinations such as Egypt, Morocco, and Spain’s Tenerife. Flights from Skopje and Ohrid to Belgrade are also planned, Darko Milačić, Kon Tiki Travel owner recently said. Although, the start up airline will soon be facing its biggest challenge – gaining a license from the ACV which has rejected applications from numerous companies since the demise of MAT Macedonian Airlines.

Portorož gets the green light

Soon in Portorož

As reported a few weeks ago here, Serbia’s Jat Airways signed an agreement with the Portorož city authorities that will see the Serbian carrier return to the Slovenian city after a 19 year break. Yesterday, Jat’s first promotional flight to Portorož was diverted to Ljubljana due to strong winds on the Slovenian coast. Nevertheless, a 300.000 Euro deal was signed, which will see all of Jat’s flights to the city subsidised.

Jat will operate flights to Portorož from April 15, 2010, every Thursday and Sunday with the regional ATR72 aircraft. Flights will be operated on a seasonal basis, although they will be extended throughout the winter if there is sufficient demand. Jat’s partners on this new service are Istrabenz Tourism, Bernandin Group, tour operator Kompas, the municipality of Piran, Slovenia’s Tourist Board and the tourism alliance of Croatian Istra. Jat announced that a one way ticket on the new service will set passengers back 30 Euros while a return ticket will amount to 50 Euros (excluding all taxes).

Jat confirmed that flights to Pula in Croatia will continue this summer despite the new service to Portorož. By the 2010 summer season Jat is expected to increase its list of destinations in the region as flights from Niš are expected to resume and flights to Ohrid in Macedonia will also be restarted. Portorož becomes Jat's second destination in Slovenia, after Ljubljana.

Visa free

Passenger numbers expected to rise in 2010

From today the citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro can travel without visas to 29 countries that are part of Europe’s Schengen Zone or those that will soon join. The implications this is having on air travel in the EX-YU region can already be felt.

Midnight fireworks in Belgrade marked the collapse of visa restriction the citizens of Serbia had endured for the past 18 years. Five minutes past midnight Jat Airways’ special flight to Brussels took off carrying 50 exceptional passengers who have never ventured outside of Serbia’s boarders. Recently, Jat launched a ticket sale entitled “Europe for all of us”. A Jat spokeswoman said the airline managed to sell 5.700 tickets on December 1 and 2 when the European Union confirmed that visa restrictions would be lifted. She also stated that the most popular were flights to Paris, Frankfurt, Athens and Vienna. Due to the popularity of the discounted ticket sale, this offer has now been extended on flights to Gothenburg and Larnaca. Late last night, Jat informed that it has managed to sell every single ticket on 11 flights today, all of which are heading towards European cities.

Meanwhile, Niki and airBaltic, which will commence services to Belgrade in the following months, are believed to be a direct cause of the visa liberation. On Friday Greece’s Aegean Airlines began negotiations with Belgrade Airport management and it hopes to begin flights to the Serbian capital on January 1, 2010. Similarly, Wizz Air is in negotiations to base an aircraft in Belgrade although this is believed to happen only if the Serbian Tourism Agency heavily subsidises the flights.

Without much euphoria Montenegro welcomed the visa liberation. Montenegro Airlines will today organise a special promotional flight to Rome and Ljubljana on which exceptional Montenegrins (students, farmers and people suffering economic hardship) will be flown for a 1 day field trip. Montenegro recently began a promotional ticket sale to its European destinations.

Montenegro is currently not served by any low cost airline. Whether the visa liberation will entice low cost carriers to commence services to the country remains to be seen. The Montenegrin Government recently stated that low cost airlines are not interested in starting up flights to Tivat and Podgorica.

Macedonia kicked off celebrations under the slogan “White Day – Macedonia without visas”. In cooperation with the Turkish Corendon Airlines, the Macedonian Government has organised a special charter flight to Paris for 100 people. The passengers will leave for the French capital this evening. Despite the demise of Macedonia’s national carrier, many airlines have increased frequencies to Skopje this year. The main reason for this being MAT’s bankruptcy. However, the visa liberation is projected to heavily increase passenger numbers out of Macedonia next year.

Slovenia is part of Europe’s Schengen Zone while Croatian citizens do not need visas to enter the European Union. Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina now remains the only EX-YU country whose citizens are still required to have visas. However, according to messages from Brussels, this could change mid next year.

UPDATE

Due to heavy snow storms Podgorica Airport has been closed for the entire day. All flights, including those specially chartered to celebrate the end of visa restrictions have been cancelled until further notice.

Low cost assault on Croatia

easyJet to face-off with Croatia Airlines in 2010

Croatia Airlines will be in direct competition with the low cost giant easyJet on its prised seasonal summer flights from Split as well as flights from Dubrovnik. The low cost airline will launch new services from Split to Amsterdam, Basel, Berlin and Rome. It will be competing directly with Croatia Airlines on the Amsterdam – Split service. easyJet will also launch flights from Rome to Dubrovnik, once again being in direct competition with Croatia’s national carrier. Croatia Airlines operated flights from Split to Berlin this summer but the route is uncertain for 2010 with the arrival of easyJet. All of easyJet’s flights will commence in June and July of 2010.

Meanwhile, ČSA Czech Airlines will launch seasonal summer services to Dubrovnik from Prague. The national Czech carrier will operate 2 weekly flights while it will resume services from Prague to Split. Iberia will also make its presence felt in Dubrovnik this summer with the launch of new seasonal flights from Bilbao. The Spanish flag carrier will also resume summer services from Madrid and Valencia to Dubrovnik.

Finally, Ryanair will introduce a new service from Zadar to Oslo-Rygge Airport. Flights will operate twice per week.

Visit tomorrow to read how Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia will benefit from the EU visa liberation

airBaltic to Belgrade

Soon in Belgrade

The national carrier of Latvia, airBaltic will commence services to Belgrade from its Riga base on May 5, 2010. Flights from Riga will operate 4 times per week, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. All flights will be operated by the Boeing B737-500 aircraft. A return ticket from Riga is expected to set passengers back at least 120 Euros, all taxes included. This is the first time the Serbian and Latvian capitals will be connected by a scheduled air service.

airBaltic was initially established by SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Although SAS sold all of its shares in airBaltic earlier this year, both still share a high degree of cooperation. airBaltic also operates out of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. Earlier this year Latvian media suggested that airBaltic is on the brink of bankruptcy and that 2010 will be a do or die year for the airline. Despite this, the airline will post a profit by the end of 2009. The Belgrade service will be launched together with new flights to Madrid and Vaasa in Finland.

All flight details for the above-mentioned service can be found in the new route launches section on the right hand side.

Montenegro cuts prices

Slashing prices ... the Balkan way

Montenegro Airlines, which has been accused by the Montenegrin media for not reacting to the recent news that Montenegrins will be able to travel visa free from December 19, 2009 to countries of the Schengen Zone, has slashed prices on selected routes.

In cooperation with the Montenegrin Government, Montenegro Airlines will organise a special charter flight to Rome on which selected passengers will be travelling. Extraordinary students, notable farmers and those experiencing social hardship will be handpicked by the Government for this flight. The minister for sea, transport and telecommunications, Andrija Lompar, said, “This is a one day field trip to Rome in honour of these exceptional people”. Lompar also advertised the national carrier saying that it will slash prices on selected routes within the Schengen Zone and this way mark the liberation of the visa regime, imposed by the European Union 18 years ago.

Ticket prices for flights to Paris, Ljubljana, Frankfurt, Rome, Vienna, Zurich, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf will amount to 19 Euros. The catch? These are one way tickets excluding all taxes and added fees. For advertising purposes, alike its neighbouring rival, Montenegro Airlines’ ticket prices are hardly promotional when all taxes are included. Thus a return ticket from Podgorica to Frankfurt will cost 180, Ljubljana 194, Rome 168, Paris 214, Vienna 175, Zurich 201, Copenhagen 172 and Dusseldorf 171 Euros.

Belgrade lowers taxes and expands

New apron, busses and taxiways

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is experiencing a renaissance this month with 2 new airlines commencing services and another 3 are expected to start flights in the near future. However, Belgrade’s airport has some of the highest taxes in the region which repel low cost airlines and are added on to the ticket price. Last week, the airport announced that it had lowered its security tax by 25%. "Fifteen months ago when we imposed taxes needed to improve the security of visitors at our airport, we invested 4.5 million Euros. Among the investments, Belgrade Airport bought new X-ray devices", deputy director Velimir Radosavljević told the media who toured the airport’s newly build taxiways and apron. When all of the airport’s taxes are added up now, they amount to 15.3 Euros for flights checking-in at Terminal 1 and 19.8 euros for flights checking-in at Terminal 2.

In addition, two buses for the transportation of passengers from aircraft not parked at the gate have been purchased at the request of budget airlines, Radosavljević added. A completed 55 million Dinar (576.000 Euro) project was also shown off to the media last week. Additional aircraft parking spaces have been constructed and the A platform gates (Terminal 1) and C platform gates (Terminal 2) have been connected via new taxiways.

From January 1, all low cost airlines, charter airlines and all charter flights will be using Terminal 1 while all other full fare airlines and scheduled destinations will use Terminal 2.

New flights across EX-YU

Adria heading to Belgrade

Only a few weeks after Zagreb Airport’s newly named CEO, Tonči Peović, called upon low cost airlines to use Zagreb Airport, Wizz Air has announced that it will begin flights from Dortmund in Germany to the Croatian capital. Wizz Air already operates flights from London to Zagreb and together with Germnwings is the only low cost airline operating out of Zagreb. Flights will begin March 8, 2010. All flight details can be found on the right hand side in the new route launches section.

On Friday evening, Slovenia’s Adria Airways officially announced that it will resume services from Ljubljana to Belgrade on March 1, 2010. Adria will resume services to Belgrade after nearly 20 years of absence. The airline’s representative in Belgrade stated that Adria would operate daily services to the Serbian capital but will seek partnership with Jat Airways on the route.

Meanwhile, for a second time in a row Swiss authorities have rejected Montenegro Airlines the right to begin services from Niš to Zurich by Swiss authorities. Montenegro Airlines has applied for yet another license and now plans to begin services from Niš on January 23, 2010.

Wish list

El Al lays down the terms

El Al Israel Airlines has sent a written letter to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Djukanović, and once again re-affirmed its intent to purchase Montenegro Airlines. The Israeli national carrier compiled a list of terms under which it would buy the Montenegrin carrier. According to Montenegrin media, along with buying Montenegro Airlines, El Al also wants to gain control over Montenegro’s 2 airports - Podgorica and Tivat and manage both of them for the following 10 years. However, the Montenegrin Government would, within those 10 years, continue to finance both of the airports and continue to allocate funds for their development. According to the Montenegrin daily “Vijesti”, the Israeli carrier also wants to be allocated land on which it would build its offices because El Al wishes to make Montenegro its Balkan base.

One of the most explicit demands that El Al has made on its wish list is that it wants the Montenegrin Government to continue funding Montenegro Airlines’ fleet renewal. El Al is interested in purchasing 30% of the airline’s shares, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Any of Montenegro Airlines’ potential buyers will be given only 1 seat on the airline’s board of directors. The 30% of the airline’s shares are estimated to amount to 15 million Euros. Montenegro Airlines would invest the money in its fleet.

El Al Israel Airlines is the national carrier of Israel. It operates to approximately 40 destinations with a fleet of 37 aircraft. Israeli companies have recently begun investing large sums of money in various projects across Montenegro.

Zadar dream run ends

Passenger numbers down

After several consecutive months of substantial growth, in November, Zadar Airport saw a passenger decline. Zadar is not alone as all of Croatia’s major airports reported passenger decreases in November, with the exception of Osijek.

Croatia’s largest airport, Zagreb, saw passenger numbers decrease by 9.7%. It welcomed 145.111 passengers, down by 15.571 passengers when compared to the same period last year. Passengers transiting through Zagreb also continue to shrink, down 73.4% in November. Split reported a passenger decrease of nearly 10%, although the number of aircraft operations from the airport also decreased, somewhat justifying the result. Pula continues loose passengers with numbers falling from 2.114 in November 2008 to 1.647 in November 2009, a 20.8% loss. However, in November Rijeka took over the crown from Pula as Croatia’s biggest looser. The airport saw a passenger decrease of 43.9%. Despite increased operations, November ended Zadar’s dream run as Croatia’s biggest improver. The airport reported a modest 3.8% passenger decline, while aircraft operations increased by 66%, from 260 to 432. Dubrovnik saw passenger numbers slide by 12%.

Croatia’s biggest improver in November, compared to last year, is Osiejk. The airport managed to see a 107.3% passenger increase. The airport handled 199 passengers, up 103 from last November. This result comes despite the fact that the airport reported decreased aircraft operations by 7.8%.

The following table displays the passenger change that airports in Croatia had until December 1, 2009, compared to last year.

Airport	Passengers 2008	Passengers 2009	Change (%)
Zagreb	2.028.474	1.922.417	-5.2
Dubrovnik	1.156.223	1.091.079	-5.6
Pula	379.554	300.837	-20.7
Split	1.142.140	1.052.797	-7.8
Zadar	142.489	193.286	+35.7
Osijek	14.830	20.422	+37.7
Rijeka	108.720	109.902	+1.1

19 years later...

Portorož, Slovenia

On April 15, 2010, after 19 years, Jat Airways will resume scheduled flights from Belgrade to the town of Portorož in Slovenia’s West. The Portorož Tourist Association broke the news yesterday, after months of negotiations with the airline. Jat will operate 2 weekly flights to Portorož, which is located on the Adriatic Sea and is popular with tourists.

Jat Airways will sign a contract with Portorož Airport, local town authorities and the Portorož Tourist Association. It is believed that the association will subsidise the flights for a certain amount of time. All details will be released on December 19, 2009 when a formal contract between all parties involved will be signed. The flights will be operated by the regional ATR72.

Jat first hinted at a resumption of services to Portorož earlier last month. On Wednesday, Slovenia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Žbogar, said, “Soon the closest European sea will be even closer”. Jat’s delegation will arrive in Portorož on December 19 on a special promotional Jat flight. In 2007, talks were initiated to resume services between the two cities.

Portorož becomes Jat’s second destination in Slovenia after Ljubljana. Adria Airways has, according to media sources, applied and received necessary licenses to operate flights to Belgrade although these claims have not been confirmed by the airline itself. More details December 19.

Jat revises 2009 loss

15 million Euro loss

Jat will end the year with a 15 million Euro loss on its balance sheet, 10 million Euros less than expected. Srdjan Radovanović, the airline’s CEO, said that the annual loss was considerably lower than anticipated. “Jat Airways had a 12 million Euro loss for the first 6 months of the year and it was expected that the annual loss would amount to 25 million Euros", Radovanović said. He said that Jat now needs approximately 20 to 32 million Euros for the necessary maintenance of its aging fleet, including an engine overhaul for its Boeing B737 aircraft. The CEO believes that Serbia’s national carrier will end 2010 with a profit.

Recently, Jat launched a tender to find the company which will offer Jat’s passengers free travel insurance for destinations within the European Union. The tender will be closed on January 4 and passengers should enjoy this aminity from the start of the 2010 summer season.

All national carriers within the former Yugoslavia are expected to post an annual loss. The status of Montenegro Airlines’ finances are unknown.

Jat dumps Banja Luka

Jat in Banja Luka ... been there done that

Jat Airways has finally terminated services to the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jat’s off-again on-again flights from Belgrade to Banja Luka were suspended in late October although it was expected that the line was on hiatus and would be resumed in January as was listed in global reservation systems. These have now been removed. Jat has blamed low interest for the closure of this route.

After many years, Serbia’s Jat resumed services to Banja Luka in 2007. Flights were operated by an ATR72 and during 2008 were subsidised by the Government of Republika Srpska, which covered all the losses the airline had on this route that year. Speaking to a Belgrade newspaper, a spokesperson from Jat said that in 2008 the airline carried 2.678 passengers on 170 flights. The average cabin occupancy index on these flights amounted to 26%, meaning that there were approximately 17 passengers on each flight. Results for 2009 are even less impressive. “In October we transported a total of 45 passengers", a Jat spokesperson said. The CEO of Banja Luka Airport said that the airline did not terminate flights due to low interest rather due to the fact that it did not have any available aircraft.

This year Jat suspended flights to Banja Luka for 4 months, however they were resumed. It is not clear whether Jat will resume the service some time in 2010. The suspension poses as a predicament to Jat Airways’ CEO who recently estimated that the airline would carry 50.000 passengers out of Banja Luka in 2010. Ticket prices on this service amounted to 90 Euros.

Belgrade is no more and Banja Luka has been left with 3 weekly flights to Zurich, operated by B&H Airlines. Jat is a supporter of the stalled Sky Srpska project.

Terminal funds fading

Time for an upgrade ... but with what?

Funds set aside for the construction of the much needed new passenger terminal at Zagreb Airport are fast fading, as the airport’s management has been forced to use the assets to pay its own workers.

Speaking to the “Večernji list” newspapers, Tonči Peović, the CEO of Zagreb Airport, said that the 30 million Euros set aside for the construction of the new terminal building are being used to pay salaries for those employed at the airport because Croatia Airlines owes the airport 30 million Kuna (4.1 million Euros). Peović also accused his predecessor, Boško Matković, for increasing employee’s pay checks by 5% during the financial crisis. In order to regulate finances Peović has said that a certain amount of employees will be leaving the airport voluntarily and that salaries will be decreased.

Croatia Airlines has admitted that it owes a significant amount of money to its home base airport but blamed its tardiness on the global financial crisis and promises that all money owed will be repaid. Croatia Airlines is expected to suffer the greatest financial loss by the end of 2009 out of all the national carriers operating across the former Yugoslavia.

The plan for the construction of a second terminal at Zagreb’s Pleso Airport has been in the works for over a decade. The greatest progress was made last year when the winning design for the new terminal was chosen. Only a few months later the project was cancelled due to its high costs. The Croatian Government has promised that a new tender to find the best design for Croatia’s capital city airport will be opened some time during 2010.

Possible return to Podgorica

Podgorica ... take two for B&H

Almost 2 months ago B&H Airlines suspended flights from Sarajevo to Podgorica, only 4 months after they were launched. The airline’s justification for the suspension were poor loads but it has also been revealed that the airline only had a temporary license which expired at the end of the 2009 summer season, in late October. Flights from Sarajevo to Podgorica were resumed after 20 years and the service continued on to Skopje. However, a return ticket between the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on B&H Airlines amounted to over 150 Euros. Flights operated 3 times per week, with the airline’s regional ATR72. The 3 weekly flights to Skopje have also been suspended this winter.

Recently, the Montenegrin aviation authority announced that it has extended B&H Airlines’ flying permit. The license has been extended to January 14, 2010. Soon, a new bilateral air agreement could be signed between the two countries which would regulate air traffic between the neighbours. It remains to be seen if B&H Airlines will give Podgorica a second chance or if Montenegro Airlines would claim the route.

El Al still interested in Montenegro

Interest not waning

The Israeli ambassador to Montenegro, Arthur Cole, has said that the country’s national carrier, El Al Israel Airlines is extremely interested in purchasing the Montenegrin flag carrier. Cole said that El Al is anticipating the launch of tender procedures which would call upon companies to purchase shares in the airline. Cole mentioned that Israel sees Montenegro as a secure destination for investment.

Speaking to the Montenegrin newspaper “Pobjeda”, Cole also mentioned that tourism links between the two countries were set up during the summer of this year when El Al’s charter subsidiary, Sun d’Or International Airlines, began flights from Tel Aviv to Tivat. He believes that a scheduled all year round service between the two countries would be justified.

Meanwhile, the Montenegrin Government has begun tender procedures in order to find a privatisation advisor for Montenegro Airlines. The company that is rewarded the job will have to analyse Montenegro Airlines’ business plan and determine the amount of shares that the airline should sell. The company would also advise the Government on a suitable price for Montenegro Airlines’ sale.

Recently, Montenegro Airlines was named the most punctual airline operating out of Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. Russian aviation authorities awarded Montenegro Airlines for its on time performance since the airline has never had a late arrival or departure from the airport and thus has a 100% on-time record.

Amongst the stars

Adria and Croatia full members in 26 days

Recently, Croatia Airlines celebrated 5 years since it joined Star Alliance, the world’s biggest network of airlines. Croatia Airlines joined as a regional member in 2004 together with Slovenian rival Adria Airways. Due to organisational changes, Star Alliance has decided to discontinue its regional membership club and will welcome Croatia Airlines and Adria as full members on January 1, 2010. The major supporter of Croatia Airlines and its bid to join Star Alliance has been Germany’s Lufthansa, one of the alliance’s founders. Similarly, Lufthansa has supported Adria in its Star Alliance bid.

With Croatia Airlines and Adria included, Star Alliance has a total of 25 members. This will grow to 26 by next week as Brussels Airlines becomes the alliance’s newest members. Together, this group of airlines serve 1.071 airports with 19.534 daily flights. Some have accused Star Alliance for using smaller airlines in order to feed local and regional passengers to bigger players within the alliance.

Mat Airways – a step closer to reality

History

As reported earlier, one of the leading Serbian travel agencies Kon Tiki Travel will set up an airline in neighbouring Macedonia that will fly under the brand name of grounded Macedonian flag carrier MAT. “What we take from MAT is a brand that is already known in Europe and abroad, as well as a part of its experienced personnel. We recognised MAT’s potential, which was crucial for our entry into Macedonia”, Kon Tiki Travel owner, Darko Milačić, said to the Macedonian broadcaster Sitel yesterday. Kon Tiki’s “Mat Airways DOO” will offer charter flights from Macedonia to tourist destinations such as Egypt, Morocco, and Spain’s Tenerife. Flights from Skopje and Ohrid to Belgrade are also planned, Milačić says.

MAT Macedonian Airlines was grounded earlier this year due to its failure to repay more than 20 million Euros in debt. The airline is still to officially declare bankruptcy and its assets are yet to be written off. Kon Tiki Travel has announced a 6.6 million Euro tourism investment in Macedonia, particularly focusing on the lakeside resort of Ohrid. “We plan to open an office in Ohrid, as we see great opportunities there. It is a traditional destination for tourists from Serbia and the region”, Milačić said. Kon Tiki is one of Serbia’s first privately owned tour operators, established in 1990. It is the country’s largest tour and travel operator.

Jat modifies fleet plan

2 Boeing B737-700s for Jat

Jat Airways’ CEO, Srdjan Radovanović, has said that the airline will be receiving 2 new aircraft next year. Although it was originally planned for the airline to receive 1 Boeing B737-700 and 1 Boeing B737-400, the airline has now decided to receive another B737-700 instead of the -400 series. In June 2010, Jat’s lease of its sole Boeing B737-400 will expire. The airline intended to extend the lease but has now decided not to, opting instead for another Boeing B737-700. The -400 series aircraft will leave Jat’s fleet in April 2010. The first Boeing B737-700 will arrive in March 2010, in time for the 2010 summer season.

Speaking to the “Novosti” newspapers, Radovanović also outlined that 7 of the airline’s Boeing B737-300s will get new engines by next summer. Radovanović stated that Jat is not worried by the arrival of low cost airlines to Serbia, instead, established national carriers flying to Belgrade pose more of a threat. With flights from Belgrade, Skopje and Banja Luka, the CEO expects that some 1.5 million passengers will be carried by the airline in 2010 - 1.3 million from Belgrade, 200.000 from Skopje and 50.000 from Banja Luka. Radovanović also mentions that “Jat will be the only airline in the world to offer a complementary taxi service for all passengers with a return ticket to Belgrade”, and expressed his belief that the taxi service, which he estimates will set the airline back 3 million Euros, will attract more passengers. Jat will soon call on businesses to send in their offers, via a public tender, for free travel insurance that Jat’s passengers will receive when travelling to any country within the Schengen Zone.

UPDATE
Latest media reports suggest that the taxi service has been put on hold until further notice as 2 taxi companies have logged a complaint against tender procedures. Once a commission rules on whether the rights of the 2 taxi companies have been infringed, the airline will continue with its free taxi service plan.

New flights from Priština

They take you home

Yesterday, December 1, a newly established low cost airline called Tafa Air, began operations from Priština to the Albanian capital Tirana. The airline will be carrying out services with 2 leased Airbus A320s. Tafa Air will initially connect Priština to Berlin, Neubrandenburg, Dortmund and Friedrichshafen all of which will operate on a daily basis (starting December 5). Flights to Tirana will operate twice per day which will add competition on the line, currently dominated by the Albanian low cost airline Belle Air. Tafa Air also plans to lease 2 Ilyushin IL-76TD freighters "by the start of January" in order to operate charter cargo services from the Balkans to mainly Middle Eastern destinations.

The airline has been set up by Albanian businessman Taf Tafa, who has interests in construction and other sectors. It is financially backed by Albanian and Kosovan businessmen. Ova Sami, an assistant at Tafa Ar told “Flight Global” that Tafa Air aims to extend its network to include Austria and Switzerland, with services to Geneva due to launch next summer. It also aims to begin services to London in summer 2010 and is currently negotiating with several London airports - although not Heathrow, which Sami says is "too expensive". Sami says that fares are being set at a level typically around 30% of those charged by existing carriers for next-day services between Western Europe and Albania. Sami adds that the airline's backers are prepared to accept small margins to facilitate travel for the Albanian and Kosovan diaspora. "The major point of our airline is very simple", he says. "It's an ethnic airline and will be a cheap means for Albanians and Kosovans to travel back and forth to their home".

Meanwhile, Air Berlin which last month began serving Priština from several German and Swiss airports announced that by the end of March its passengers will be able to connect in Dusseldorf to US bound flights with an hour brake. Priština Airport has also notified that ČSA Czech Airlines has put Priština on its list of new markets the airline is considering entering.

Jat returns to Niš

Yet another déjà vu

Just a month after Jat terminated services from the eastern Serbian city of Niš, the national carrier announced its return. Jat’s CEO, Srdjan Radovanović, announced yesterday that the airline will operate flights once per week from Niš to Zurich. Radovanović said, “we terminated flights to Niš because they were unprofitable. However, we have reached an agreement with the city authorities and we will jointly share the risks of this new service. The city of Niš will cover half of the operating costs and Jat would cover the other half. We will look into launching flights to other cities from Niš only if there is a need for them”, Radovanić said.

Montenegro Airlines which hoped to begin flights from Niš to Zurich has been denied the right to do so by Swiss authorities. The airline is also expected to shelve plans for a Podgorica – Niš service.

The resumption date for Jat’s service to Zurich is still unknown, although it has been announced that it will commence before the end of the year. It is expected that flights will operate just after midday every Saturday.

Meanwhile, the citizens of Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia received good news yesterday as the European Union abolished visa restrictions that the 3 countries have endured for the past 18 years. Experts predict a rise in air traffic and passenger numbers in all three countries. Citizens will be able to travel visa free from December 19.