Jat Airways

Infobox Airline
airline =Jat Airways
logo =Jat Airways logo.svg
logo_size =
fleet_size =16
destinations =36
IATA =JU
ICAO =JAT
callsign =JAT
parent =
company_slogan =More than Flying ("Više od letenja") (1994-2007)
The best fly with Jat ("Sve najbolje leti „Jatom“") (2007-)
founded =June 17 1927 as Aeroput
headquarters =
key_people =Saša Vlaisavljević (CEO)
Nenad Petrović (Executive Director)
hubs =Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =Niš Constantine the Great International Airport
frequent_flyer =A Trip More
lounge =Business club at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
alliance =
subsidiaries =
website =http://www.jat.com/

Jat Airways is the national airline of Serbia and the former national carrier of Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade. It operates scheduled domestic, regional and international services to 36 destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, as well as charters and wet leases. Its main base is Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 97 | date= 2007-04-03]

History

Aeroput

The company was founded on 17 June 1927 as Aeroput (Аеропут). Its first international flight was in 1929 between Belgrade and Graz, Austria. [cite web |url=http://www.jat.com/active/sr-latin/home/main_menu/about_us/history.html |author=Jat Airways |title=Istorijat |language=Serbian] In 1937 the expansion of international routes and an increase in passenger numbers enabled Aeroput to acquire the Lockheed Model 10 Electra. Aeroput continued to operate until the Second World War. On 1 April 1947 the name was changed to Jugoslovenski aerotransport - JAT (Југословенски аеротранспорт), then to JAT Yugoslav Airlines and finally to Jat Airways in January 2003. [cite web |url=http://www.jat.com/active/sr-latin/home/main_menu/about_us/history.html |author=jatairways.com |title=Aeroput Istorijat |language=Serbian]

The founding of Yugoslav Airlines

In 1946 it was apparent that, due to the nature of its tasks, the Air Force would not be able to become involved in the evolution of civil aviation in Yugoslavia. Consequently, preparations were made to establish an air transport company. Three C-47 military transport planes and 3 three engine Junkers Ju 52 (capturedduring the war) were flown to Czechoslovakia to be refitted. Along with an overhaul they were fitted with seats and converted into passenger aircraft. The name chosen was "Jugoslovenski aerotransport" (Yugoslav Airlines).

In 1949, Yugoslavia was faced with a dire international position: isolated both by the West and the East. This caused further rationing of fuel, difficulties in procuring spare parts and the cancellation of all flights to Eastern European destinations. JAT was forced to survive on 6 domestic lines. When Yugoslavia turned to the West, an agreement was made with Swissair to open the Belgrade-Zürich route, which was inaugurated on August 24, 1949. Company stagnation marked the operations in 1949, because the traffic volume was well below fleet potentials and transport needs in the country. However, 1950 was in many ways a tuming point. Douglas DC-6B were bought for long-haul routes, and Convair CV-340 and Convair CV-440 Metropolitan aircraft for short-haul routes. Multiple international and domestic routes were opened.

The jet age

In 1963, the first Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 6-N jet aircraft joined Jat. In 1969 the first McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 (of 16) arrived and in 1974 the first two (of 9) Boeing 727-200 aircraft arrived.cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3463739/?searchid=3463739&s=jat#ID3463739 |author=jatairways.com (old website - no longer available) |title=JAT: 80 Years ]

Long-haul routes to North America, Australia and the Far East were flown by Boeing 707s, introduced in 1970. In 1978 a wide body McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 (which was chosen over the Boeing 747-200) was purchased to succeed the Boeing 707s on the longer-haul routes, although the 707s stayed in service into the 1980s on ad hoc charters and as scheduled-flight replacement aircraft. Purchase of the DC-10-30 wide-body aircraft was followed several years later by the purchase of a medium-range aircraft.src]

In 1985 Jat was the first European airline to purchase Boeing 737-300s. During those years the company carried 5 million passengers annually and served 80 destinations on five continents (19 domestic, 45 medium haul and 16 long haul routes). Jat also constructed a large hangar to accommodate wide-body aircraft and a jet-engine test stand.

The downfall

In 1992 the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia broke up and the Yugoslav wars started. As the national carrier of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and disintegrated by the civil war, JAT was forced to stop all domestic services. Resolution No. 757 passed by UN Security Council on May 20, 1992 resulted in economic sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro. For the first time since World War II, international transport was forcibly terminated. This was preceded by the decisions of Germany and Italy to interrupt any traffic with Yugoslavia: on December 21, 1991 - Germany (the largest JAT market in Europe with 7 flights daily and 40 million German marks gross annual profit), followed by Italy on January 10, 1992. The US introduced the embargo on air traffic with Yugoslavia on May 2, 1992: the last JAT flights to America were to Chicago and New York. That day JAT management decided to re-route North American long-range flights to Canada. However, Canada immediately copied the actions of the USA and traffic across the Atlantic was interrupted.

During that time JAT operated only domestic services, between Belgrade, Podgorica, Tivat, Niš, Priština and for a very short time Užice-Ponikve Airport (many of these were money losing destinations). Finally, in 1994, Jat resumed some of its international services, with aircraft in a new livery (after EU lifted the air embargo). In 1998 Jat ordered 8 Airbus A319, this was seen as a political stunt by the president. The original delivery date was June 2000 but this date has been postponed until a total of $23.5 million is paid off to Airbus while Jat is hoping to divert the deal to another airline. Soon after all flights were cancelled as Europe introduced a new ban and Yugoslavia was bombed for 78 days.src]

In April 2000 director general Žika Petrović (Жика Петровић) was killed in a mafia-style execution, in front of his family home in Belgrade.src] The murder is suspected to have been ordered by Slobodan Milošević who had major disagreements with Petrović about how to run the airline.

At beginning of 2007 Jat Airways is negotiating with Airbus in order to change the deal (6 Airbus A319 and 2 Airbus A318 instead of 8 Airbus A319). [http://www.glas-javnosti.co.yu/clanak/glas-javnosti-08-01-2008/jat-zaledio-kupovinu-aviona-kamate-rastu "Jat" zaledio kupovinu aviona, kamate rastu | Glas javnosti, www.glas-javnosti.co.yu ] (Serbian).]

Jat Airways

After the October 5 regime overthrow in 2000, FR Yugoslavia was accepted back into international organisations and sanctions were dropped. Jat was given the rights to fly across the continents. To celebrate the move that coincided with the country restructuring from FR Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslav Airlines modified its name to Jat Airways on August 8, 2003. Jat Airways started flights across Europe, Asia and Africa. Jat sold its last McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 with the registration YU-AMB on June 24, 2005 to Nîmes, France based company. During 2005 the company also phased out all 727 and DC-9 aircraft from its routes. The last airworthy McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 with the registration YU-AJK is leased to the United Arab Emirates company Eastern SkyJets. The DC-9s were to be replaced with 2 leased CRJ-700 aircraft. The aircraft were scheduled to arrive at the end of 2006, but did not, because government representatives did not want to sign the documents.

The company had plans to restart long-haul operations to North America (New York, Toronto, Montreal and Chicago) in June 2005 with two Boeing 767-200ER aircraft that it had planned to lease, but these plans have been postponed and changed. Jat then intended to re-start the flights to New York in May 2006 and Toronto in June 2006 with a leased Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, but were never given rights to fly to the destinations. Jat has since received the rights to fly to Canada.

Jat Airways is not a member of any alliances or partnerships but does codeshare on some routes with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Aeroflot, B&H Airlines and Czech Airlines. Jat Airways also has agreements with Emirates Airline on flights to and from Australia. Jat Airways has recently launched a campaign to join SkyTeam airline alliance, with Air France and Alitalia as a major sponsor of their campaign.

Jat Airways introduced its online booking system in September 2006 and electronic tickets on April 2007. Jat Airways celebrated 80 years of service on June 17, 2007. In 2007 the airline received an award as one of the five best brands from Serbia. It also received an award for its advertisements celebrating 80 years of service. [http://www.jat.com/system/en/home/newsplus/viewsingle/_params/newsplus_news_id/19163.html Jat Airways - Home ] ] On July 3, 2008 the Serbian national carrier restabilised air links with Croatia after a 17 year absence. The flights operated from Belgrade to Pula will last throughout the tourist summer season until August 31, 2008. [http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=04&nav_id=301891 Jat od 3. jula leti za Pulu | b92.net ] (Serbian).]

Failed privatization

Due to competition in the Serbian market, the Serbian Government (Jat Airways owner) considered privatization as an option for future development of the airline. [cite web |url=http://www.novosti.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=5&status=jedna&vest=129966&datum=2008-10-08 |author=Večernje novosti |title=Jat ide za dve godine |language=Serbian]

On May 25, 2007, Velimir Ilić, Minister of infrastructure said that Russia's Aeroflot has so far made the most concrete offer for the purchase of a portion of Jat Airways. Aeroflot offered to keep all Jat Airways employees, settle any debts and buy new airplanes for regional routes. [cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/economy-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=05&dd=25&nav_id=41393 |author=B92.net |title=Aeroflot interested in Jat Airways ]

Reports claimed that Aeroflot was prepared to invest USD 450 million in Serbia's Jat Airways. Aeroflot also has interest to commence international flights from some other domestic and international airports in Serbia. The delegation of Icelandair visited Belgrade as they were also interested in privatization of Jat Airways.Also interested in privatization of Jat Airways were Air India, Air Berlin and Air One.

In September 2007 the technical consulting and joint bid by: Rothschild & CIE, Clyde & CO LLP, Citadel financial advisory, Aviation Economics and Dekonta became Jat Airways’ financial advisors. They monitored and suggested the best privatization offer. On January 16, 2008 it was announced that the government of Serbia will sell 51% of shares. [http://www.pregled.co.yu/naslovna_strana.php?vest=2720 Privredni pregled-Tender za Jat do aprila ] ] On July 31, 2008 the tender for the sale was announced. Investors were able to submit offers for buying a minimum of 51% and a maximum of 70% of shares. Companies participating in the purchase had to provide an Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Interested investors were be given a deadline of nearly two months, until the end of September, for submitting binding offers. The starting price for the airlines 51% share was 51 million Euros, decreased from the earlier announced 150 million in order to increase interest. [cite web |url=http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/2008/07/jat-airways-privatisation-tender-starts.html |author=exyuaviation.blogspot.com|title=Jat Airways privatisation: Tender starts - 51 million Euro starting price ]

On September 30, 2008 it was announced that no company had sent in an offer for Jat Airways and as a result the company would not be privatised. It was announced that the Serbian government would remain the sole owner of the airline with added investment, restructuring and modernisation. [cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=30&nav_id=321315 |author=b92.net|title=Bez privatizacije Jat Ervejza|language=Serbian]

The airline is wholly owned by the Government of Serbia and has 1,838 employees.

Liveries

Yugoslav Airlines

When the name Yugoslav Airlines first appeared on aircraft in 1950 the airline had a simple, mainly white livery. During these years there was a Yugoslav flag on the tail, and on the body the words Yugoslav Airlines. Shortly afterwards the airline changed its livery, when the word on the tail section with a red shaped egg on the tail in which JAT was written in white colours. The rest of the tail was blue, with Yugoslav Airlines written on the fuselage in red. There were variations of this livery during the 60s, 70s and 80s. The biggest change in this period was when the first Boeing 737-300 aircraft arrived with a silver body.

JAT Yugoslav Airlines

As the 1990s approached, Jat changed the look of the aircraft again. All aircraft were repainted, with the tail section receiving a flame-like blue, white and red colour - the colours of the Yugoslav flag. For the first time the word JAT was written oncraft, in block blue letters along with Jugoslovenski Aero Transport, which were written in silver italics. Later, the livery was modified, with the Jugoslovenski Aero Transport tiles changed to small blue block Yugoslav Airlines tiles. The remaining DC-10 had Yugoslav Airlines tiles written in italics on the fuselage with silver colour. The logo also changed from the egg to the flame.

Jat Airways

In 2003, the airline changed its name to Jat Airways. [http://www.b92.net/info/komentari.php?nav_id=103911 B92 - Komentari - Jugoslovenski aerotransport postao JAT ervejz - Internet, Radio i TV stanica; najnovije vesti iz Srbije ] ] A national competition was held to design the new logo and livery. The winning design had 3 dots on the tail: blue, red and blue. The fuselage of the aircraft had a large Jat Airways written on it, with Jat in red and Airways in blue. The new logo was the name Jat Airways written with 3 dots in blue, red and blue following it. Jat Airways painted only one aircraft in these colours, a Boeing 737-300 with the registration YU-ANJ.

Jat started painting its aircraft all white and in 2006, most aircraft were white with a small Jat Airways logo. In December 2006 the airline decided to return to its dot livery. By August 2007 all aircraft have been painted. The livery is slightly different than the previous dot livery. It has the dots on the tail, but the small jat titles remain rather than the big Jat Airways logo across the fueselage.

Destinations

During the summer season, March 30, 2008 - October 25, 2008, Jat Airways flies 212 flights a week to 36 scheduled international destinations (as of July 2008). [http://www.airport-belgrade.co.yu/code/navigate.php?Id=6 www.beg.aero | Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd | Saopštenja Aerodroma ] ]

The airline is planning an expansion of its network during 2008 and 2009. The airline in its 2008 plans included Thessaloniki and Oslo which commenced in June that year and Pula in July. [http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=04&nav_id=301891 Jat od 3. jula leti za Pulu | b92.net ] (Serbian).]

The following are the planned destinations that the carrier has considered to commence in the near future: [http://www.jat.com/active/en/home/main_menu/about_us/management_v01/interviju.html Jat Airways - New Positioning of Jat ] ] [http://www.blic.co.yu/drustvo.php?id=25408 Blic Online | Društvo | "Jat" uvodi letove za Pulu, Solun i Oslo ] ]

* Barcelona
* Bratislava
* Bucharest
* Budapest
* Geneva
* Hamburg
* Helsinki
* Kiev
* Lisbon
* Madrid
* Minsk
* Portorož
* Sochi
* Sofia
* St. Petersburg
* Timişoara
* Warsaw

ervices

Jat Catering

Jat Catering provides catering services for Jat Airways. Jat Catering was once part of the Jat Corporation but became independent in 2005. It has strong ties with Jat and uses the Jat Airways logo. Jat Catering offices and kitchens are situated in the industrial area of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.

Jat Catering has provided catering services for the 2005 European Basketball Championships in Belgrade. It also offers catering for the following airlines when flying from Belgrade:
* Aeroflot
* Air France
* Jat Airways
* Olympic Airlines
* Swiss International Air LinesFor commercial airlines the company also makes special meals for vegetarians, toddlers and vegans.

On board

Jat Airways aircraft have two classes. In the Boeing aircraft, Jat has a business-class section and an economy-class section. On ATR-72 aircraft, the airline offers a one class all economy configuration with the business class section, which used to be located in the back removed in mid 2008. Every passenger gets a complimentary copy of Jat’s in-flight magazine “Jat Airways Review”. All drinks, food and duty-free items are available during flight.

*Jat Economy ClassIncludes copy of Jat Airways Review Magazine, cloth seats with limited reclining capabilities, and stowaway tray tables.
*Jat Business Class Includes copy of Jat Airways Review Magazine, large black leather seats with limited reclining capabilities, and stowaway tray tables.

Frequent Flyer

"A Trip More" is the name of the Jat Airways Frequent Flyer Programme. If passengers fly with Jat on five return or ten one-way international flights in a twelve-month period passengers will gain a free round-trip flight with the ability to make a reservation.

Jat Airways passengers who are participating in the Lufthansa programme "Miles & More" can earn miles flying Jat Airways on select routes between Serbia and Germany.

Charters

Jat Airways organizes individual and group charter flights on all types of Jat Airways aircraft, both domestic and international. The users of this service include tourist agencies, sports teams and fans, artistic groups and ensembles, as well as participants of congresses and fairs. Most charters take place during the summer to the Greek, Turkish, Egyptian, Tunisian, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese holiday resorts.

Freight

Jat Airways offers cargo services on all destinations in its network with special cargo only flights to Podgorica and Tivat in Montenegro (due to high demand). However Jat also operates these two cities as passenger flights.

Jat Tehnika

Although a separate company from Jat Airways, Jat Tehnika is a services and maintenance company for Jat's fleet and other airplanes used by regional carriers, like CSA Czech Airlines and Transaero.

Fleet

The Jat Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of September 2008):

ee also

* Aeroput
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=http://www.samoloty.ow.pl/str372.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAeroput%2BMMS.3%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG Aeroput MMS-3] (passenger aircraft made by Aeroput in 1935)
* Air Yugoslavia

References

External links

* [http://www.jat.com/active/en/home.html Jat Airways] en icon
* [http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/JAT-Yugoslav-Airlines JAT Yugoslav Airlines - Details and Fleet History]