IGOR SALINGER / BELGRADE
The Serbian Government has started a search for a new chief executive for state-owned JAT Yugoslav Airlines.
JAT president Miroslav Stefanovic told the Belgrade newspaper Vecernje Novosti that the international recruitment effort will enable the most highly qualified candidate to be recruited.
Hitting out at the present management, Stefanovic is quoted in the media as saying: "Unfortunately, the team that is temporarily managing JAT has no clear idea how to do it into the future". Stefanovic alleged that "crime and corruption" continued within JAT and "financial inspectors are already undertaking an internal investigation." He said losses last year amounted to $17 million.
Acting chief executive Dusan Kostic denies the accusations, saying that although current state of JAT is not ideal, the airline made a $30 million profit in hard currency last year. The 944 million Yugoslav Dinars loss was due to a massive drop in exchange rates.
Source: Flight International
