Serbian flag carrier Jat Airways is seeking a strategic airline partner as it looks to privatise and join a global alliance.
Aeroflot and Air India have been cited as prospective suitors but Jat is playing down the possibility of linking with either. Serbia's new government intends to form closer ties with European Union countries and commercial vice-president Zoran Hudak says this is being reflected in its business policies. "There will be a strategy of privatisation of public enterprises - and one of these is Jat," he says.
Hudak adds that the mechanism for and extent of Jat's privatisation has yet to be determined. Jat Airways deputy commercial vice-president Ilija Todoric says: "We would definitely opt for an airline as a strategic partner because we speak the same language and have common interests."
The political changes in former Yugoslavia demand a different set-up and this, in turn, is linked to potential alliance membership. Jat has ruled out oneworld, opting to concentrate on Star Alliance and SkyTeam with which it has codeshare agreements. "One of the most important things [to be determined] is the way we operate. It can be defined only by getting close to one of the alliances," says Hudak.
The "most important question" connected to the airline's privatisation is the renewal of Jat's fleet of 11 Boeing 737s and four ATRs, says Hudak. Jat expects its future fleet to be geared towards increased frequencies, rather than greater capacity. This could see Jat favouring 70-100 seater jets.
However, Jat is considering re-entering the long-haul market. Tentative plans to serve North America are obstructed by the FAA ban on the launch of services by Serbian carriers.
Source: Airline Business
