Jat Airways, as the region’s oldest air carrier but also as the national air company of a country taking up its central position, deserves to become regional air traffic leader, says Saša Vlaisavljević, whom the Serbian government, named as Jat Airways new CEO on October 31, 2007.

Regarding personnel and information technologies (IT), Jat is fully capable of meeting this challenge head-on, but, according to Jat new director general, backing from the owner - the Serbian government – was also needed.

Defining in such a way commercial aviation strategy in Serbia’s economy as to enable air traffic to generate foreign currency influx from both the main activity (transportation) as well as from the so-called accessory activities (aircraft technical maintenance for third parties, training, etc.); urgent adoption of civil aviation legislation and subordinate regulations harmonized with European standards in this particular area (JAR); acceptance of European Union (EU) initiative for South East European countries to join mutual cooperation in the area of commercial aviation; evolvement of Belgrade as a major transit pivot for all type of transportation – the multimodal transportation project; following positive tendencies in tourist industry development in Serbia and in the region as well as boosting the economy through such possibilities as offered by commercial aviation with a view to making Serbia the agent of advancement in the region constitute the main pre-requisites for Jat Airways regarding its positioning as regional leader.

Saša Vlaisavljević

What does Jat Airways’ position as regional leader imply?

– Commercial aviation in Serbia would be unfolding in keeping with the highest European and world standards of quality, regularity and safety. Overall quality of service would be upgraded continually. Jat aircraft and all its resources would be operating at maximum capacity, while the fleet and infrastructure would be modernized. Improved cooperation would be established between Jat and foreign companies, those in the region in particular. Let me remind you that by introducing the latest electronic networking trends Jat has already become part of the global system and created an image of modernity both at home and abroad.

Scheduled air traffic to Banjaluka was re-established on November 6 this year. What about other plans?

– We plan to intensify the existing scheduled air traffic network with the countries that were part of SFRY: an increase of flight numbers from Ljubljana (to points beyond Belgrade – the Middle East, Dubai..), Skoplje, Sarajevo, Podgorica and Tivat, Banjaluka (to points beyond Belgrade – European destinations, the Middle East, Dubai), as well as from Tirana. We will examine the possibilities for establishing scheduled air traffic with Croatia (initially Pula, and Dubrovnik, too, is planned) and setting up closer commercial cooperation with national air companies of the region. Also, we will enhance scheduled flights to London, Frankfurt... and introduce new scheduled lines to Bucharest, Timisoara, Sofia, Sochi, Minsk, Thessaloniki, Kiev, Madrid, Barcelona, Oslo... Following an in-depth analysis of economic advantages to carry out traffic on our own or in cooperation with other air carriers, we will endeavor to institute closer cooperation with Bulgaria Air on the Belgrade–Sofia line and flights to more remote destinations, code-share cooperation on the Belgrade-Larnaka line and more remote destinations with Cyprus Airways, El AL, and cooperation on the Athens-Tripoli line with Olympic Airlines...

How far has the privatization process of the national air carrier progressed?

– I will make an effort to avert Jat privatization delays. This process must be completed by spring at the latest. We expect Rothschild, the privatization adviser, to submit its proposal soon, or we will not be ready for Europe’s Open Sky due to costly maintenance of the obsolete fleet if privatization is postponed. The privatization process should result in the Company’s financial consolidation and create the conditions to attain Jat’s aforementioned strategic commitments.

Are you considering becoming member of an alliance?

– Jat Airways maintains commercial cooperation at the highest level with members of two alliances in the form of code-share arrangements. Of the total of seven such Jat arrangements, six are with alliance members – two with Star Alliance members (Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines) and four with SkyTeam Alliance (Air France, Alitalia, Aeroflot and ČSA). In addition to code-share cooperation, Jat Airways also cooperates with alliances through special accompanying arrangements enabling us to carry passengers between Belgrade and virtually any point in the world. Talks have already been conducted with the representatives of SkyTeam and Star Alliance, so that Jat is aware of how they operate. Membership in an alliance will to a greater measure depend also on Jat Airways privatization.