Jat Records Increase in Traffic in 2006

In 2006, Jat Airways transported 1,207,712 passengers, 3,556 tonnes of cargo and 689 tonnes of mail. Compared to 2005, the number of passengers rose by 17 percent, the amount of cargo was 4 percent less, and the quantity of mail went up 7 percent. At the same time, the cabin load factor stood at 58 percent, effecting a 2 index rise. Two percent more passengers, 18 percent more cargo and 79 percent mail were transported than had been planned. The cabin load factor was 1.1 index higher than planned, as the overall load factor rose by index 9.2, while block time hours recorded covered 95 percent of the planned levels.

The offer parameters in overall recorded traffic were up 8 percent compared to 2005, while realization indices rose about 11 percent, resulting in increased capacity utilization factors.

As regards traffic with Montenegro, the number of flights was up by 35 percent against the preceding year and the number of passengers by 38 percent. On the Euro-Mediterranean lines, the number of flights rose by 12 percent and the number of passengers by 16 percent. The number of charter flights was stepped up 8 percent over 2005, while the number of passengers dropped by 6 percent.

A total of 20,918 flights were carried out in the course of 2006, a 16-percent increase compared to 2005. The overall traffic plan with Montenegro was exceeded by 12 percent, while results as regards Euro-Mediterranean traffic fell 12 percent short of the plan. As regards charter flights, the plan was exceeded by 89 percent. The B-737-300 fleet exceeded the planned levels by 49 percent, while the plan was not realized to the full on other types of aircraft.

Regularity stood at 92 percent, a 4 index rise against 2005. The most changes occurred in charter traffic, as flights were added for commercial reasons. Considering the impossibility of landing at Nikola Tesla airport in view of the CAT I and II, that is with a landing limit restricted to 550 meters in fog conditions, the number of cancelled and rerouted flights was thus increased as well as the number of bus departures from Niš and Skoplje that carried Jat passengers flying in from around the world.

Flight punctuality in 2006 was 67 percent, effecting a 2 index rise as compared to the preceding year. Excluding 15-minute delays, landing regularity would have stood at 79 percent. Waiting for flights on the preceding lines was the most frequent cause for delays. Punctuality at Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport was 71 percent. The result could have been much better had not the airport due to fog operated under CAT II. The airport was occasionally closed in December, causing drastic disruptions in traffic schedule and thus disturbing Jat air navigation regularity and punctuality.

Last year, the aircraft in Jat fleet recorded a total of 36,391 flight hours, a 14-percent increase on 2005. The average daily flight-hour level for the entire fleet in 2006 was 8:32 hours, which is 22 percent up on the 2005 level. The highest daily levels were achieved on the B-737-300 aircraft – 8 hours 55 minutes, on the ATR-72 – 8 hours 4 minutes, and on the B-737-400 – 7 hours 55 minutes.