Aviogenex rises from the dead

Aviogenex returns

Aviogenex, once Yugoslavia’s largest charter airline, has restarted operations after almost 10 years of limbo. The charter carrier, which in 1990 had 5 Boeing B727s and 5 B737-200s, has restarted operations with a single B737-200 from Belgrade on Monday. The director of Belgrade Nikola Tesla confirmed that the airline has restarted charter services from Belgrade. He added that the airline will operate 200 flights this summer. In cooperation with tour operators, Aviogenex will carry out flights to Greek and Turkish holiday resorts.

Aviogenex was formed in 1968 by one of Yugoslavia’s largest companies called “Genex”. The airline operated both domestic and international charter flights. As Yugoslavia disintegrated in the 1990s so did Genex and its airline subsidiary. The airline was forced to either sell or retire all of its aircraft except 1 Boeing B737-200, in use today. In 2001 the airline started leasing the aircraft to various airlines such as Sudan Airways. The aircraft was eventually returned to Belgrade and given to Jat Airways, due to outstanding debt that Aviogenex had to the national carrier dating back from the 1990s era. Until March 2010 the aircraft served with Jat. Aviogenex is now, for the first time in many years, operating services independently under its own name. The Boeing B737-200 Advance, serving with Aviogenex, is one of the last produced by Boeing in 1987.