All smiles as the Etihad - Jat partnership enters next phase
Four days after Etihad Airways and Jat Airways held a joint press conference where the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding “to explore equity investments in Jat”, the Serbian Minister for Finance and Trade, Mladjan Dinkić, last night confirmed that Etihad Airways has sent in an offer for the purchase of a 49% stake in the airline. “We have received an offer and we have begun negotiations. We are negotiating a special partnership model where the Serbian government would be the majority share holder while Etihad would run the airline”, Mr. Dinkić said. The Minister added, “This will no longer be the same airline. It will be a new modern company, with a new fleet and a far superior product for passengers”.
Etihad has proposed the launch of several new routes, the immediate arrival of new aircraft and rebranding. The airline has employed similar measures with its previous equity investment in Air Seychelles which it turned into a profit making business within the first year of the takeover. An official takeover announcement of Jat Airways is expected next month.
Meanwhile, Jat has welcomed the arrival of its first leased ATR72-500 last night in Belgrade. The aircraft has been acquired from the Nordic Aviation Capital leasing company. The turboprop will now undergo necessary technical checks and will receive Jat’s livery. As EX-YU Aviation learns the aircraft will enter service tomorrow, Friday June 21. The second leased ATR72-500 will arrive in the first week of July. Simultaneously, technical work on one of Jat’s grounded ATRs is entering its final stages, with the Serbian carrier having five ATR72s in service next month. The leased ATRs will receive Serbian "YU" registrations. Jat is also persistent on leasing an Airbus A319 from next month, although the additional costs of training its staff for the aircraft type are leaning it towards leasing a Boeing 737.
Svašta. Nisam očekivao ovako brzo. Pa dobro, samo da naši ne zase**
ReplyDeleteJatovanje again, again and again:
ReplyDelete- 2x A320, 2x A319 and 2x ATR 72-500 will come in March
- than it will happened in May and type rating in April
- than no ATR because there are non in market, what was total lie
- than no A319 from Adria Airways
- now 2 ATR's and 1 A319, and that is in July, what is not enough, and what is much too late.
And thing about prices! Short lease in middle of top season, with negotiations in last second. That should cost a lot! A LOT!!! And why? Because “experts” had 42 days break in January not even had meeting.
God bless Etihad for come. They must change this urgently!
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DeleteAnyway, Serbia will have the best and profitable flag carrier in the region. Fingers crossed for AIR SERBIA!
DeletePurger, welcome to Serbia! This is the Serbian way of doing business, unfortunately.
DeleteIm impressed that this government has actually started to do something with JAT, unlike the previous government, which I must admit is surprising. Im glad to see Ognjenovic go, and I must say he left JAT like a little child (ie: the inflight magazine only in Serbian, the Adria deal etc) but Vukasinovic hasnt had a smooth start in JAT either (izjavio covek da je 'cupkao od srece' to sto nijedan let od 31-og maja do 2-og juna nije kasnio, iako su letove kasnili cak i po 2 i po sata, a jos najbitnije i otkazivani!), but time will tell.
The Serbian government is only to blame for what is happening in the airline, not the airline it self. They created many 'phantom' possitions for relatives in the airline, who are paid good salaries, but encourage flight crew to take scandelous packages to retire! This mess that is JAT today is courtasy of the Serbian government.
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DeleteInteresting how coment with threat was leaving on this blog for 5 hours, but reaction was deleted in several minutes.
Delete+ 1
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DeleteEx-Yu - You don't even have to justify yourself to those drama queens. They have a problem with themselves.
DeleteWow! Looking forward to see the only normal airline in the region.
ReplyDeleteRebranding?
ReplyDeleteI DO hope they'll get back to its original name - Aeroput. http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/aeroputl.htm
Anyway they want but Jat Airways. I'm personaly fot SAT - Serbian Airlines, though Serbian Airways would be acceptable.
DeleteJAT, should remain JAT or become "JAT - Southeast eruopean", for many obvious reasons. There are some practicla brending reason, as the JU shortage has to stay. They are trying/or will try to make a regional airline company, acceptable for croats, bosniaks, albianians, montenegrinians..
DeleteExactly. That was the idea i posted few months ago. Only in Serbian "Juznoevropski Aerotransport" should be enough with SouthEast European in English.
DeleteFinally most of us agree here on one thing:
EN: JAT - SouthEast European Airlines
SR: JAT - Јужноевропски АероТранспорт.
Aeroput sounds too much like Aeroflot. That is something everyone would try to avoid in rebranding.
ReplyDeleteEtihad Serbia most likely!
DeleteWhat's the problem of it sounding like Aeroflot?
DeleteIt sounds like a communist nightmare...
DeleteThats the reason Aeroflot has such bad reputation.
Actually they are not as bad...
Any idea on what might be the new routes Etihad is planning to launch in Jat?
ReplyDeleteGeneva,Barcelona and Hamburg.
DeleteThose are a must!
Tirana, Sofia, Pristina, Ljubljana are must. So far Vienna was Balkan hub. I hope people who traveled between Balkan countries needed to fly to Vienna or Munich.
DeleteI agree with your list I would just add Prague and Kiev
I would add Kishinev and Odessa as other possible destinations for Jat, perfectly feasible with an ATR.
DeleteJat would make lots of money on those and open totally new markets. Serbian people could start spending summer on Ukrainian sea-coast, instead of Croatian which is both cheaper and beautiful + not overly commercialized. For Moldova people Belgrade could become a second gateway, just as for those in Macedonia, with Jat having much less competition in KIV.
Was doing this for a friend, but this is how Jat's ATR network should look at best:
Deletehttp://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=beg-sjj%0D%0Abeg-zag%0D%0Abeg-tiv%0D%0Abeg-tgd%0D%0Abeg-tia%0D%0Abeg-skp%0D%0Abeg-skg%0D%0Abeg-sof%0D%0Abeg-otp%0D%0Abeg-ods%0D%0Abeg-kiv%0D%0Abeg-bud%0D%0Abeg-ath%0D%0Abeg-ohd%0D%0Abeg-lju%0D%0Abeg-prg%0D%0Abeg-lwo&R=825nm%40BEG&MS=wls&DU=mi
Looking forward to a slick rebranding exercise!
ReplyDeleteThe 'new' aircraft in question is a 15 y/o ATR72 which previously was flying for Alitalia. Its former registration was YR-ATR flying for Carpatair and landed in BEG with registration OY-CJT. It will be reregistered in Serbia as YU-ALT.
ReplyDeleteAs for the new destinations, I wouldnt be surprised to see SOF, BUD, ZAG reopen. TXL I expect to see go daily to connect with its N. American destinations with a JAT codeshare on the their flights as part of a further co-operation in the 'Etihad group'. Maybe MAD, MUC, LJU, PRG and TIA could reopen.
The rebranding I can see is a new livery and an updated product on board in regards to service. Crew I expect will also get new uniforms. I expect that the timetables of its current destinations to be modified to be more consistant. I think as well the frequent flyer program will be modified either to work with 'Etihad Guest' program, or JAT will adopt the program and drop the 'Let vise' program. If EY is going to invest its time into BEG and JAT, and to make their BEG flights work, theyre going to need to invest into marketing not only on JAT but into their AUH-BEG flights. Looking into the flights, at the moment theyre doing well. Alot of challanges lay ahead but I think they could do well and do expect to see either FZ or QR drop BEG.
Etihad could take over Jats frequent flyer programme
Deleteand fuse it with Etihad Guest !
They did so already with Air Berlin.
So they could also win new customers for their own flights to Abu Dhabi and beyound.
I would think 'Vise od letenja' or in English 'More than flying' come back but as a frequent flyer program with air miles, privilages etc as per a normal frequent flyer program. Having it cooperate with the 'Etihad Guest' and with 'topbonus' from AB would be a great move. You earn maximum miles flying JAT but can redeem some miles flying on codeshare partners, with possibilty to upgrade with all 3 carriers, sharing of business class lounges wherever available, priority check in etc. Staying in hotels in Serbia such as JAT Slavija Lux could as well award loyal JAT customers with miles. A dedicated business class lounge at BEG for JAT, AB and EY customers could be another convenient approach. The current program 'Let Vise' to me is primitive.
DeleteIf Etihad takes Jat you can be sure 100 procent
Deletethat they both will have a common flyer programm!
That is part of the deal!
: )
I guess that the Name JAT will go to history. Too much bad publicity now and also in the past. Also it could be mixed up with another EY-dauhter JET Airways. I doubt that any Serbian prefix will be put in place because Etihad wants to create a strong regional airline. I guess there will be something with Balkan, or South East European. I personally like the name Aeroput...but it really sounds like Aeroflot. Maybe FlyBalkan or Balkan Airways.
ReplyDeleteFlyBalkan screams low cost
DeleteWhy not the "JAT - Southeast European", with JAT staying as a obligatory abbreviation of "Jugoisticnoevropski aerotransport"
DeleteI had that idea last year and even sent some e-mails regarding the name. It took a numerous amount of e-mails, to different departments and even to the CEO. After 6 months or so, I finally received a response from there public relations department and was kindly told to mind my own business, that the do not need any help and are just doing fine.
DeleteCongratulation on your efforts + i fully support the name but what else would you expect from moron Ognjenovic's cabinet. I'm inviting you not to feel defeated and bring back the matter once Etihad takes over the comapny, for sure they'll be listening to you much more. Cheers!
Deletemaybe not just jat or aeroput. make it another name we never heard of
ReplyDeleteEtihad managing JU. This will mean that JU will become soon the regional leader again.
ReplyDeletean excellent opportunity and JU will have a good product. Air Berlin had already to change seats in C Class twice, because EY was not happy with the product. There is a strong and good lead. I have been working for EY from 2004 to 2011 and I still follow them now. They have made great achievements in their last 10 years since their foundation. I m very happy for JU and also for the region who will profit from this.
And Arabs can handle Balkan mentality easy. U will soon see how some people will get their buds kicked
Hehe...Arab mentality and Serbian menality are the same!
DeleteBut dont be afraid...
Etihad is run by experts that know how to do their job best
and when to kick butts.
Those experts are foreigners,Australians and British.
So its more an AngloSaxon working habit.
How about a simple name such as "PUTNIK" and have a logo of silhouette passenger with a carry-on luggage in hand in a running pose or something. They could make a different shape/pose of a silhouette passenger on every airplane, making it more interesting and refreshing.
ReplyDeletePutnik is a registered company in Serbia. It is a tour operator.
DeleteI meant something like this:
Deletehttp://depositphotos.com/1827247/stock-illustration-Travel-silhouettes.html
Boze me sacuvaj...
DeleteI like the Putnik name. Sounds like Sputnik :)
DeleteAir Putin
DeleteAero Poutaine
AeroPutana
Sputnik sounds like Chetnik...
Go JAT Go! This is good! But you don´t need to change a wellknown name! JAT is just perfect! All of us who works in the travel industry knows JAT so well,so keep it! All the best and 12 points from Sweden/Stockholm.
ReplyDelete"JAT is just perfect ??" Dude, what planet are you from ??
DeleteJust a nice simple 'JAT' will do. Forget about the suggestions like SAT and Aeroput or Putnik because they simply do not resonate with westerns. Even the name Jat falls into this category but like Lot, it is a historical name associated with the region and for this reason it will be foolish not to use it.
ReplyDeleteNow, first we need the deal to go through and for this Etihad will want a debt free Jat. Serbia sill need to come up with the 180 million Euro's and for what do they get in return?? Maybe a profitable airline which if it is, maybe a dividend of up to 5 million Euros to the Serbian tax payer per Year. So how many years before they get a return on the 180 million? The other scary scenario is if Etihad go on a spending spree and sell off any of Jat's assets they don't want or need with again only a small part of this going back to Serbia.
I don't know why they just close this Jat Airways down completely. Sell off all assets, use this money to pay off debts and redundancies, some of which are debts to other Serbian companies which are struggling because they haven't been paid for years, launch 'Jat' with the help of Etihad and full support of the government. New company, new aircraft, new look bla bla bla.....
I know that it sounds like a bad deal (Serbia pays 180 million and losses 49% for practically nothing in return). However if yo think long term, JAT has been making losses since forever. Governmant has no money to fund it properly so that it can make money and above all govermant doesn't know how to run any company. By spending 180 million they will hopefully get some dividients but you also have to look at a big picture too. There is going to be people employed who will pay taxes, spend their money, maybee more tourists will come etc.
DeleteSo, even though it sounds like a bad deal money wise you really have to take everithing into account.
Well people, i think i have to correct you.
DeleteTakeover of Jat means actually takeover of debt.
Etihad will buy a stake of 49%of Jat paying 1 symbolic$,
because it has no worth.
Then the debt will get split:
51% of 180 mio debt is 91.8mio for the government.
And 49% of 180 mio debt is 88.2 mio for Etihad.
Conclusion :The government and Etihad agree to share the debt.
For Etihad it is an initially loss of 88.2 mio,
but the long term profit will turn the loss in a profit.
Also the future profit will get shared by Etihad and the government 49/51.
The initial winner will be the Serbian taxpayer that has to pay only 91.8 mio instead of 180 mio.
A good deal i think.
If this happens than expect a fire sale of all Jat's assets so Etihad can get back its 90 million ASAP!
DeleteI don't think they will be selling any of the assets. Jat is not the first airline they are taking over, so all we have to do is just look at the previous cases and then apply them to this specific case.
DeleteI am sure they will make the best use of what Jat has to offer. They will use the airline to pay all of it back through effective management of the airline.
And no, it would not be easier to shut down the airline because there would be way too many people becoming unemployed and Serbia would be far less competitive than the surrounding countries in terms of accessibility.
There was here idea that debt will be split between Serbia and Etihad 51:49 but that is not true!
DeleteAll debt of 170 EUR + 30 EUR for compensations for 600 workers that will be sucked will be on Serbian obligation. And that should be finished before Etihad will take over. It was like that in Air Seychelles too. That is one of Etihad conditions!
SAT----Serbian Arab Transport
DeleteFor name i suggest Serbian Airlines or Serbiana Airways/Airlines, not "Aeroput" or SAT or what other crazy suggestions.. We need to focus to the West with the name thing.. or just like someone suggested just"JAT".
ReplyDelete/Alex
Air Serbia
DeleteAir Serbia sounds so cheap like some Asian airlines... and to the guy that said that there is no more YU, I know, but look at CSA?! We need something that sounds serious and good like I suggested but I guess to many are still in the komunist era..
Delete// Alex
They are trying/or will try to make a regional airline company, acceptable for croats, bosniaks, albianians, montenegrinians.. and not to bake gibanica and to be a banner of serbian nationalism. JAT - South(east) Euripean - Juznoevropski aerotranstport.
DeleteFinally most of us agree here on one thing:
DeleteEN: JAT - SouthEast European Airlines
SR: JAT - Јужноевропски АероТранспорт.
I don't think anyone here with the slightest knowledge of modern commercial aviation agrees with this.
DeleteHey Alex ... when was the last time you looked at a map of the world ?? Do you know where Serbia is ?? The last time I looked, it was in Europe. So how the fuck do you get to Air Serbia sounding like something from Asia ?? By your logic, I suppose that would make Air Berlin and Air New Zealand Asian as well, right ?? Don't be such a jackass ... The name is just one part of any re-branding exercise ... the rest and arguably more important aspects are the corporate identity and livery, with the most critical aspect being the service ethos and products. The name - no matter what it is, means nothing if you get this part of it wrong ... That's what makes JAT such a damaged and fucked up brand .... Its service ethic and credibility in running timely schedules is on a par with the best in the 3rd world ....R.I.P. JAT and welcome Air Serbia !!!
DeleteAsian airlines and cheap?
DeleteThat can only say an ignorant!
Asian airlines are famous and loved because of its extraordinary service.
Ever heard of Singapore Airllines or Cathay Pacific?
Hey I didn't say that Aisan airlines are bad, I flew with Cathay in Feb London-Hongkong, What an amazing service!
DeleteAnd by the way, I know where Serbia is, I'm Serbian, living in Sweden! So with all respect I think I know what I'm talking about, Serbia doesn't have so good image due to the Yugo wars here in Europe, but okay enough with this, but I don't understand what's wrong with Serbian Airlines!?
You can't think on such a low level, you need to think big! To me Air Serbia sounds cheap and lowcost, personally I don't think Etihad want's to rename Jat to Air Serbia. But hey, everything can happen!
//Alex
37 comments and not a single hate post? Either the mods are really moderating well today or you've just been SILENCED.
ReplyDeleteWell they had to shut-up at the risk of making themselves total fools.
DeleteOfftopic:
ReplyDeleteLOT wants to get rid of 15 of its Ejets.It is speculated that from next winter season they will cut routes to many destinations or partially replace them by EuroLot.
To Anonymous at 5:02PM,
ReplyDeleteFinally someone that really has a clue of what he writes,
as it makes absolutely sense!
I am ashamed that i self didnt came to this conclusion...
I agree a good deal for everyone except for some politicians who speculated about earning some money by this,those stupids!
And what assets to sell off?
Jat does nothave much of that,maybe only when the old planes get sold as scrap metal...
Etihad will depend on Jat becoming a success story!
And it will!
Let's hope and pray that this deal goes through. As Purger wrote correctly the other day, this is a miracle deal at half past midnight.
ReplyDeleteJAT has really fallen to new lows in the past few years -- with consistent flight delays, cancellations, equipment problems, and unprofessionalism. Time to rebrand the airline back to its old name: Aeroput. If British Airways exists, what's wrong with having Serbian Airways [Srpski Aeroput]? No more "JAT" or "JAT Airways", please! Yugoslavia is gone but there is Serbia and there should exist Serbian Airways.
They will try to make a regional airline company, also regarding the fact that most national airlines in the region are in a very poor condition. In order to place a product well in Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia or Kosovo, a one should be dumb to put a "Serbian Airlines" name or some other nationalistic crap. JAT should be a JAT -Southeast European (Jugoisticnoevropski aerotransport). Think global, act local!
DeleteExactly. That was the idea i posted few months ago. Only in Serbian "Juznoevropski Aerotransport" should be enough with SouthEast European in English.
DeleteJAT is a Serbian airline. Not Hungarian, Bosnian, Greek, Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Romanian....but Serbian. All countries have their own airlines who will brand out their respective countries. JAT can barely keep its schedule in Belgrade, they cancelled out even the only flight from Nis that seemed to be working (ZRH), and now its going to be 'Juznoevropski'?
DeleteJAT is more than a name, it is a brand. Over 60 years of history is hard to change as seen with SU, OA, AZ, OK. It will either stay as Jat Airways or simple Jat.
" All countries have their own airlines who will brand out their respective countries"...
DeleteWell, it´s actually not difficult to show that you are being a total ignorant on the aviation industry. Just think on Adria, Air Berlin or SAS, Baltic Airlines. The grate time of so called "national ailines" who are just focused on one market and handling the politically important routs between the capital city is a history of the 20th century. You are also confusing the current sitaution with the idea. The idea ist to make a brand, not to screen the traffic from Nis or the company´s current network. It should be simply "JAT - Southeast European" in English. That would be a sign for passangers from the Abu Dhabi for instance or far east that company is covering that region (from Belgrade), and not that it is flying from each city as base.
Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteLong may you live my friend !!! Air Serbia says it all - who we are, what we do and where we are from - no shame in that and on the contrary, we need to start building a better international profile for our country and what better way to do that than with a newly minted national flag carrier, representing the best of a new Serbia !!! Zivela Air Serbia !!!!
DeleteYou are right...
DeleteAccept your identity - only then you will get accepted by others!
Thank you, thank you, thank you !! Finally another voice of reason and good sense .... The name for the national flag carrier of Serbia ?? It's obvious what it must be ... All you Yugo-nostalgics suggesting shit like Aeroput (although I did like the Aeroputana suggestion :), Putnik, Balkan and whatever else ... wake up and smell the coffee ... This is 2013 and our country is now called The Republic of Serbia - embrace it, love it, be proud of it and you might even wake up tomorrow and find that you feel good about yourself afor a change ....
Delete88 million dollars or Euro for Jat?
ReplyDeleteTo take over 49 percent of debt?
Thats the price of a single new A320 or 321!
Thats not too much i guess...
But I would agree that such a deal would still be a very good thing!
88 million is probably a minimum.
DeleteIn the end it will be another number .
A fleet renewal could also cost up to a billion dollars-
this deal is a deal probably of more then a billion.
So the Serbian side has to mind this.This is really an very important affairs!
I
For an airline such as JAT, they don't need to spend soo much for a fleet renewal on brand new aircraft delivered fresh from the factory. Plenty of newer second hand aircraft are availablw from both B737NG's to A320 family series which JAT can get at a discounted price. The problem is getting a proper team to search for them. Even a 10 y/o ac would be more cost efficient than the nearly 30 y/o classics JAT operate, spare parts would be easier to obtain and less need for regular maintenance, all meaning cost reductions. Its a start. Its pointless buying new aircraft if you can't provide a service people can rely on and encourage pax to be loyal to what you offer. Spending money today on B737NG's is pointless when the B737MAX will soon fly in the next few years. A billion dollars for fleet renewal, to me that's very very over exagerated.
DeleteMay I inquire what the source of Dinkic's announcement is? Ive been reading through almost every serbian news outlet and haven't been able to find even the slightest mention of an offer being received.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2013&mm=06&dd=19&nav_id=724514
DeleteIt's in all the major press. The original story was published by TANJUG news agency and carried by others.
DeleteThe source ?? Why it's like everything else - from his bumhole ....
DeleteJAT - Southeast European
ReplyDelete(Jugoistocnoevropski aerotransport)
i bilo bi lepo da opet ugledamo jaje.
Tommorow AGX flies for Jat to Rome and comes back at 11:00, at 11:30 departure to Tivat. Turnaroundtime of only 30 minutes! They are so fast! Best wishes from Basel
ReplyDeleteThere was here idea that debt will be split between Serbia and Etihad 51:49 but that is not true!
ReplyDeleteAll debt of 170 EUR + 30 EUR for compensations for 600 workers that will be sucked will be on Serbian obligation. And that should be finished before Etihad will take over. It was like that in Air Seychelles too. That is one of Etihad conditions!
Serbian government will only take the debt, but considering there are may 'phantom' possitions in JAT filled by relatives from the political parties, I doubt they will sack them. The government offered payments to the cabin crew to retire which was scandelous, and those who took the offer were those who had plans for retirement.
DeleteEtihad to me this year will start its 'spring cleaning' in JAT. I am sure some possitions will disappear in JAT, some crew (mainly flight deck) will be offered possitions to fly for Etihad etc. I dont think Etihad will bring down the employee numbers at once, rather step by step. They will also need to see what is their possiblities in the Serbian legal system in regards to letting go staff, unlike in Etihad where their crew are on temporary renewable contracts living in Abu Dhabi on UAE residency visas.
Well Etihad will not fired workers. Serbia has to do that before Etihad sign contract. The same thing as in Air Seychelles.
DeleteSo Etihad wants to take over 49% stake in Jat.
DeleteThe questions then are:
How much will EY pay for it?
How much is the worth of :
1. Jat with debt of 180 millions.
2. a Jat with no debt at all.
Worth of Jat with debt:
minus 180 millions.
Worth of Jat debt free:
plus 180 millions.
Thus takeover of 49% of Jat with or without debt
should cost 88.2 millions minimum.
Now you will say that worth of a debt free Jat would be 0.
No...Jat is only worth 0 when it is legally declared bancrupt.
You can not separate the worth of an airline from its debt!
Worth = debt.
Takeover of an airline = takeover of its debt.
Takeover of 49% of an airline = takeover of 49% of debt.
1
Airport slots are very expensive and hard to get for airlines, so they're worth a lot, example a single Heathrow slot is a major asset, 5$ million, Paris CDG is around 3$ million, Frankfurt around 2.5$ million...
DeleteIt all depends, slots alone are very good asset to to have, and all major airlines would kill for 1-2 slots at Heathrow airport, I remember 6-7 years ago Go sold all its slots to Virgin for 22 million pounds, and Go had only 8 slots.
Also, someone reported here that Jat has assets in property worth well over 100 million Euros, as in real estate and buildings. I'm sure Etihad is keen to get their hands on this and if they get Jat for a cheap price debt free than win win for Etihad and lose lose for Serbia and Jat. This is what I would most be concerned about if I had anything to do with this from a Serbian perspective and why I keep arguing that Serbia should sell off all this that Jat owns to pay for its debt first.
DeleteIn 20 years there has not been any good news from Jat so I am a skeptic when it comes to this deal with Etihad. In the end, even if a deal is reached I don't think it will be a good one for Serbia. The UAE is not a charity and remember these 2 simple but very true statements, Nothing is for free and If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
I don't see where your pessimism is coming from. Air Berlin and Seychelles seems to be doing just fine, why would Jat be any different?
DeleteAlso, what do you mean that Serbs are not gaining anything from this? We did not sell it for them to ruin it, I am sure that is what Vucic told the Sheikh. Jat is part of their major investment in the country and from what we could see until now (their announcements) they will do great things for the airline.
Serbs win because we get to keep a national carrier which will be run by professionals.
Yes,Etihad HAS to turn Jat into profitability because
Deleteotherwise they would never get back the money they invested.
Etihad will start with a big loss in the win.
Every investion starts with a loss.
Serbian is not Nationalistic its a country, & dont mentioned what happened in the past 20 years, casue if thats the case we wouldnt have Turkish Airways would we.
ReplyDeleteBut back to the rebrand
Maybe Air Belgrade or Beolines is an option, as Belgrade will be the main hub, similar to the new sister company Air Berlin.
As they insist not to fly from Niš and Morava, maybe that is real sugestion. Air Belgrade!
DeleteIt´s not about the question if Serbia is a nationalistic countries, it is about the fact that the time of national airlines focused on just one market and political connections between the capital cities has past. If you don´t have a country of the size as Italy or Germany, it is quite normal that you think of the region as your market. It is a question of brand, of product, of market smartness, and not a question of some cheap "national pride" as it was 50 years ago. I say "cheap", beacause for me the national pride is to have a succesful company regonizible in the region and the world, and not just to put some national/nationalistic name on the aircraft, with no regard to the real market situation of the company.
DeleteJAT AEROPUT Serbian Airlines. Kinda like Aeroflot - they are really AEROFLOT Russian Airlines with the second part written in smaller typeface. It works wonderfully. Plus bring back "jaje", of course just modernise it a bit. Jaje was the best!
ReplyDeleteŠljivAir. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteHabibi International...
ReplyDelete