2013 in review

The year that was … 2013

2013 proved to be one of the most eventful years in the aviation industry in the former Yugoslavia. During 2013, we farewelled Jat and Belle Air Europe, welcomed Air Serbia, saw the biggest aircraft ever produced land in Zagreb and watched Croatia become the 28th member state of the European Union. Pristina Airport opened the doors to its brand new terminal while passenger numbers soared in Sarajevo, Skopje and Tivat. Ryanair launched its first flights to Montenegro and opened a base in Zadar while Etihad inaugurated services to Belgrade. After several years, Adria Airways saw its passenger numbers bounce back as did Ljubljana Airport while Tuzla Airport saw a revival thanks to Wizz Air.

2013 was also the busiest year for EX-YU Aviation News since going online in 2008. Six of the top ten most read articles since 2008 were all published this year. Apart from the 365 articles published in 2013, a total of 102 “news flash” items were also published. You can view the trends of the year and what caught your eye the most in here.

The following are just some of the major developments which took place over the past 365 days:

~ JANUARY ~ 

• Jat’s fleet crisis deepens
• Flydubai shelves Sarajevo flight plans

 ~ FEBRUARY ~

• Croatia Airlines to shed its fleet
• Croatia Airlines drops Istanbul
• Croatia Airlines suspends Podgorica flights

~ MARCH ~ 

• B&H Airlines grounded
• Serbia and Etihad in Jat takeover talks
• B&H resumes normal operations
• Skopje Airport amongst Europe’s best
• Air Traffic Control Centre opens in Ljubljana
• Jat Airways to become part of Etihad’s family

~ APRIL ~ 

• Jat - Etihad tie up
• Ryanair opens Zadar base
• Wizz Air from Tuzla to Basel
• EXCLUSIVE: Etihad launching Belgrade flights
• Jat and Etihad formalise cooperation
• Pristina and Skopje see impressive growth
• Ryanair starts strong to Montenegro

~ MAY ~ 

• Croatia Airlines crew calls in sick
• Croatia Airlines strike begins
• Etihad takeover offer revealed

~ JUNE ~ 

• First female CEO for an EX-YU airline
• Croatian coastal airports surge 
• Croatia Airlines and B&H top EX-YU airline safety 
• Etihad announces possible equity investment in Jat
• Ljubljana returns to growth after two years 

~ JULY ~ 

• Adria begins assets sale 
• EXCLUSIVE: Jat’s winter network revealed

~ AUGUST ~ 

• Done deal! Etihad takes over Jat
• Split Airport announces terminal expansion 
• EXCLUSIVE: Post war travel record between Croatia and Serbia
• Garuda: “Croatia Airlines a logical choice”

~ SEPTEMBER ~ 

• EXCLUSIVE: Air Serbia - winter 2013/14
• Skopje and Tivat see record summer
• No new terminal for Ljubljana Airport
• Trade Air launching scheduled flights
• Croatia Airlines Dash in nose gear emergency

~ OCTOBER ~ 

• Montenegro Airlines sacks Serbian staff
• Fracture responsible for Croatia emergency
• Pristina Airport opens new terminal
• Air Serbia ready for takeoff
• Air Serbia considering regional acquisition
• Croatia Airlines begins search for part owner

~ NOVEMBER ~ 

• Croatia Airlines posts first profit in six years
• New airline planned for Croatia 
• World’s largest aircraft lands in Zagreb
• Sarajevo breaks all time passenger record 
• Air Serbia to receive ten A320neos
• Zagreb Airport staff on strike
• Belle Air Europe suspends all flights
• No interest in Croatia Airlines

~ DECEMBER ~ 

• French take over Zagreb Airport
• Split and Pristina neck and neck
• Etihad tipped to take over Belgrade Airport
• Skopje Airport’s record year under threat 
• Belgrade Airport breaks all time record

Wherever you are in the world tonight have a great and safe evening

See you in 2014!