Air Serbia is set to take delivery of second widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The jet, formerly operated by Aeroflot, is twelve and a half years old and carries the registration VP-BLY. The aircraft landed at Shannon Airport in Ireland yesterday where it will receive the Air Serbia livery and be prepared for service. The jet is expected to feature the airline’s new premium product, which will allow for greater capacity in the business class cabin. The aircraft’s last commercial service was operated between Antalya and Moscow in August 2020, with the jet stationed in Hong Kong ever since. It features Rolls Royce engines and had a total of 241 seats while operating for Aeroflot, with 34 in business and 207 in economy.
The aircraft will replace Air Serbia’s sole A330-200 in its fleet, registered YU-ARA. Its lease runs until May. The airline took delivery of the former Jet Airways operated aircraft in May 2016. It boasts eighteen seats in business class and 236 in economy. Its premium cabin includes leathered fully flat bed seats (68.5 inch in length) in a 1-1-1 configuration. Air Serbia has made a number of changes to its fleet since the coronavirus pandemic hit the aviation industry a year ago. It has retired its Boeing 737-300 fleet and ended the lease of one ATR72 and one A320 jet. At the same time, it took delivery of two additional A319s.
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| Air Serbia's existing A330-200 business class hard product |
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| Air Serbia's existing A330-200 economy class hard product |
Since the onset of the pandemic, the airline has renegotiated leasing terms for its aircraft, with power by the hour contracts concluded, where leasing costs are accounted based on the number of hours the aircraft has been utilised rather than a fixed rate. The Serbian government previously said it was the “right time” to acquire aircraft for the company. “We are thinking about starting negotiations for the acquisition of some aircraft. This is the right time, because there will never be an opportunity like this where prices on the market will be as low”, the Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure said last May.
LOVE JU AIR SERBIA!!
ReplyDeletePity its only a replacement and that they won't have two in the fleet.
ReplyDeleteOh good at least we won't have the Serbia Creates livery anymore.
ReplyDeleteNew special livery is coming *o*
DeleteI was told it will be a certain landmark in Serbia.
I'm already afraid
DeleteOh dear, I'm worried too. What landmark could they have picked?
DeleteI'm secretly hope ut will be "Nemanjici" tribute livery, something like LOTR liveries that Air New Zealand did on their 767s little bit of castles, little bit of dragons and knights.
DeleteThe name will be changed. Won't be Tesla anymore. They are going with a women's name this time around.
DeleteActually you are wrong.
DeleteThey should have left the tail alone.
DeleteWhy don't they just leave the original livery. Look at how great it looks on the article photo.
DeleteSomething tells me they will no longer have 1-1-1 configuration in business.
ReplyDeleteWill it have the Aeroflot business class?
DeleteI really doubt they will be flying the same product around as Aeroflot.
DeleteWhy not? Their current business class is the same as Jet Airways. They just put leather on the seats instead of cloth.
DeleteAny pic of what Aeroflot's business class looks like?
Deletehttps://bit.ly/2O49uxb
Deletehttps://bit.ly/3bduKta
The current cabin looks more premium in my oppinion.
DeleteI don't like that the current seats are turned away from the windows. Otherwise I would agree the current ones are more private.
DeleteSomething similar to the Etihad A330 interior would be great.
DeleteGuys SU had to return the plane in its original form. They took out their seats.
DeleteActually that is so true. When JU returned the A320 they had to put back the seats the plane was delivered with.
DeleteI think that depends on what kind of deal you have with the lessor.
DeleteI think JU even took off the wifi antenna.
DeleteWell yeah, they installed the system themselves, it's not the lessor's.
Delete@9.46 Air Serbia A330 business class has got significantly more legroom than EY C seats due to 1-1-1 config, making them more comfy for tall pax, especially those 180cm+ tall.
DeleteThey must have gotten a better lease deal than the one they had.
ReplyDelete50% discount.
DeletePretty good
DeleteIs the aircraft leased directly from Aeroflot?
DeleteNo, it is from leasing house. It was just operated by Aeroflot before going to Air Serbia.
DeleteSo from June, Air Serbia is flying with a newer A330 and to New York's Terminal 1. Nice :)
ReplyDeleteIt will be in service before June
DeleteThe current A330 was really showing signs of wear and tear. I'm glad it's being replaced.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYes, finally
Congratulations Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteA bad choice. Now the economy capacity will be lower on this new A330 (208 economy seats in the new one versus 236 on YU-ARA )
ReplyDeleteThere is obviously a reason they want a larger business class.
DeleteMost travellers are travelling in economy class not in business one. I mean, it’s not logical because they’ll have less passengers on their flights
DeleteYou make more money in business. Their business class loads are probably very good.
DeleteHave they considered premium economy? I think there would be interest from passengers.
DeleteWhy would they need a premium economy cabin? Premium economy just adds unnecessary costs with additional catering and so on. Remember they have to fill this plane all year long not just in June, July and August.
DeletePremium economy is much easier to fill and adds revenue. Additional catering cost is minimal.
DeleteThe aircraft will be refitted with the JU cabin.
DeleteY capacity will supposedly remain the same, its J that will see 3 additional seats.
Great. Can't wait! :)
ReplyDeleteI was hoping they would take two A330 so they could have started new long-haul routes.
ReplyDeleteThat was my hope too
DeleteDoes YU-ARA also have Rolls Royce engines?
ReplyDeleteNo it didn't.
DeleteNope. CF6
DeleteDoes that create some additional costs over maintenance?
DeleteI think it actually had Rolls Royce.
DeleteIt doesn't as JU doesn't have its own maintenance division, so if the current one can't service RR they'll just handle the task to another one.
DeleteThe RR engine is more powerful and with a higher pressure ratio.
DeleteCurrent Aircraft has GE CF6 engines, new aircraft will have
DeleteRR engines meaning additional training requirements and spares holding. Cost increase.
Can't wait to see it in BEG.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if there will be any way to fly one day to Vancouver, Canada. I live here, and no matter the season I fly to Europe, aircraft are always packed. Not a single empty seat... I am deeply convinced that Europe is underserved from this place.
ReplyDeleteYVR to BEG could only work for 2-3 summer months per year. Perhaps as a charter flight. But this would be a low priority for JU. YYZ & ORD should be the next N. American cities. Not sure if YUL would work, perhaps only seasonally.
DeleteI was also hoping to see 2x A332 coming to Air Serbia especially as Aeroflot parked two of these planes. Maybe taking 2 planes in a package would mean even additional diccount per plane.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the second A332 will come a bit later :)
DeleteWe have been told a bit later story since 2016. No excuse for another delay of second A332. If the discount was 50%, Air Serbia could have 2 A330 for the price of one.
Delete^ You might have seen the current state of the aviation industry?
DeleteJFK route is doing fine. When things go back to normal you won't be able to get two for the price of one. Absolutely no excuse for not getting a second one now.
DeleteThings going back to pre 2019 level is, at the moment, predicted to be a couple of years away.
DeleteSerbia isnt as open as previously, PCR tests are expensive especially for foreigners and there is alot of uncertainty whether there will be a lockdown or not. These factors dont entice travel. Short haul fleet is barely operating a flight a day.
Perhaps starting YYZ with existing capacity over the Christmas period could be worth exploring, however they would also need to hire more crew.
Perhaps someone needs cojonas and give it a shot.
DeleteThey made some many useless and costly decisions in the past (wifly for example) , it won't be the end of world of they give it a try...
Yes but they need money. It's not so cheap to lease a plane. And it's not just the least costs. Operating costs, fuel, crew etc.
DeleteYou are forgetting Air Serbia have been leasing A330 since 2016. They would know all the costs involved, wouldn't they?
DeleteIf they can lease it for half what they paid in 2016, that wouldn't very expensive, would it?
Air Serbia needs two Airbus A330, not just one. Big mistake to have only one.
ReplyDeleteIt comes with a big cost to have two.
DeleteThis is the last available photo of the given airplane:
ReplyDeletehttps://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/78122_1608985946.jpg
In Aeroflot livery:
Deletehttps://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/80240_1609528947.jpg
There is a photo of it on ground in SNN on Facebook.
DeleteWhere?
DeleteType 'Air Serbia' in the search bar on Facebook. In the list is a post from a page 'Spotting supporters' with a picture of the aircraft, all white, parked in front of IAC hangar.
DeleteWhy are they painting it in Shannon?
DeleteWhat is the pitch in economy in Aeroflot vs the one in Air Serbia on this type of plane?
ReplyDeleteCrazy to get an aircraft with less economy and more business class seats than they have in the current aircraft ... load factor in business class have been less than 60% year round - and that was with 18 seats - while over the summer high season, load factor's have run into the high 80's in economy class. That's where they need the capacity, not in business class
ReplyDeleteHow on earth do you know their exact load factors by cabin class?
DeleteI actually think A330-300 would have been the best solution.
DeleteHe is soo funny . It is actually Totally oposite, their bussines is often booked to full capacity and you can simple see that in the booking engine on line 24 hrs prior to departure. They seem to know why they are getting extra seats in bussines.
DeleteThe aircraft will supposedly have the same amount of seats in Y, just additional seats in J.
DeleteARA - 18J/236Y (254)
ARB - 21J/236Y (257)
So they are going to add another row of seats?
DeleteI would assume that business class in ARB will not have those herringbone seats.
DeleteThe seat angle was one of their main criticisms for their J class product.
Its probably from reconfiguration that additional space for seats will be made available.
It will be interesting to see if they keep the 1-1-1 config though (even if they change the seats themselves).
DeleteAaaaaa, even in the wildest dreams I thought this is impossible! So proud! Bravo AirSerbia, go, go, go!
ReplyDeleteIt's just a replacement aircraft...
DeleteYes, but now I believe they will keep growing in the future in this segment as well. They keep JFK, good enough for those times!
DeleteIf you've been reading comments here you sure know that so many "caring" people were "worried" that JU's expiring lease on ARA will be the end of JFK flights. So it's not just a replacement, it proves JU is serious about JFK. And that haters gonna hate.
DeleteIf JU had to extend the lease at $500k a month it would be questionable if they would do it. Lease being a fraction of what JU had to pay in 2016 certainly improved the odds of keeping A330 in the fleet.
DeleteHow much of a fraction are we talking about?
DeleteHow do you all know how much the lease costs??
DeleteWho said we know how much lease cost? We are just supposing.
DeleteIt's about half.
Deletei was thinking that this was additional A330 and my heart stopped for a minute
ReplyDeleteluckily it is just replacement, phew
luckily? what you going to do about your heart if another A330 comes from Aeroflot in 2021. Hope you stay healthy!
Deletewe need to oranize some crowdfunding for you and hot lane, to get you a tutor for english language
Delete"we" as a first work in a sentence but not capitalized?
Delete"oranize" without a letter g?
"english" as a proper noun but not capitalized?
Do you need a tutor?
Good. This further shows their commitment to the JFK route.
ReplyDeletePoslednjih godina JU nas je navikao na pozitivne vesti,možda i ARA ostane u floti,ko zna? Definitivno će meseci nakon pandemije odlučivati o sudbini i veličini mnogih avio prevoznika. JU mora imati dobru startnu poziciju.
ReplyDeleteNe ostaje u floti na zalost
DeleteSince 2016 start of JFK service Air Serbia repeatedly said they could not justify costs to expand long haul fleet. There was no drastic change in the environment until pandemic hit last year.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia is now at the crossroads where future long haul strategy splits in two different directions.
One road leads down to CSA Airlines fate: single widebody serving one destination. Unsustainable strategy sooner or later has to end, likely pulling the whole airline to the bottom.
Second road leads to LOT Polish fate: modernizing and expanding long haul fleet and destinations, buoying overall passenger numbers and giving purpose to feeder routes.
If Air Serbia made a decision to have only one A330 as a long haul fleet in the post pandemic world, Air Serbia then made a decision to go down the CSA route. Things may look as they did during 2016-2019 period, but any disruptive event such as US airline one day starting a service to BEG will likely end Air Serbia long haul ambitions.
Getting a second A330 and starting YYZ might not look smart now, with quarantine measures and slow rollout of vaccines, but it takes time for route to develop and that's better done starting in second half of this year than waiting a year or two, when it might be too late. Flying with two A330 is a starting point for Air Serbia to get on the LOT path.
agree. Go Air Serbia
DeleteFair analysis of the potential directions JU can head in the coming years. We all hope for the LOT example of course. But don't forget Poland and Warszawa are much bigger than Serbia and Beograd. With a larger population, much stronger economy, and many more tourists, just to name a few advantages of LOT over JU.
DeleteJU should position itself as the main transfer airline in the Balkans. But for that you need at least 2-4 daily flights to almost all of the main Balkan cities.
I think JU was heading in this direction before Corona. But you may be right, the time is now to get another A330 and give YYZ & ORD a try. Perhaps starting in late summer or autumn 2021. They can always fine tune the dates as they near but only if there are government imposed restrictions.
I say Air Serbia should go for it. It pretty well now or never.
I agree with the analysis, but not the timing. Later this year is too soon. It's never a good start to a route to begin in time for the winter low season. Spring 2022 is a better option.
DeleteOn a side-note, I'd say Air Serbia and CSA actually are very similar in the background to their long haul operations. Both got their single widebody aircraft from their previous part-owner partner airline. One big difference, though. In the case of Etihad/Air Serbia, the move was to enter a new market, which is a bigger risk, and in the case of Korean/CSA, it was just a way for Korean Air to indirectly increase frequencies between ICN and PRG (I'm not sure if the bilateral agreement or Russian overflight rights was the limiting factor preventing them from doing it themselves), which is a lower risk since it was an already proven market by the bigger airline.
I'm really interested to see it with this rumored special livery :D
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be too excited considering the existing one.
DeleteAn airline managing to acquire a plane (even a replacement one) deserves praise in these sorts of times.
ReplyDeleteThat's not an achievement if you're owned by the government.
DeleteCompared to other government-owned EX YU airlines, only JU acquired a plane, so it is an achievement compared to them.
DeleteEvery single national airline lately is own by gouvermant . What was your point Anonymus 23:37? They are one the most flexible and fast reacting/ajudting airline World-Wode and I am very proud how well they did it.
DeleteDoes somebody know how much it costs to paint a livery on A330?
ReplyDeleteAround 200,000 $.
DeleteThanks
DeletePostaje sve maglovitije.
ReplyDeleteKada ova kriza prođe, šta će ostati?