Air Serbia is set to take delivery of the first of several ATR72-600 aircraft. The first of the turboprops is currently undergoing test flights in Toulouse prior to delivery and already features the Air Serbia livery (pictured). The aircraft is not entirely new and was manufactured in 2015. It has flown for Malaysian carrier Firefly but was stored between 2016 and 2019. It was then operated by the Slovenian registered Amelia Aviation on domestic routes within France until December of last year. Several other ATRs, which will be taken up by the Serbian carrier, are already in Toulouse being prepared for the airline. Five frames in total are believed to be destined for Air Serbia, although the airline itself has not commented on their imminent delivery. As previously reported by EX-YU Aviation News, crew members have already started training for the type in December.
The ATR 72-600 features several improvements compared to its predecessors, the -500 and -200 variants operated by Air Serbia. It is powered by the new PW127M engines, which enable a 5% increase in takeoff power via a "boost function" used when conditions require it. The flight deck also features five wide LCD screens. A multi-purpose computer aims at increasing flight safety and operational capabilities, and new Thales-made avionics provide Required Navigation Performance capabilities. It also features lighter seats and larger overhead baggage bins. In December 2015, the European Aviation Safety Agency approved a new high-density seating layout, raising the maximum capacity from 74 to 78 seats. During the 2021 Dubai Airshow last November, ATR debuted the new ATR72-600 engine which is powered by new PW127XT powerplants giving 20% lower maintenance costs and 3% more fuel efficiency compared to the current PW127M powerplant.
Air Serbia’s regional fleet currently consists of five turboprops, including three ATR72-200s, all of which are 31 years old, and two ATR72-500s, which are 23 and 24 years old respectively. All are being utilised by the carrier and are active within the fleet. The airline returned one of the -500 versions to its owner last year, after deciding not to renew its lease. It was the youngest among the ATRs at fifteen years. Late last year, the Serbian Minister for Finance, Siniša Mali, said the country’s national airline would retire older and noisier aircraft, as well as those producing greater gas emissions.
Image courtesy of T. Laurent
Nice!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I hope they start BEG-MBX when all these ATRs are delivered.
DeleteYou really think MBX will work?
DeleteIf LJU works fine with 17 weekly flights (before corona) i don't see a problem for 3-4 weekly BEG-MBX.
DeleteMBX could work but Graz would make more sense i guess.
DeleteMBX would be way cheaper and JU is more recognized in Slovenia as in Austria.
DeleteI agree, but let's first get to double saily in LJU and than think about mbx, maybe?
Deletei bet Ljubljana will be double daily from march on ...
DeleteJAT was flying BEG-MBX during Yugoslav times, but now...I am not so sure.
DeleteThere are many other destinations in Romania or Ukraine which could bring
to JU much better results with ATR72-600 than MBX.
LJU performed quite ok in recent months so I wouldn't be surprised if it goes to 14 from at least April. That's when everyone seems to be boosting BEG.
DeleteWill they add these planes in addition to the ones they have or completely replace them?
ReplyDeleteAll current-200 and - 500 series are set to leave the fleet as - 600 models arrive. That is the plan, we'll see how it turns out in the end 😉
DeleteThe first three ATR'S 72-200 must be replaced. As long as the time goes by they're becoming more uneconomic.
DeleteThe -200 are going to Aviolet ;-)
DeleteMore to Aeroput...
DeleteI hope they don't retire the older atrs right away but use them to expand and boost flights from INI and KVO. New ones can be used on flights from BEG
DeleteYou are kidding me right? The reason they are getting new ones is because these 31 yr old ones are becoming extremely difficult and expensive to maintain. The last thing they need is a grounded atr in Kraljevo or Niš so that another one has to be flown in to rescue it. That would be very bad
DeleteThey can use the -500 for those additional flights from the countryside.
DeleteFinally those dinosaurs are going to be replaced. Great news!
ReplyDeleteBest solution they could make for the regional fleet in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteLooks great. I hope the cabins will have the slim seats they use on the Airbus fleet.
ReplyDeleteOf course they will
DeleteThis will be a much more comfortable ride on regional routes.
ReplyDeleteBuying or leasing?
ReplyDeleteBuying, of course, Cash on table from all those millions earned during Covid!! No questions asked. By the way, are you for real??
DeleteApparently 3 have been bought.
DeleteFlew with same plane with tarom. No more reclining seats. Cheap but ok for short routes.
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying ok for under 1.5hr trips and not so much for longer or those late night turns?
DeleteWell, they are used for short routes :)
Deletehope they use them on BG-LJU! :)
ReplyDeleteThey will :)
DeleteThis was expected considering the new routes they just started.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense sticking with the ATR.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably the best solution at the moment but a short-term solution in my opinion.
DeleteWhat do you suggest would be a long-term solution?
DeleteTo keep the core of the regional fleet as is with ATR
DeleteTo add 10-12 mid size jets (220, SSJ or Embraer) to completely replace A319
To add 2-3 A320
More ATRs are needed to boost regional routes.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to boost regional routes during pandemic.
DeletePandemic will end at one point. Many believe we are seeing its final surge
DeleteI hope they will involve two flights daily, at least 3 day per week for BNX. In tis case this is valuable solution for daily business trip.
DeleteBravo Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteRenewing fleet during pandemic should be commended.
ReplyDeleteFinally! I can't believe it
ReplyDeleteThis is their first major fleet renewal since 2013 when they got the A319s/A320s
ReplyDeleteAny idea what the registrations will be?
ReplyDeleteYU-ALV, YU-ALW i YU-ALX
DeleteLong overdue!
ReplyDeleteDo only pilots have to do retdaining for it or cabin crew too?
ReplyDeleteOnly pilots.
DeleteBtw do you know where they are doing the training? Vršac? Toulouse? Or somewhere else?
DeleteVienna
DeleteNice scoop. I can only imagine how it would be presented on a certain other website with screaming headline EXCLUSIVE + PHOTO 😂😂
ReplyDeleteExclusive, BREAKIG,... we will se after midnight. I think, he will say it is hightime but again it is not enough and not good in long term.
DeleteOf course haha
Deleteyou guys talkin about our old friend from zagreb?
Deletehaha sorry to disappoint but he didn't do anything of the sort, he probably couldn't handle the good news. :D
DeleteI don't understand why they are keeping this so hush hush? Why not officially announce you are renewing your fleet?
ReplyDeleteIt's Air Serbia. They love being secretive for no apparent reason.
DeleteAnd threatening own staff not to leak anything.
DeleteTransparency is not their forte.
DeleteIt must be in good shape if it didn't fly for 3 of the 7 years of its life. Plus I can imagine it was not used much during pandemic times.
ReplyDeleteWhy was it stored for so long?
DeleteHope they take better care of them than the current ATRs.
ReplyDeleteConsidering their age, they are in pretty good condition.
DeleteSo we can expect it in Belgrade in February?
ReplyDeleteLong overdue, but ultimatley great news! Where is JU Mareting team to hype the public about this? This is a step in the good direction for the natiional carrier! :)
ReplyDeletep.s. How much more sustainable / eco-friendly are these newer models? No specs / KPI from this area have been reported within the article.
Speaking of liveries, it seems that Delta stole Air Serbia's idea and was inspired by it:
ReplyDeletehttps://airwaysmag.com/airlines/delta-reveals-team-usa-livery/
Airlines begin to lack creativity these days.....
You must be joking ...Delta stole something from Air Serbia; probably they even didn't hear about Air Serbia not that they stole something from it!... What similarity do you see in between JU and DL liveries??
DeleteUgly livery, although I don't see similarities with JU?
DeleteThis must be the same person who said Delta stole Serbian flag for one of their previous logos :)
DeleteWell, who was first? Air Serbia or Delta? Air Serbia introduced its livery at the beginning of 2021 and Delta did it just now. It is a clear indication of where they go inspired from.
DeleteThe same as SN Brussels livery which was inspired by the Croatian Airlines livery and so on.
Ex-yu keeps winning!
DeleteDoes anyone now if these ATR's have improved landing capabilities in foggy weather i.e. can they use CAT IIIB?
ReplyDeleteNo chance for cat3B, best hope is Cat 2 (100' cieling).
DeleteCat 3A requires HUD.
ATR is Cat II only. Q400 can do Cat IIIa with HUD.
DeleteIs Air Serbia going to lease again 'new' ATRs , or to buy them this time?
ReplyDeleteLong time coming but it's finally here. Once old ATRs are completely replaced, every one ATR in the fleet will have better cabin and improved passenger experience, new glass cockpit, ADS-B, much younger fleet average etc.
ReplyDeleteAnother good side of the ATR72 is that they are quieter than the older versions.
ReplyDeleteIs cargo on the Atr72-600 also in the front?
ReplyDeleteYes, between cockpit and cabin.
Deletei hope that they will include more flights to SJJ and finaly reduce incredibly expensive prices. from SJJ TO BEG and back.
ReplyDeleteTickets to SJJ are so expensive because of the taxes at the airport... Unfortunately
DeleteNot anymore since wizz opened base they abolish expensive taxes everything changed its up to airserbia now
DeleteI wonder if Air Serbia will go for this high density option
ReplyDeleteNo chance. The high density version is achieved by getting rid of much of the cargo hold. So this option is only viable for LCCs.
DeleteIs there a possibility to introduce a business class in this type of aircraft? JU could attract some extra passengers on regional routes ...
ReplyDeleteThey already started and stopped all the training. Shame
ReplyDeletewhy they stopped though :o ??
DeletePeople like to make things up.
DeleteDoes anyone know the difference between -600 and older models in terms of cabin noise?
ReplyDeleteIt is quieter than the two other versions.
DeleteMore seats. ATR72-600 has 78 seats.
DeleteBigger overhead compartment.
Delete@19.21 It has 78 seats only if it is a high density version which it won't be because only LCCs use that. Air New Zealand's ATR72-600s have 68 seats like the ATR72-500.
DeleteWhich LCC is using ATR's?
DeleteCebgo
DeleteWhen these enter the fleet, Air Serbia's avarage fleet age will be younger than OU's
ReplyDeleteyippee !!!
DeleteJU is in every aspect better company than OU and now it is being confirmed also in fleet average age.
Deletehurray !!!
DeleteOf course it is hurray. Air Serbia did a great job to become respectable airline.
DeleteFantastic news. The first really strategic move of Air Serbia so far. Hoe we will see more regional routes and increasing in frequency on existing ones.
ReplyDeleteIt made sense to give priority for the 733 replacement, they were the backbone of their fleet. ATR had to wait a little bit. Kondic's fleet renewal plan is coming to an end, took a while but we got here in the end.
DeleteExactly, this was all planned and talked about at least 6-7 years ago. Boeings are gone, old business class on A330 is gone and now old ATRs are going away. With new Belgrade airport areas being finalized, next step in improving transfer passenger experience is for oldest A gates to be closed for renovation.
DeleteAny idea when A gates will be renovated?
DeleteActually not renovated, but completely rebuilt.
C extension should be opened in April and I expected them to close some older A gates at that time. I believe C1 and C2 could be ready by summer when demand picks up. Don't forget that the C extension will have additional bus gates so many LCCs starting with Wizz Air can migrate to the remote stands.
DeleteWould be great to know if the new remote stands will be also opened in April. It would make a lot of sense.
5 atrs to join by 28.2 with AirSerbia returning all -200s and one - 500.which will leave them with 6 atrs
ReplyDeleteOnly one -500 left in the fleet YU-ALU
ReplyDeleteI think that for regional flights, Embarer 195 is perfect! Great plane, fast, comfortable, looks good...
ReplyDelete