Vintage

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Vintage photos celebrating the rich legacy of the aviation industry in the former Yugoslavia, published by EX-YU Aviation News throughout 2025

Updated each Saturday evening, click on photo to enlarge

Past volumes: 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

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Following the 1984 Farnborough Airshow, the Dash 8 -100 series embarked on a three-month promotional tour around Europe. A special presentation for aviation stakeholders and the press was held at Ljubljana Airport in October of that year with the aim of securing an order from Inex-Adria, which had earlier that year taken delivery of its first Dash 7s

Loading cargo onto a JAT B707, 1979. JAT ran sizeable cargo operations, which brought it significant revenue. The carrier used two B707s for cargo operations, with a joint capacity to uplift 100.000 tons and later also ran two cargo-only routes – to London and Paris using leased Antonov An-12 aircraft. Yugoslavia’s export-oriented economy also contributed to the success of its cargo division

JAT sales office in downtown Sarajevo. Located in the city’s first highrise building, the Vakufski Tower, commonly referred to as the JAT Tower by locals. It not only featured the airline’s sales office but also boasted a large JAT logo at the top of the 40-metre building. JAT also had another sales office in Sarajevo, at the Holiday Inn Hotel

Inex-Adria 1983 newspaper ad for its new scheduled Ljubljana - Belgrade - Larnaca service (JP934/935). Six years later, on May 22, 1989, the route was the first on which Adria deployed its brand new A320 aircraft

Future JAT crew undergoing training at the JAT school academy. During the 1977/78 academic year, the JAT school academy in Belgrade and JAT flight academy in Vršac welcomed 50 cadet pilots, 90 pilots transitioning to different aircraft types, 20 mechanics, 40 new ground staff, 70 new cabin crew members and 400 cabin crew undergoing recurrent training

Adria Airways' first A320 undergoing painting in April 1989 prior to delivery. The aircraft was the 43rd A320 ever produced, the first A320 in Yugoslavia's register (YU-AOA) and the first A320 powered by new IAE engines

JAT’s flagship sales office in downtown Belgrade. Located in Marshall Tito Street, it was the largest sales office within JAT’s network, employing 145 people. The office had special sales desks for premium, as well as corporate travellers. It was closed in 2013 when Jat Airways was acquired by Etihad Airways

Delivery of JAT's first DC-10 aircraft named "Nikola Tesla" on December 12, 1979. Instead of champagne, the aircraft was welcomed with spring water from Tesla's native Smiljan (pictured), while the act of christening the jet was performed by the best pupil from Smiljan elementary school