Air Serbia to wet-lease CRJ900
Air Serbia will add extra capacity to its fleet this coming summer season by wet-leasing a Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft from Estonia's Nordica. The 88-seat jet will join the Serbian carrier's fleet from June 1, enabling it to introduce nine new routes. The lease contract was concluded between Regional Jet, a joint venture between Nordica and LOT Polish Airlines, and Air Serbia for a four-month period. As a result, both aircraft and crew will be provided to the Serbian airline until October. Nordica described the deal as "good and profitable", adding that the two carriers would explore expanding their future cooperation.
This will be the second time Air Serbia has wet-leased a CRJ900 aircraft. It previously used the jet for a three-month period during its last major network expansion, in the summer of 2016, when Adria Airways provided both its crew and equipment. However, Air Serbia utilised the jet free of charge, as Adria was repaying its old debt owed to JAT Yugoslav Airlines through the deal. The Serbian carrier previously said, "The Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft offers excellent performance and passenger comfort levels, and is a great match for network expansion". The incoming aircraft will not be painted in Air Serbia's livery, while the cabin crew on board will be Estonian, with exception to an Air Serbia guest ambassador.
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| Nordica CRJ900 cabin |
Air Serbia is yet to schedule the CRJ900 within its network. During its last stint at utilising the jet three years ago, it was deployed on flights to Kiev, Hamburg and Sofia. The Serbian carrier is planning one of its busiest summers to date with the introduction of seven new year-round routes and two seasonal services, as well as an increase in frequencies on a number of destinations. Furthermore, the airline will operate close to 1.000 charters flights. In addition to the CRJ900, the carrier will maintain operations with eight Airbus A319, two A320, one A330, six ATR72 and three Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Earlier this year, the airline's part-owner Etihad Airways cancelled an order for ten A320neo jets which were destined for Air Serbia. Airbus returned the 23.5 million dollar deposit payment for the aircraft to the Serbian carrier in January.
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