Air Serbia leases A319 jet
Air Serbia has concluded a long-term lease for an Airbus A319 aircraft, with the jet recently being painted in the carrier’s livery at Shannon Airport in Ireland. The sixteen year-old aircraft was previously operated by Royal Brunei Airlines and Cobalt Air, prior to being stored at Shannon for the past five months. The jet, the ninth of its type in Air Serbia’s fleet, will support the airline’s growing destination network which will see the addition of 21 routes over the next two months. The aircraft has been registered as YU-APK. Its delivery to Belgrade is expected soon. As previously reported, the Serbian carrier will also wet-lease a Bombardier CRJ900 jet from Nordica between June and October.
Air Serbia recently said, "Discussions on the long-term development of our fleet continue to be a part of strategic talks with our partner Etihad Airways. The airline industry is experiencing significant competition, which is becoming stronger. With changes in demand and aggressive competition, as well as fluctuating fuel prices as the biggest fixed cost for any airline, all carriers are carefully examining the long-term development of their fleets”. Air Serbia's existing Airbus fleet, which also includes one wide-body A330-200 jet, has an average age of thirteen years. The airline leases all of its aircraft produced by the European manufacturer.
In January, Air Serbia cancelled an order for ten Airbus A320neo aircraft made on its behalf by Etihad. Deliveries were to commence late last year. However, Serbia’s Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, recently noted the airline’s short haul Airbus fleet would be replaced within a three-year leading up to 2025. “The acquisition of the neos has not been terminated but moved for the period between 2022 and 2025, as the aircraft we have been leasing so far have shown to be very efficient. Since the A319 and A320 have done a stellar job, there is no need to acquire the A320neos at this point. They are better in terms of fuel efficiency, but considering Air Serbia's destination network, which is primarily made up of short haul routes, this efficiency would not give desired results".
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