Air Serbia to expand Airbus fleet
Air Serbia has confirmed it plans to expand its Airbus fleet this coming summer to cater for increased demand and its growing route network. The carrier noted it would provide details on its Airbus fleet expansion in due course. Recent media reports have suggested Air Serbia could take on some single-aisle aircraft from its minority shareholder Etihad Airways. The Emirati carrier, which boasts nineteen Airbus A320 jets in its fleet has eleven of them momentarily grounded in Abu Dhabi. On the other hand, Air Serbia has nine A319s in its fleet, all of which are in active service. In addition, it has one A320 jet, which is currently undergoing maintenance and is expected to return into operation in the coming days.
The coronavirus pandemic has seen Air Serbia reduce its fleet size and renegotiate leasing contracts. However, the need for additional aircraft was illustrated last summer when the airline was forced to wet-lease a Boeing 737-700 jet to meet demand for leisure flights. The Serbian Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, who served as the President of Air Serbia’s Supervisory Board between 2013 and 2018, previously said the carrier would replace its A319 and A320 jets between 2022 and 2025. In 2018, Etihad Airways cancelled its order for ten A320neo aircraft made nine years ago, that were to be delivered to equity partner Air Serbia. Deliveries were initially due to begin in November 2018 and were set to completely replace the airline’s existing fleet of A319s and A320s by 2020.
Air Serbia began the renewal of its ATR fleet earlier this year, with the first of five newer turboprops already in service. Additional aircraft of the same type are expected to arrive in Belgrade in the coming weeks. They will replace the carrier’s old ATRs, one of which has already left the fleet. “Our ambition is to continue to develop further as a regional leader and the upgraded turboprop fleet is an essential step on this path”, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said. The Serbian carrier is set to introduce fourteen new routes to its network this summer season, increase frequencies across its existing destinations, and is expected to boast another record summer charter flight program.
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