Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Air Serbia Signs Agreement with GetJet Airlines for 4 A320s Lease Starting Summer 2024
Air Serbia is set to bolster its operational capacity by leasing four Airbus A320 aircraft from GetJet Airlines starting in the summer of 2024. This arrangement is not just for the summer peak; it appears to be an 18-month commitment. Interestingly, this isn't a brand-new relationship as Air Serbia has already been utilizing two A320s from GetJet during the winter of 2023, and this will continue into the winter of 2024, albeit with a fleet of four for the summer in between. The planes being provided aren't identical, with seat counts varying between 176 and 180 seats across the four aircraft. Two of the identified planes, registered LYMAL and LYWIL, are not exactly fresh out of the factory, being around 17 and 16.5 years old respectively. Air Serbia is indicating this move is to improve its connections to European destinations. Beyond these A320s, there's talk of bringing in up to four Embraer 190s from Bulgaria Air, suggesting a wider strategy of fleet expansion through leased aircraft. GetJet, the lessor, is a Lithuanian outfit that specializes in this kind of short to medium term aircraft provision, known as ACMI leasing, meaning they provide the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. All these leased planes will operate out of Belgrade airport.
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- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Air Serbia Signs Agreement with GetJet Airlines for 4 A320s Lease Starting Summer 2024
- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Serbia's National Carrier Adds Two E190 Aircraft from Bulgaria Air Through Wet Lease Deal
- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - GetJet A320s Feature Mixed Configuration With 176-180 Seats Per Aircraft
- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Network Expansion Plans Focus on Southern Europe and Middle East Routes
- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Air Serbia's Regional Fleet Grows with 10th ATR Addition in June 2024
- Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - New E195 Aircraft Expected to Join Fleet by March 2025
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Serbia's National Carrier Adds Two E190 Aircraft from Bulgaria Air Through Wet Lease Deal
Following on from the influx of A320s, it appears Air Serbia is also looking at smaller aircraft to boost its network. Two Embraer E190 jets are being brought in from Bulgaria Air, operating under a ‘wet lease’ arrangement. This isn’t the first time Air Serbia has turned to Bulgaria Air for this type of arrangement; they've been running another of their E190s since last year. This recent addition of two more of these Embraer planes suggests a deeper reliance on this strategy, at least in the short term, as these leases are officially until 2025.
The airline seems to be experimenting with Embraer aircraft. While these two E190s are wet-leased, meaning Bulgaria Air provides not just the plane but also the crew and maintenance, Air Serbia is apparently planning to bring in a couple of larger Embraer E195s on a ‘dry lease’ next month. Dry leasing means they get the aircraft bare, and handle crewing and upkeep themselves. This could be a trial period to see how Embraer jets fit into their operations, perhaps with an eye to eventually replacing their older Airbus A319s, as suggested by their CEO last year.
From Bulgaria Air’s perspective, this kind of deal makes sense. Airlines often seek to optimize their fleets and these wet lease arrangements are a way to ensure their aircraft are utilized, especially during seasonal travel peaks. For Air Serbia, wet leasing allows them to quickly adjust capacity without the long-term commitment of purchasing planes. Given the volatility in the travel market recently, this flexibility seems to be increasingly valued by airlines looking to navigate uncertain demand. The Embraer E190s themselves are known for being quite efficient on fuel, which could be another factor in Air Serbia’s decision, especially for regional routes where larger jets might be overkill.
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - GetJet A320s Feature Mixed Configuration With 176-180 Seats Per Aircraft
The Airbus A320s that GetJet is providing to Air Serbia are configured to pack in a fair number of passengers, between 176 and 180 souls per plane. This isn't a spacious layout; expect a predominantly single-class setup, likely focused on maximizing the number of seats. For Air Serbia, this means they're aiming to get as many people as possible onto these routes, particularly during the peak summer season. This configuration probably reflects the kind of travel these planes are intended for – short to medium haul hops where getting bums on seats is the priority. While this boosts capacity, passengers might find themselves in a somewhat denser cabin environment. It's a move that underlines the ongoing trend of airlines squeezing more seats into aircraft, especially on routes where price sensitivity is key. This choice of high-density configuration by GetJet, and its adoption by Air Serbia, is a clear indication of operational efficiency being prioritized for these summer operations.
The four Airbus A320s sourced from GetJet for Air Serbia’s summer operations are configured to carry between 176 and 180 passengers. This variation in seat count across a seemingly uniform aircraft type suggests a pragmatic approach to cabin layout. It’s not uncommon for airlines to tweak configurations depending on intended routes and anticipated passenger loads, even within the same aircraft model. While 180 seats in an A320 is towards the denser end of the spectrum for this aircraft, such configurations are typical in short-haul operations aiming for efficiency. One wonders about the passenger experience in these higher-density layouts, particularly concerning legroom and overall cabin comfort on flights within the European network. This choice in configuration likely reflects Air Serbia’s drive to maximize capacity on its routes during peak season using these leased aircraft.
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Network Expansion Plans Focus on Southern Europe and Middle East Routes
Air Serbia is making moves to enlarge its operational footprint, with a specific eye on developing more routes in Southern Europe and the Middle East. This ambition to expand its network coincides with efforts to increase the size of its fleet for the upcoming summer months. The plan includes bringing in four Airbus A320 planes from GetJet, along with securing leases for additional regional aircraft. This injection of capacity is intended to underpin the network growth, facilitating more connections and a broader range of destinations in these targeted regions. It remains to be seen how effectively this expansion will resonate with passengers, especially given industry-wide pressures often lead to compromises in passenger experience as airlines chase growth.
Air Serbia appears to be prioritizing routes connecting Southern Europe and the Middle East as the geographical targets for its evolving flight network. This appears to be more than just opportunistic route additions; it hints at Belgrade airport’s potential as a more significant transit point for passengers moving between these two regions. This expansion will undoubtedly place them more directly in competition with larger European airlines that already dominate these routes. It’s reasonable to assume they are aiming to capitalize on increased passenger flows, particularly those originating in or destined for the Middle East. Perhaps anticipating shifts in regional travel patterns, the airline is making a calculated move to position itself in these markets.
The implications of this network shift are multifaceted. For travelers, this could translate to potentially more flight options and, depending on competitive pressures,
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - Air Serbia's Regional Fleet Grows with 10th ATR Addition in June 2024
Air Serbia has recently taken delivery of its tenth ATR 72600 regional aircraft back in June 2024. This marked the completion of what appears to be a turboprop fleet refresh. The airline has been swapping out older ATR models for these newer 72600s, suggesting an intent to improve efficiency, and perhaps passenger experience, on its shorter routes. This latest addition, equipped with 72 seats, underscores the airline’s focus on expanding its capacity for regional flights. While much of the attention has been on the arrival of leased Airbus A320s for the summer season, this steady growth in the ATR fleet points to a broader strategy of increasing short-haul flight options. With these fleet changes underway, it remains to be seen if cramming more seats onto more planes translates to a better travel experience overall.
Looking back to June of last year, Air Serbia finalized a notable step in its fleet strategy with the arrival of its tenth ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft. This marked a completion of sorts for their turboprop fleet renewal, a process that commenced in early 2022. This final delivery, registered YU-ASC, wasn't a new build but a nine-year-old airframe fitted with 72 seats from Geven.
The airline's move to standardize on the ATR 72-600 model for regional operations involved phasing out older ATR variants. The attraction of the 72-600 is often touted as its operational economics, a key factor for airlines navigating competitive regional markets. These aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines and sporting a wingspan of just over 27 meters, are designed for shorter routes where passenger volume might not justify larger jets.
Air Serbia's management has previously stated that fleet expansion is a measured process, driven by market analysis rather than simply amassing aircraft. The ten ATRs likely represent a calculated investment in bolstering short-haul capacity, especially considering the airline's broader aim to expand its network within the region. Whether this increased regional capacity will translate to a tangible improvement in connectivity for passengers remains to be fully seen, but the fleet data does indicate a clear direction for their regional operations. Projections for the airline’s total revenue in 2024 exceeding 700 million euros might be seen in light of these capacity increases across both regional and mainline operations. Beyond just ATRs, there were also concurrent expansions with leased Airbus A320s and plans already in motion for additional Embraer aircraft for 2025, suggesting a multi-pronged approach to fleet development.
Air Serbia Expands Summer Fleet with 4 GetJet A320s and Plans Additional Regional Aircraft Leases - New E195 Aircraft Expected to Join Fleet by March 2025
As of March 2025, Air Serbia is expected to integrate an Embraer E195 into its operations. This addition is presented as part of an ongoing effort to modernize and expand their fleet, particularly targeting regional operations. The E195, with its 118-seat configuration, is intended to fill a perceived gap in aircraft size within their existing fleet. Beyond this, Air Serbia continues to signal a focus on regional expansion by incorporating further regional aircraft, including a