Airlines

Serbia is poised to begin the tender process to privatise flag carrier Jat Airways, as soon as details of the privatisation strategy are finalised.

Efforts to find a private partner for the airline started last year, and six "large" but unnamed companies are thought to be interested.

Aeroflot is thought to be the keenest, although current law restricts a controlling stake to a Serbian or European Union-based company. Jat's fleet currently consists of 10 Boeing 737-300s, one -400 and five ATR-72s.

General manager Sasa Vlaisavljevic told Flight that the fleet needs renewal, ideally to include four to five each of 120-seat and 70-seat regional jets and another four or five "ATR-like turboprops".

He adds that a 10-year-old, $339 million Airbus contract "is an issue for a future owner to deal with but should not be an obstacle for successful privatisation".