Jat Airways expects to select an aircraft to replace its Boeing 737-300/400s this year, with the latest 737 model seen as the frontrunner.
Jat has a long-standing order for eight Airbus A319s, but the deal has been deferred and the airline is running a new competition. The airline's new general director Aleksandar Milutinovic says that the Next Generation 737 is the preferred option, but adds that any deal will have to be approved by the Serbian government and could be politically influenced because the authorities may seek to maintain good relations with both Europe and the USA.
Milutinovic was appointed by the newly elected Serbian government to replace Jat's former general director Predrag Vujovic, who had revealed a planned $450 million fleet renewal plan just before stepping down.
Meanwhile, the launch of Jat's new low-cost arm IntAirLink has been postponed after the Serbian authorities demanded changes to Jat's senior management.
Source: Flight International
