New Airbus A319 Marks First Step in Evolution of Air Serbia Fleet
25 October 2013
The Airbus A319 unveiled today by Air Serbia marks the first step in a two-phased evolution of the airline’s fleet, to become one of the most modern and efficient in the region.
The 128-seat aircraft, in the new Air Serbia livery of red, blue and white, was unveiled today by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, at an event attended by senior government figures and other VIPs, national and international media, and airline employees.
It is the first of eight Airbus A319s and two A320s leased by Air Serbia, to rapidly modernise the fleet. Air Serbia will receive six of the aircraft within the next two months, each configured to seat eight passengers in a brand new Business Class cabin and 120 in Economy. A further four Airbus aircraft will be delivered next year.
The second phase of the Air Serbia fleet renewal will be a long-term competitive tender for the acquisition of additional aircraft. Aircraft types evaluated for this second phase will include the Airbus A320NEO, Boeing 737MAX and Bombardier CS300, all of which are much more efficient than current aircraft types, delivering both environmental and economic benefits.
Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia, said: "In launching Air Serbia, we have moved quickly to introduce modern Airbus A319s, a massive step up from the existing fleet. Our guests will notice an immediate difference, as we phase in six new aircraft over the next two months, with four more to follow in 2014. This is a rapid deployment of more modern aircraft, allowing us to improve our service offer. The newly leased aircraft will have brand new interiors, which will be immediately noticeable by our guests. They also mean we can integrate with our partners more easily, on issues such as training, simulators, spare parts and so on."
Air Serbia's Airbus A319 aircraft will support the airline's new route network, which will see it double its current frequencies and capacity by June 2014, serving 43 destinations in 30 countries, offering 73,000 seats on over 670 flights per week from Belgrade.
From October 26, 2013, Air Serbia will launch new routes from its hub at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla International Airport to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with new routes to Banja Luka (Bosnia), Bucharest (Romania), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Prague (Czech Republic) launching by the end of the year.
These new flights add to the 29 destinations previously served by the airline.
The Airbus aircraft, network and schedules are key steps in creating an airline that meets the needs of the passengers, whilst also offering superior levels of comfort and service not previously experienced by passengers.