Air Serbia unveils its fourth ‘Living legend’ – Predrag ‘Miki’ Manojlović

Air Serbia, the national airline of the Republic of Serbia, has named one of its aircraft after legendary Serbian actor Predrag “Miki” Manojlovic.

Mr Manojlovic is the fourth renowned Serbian national to have his name associated with the carrier as part of its “Living Legends” initiative.

The Airbus A319 aircraft, with “Miki Manojlovic” freshly-painted on the fuselage, was unveiled today during a special ceremony in an aircraft hangar at Nikola Tesla Airport.‎

The “Living Legends” program pays tribute to Serbian nationals who have excelled in their chosen profession and achieved international recognition, and has so far seen aircraft named after tennis star Novak Djokovic, basketball player Vlade Divac and footballer Dejan Stanković.

Mr Manojlovic was selected for his considerable contribution to the development of cinema, theatre and TV in the former Yugoslavia and Serbia during a career that has now spanned nearly five decades.‎

Dane Kondić, Chief Executive of Air Serbia, said: “Miki Manojlovic has provided us with some of the most unforgettable performances in the history of Serbian television, film and theatre and we are delighted to name an aircraft in his honour.

“Miki has had a profound influence on cinema and his dedication to the art form and passion for acting are values that closely resonate with our own commitment to being the best airline in the region.

“So far we have named three aircraft after famous sportsmen but there are many other Serbian cultural icons we can take immense pride in, and Miki is a natural choice for his accomplishments over the years.”

Predrag ‘Miki’ Manojlovic said: “It’s a privilege to be associated with Air Serbia, which is doing a fantastic job of promoting Serbia to the world.

“I remember fondly playing the role of a JAT cabin crew in the 1970’s, and can say that Air Serbia has retained and built on its strong spirit of Serbian hospitality and warmth.”

Mr Manojlovic demonstrated a special talent for acting from his debut in 1970 and in the early part of his career participated in a diverse range of plays across theatres in Belgrade. As a young adult, he became one of the leading actors in the former Yugoslavia and to date has taken on 35 major roles in theatre, ranging from classic to contemporary plays, and 66 roles in film. When it comes to television, he has starred in many memorable series including "The Written Off", "The Unpicked Strawberries”, “Vuk Karadzic” and “On Therapy”.

Outside of the former Yugoslavia, Mr. Manojlovic has appeared in theatres across Europe and his fluency in French, English and Italian has enabled him to make films across most continents of the world. As a leading actor, he has starred in films that won numerous awards, including two Palme d'Or winners in Cannes, including the 1985 film “When Father Was Away on Business” and “Underground” in 1995. He was nominated for the Academy Awards in 1996 and received a nomination for the Golden Globe award in 1998. The European Film Academy nominated Mr. Manojlovic for the Best Actor award in 2007, and in 2012, based on votes from the public and industry professionals, IMDB, the world's 's most popular source for movie and TV content, declared him the best film actor of all time from the former Yugoslavia.

Mr Manojlovic is also heavily involved in charity work through initiatives such as his Belgrade-based "Integration Workshop", which focuses on integrating marginalised groups and individuals and building links between the countries of the region.