Air Serbia handled over 4.531.000 passengers within a single calendar year on Sunday, December 28, overtaking the annual passenger record set by its predecessor JAT Yugoslav Airlines in 1987. “This result is particularly significant considering that JAT at the time operated in a much larger market. After nearly four decades, Air Serbia, as the successor of this company, proudly writes a new chapter in the history of Serbian aviation, based on long-term vision and sustainable development », the company said.
JAT’s 1987 passenger structure
In 1987, JAT carried 4.5 million passengers with a fleet of up to 33 aircraft, although no more than thirty were in active operation at any one time. This was due to the phased delivery of new Boeing 737-300s and ATR42s throughout the year, alongside the conclusion of short-term leases of two DC-10 aircraft from Finnair (eighteen months) and Martinair (three months). During the same period, JAT leased out one Boeing 727 to Turkish Airlines and retired its final Boeing 707. The airline recorded an average cabin load factor of 69.3% in 1987, a figure that should be viewed in the context of the era, when carriers commonly operated multiple-sector flights. Scheduled long-haul services achieved the highest cabin occupancy, with an average load of 74% over the twelve-month period. The airline uplifted 38.558 tons of cargo.
The year 1987 marked an important milestone for JAT. During this period, the airline introduced automated ticketing at its Belgrade head office, launched a second cargo-only service to Paris to complement its existing London operation, and banned smoking on domestic flights. It also expanded its new business class product, Adriatic Class, onto domestic services. Beyond its core passenger operations, JAT signed an agreement with Paris-based SNECMA (today known as Safran), one of the world’s leading civil aircraft engine manufacturers, for the joint construction of a jet-engine test stand in Belgrade. The airline also expanded its non-aviation and support infrastructure, opening the Sunny Peaks hotel complex on Kopaonik Mountain and a new 8.000-square-metre catering facility in Belgrade. At the same time, in 1987, JAT continued its fleet modernisation, taking delivery of new Boeing 737s, a DC-10 and ATR42 aircraft, while also placing an order for the acquisition of three ATR72s and a letter of intent for the purchase of new MD-11 jets, for which it would become the launch customer. During the year, JAT introduced new routes including Los Angeles and Calcutta, as well as wide-body operations between Ljubljana and London Heathrow.
Commenting on the record, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “During this year, Air Serbia recorded the highest traffic volume since its establishment, thanks to the continuous expansion of its destination network, increased flight frequencies and constant improvement of service quality. The record results achieved reflect strong passenger demand and growing trust in the Air Serbia brand”. He added, “The company will continue to optimise its capacity with the aim of providing passengers with even greater comfort and convenience during travel. We are working intensively on personalising the passenger experience and transforming traditional service into a modern, digitally supported, and customer-oriented offering. By combining tradition, innovation and technology, we are introducing our own loyalty programme for the first time, which will allow members to enjoy enhanced benefits and earn points even when they do not fly. Breaking the record in passenger numbers represents a strong confirmation of the correctness of Air Serbia’s strategic direction – investment in fleet, technology and people, with a constant commitment to service quality. The national airline will continue to actively shape the future of travel, where speed, simplicity and an excellent passenger experience are key indicators of success”.
Articles on December 31 will be published earlier, at 07:00 CET, to accommodate readers across different time zones on the last day of the year