EX-YU Aviation News

Croatia Airlines posts strong pre-summer growth despite fuel price pressures

2026-05-30T09:00:00.000+02:00

Croatia Airlines handled 569.415 passengers during the January - April period, representing an increase of 104.108 travellers compared to 2025, or growth of 22.4%. On domestic flights, the airline carried 140.292 passengers, up 11%, or by 13.887 travellers year-on-year. On scheduled international traffic, the carrier transported 424.437 passengers, representing an improvement of 26% or an additional 87.454 customers on the same period last year. In charter operations, the airline carried 4.686 passengers, up by 2.767 year-on-year. “The achieved results confirm the continuation of the company’s strong operational growth and the increase of Croatia Airlines’ market share within the Croatian aviation sector”, the company said.

The strong passenger growth was complemented by an increase in available seat capacity. The airline added 122.621 seats over the four-month period, representing an increase of 15%. This is despite the number of operated flights growing by just 2.7%. The capacity growth is the result of the airline’s transition to an all-Airbus A220 fleet. However, capacity growth is expected to slow, with the four-month period from May onwards showing the number of available seats increasing by 0.7% year-on-year, while the number of scheduled flights will decline by 0.4% after the airline trimmed its schedule in response to high fuel prices.

Commenting on its results during the first four months of the year, Croatia Airlines said, “The strong traffic growth during the first four months of 2026 is particularly important in the context of the pre-summer season, in which air connectivity plays a key role in boosting tourist arrivals and extending the tourism year. As a national carrier operating year-round, Croatia Airlines continuously contributes to the accessibility of Croatian destinations and the country’s connectivity with key European markets. In this way, the airline makes an important contribution to Croatian tourism, not only during the peak summer season, but also during periods when it is especially important for destinations to stimulate additional demand and ensure stable traffic flows”.

Tribute to generations of flight attendants in EX-YU aviation

2026-05-30T08:59:00.000+02:00

Written by Veljko Marinković

Every year on May 31, the aviation community comes together to celebrate International Flight Attendants’ Day- a heartfelt occasion to thank a group of professionals who add a personal touch at 10,000 meters in the sky. For most of the passengers, flight attendants are the kind, friendly faces that greet them onboard, serve refreshments, and work hard to make sure their journey is smooth and comfortable. But behind those calm smiles are dedicated and highly trained safety professionals, ready to handle emergencies, provide first aid, manage complex situations, and make sure everyone on board reaches their destination safely. Along with the tales of some remarkable individuals in EX-YU aviation, this story illustrates how the role of flight attendants has evolved over time.

First Yugoslav flight attendant» First JAT flight attendant» First millionaire on EX-YU sky» Dragica Pavlović Njanja, 1949

The first cabin crew members, flight attendants or stewardesses and stewards on YU-marked aircraft made their debut in 1947. In August of that year, the Belgrade-based daily Politika announced a competition held by the Chief of the Aviation Transportation Administration. They were looking for a number of young women and men to join the team and work on international flights. Applicants needed to know foreign languages, and the age limit was set at 35. Initially, five candidates were hired, but three of them didn’t stay long. The training lasted seven months and covered everything from emergency procedures to meteorology, commercial matters, tourism geography, and the history of the destinations served by JAT at the time.

Like any new beginning, those early days were quite challenging, especially in the post-war years. The working conditions and passenger service by flight attendants were quite different from today - in fact, they were more than Spartan. For example, there was no proper transportation for crew members to and from the airport. At first, a truck would leave from the Old Bridge on the Sava River. Later, when Belgrade’s new airport began operating at the current site, bus transportation was organised from the JAT office near St. Mark's Church. However, the buses only ran a few times a day, so cabin crew often had to wait several hours at the airport for their flights. In those early years, if a flight attendant was late for the bus and a replacement was already on standby, the plane might leave without them.

On board JAT DC-3, inflight service » JAT steward Krsta Janković and flight crew: Marković Milorad-Markos and Živorad-Žika Janković » Helena Pursnik, preparing for boarding on YU-ABM (the bottom row, the first picture) » Gymnast Vera Marić swapped her competition leotard for the blue JAT uniform and welcomed passengers on domestic and international flights » 1950s

In the early years, all flights were operated by DC-3 aircraft, which lacked on-ground heating or cooling, making the crew's task even more challenging. Typically, only one flight attendant was on duty for the entire flight, which, due to the plane's slow cruising speed and multiple stops, could last several hours or even a whole day. The absence of cabin pressurisation on the DC-3 meant less comfort, especially when flying over high mountains. Considering that for most passengers it was their very first flight ever, understandably, fear was quite common, adding extra pressure on the cabin crew. When seats were eventually added to the DC-3, the flight attendant didn’t have a seat of her own but sat in a pre-reserved 28-seat area next to the passengers, leading to many amusing stories during flights. Stewardesses would greet each passenger personally, assist with coats, fasten seatbelts, and share all important flight information. They also served tea and cakes during the journey, and sandwiches on longer flights - preparing these themselves during the flight, since in those early days, there was no modern catering as we have today.

Back in those early days, flight attendants warmly greeted passengers at the aircraft door, saluting with a raise of the hand. Since the DC-3's door was quite low, flight attendants would gently protect passengers' heads with their white-gloved hands as they boarded. Milica Lukić, in her book "Memoirs of a Flight Attendant", recalls that some passengers would deliberately shake hands with flight attendants simply to boast about it later, a reflection of the prestige and respect the profession commanded in former Yugoslav society.

The first stewardess hired was the then-33-year-old Dragica Pavlović-Njanja, who became a beloved and well-known figure in Yugoslav aviation. She was admired as a pioneer who helped lay the groundwork for the profession of the flight attendant. Interestingly, though Dragica had first heard about JAT through an advertisement and entered a job competition, she did not expect to be accepted because of the stiff competition from other beautiful women. As a result, she found another job in the meantime.

However, her impressive multilingual skills in French, Italian, English, German and Spanish ultimately helped her secure a position at JAT - even though she had never flown on a plane before. In 1954, Dragica broke a new record as the first stewardess and woman in Yugoslav aviation to receive the Order of Labor III class for flying a million kilometers. She became the first Yugoslav millionaire among pilots and radio operators. After her flying career, she became head of ground crew at Belgrade Airport, where she worked until retirement (in 1978). Dragica passed away at the age of 75 in Belgrade.

Dragica Pavlović-Njanja in retirement and during her working days

Commemorative plaque awarded to Dragica Pavlović for flying over 1.000.000 kilometers

Alongside Dragica, it's important to highlight other cabin crew members who left a lasting impact during JAT's early years, pioneers in this demanding profession, like Ana Barišić, Ivanka Delaš, Mića Hinić (the most famous JAT steward), Milica Lukić, Ksenija Radulović, Marija Gmazel, and Jagoda Slijepčević.

Ana began her career with JAT in 1955 and was the first flight attendant to retire from the position after 22 years, during which she logged 20.000 flying hours on various aircraft types in the fleet. Jagoda’s life was truly extraordinary. Born in 1935 in present-day Croatia, she was taken to the Jasenovac concentration camp at age six during the onset of World War II and survived thanks to Dijana Budisavljević. At 15, she forged her birth certificate to start working as a typist for JAT, and by 20, in 1956, she was flying as a stewardess on a DC-3. Over her thirty-year flying career, she earned licenses for all aircraft types in the fleet, served as an instructor, head of service, and later head of the DC-10 department. She was among the few who flew all types - from piston-engine planes to wide-body jets - and accumulated over 16.000 hours in the air. After retiring from flying, Jagoda worked at the JAT office on Fifth Avenue in New York from 1985. Following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, she transferred to Delta Airlines, retiring in 2016. Jagoda Slijepčević passed away in 2020 at age 85.

JAT STW Ana Barišić serving President Tito » Tito photographed and signed the picture featuring STWs Milica Jakulić and Spomenka Janjušević. Until the mid-1970s, JAT cabin crews were flying on all presidential flights on the Convair 340/400, DC-6B, and Caravelle SE-210 aircraft. After the acquisition of the B727, selected cabin crew members were specially trained at JAT’s training center and flew exclusively on presidential flights » JAT STWs Vujka Đurić and Lela Barić in front of Convair YU-ADM, 1969 » Marija Kuhar, Ksenija Radulović, and Persida Radić (from left to right). Marija and Ksenija began flying in 1950, while Persida started in 1956 » After flight » Anica Ostojić, during service onboard JAT DC-3. She was awarded the Order of Courage - a wartime honor for extraordinary bravery

JAT STWs during the opening of the new Zadar airport, 1969 » In-flight service » STW Milena Ribar (top, right corner) » Slobodanka Gavranović with her colleague Goran Kovačević at Frankfurt Airport. Slobodanka was one of the crew members who lost their lives in the explosion of JAT’s DC-9 aircraft over Czechoslovakia (1972) » JAT STW Radmila Živković was chosen as Miss Elegance at the beauty contest for the world’s most beautiful flight attendant in Uruguay, 1969

In 1961, the second Yugoslav airline, Adria Aviopromet (later known as Adria Airways), began operations. The first flight attendant for Adria was Ida Globočnik Pernuš, who was already a seasoned cabin crew member with previous experience at JAT. She assembled a team of four additional flight attendants: Maja Pečar, Gordana Tomljenović, Miša Grünfeld, and Metka Zavašnik. Ida ensured that the team acquired essential knowledge and passed exams in aviation subjects, foreign languages, emergency procedures, navigation, meteorology, geography, art history and first aid. After passing these exams and medical checks at the military medical commission in Belgrade, they started their duties. Soon, Vida Jarc, another notable figure in EX-YU aviation, joined the team.

Cover page of the Slovenian magazine Tovariš from 1962, featuring the first Adria Airways flight attendants: Maja Pečar, Gordana Tomljenović, Miša Grünfeld, Metka Zavašnik, and Ida Globočnik Pernuš

Initially, unlike JAT, Adria mainly operated charter flights with the DC-6B aircraft, including notable flights to the United States and Canada. Working conditions were demanding - flights often lasted over ten hours, and the crew had to prepare multiple meals. Before the opening of Ljubljana’s new Brnik Airport, flights operated from Zagreb, necessitating additional ground travel from Ljubljana to Zagreb. Despite these challenges, the professionalism of the cabin crew was evident from the beginning, significantly contributing to Adria's growth and reputation.

There is no available data about the first flight attendants at Pan Adria and Aviogenex.

Adria Airways crew with DC-6B and DC-8 » Vesna Bezlaj, Vili Konte and Ida Globočnik Pernuš before flight to Algiers » Adria STWs during opening of the new airport in Ohrid » First Adria STW Ida Globočnik Pernuš » Maja Pečar during service onboard DC-6B YU-AFB » Crew in front of DC-8: Jože Leban, Slavko Zupančić, Nataša Šramel, Metka Jančar-Kvas, Silvo Popov and Drago Krstić (1972) » Posing with the DC-9: Captain Krumpak, Nadja Flajs, Nada Serjanik, Andrej Srjaka » Rebeka Porenta, Bronja Slatnar, Mojca Sedej, Jerka Žmavac, 1980s » Duška Stružnik, 1980s » Vida Jarc, last flight, after 30 years of flying. Vida was among the first flight attendants to begin flying with Adria Airways. Behind her were flights on DC-8, DC-6, DC-9 and A320 aircraft, with which she traveled to all continents and trained several new generation of young flight attendants, 1990 » One of Adria's first STW, Miša Tičar, 1960s

Onboard Adira Airways DC-6B, DC-9 and Airbus A320 » JP STW Desanka Bassin, 1970s » Inauguration of a charter route to Israel, 1987 » Crew for delivery flight of the first A320, 1988

In the first years of flying, JAT's flight attendant count was limited to five. The deployment of CV-340/440s on international routes increased the cabin crew to two per aircraft, prompting JAT to hire additional staff. With the introduction of the Caravelle jet, crew numbers rose to 70 by 1970 and continued to grow rapidly, reaching around 1.000 by the late 1980s.

Meanwhile, Adria had roughly 200 air hostesses in the late 80s, and Aviogenex about ninety during peak season. During JAT’s best days, the airline’s hiring ratio favored stewardesses, with the rule that for every two new female cabin crew members, one steward was hired. In contrast, Aviogenex did not employ men as cabin crew on its flights. Due to the strong seasonality of flights, newly hired cabin crew at JAT, after completing their training at the airline’s training center and fulfilling the necessary flights to obtain their licenses, were not immediately offered permanent positions. Instead, they were placed on "stand-by" status, flying only occasionally or as required. This arrangement often lasted for several years before they were finally granted permanent employment.

Aviogenex’s first cabin crew members with Tupolev TU-134 » 1970s

Onboard Aviogenex TU-134, Boeing 737-200adv and Boeing 727-200adv

Larger aircraft changed cabin crew operations and expanded responsibilities. For instance, emergency procedures evolved with Convair aircraft, requiring crew to be trained for rope evacuations, unlike the DC-3. First class onboard Caravelle also necessitated extra training for hot meals and equipment use. The DC-9 introduced trolleys for service, simplifying work but demanding additional training. Flights became shorter yet more frequent; crews previously stayed for days during layovers, often in private homes at the Adriatic coast, but later stayed in hotels.

First Yugoslav jet aircraft, Caravelle and its crew » JAT purser Zora Petrović, last briefing before departure to Paris (1967) » JAT STW Mirjana Đurić welcoming passengers with a smile in front of the aircraft. She has been flying for JAT for three years, and before becoming a flight attendant, she wanted to be an actress (1967) » Dragica Mitrić during meal preparation. On the flight from Belgrade to Munich via Zagreb, hot cheese pie, a popular gibanica, was served, while on the return flight, the lunch menu included roast meat, cake and fruits (1967)

The remaining memories highlight that crews often requested an extra flight when their layover destination was Beirut, known as the "Paris of the Middle East", especially during the 1960s and early 1970s. Beirut was celebrated for its cosmopolitan culture, French influence, lively nightlife and high-fashion scene. Among domestic routes, crews typically avoided the so-called "čavka flights", which involved an early-morning departure from Belgrade to Podgorica, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Tivat, and back to Zagreb. After an overnight stay in Zagreb, the return flight in the early morning would follow a route through Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje, Tivat and finally Belgrade. Initially, mail was also carried on morning flights to Podgorica, requiring the cabin to switch from cargo to passenger mode - a task that was part of the flight attendant’s responsibilities.

Service onboard Caravelle jet » Service onboard Boeing 707, from Bangkok to Belgrade » New uniforms (1974) » Ksenija Radulović and Dragan Đukanović, crew members of the JU210 to London (1967)

The bravery and dedication of cabin crew have been recorded countless times throughout the history of EX-YU aviation. Here are just a few examples.

It was a Friday, June 10, 1951. The DC-3 YU-ABE was flying on its route from Belgrade to Zagreb, Munich and Frankfurt. The crew onboard was truly memorable: Captain Branislav Majcen, F/O Marko Nikolajčević, mechanic Vasilije Vorkapić, telegraph operator Dujo Delaš, and stewardess Anica Ostojić. Anica, a lovely blonde from Zemun and one of the first JAT flight attendants, had started her career in the summer of 1950. The weather was bright and clear that day. On the return flight from Frankfurt to Belgrade, somewhere before Munich, at an altitude of about 1.500 meters, the cabin suddenly filled with smoke. Soon, they discovered that a package in the baggage compartment - located between the cockpit and passenger cabin - was completely on fire. The passengers didn't notice the danger until Captain Majcen entered the passenger area, completely on fire, trying to put out the flames. The sight of the burning captain surprised everyone. Calmly and confidently, Anica Ostojić reassured the passengers, telling them to stay calm since there was no danger. Together, they patiently waited with their seatbelts fastened for the emergency landing, demonstrating remarkable courage and composure.

The crew skillfully landed the DC-3 in a nearby field after its cabin filled with thick, black smoke, just before reaching Munich Airport. Stewardess Anica and Delaš quickly evacuated all the passengers from the burning aircraft. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Anica even managed to retrieve the mail from the plane. Interestingly, Captain Majcen returned to the smoky aircraft to ensure all passengers had been safely evacuated, discovered his pilot's jacket, and took it because it contained important flight data. The crew sustained burns across their bodies, except for Anica, who cared for the passengers, and they were later accommodated in a hotel. The rest of the crew was taken to a Munich hospital. Despite having only flown for a year, 24-year-old Anica Ostojić was awarded the Order of Courage - an honor typically given during wartime for extraordinary bravery. She received this recognition while serving as a flight attendant. She stopped flying a year later after getting married, as, at that time, married flight attendants were no longer permitted to continue in the profession.

It’s truly impressive how flight attendants need to be fully prepared for every possible situation and surprise during a flight. A great example is the JU 600 flight from Belgrade to Sydney, where the crew, led by purser Radoje Rakočević-Roki, skillfully handled the remarkable event of delivering a baby boy onboard a JAT Boeing 707. Based on the available information, there had only been one previous case in aviation history, highlighting the dedication and versatility of aviation professionals. Roki later found a new passion and shifted his career from serving passengers to piloting aircraft, safely flying JAT's Boeing 727 across Europe and the Mediterranean for many years.

In 1974, an incident showcased the crews' professionalism during a return flight from Paris. As the aircraft approached Belgrade Airport, a dry-leased YU-AJN DC-9-30 from Inex Adria-Aviopromet to JAT, landed 2.5 kilometers short of runway 30 at Bežanija Hills. This occurred when the pilots lost visual contact with the runway due to poor crew management and failure to follow standard procedures during the final approach. Although there were no signs of an imminent crash, the cabin crew - Anđelka Pandžić, Milica Panić, and Izabela Novosel - along with a JAT pilot onboard as a passenger (Adam Anđelković), stayed calm, professional and efficiently evacuated all 44 passengers in just over a minute. The DC-9, which was then engulfed in flames, was damaged beyond repair. Subsequently, JAT management reworded the cabin crew's roles.

Regrettably, the tragic events involving JAT, Inex Adria-Aviopromet and Aviogenex resulted in the loss of life among crew members carrying out their work duties. The first Yugoslav flight attendant to lose her life in an aviation accident was 19-year-old Marija Gmazel. She died in the DC-3 YU-ACC crash near Skopje in 1951, having been a flight attendant for just six months. Interestingly, Marija always dreamed of becoming a pilot. She often visited the cockpit, eager to learn more about flying. On a flight from Belgrade to Ljubljana in May 1951, the captain kindly let her take the controls. She recorded her first flight hours as a first officer in her logbook, unofficially making her the first female pilot in the region.

Today, we remember and honor the brave flight and cabin crews who tragically lost their lives in aviation accidents, including the JAT Convair crash in Vienna, the Caravelle crash near Podgorica, the Adria MD-accidents on Corsica and over Zagreb, the JP crash during landing at Prague Airport, and the Aviogenex Tupolev Tu-134A (YU-AHZ) that crashed on approach to Rijeka Airport on Krk Island in 1971. Their dedication and service are remembered with deep respect and gratitude. During one such tragic event, the name of another flight attendant - Vesna Vulović - remains etched in the history of EX YU aviation.

Vesna Vulović » 1970s

On January 26, 1972, Vesna was on board DC-9-32 YU-AHT, flying from Stockholm to Belgrade with a scheduled stop in Copenhagen, as JAT Yugoslav Airlines flight JU367. Interestingly, she shouldn’t have been on the flight initially, as reports suggest she was assigned to the five-person crew that day due to a mix-up with another flight attendant of the same name.

While flying over Czechoslovakia, the JAT DC-9 exploded in mid-air, breaking into three sections that crashed near Srbska Kamenica close to the East German border, in what is now the Czech Republic. Vesna was ejected at an altitude of 33.300 feet (10.160 meters) after the explosion, caught by a food cart in the tail section, and fell into a mountain range in Czechoslovakia. She survived, setting a Guinness World Record for the highest fall without a parachute, at just 23 years old. Sadly, all 27 other passengers and crew died.

Vulović was rescued by Bruno Honke, a woodsman who heard her screaming amid the debris. She spent 16 months in the hospital after emerging from a 27-day coma but eventually made a near-complete recovery and returned to work at JAT's sales office. Though she had no memory of the crash or her rescue, Vesna continued flying as a passenger. She became a Yugoslav national heroine and actively participated in protests for democracy in the 1990s, becoming a role model who is more than needed nowadays. She passed away in Belgrade in 2016 at age 66. Her incredible survival story continues to inspire globally, and she remains a symbol of resilience against all odds, inspiring generations with her courage and extraordinary story of survival.

Vesna Vulović at her new workplace in the JAT sales office on Kralja Milana Street in Belgrade (1976) » Guinness Hall of Fame: Paul McCartney, Vesna Vulović, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Billy Jean King, and Col. Jole Kittinger (1979) » At Tito’s New Year’s Party » Newspaper article about Vesna published in Polish daily - Skrzydlata Polska (1973).

The launch of JAT's intercontinental flights in 1970 brought exciting changes for the cabin crew profession and truly helped make the flight attendant role a highly appealing career choice. Flying on the Boeing 707, the largest aircraft in the fleet at the time, was an unforgettable experience for many crew members who remembered it vividly. The size of the plane, new operational procedures, and the overall picture had a big influence on the crew.

For example, the Boeing 707, especially on those routes over water, carried inflatable life rafts stored along the ceiling of the passenger cabin. These were compact, ready-to-deploy emergency life-saving devices in case of an emergency water landing (ditching). Flights became longer, often during the night, crossing multiple time zones. Departing from snow-covered Belgrade in winter and arriving at tropical destinations took a toll on crew health. On flights to Australia, crews spent a month in Singapore, flying between Singapore and Sydney, which meant being away from their families. In those early years of intercontinental flights, only charter flights operated. JAT didn’t have station managers at all stopover airports, so cabin crew members often took on extra duties, such as arranging accommodations or meals for passengers during delays or cancellations, even providing transportation to hotels, and handling various impossible situations.

In the JAT training center » In New York, on Times Square, 1980s » JAT spokesmodel Ksenija Pavlović-Petrovski, 1973 (middle row, first pics from the left). In 1970, when JAT was set to renew its fleet with modern jet aircraft, out of 170 stewardesses, after intensive observation and consultation, Ksenija was selected to become the company’s first mascot. Ksenija, then a student of Philology at the University of Belgrade, became the public face and symbol of JAT. In the years that followed, she appeared on the covers of domestic and international magazines, her voice was heard on Yugoslav radio stations, and her presence aboard aircraft bearing the YU registration markings attracted the attention, curiosity, and sympathy of passengers. After her flying career, Ksenija continued working in JAT’s Advertising and Public Relations Department until her retirement » JAT crew and brand new DC-9, on the right STWD Sava Vojvodić » Crew before delivery flight of the first JAT DC-10, YU-AMA » Zagreb Airport ground stuff » Ljiljana Petrovska and Slavica Radulović in front of the Boeing 707, 1972 » JAT crew in front of the JAT Green Train in Ljubljana, 1985

On the other hand, flights to distant destinations always carried a certain prestige. Flight attendants had the special opportunity to visit places most citizens of the former Yugoslavia could only dream of; the opportunity to get to know other cultures and peoples, and to purchase items that were not available locally. This made JAT's job advertisements particularly attractive, often drawing more applicants than there were vacant positions.

It’s no surprise that, throughout Yugoslav aviation history, the profession of flight attendant attracted a diverse range of young men and women- many of whom later became well-known or had connections to famous people. For instance, Edvard Broz, Tito's grandson, served as a JAT flight attendant for several years, while his wife, Vera, dedicated her entire career to flying with JAT. Mirko, the son of renowned footballer Blagoja Moše Marjanović, also proudly wore JAT’s blue uniform. There were even children of prominent Yugoslav generals and politicians among them. Interestingly, before her successful career in journalism, Mira Adanja Polak spent six months flying as a flight attendant on both domestic and international routes. Radmila Živković, Miss Yugoslavia 1969/1970, was a familiar face on JAT flights, just like Tamara Raonić, who later became a well-known TV personality. Among them were also flight attendants married to well-known personalities, such as Biljana, the wife of Milovan Ilić Minimaks, and Emilija Jović, the wife of Leo Martin. The current President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, was flying as a flight attendant for Adria Airways and Croatia Airlines while she was a student.

Tamara Raonić - the winner of the competition for the most beautiful JAT flight attendant, 1989 » JAT cabin crew and DC-10 and Boeing 737 during the 1980s

Cover page of the magazine Ilustrovana Politika. At the initiative of the magazine and with the assistance of JAT, which provided the tickets, Irina Magarašević Deng (pictured with her husband) arrived in Belgrade from the Chinese city of Harbin to meet her father’s family for the first time. The moment of arrival at Belgrade Airport » 1987

The mid-1980s are often regarded as the golden age for the flight attendant profession in EX-YU aviation. Working on a DC-10 in the JAT fleet, flying to long-haul destinations, marked a complete shift in the nature of the job and was the dream of every flight attendant. The introduction of the most modern aircraft at the time, the Boeing 737-300, further improved working conditions and brought innovations. According to crew testimonies, whenever JAT’s first 737, YU-AND - with Europe’s first in-flight entertainment system - landed at a foreign airport, it drew the attention of other crews and filled the domestic crew with pride and a smile. They eagerly shared, in every detail, what the new aircraft was capable of. The breakup of Yugoslavia also affected the profession of flight attendants, who over time began flying for foreign airlines as well.

JAT and Jat Airways crew during the 1990s and 2000s

Being a flight attendant today is quite a demanding role. The job involves irregular schedules, long working hours, often pushing close to the legal limit, while managing pressure from both management and passenger sides. Additionally, it means being away from loved ones. A cabin crew member today must simultaneously be a rescuer, firefighter, representative of the airline, ambassador of the country, mother and father, diplomat, social worker, nurse, translator, and much more.

Despite these challenges, flight attendants consistently demonstrate professionalism and warmth, reminding us that aviation is about more than just the size of the fleet, new destinations, or profits - it is about people. As Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić once expressed, he admired flight attendants who “endure to the end of the flight with a smile, even though she knows that something on the plane is not working properly”.

Sources:

JAT inflight magazine: JAT Review and JAT New Review, JAT News

JAT: The story of Yugoslav airlines, Čedomir Janić, Grizelj Jug, Lukač Sergije, 1987

JAT: A seventy-year-long flight, Kovač Lidija, Simišić, Jovo, Janić, Čedomir, Pršić Milutin, 1997

JAT: More Than Flying: eight decades of Aeroput and JAT, Simišić Jovo, Janić Čedomir, 2007

There was once a JAT, Simišić Jovo, 2022, 2025

Memoirs of a Flight Attendant, Milica Lukić, 2000

The Profession of a Flight Attendant - How to Become an Air Hostess, Zoran Modli

Avijatika magazine

Politika newspapers and magazines

Borba newspapers

More EX-YU Aviation vintage features

DC-3 in the JAT fleet - a plane that shaped an era The complete story of JAT’s iconic Boeing 737 fleet 50 years since the launch of Yugoslavia - Australia flights 50-year throwback: JAT's tour around the world 95 years of Belgrade - Skopje flights 75 years of Belgrade - Zurich flights Convair 340/440: JAT’s gamechanger aircraft Sarajevo Airport and the 1984 Winter Olympic Games Celebrating sixty years of Ljubljana Airport A century of flying from Belgrade Sixty years of the jet age and the first Caravelle in Yugoslavia Sixty years of Belgrade Airport World's oldest passenger B737-300 in operation turns 35

Air Serbia says more long-haul growth planned, Miami remains on radar

2026-05-29T14:00:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia plans to expand its long-haul network further, although no additional intercontinental routes are expected to be launched in 2026. Speaking at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Toronto at an event marking the carrier’s entry into the Canadian market, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “As far as long-haul destinations are concerned, with the current high fuel prices caused by the geopolitical situation, I think this is about it for this year. We will see what happens in the future once the situation stabilises. We definitely have a long-term plan over the next five to ten years to continue expanding our long-haul network, but for this year, Toronto was the chosen destination”.

He said that with the reintroduction of flights to Toronto after 34 years, the airline noticed that some passengers did not believe the service would actually launch and therefore waited before purchasing tickets. “As soon as we arrived in Toronto, already by Monday and Tuesday we saw a very strong surge in bookings. That is why I would like to tell passengers that regardless of whatever crisis they may see, airlines are prepared and resilient. So do not wait until the last moment to buy your tickets - purchase them in advance and we will make sure you reach your destination”, Mr Marek said.

Air Serbia’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Boško Rupić, said the carrier has not abandoned plans to launch flights to Miami and that the airline’s future expansion in the United States will be focused on the city. “Indicators for this year were more in favour of launching the new Toronto service, particularly because of the World Cup and the strong demand from our diaspora. This is nevertheless our first destination in Canada. In the United States we already operate flights to New York and Chicago, where we have large communities, so we have certainly not given up on Miami and any further expansion in the US market will be in that direction”, Mr Rupić said.

Commenting on the new Toronto service, the General Manager noted, “In a way, the launch of our Toronto service coincides with the start of the FIFA World Cup, so we are already seeing strong demand. Flights are filling up quite well, meaning that this year we have a combination of increased demand related to the tournament, alongside the diaspora demand that has existed for many years. Members of the diaspora had approached us on numerous occasions with questions and requests about when the first flight would finally happen. We recognised this year as the right opportunity to launch operations on the route because it brought together all of these factors”. The CEO added, “Every new destination is always an exciting development, especially a new long-haul destination, and even more so when it is being restored after 34 years. It was also highly symbolic because we resumed the service on the exact same day it was discontinued 34 years ago. Nonstop flights improve connectivity between cultures, countries and businesses. There is always what we call a stimulation effect, which typically amounts to around 40%”.

Ryanair launching new Zagreb service

2026-05-29T12:42:56.152+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Ryanair will introduce a new route between Warsaw Modlin and Zagreb during the upcoming winter season. The low cost carrier will launch two weekly flights on October 26. While the service will face no direct competition, LOT Polish Airlines operates flights between Warsaw Chopin Airport, the Polish capital’s main gateway, and Zagreb. Warsaw Modlin Airport is located approximately forty kilometres from the city centre. Further flight details can be found here.

EX-YU markets top Turkish Airlines’ Australia transfers

2026-05-29T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have emerged as some of the busiest transfer markets on Turkish Airlines’ Australian services. The carrier operates flights from Istanbul to both Sydney and Melbourne.

Based on booking data for the period between April 2025 and March 2026, Skopje was the second-largest source of transfer passengers on Turkish Airlines’ Sydney service, while Belgrade ranked fourth and Ohrid seventh. London was the route’s largest source market.

Over the same period, Ohrid was the seventh-largest source of transfer passengers on the Melbourne service, followed by Sarajevo in eighth place and Belgrade in ninth. London once again topped the list.

Croatia Airlines A220 probe underway as investigators analyse cockpit data

2026-05-28T14:00:00.000+02:00

An investigation into a Croatia Airlines Airbus A220-300 aircraft which veered off the runway during its take off role at Split Airport almost two weeks ago is ongoing, with analysis of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR), as well as interviews with the crew, currently taking place. All 137 people onboard the aircraft were safely evacuated. The left-hand Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine of the eleven-month-old A220-300 struck a runway signboard during the excursion. Both Airbus and Pratt & Whitney have joined the probe, which is standard procedure in such incidents. Lead investigator Darko Petrin of Croatia's Air, Maritime and Railway Accident Investigation Agency (AIN) confirmed the investigation had begun and that extensive technical analyses were underway to determine the cause of the drift during takeoff. It has been formally classified as a serious incident by aviation authorities.

Croatia Airlines’ Director of Operations, Davor Mišić, said, "This is a new aircraft, only eleven months old, with just under 2.000 flight hours". He declined to speculate on possible causes such as technical failure or human error, stating, "It is difficult to say at this moment, so I would not speculate. The investigation has begun and will continue until all details are clarified". Final conclusions could take months. Aviation experts note that the analysis of cockpit recordings, flight data and technical systems can often take several months before investigators are able to determine exactly what happened in the moments before the aircraft left the runway. New footage taken from inside the cabin shows the moments leading to the incident.

A passenger traveling on a Croatia Airlines Airbus A220-300 captured video showing the aircraft veering away from the runway while speeding up for takeoff at Split Airport. pic.twitter.com/bh1pOw6R5n
— durvesh (@BLackgold_5) May 23, 2026

Although the official investigation is not concluded, available data, including video analysis and the aircraft’s acceleration dynamics, point to the possibility of a sudden loss of power in the left engine during the critical acceleration phase, before reaching V1. The asymmetric thrust created a strong yawing moment to the left. On the other hand, official meteorological reports confirm that the airfield was experiencing heavy rain showers, reduced visibility and sudden wind gusts reaching up to 27 knots at the time of the incident. As a result, investigators are looking into whether a sudden severe crosswind gust during the critical high-speed phase of the takeoff destabilised the aircraft, forcing the pilots to initiate the emergency abort.

Croatia Airlines is betting nearly its entire future on the A220 and the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan platform. The A220-300 involved in the incident, registered 9A-CAN, remains out of service. Damage to the aircraft is described as minimal, impacting the front landing gear and with minor damage to the left engine. Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, had previously flagged 2026 as “particularly demanding” for the carrier with seven aircraft inductions and five phase-outs running in parallel as the company continues to transition to an all-A220 fleet.

TAROM further delays Belgrade resumption

2026-05-28T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

TAROM has postponed the resumption of flights between Bucharest and Belgrade for a second time. The carrier, which suspended the three weekly route on April 9, had initially been due to resume operations on May 10. It did restore services on May 12, operating just one additional flight during the month, on May 19, after which services were to be suspended until June 2. However, the airline has now pushed back its return to Belgrade until July 2. TAROM codeshares with Air Serbia on flights between the two capitals. Air Serbia will maintain twelve weekly services on the route in June and is deploying the larger Embraer E190 aircraft on an average of seven weekly rotations, while the remaining flights will be operated by the ATR72-600. TAROM also uses an ATR72-600 on the service.

Ljubljana Airport expects 130.000 charter passengers

2026-05-28T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

The summer charter flight season has commenced at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, which is expected to handle around 130.000 passengers on leisure services this year. Charter flights to Greece, which remains the most popular holiday destination among Slovenian travellers, launched last week. As the summer season progresses, passengers from the Slovenian capital will also have access to charter services to Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Montenegro and Spain. Operations will be carried out by Trade Air, Aegean Airlines, Sky Vision, Nile Air, Air Mediterranean, Nouvelair and Freebird in cooperation with Slovenian tour operators Palma, Relax, Intelekta, ETI and Oasis.

Belgrade Airport to overhaul part of Terminal 1 as work on T2 continues

2026-05-27T14:00:00.000+02:00

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is planning to refurbish part of Terminal 1 with the addition of a new gate, while expansion works at Terminal 2 continue to progress. Serbia’s Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure has issued location conditions to the airport for the reconstruction and adaptation of part of Terminal 1 to create a new international bus gate. The area slated for refurbishment is located on the ground floor of the A wing corridor section of the terminal building. Terminal 1 currently has two gates serving remote stands, A7a and A7b, with the planned works set to add a third exit, A7c. The project will be carried out within the airport’s existing footprint, with no structural expansion, and will involve reconfiguring interior space as well as adding a new exit on the apron-facing facade.

Meanwhile, work on Terminal 2’s expansion is progressing, with efforts focused on three new gates, which includes three airbridges and four additional aircraft stands. Together with the T1 and T2 upgrades, the airport will have 37 gates in total. New gates C15 to C18 are being added to the C wing, with C15-C17 featuring airbridges, while C18 will be a remote bus gate for Code C aircraft with a maximum 36-metre wingspan. The project also includes a Taxiway T extension linking C18 to the wider taxiway and de-icing system, new service roads, upgraded stormwater drainage, apron pavement works, external lighting with 22-metre LED masts, new power and control systems, as well as four travelators inside the terminal, split between departures and arrivals.

Landside, construction of Air Serbia’s new headquarters opposite the airport is progressing on schedule, with work now focused on installing glass panels on the building’s exterior. The structure will have a total gross area of 7.985 square metres and will match the height of the adjacent Aviation Museum. Completion is scheduled for May 15, 2027. The development will also feature landscaped green areas and an open-air car park in the north-western section of the site with 140 spaces, including six designated for persons with reduced mobility. A new ring road and access street are being built alongside the complex, providing a link to the future airport rail station currently under construction. At the same time, foundations have been laid for a planned airport hotel, also being developed by Air Serbia, while an additional business building within the complex is expected to follow at a later stage. Preparations are also underway for the overhaul and expansion of the Aviation Museum.

PHOTOS: Croatia Airlines touches down in Stuttgart

2026-05-27T13:40:09.087+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Croatia Airlines introduced seasonal flights between Dubrovnik and Stuttgart last Friday. The route will be maintained twice per week, on Mondays and Fridays, until the end of the summer season, with the Airbus A319 aircraft. Stuttgart becomes Croatia Airlines’ sixth destination in Germany, complementing Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich. The launch marks the second of two new routes to be launched by the Croatian flag carrier this summer.

Commenting on the new serivce, Croatia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Slaven Žabo, said, "Germany is traditionally one of the most important markets for Croatian tourism, and Stuttgart and the wider Baden-Wurttemberg area have strong ties with Croatia, both in terms of tourism and economy, and given the large Croatian diaspora. With the new route, we are further strengthening the accessibility of southern Croatia in the summer season and enabling passengers from Germany to arrive in Dubrovnik more directly and simply. At the same time, this route contributes to better international connectivity between Dubrovnik and Europe and confirms the role of Croatia Airlines in connecting Croatian regions with key European markets". Dubrovnik Airport’s CEO, Viktor Ṧober, added, "In cooperation with Croatia Airlines, we continue to develop a flight network that ensures stable and high-quality accessibility to Dubrovnik throughout the season. We believe that the new route will have a positive impact on overall traffic and further improve the mobility of the residents of our county, thereby strengthening economic and social ties with one of the most important European markets".

Kosovo allocates €2 million for diaspora routes

2026-05-27T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Kosovo’s government adopted a decision yesterday to allocate two million euros to support air routes serving the diaspora. The funding is intended to help maintain or develop flights to destinations with significant expatriate communities, potentially through route subsidies, airline incentives or other forms of operational support aimed at strengthening connectivity. No further details or explanation was given for the measure.

Several EX-YU capital airports with June capacity decline, Wizz largest carrier

2026-05-26T14:00:00.000+02:00

Three capital city airports in the former Yugoslav region are set to see their scheduled seat capacity levels decline in June when compared last year, while others will reach record levels. Wizz Air remains by far the region’s largest carrier, growing its lead against Ryanair, which dominated throughout the summer of 2025.

Belgrade Airport has the most available seats on scheduled flights in June, standing at 1.066.650. The figure represents an increase of 5.3% on 2025. Air Serbia will continue to maintain its position as the largest carrier with 565.784 seats, up 6.3%. Wizz Air will add 35.700 seats, growing by 20.4%. Zagreb follows as the second largest with 570.362 available seats on scheduled flights during the month. It represents a decrease of 0.1% on the previous year. Croatia Airlines, which will grow its capacity by 2.9%, will be the airport’s largest carrier with 201.806 seats. It is ahead of Ryanair with 193.154 seats.

Skopje Airport will boast 413.986 seats in June, up 19.2% on the back of Wizz Air’s expansion. The low cost carrier will grow by 96.655 seats or 61.6% on the same month in 2025. It will hold the largest share at 61.2%. It is followed by Pegasus Airlines with an 11.4% share. Pristina Airport will have 378.778 available seats, with capacity currently projected to decline 8.3%. It follows large-scale frequency cuts by GP Aviation, which will result in the airline removing over 30% of its capacity year-on-year.

Podgorica Airport will see the next batch on new Wizz Air routes in June following the opening of its base in the Montenegrin capital in late March. The airport has 324.246 seats on scheduled flights during the month, up 45.4%. Wizz Air will be the largest carrier by adding 97.114 seats, representing growth of 195.3%, for a total capacity share of 45.3%. It is followed by Ryanair with 13% of the market.

Sarajevo will have 274.032 scheduled seats on the market in June, representing a decrease of 10.1% on 2025. The decline is being fuelled by the absence of Flyadeal (returning in July), Qatar Airways and SAS Scandianavian Airlines, as well as frequency cuts by Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Flynas and AJet. Finally, Ljubljana has a total of 217.085 seats on scheduled services, up 18.5% on June 2025. Lufthansa will be the airport’s largest, holding 18.3% of all seats. It is followed by Turkish Airlines with a 10% share and Swiss with 9.5%.

Largest carriers by scheduled seat capacity in the former Yugoslavia, June 2026

Overall scheduled seat capacity in June across all former Yugoslav markets and airports combined: 5.216.481, up 6.7% year-on-year

Please note that the above figures are correct as of the date of publication. As the month progresses, they may change due to schedule revisions or equipment adjustments. Nevertheless, they provide a reliable indication of overall capacity trends across the airports.

Air Serbia introduces merchandise range at Belgrade Airport

2026-05-26T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Serbia has launched sales of a range of airline-inspired merchandise through a dedicated section at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport’s duty free store. The selection includes Air Serbia-branded shirts, travel pillows, toiletry bags, baggage covers, souvenirs and model aircraft. In addition, the carrier has partnered with “Etno Mreža”, an umbrella association representing artisans from across Serbia, to offer a variety of locally made products.

Air Montenegro delays and reduces Tivat - Ljubljana service

2026-05-26T10:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Air Montenegro is postponing the resumption of its seasonal service between Tivat and Ljubljana, with the route now set to operate for just one month this summer. The carrier, which had initially planned to relaunch flights between the two cities next month, will now commence services on September 1, operating twice per week until September 26. Last year, the route resumed on May 31 and was maintained through to October 25.

Lufthansa to suspend, reduce flights across the region in winter

2026-05-25T14:00:00.000+02:00

Lufthansa last week revised its operations for the upcoming winter season, which begins on October 24 and runs until March 27 next year, removing a notable 480 weekly flights compared to its initial plan, or more than 800 weekly services year-on-year. The changes will also impact cities across the former Yugoslavia, namely Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade, in addition to the previously reported termination of flights to Skopje.

For the upcoming winter, Lufthansa has removed all Munich - Ljubljana services from its network, resuming March 28, 2027. The airline had planned to operate ten weekly flights between the two cities, while Frankfurt services will remain unchanged at twice daily. Lufthansa temporarily suspended the Munich - Ljubljana route in late April following the closure of its CityLine subsidiary, but operations are due to resume next week at a reduced frequency.

In Zagreb, Lufthansa plans to halve its Frankfurt operations compared to its original schedule. The airline has now planned a daily service between the two cities, down from the initially scheduled two daily flights. However, this will be partially offset by a slight increase in Munich - Zagreb frequencies, which will be maintained twice per day, representing an increase of one to three weekly rotations compared to the previous winter, depending on the month. However, Lufthansa remains prone to making additional network revisions closer to the start of the season. The Frankfurt service will be maintained by wet-leased Air Dolomiti capacity over the winter months.

In Belgrade, Lufthansa is removing one weekly flight from its Munich service, reducing operations to a total of thirteen per week. However, compared to last winter, the carrier is still set to operate an additional two to three weekly flights on the route from January 2027, although this remains subject to change as further schedule revisions are possible.

The German flag carrier has previously said that, during the 2026/27 winter season, it will reduce capacity under the Lufthansa core brand as part of the planned consolidation of short- and medium-haul traffic across the Lufthansa Group’s six hubs.

Mostar Airport begins terminal expansion

2026-05-25T13:30:00.000+02:00

NEWS FLASH

Mostar Airport has begun construction work on the expansion of its terminal building in response to the steady rise in passenger numbers. The project includes a larger and more functional terminal space that will improve passenger flow and reduce congestion during peak travel periods, as well as the introduction of new retail outlets, souvenir shops and additional food and beverage facilities. Upgrading the airport’s infrastructure is seen as a key prerequisite for attracting new airlines and launching additional routes. Valued at 768.000 euros, the project is being co-financed by the Croatian government.

PHOTOS: Air Serbia touches down in Munich

2026-05-25T10:30:00.000+02:00

Air Serbia commenced flights between Belgrade and Munich last Friday, marking the return of the country’s flag carrier to the Bavarian capital after eighteen years.

Commenting on the new service, the CEO of Munich Airport, Jost Lammers, said, “We are very pleased that Air Serbia is returning to Munich to coincide with the opening of our new Terminal 1 pier. With the resumption of the connection, the airline is strengthening the important service to Serbia and the entire Balkan region, thus expanding the range of services for traveller at Munich Airport”. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, added, “By commencing a direct route between Belgrade and Munich, we are further strengthening our presence on the German market and improving Serbia’s connectivity with an important transport and economic hub in Europe. Munich is a significant destination both for business travellers and tourists. By introducing daily flights, we are reaffirming our commitment to expanding our network and continuously responding to market and passenger needs, while also enabling fast and convenient connections via Belgrade to our wide network of destinations”.

Air China plans Zagreb service

2026-05-24T09:00:00.000+02:00

Air China is planning to introduce flights between Beijing and Zagreb, establishing the first-ever scheduled air service between the two cities. According to the “Croatian Aviation” portal, the service is expected to operate via Bucharest, with the airline to be granted fifth-freedom traffic rights between the Romanian and Croatian capitals, allowing it to sell tickets solely for that sector as well. The route has recently been vacated by Croatia Airlines, which discontinued its seasonal Zagreb - Bucharest service. Air China plans to deploy its Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which seats between 237 and 283 passengers, depending on configuration.

As EX-YU Aviation News recently reported, the Croatian government and national tourism board have been holding discussions with Air China, alongside several other Chinese carriers, regarding the launch of direct air services between the two countries. Commenting on the talks, Croatia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, said recently, “The Chinese airlines that met with Croatian officials all expressed strong interest in opening direct flights, and both sides agreed to continue in-depth communication and discussions on this matter. Chinese airlines welcomed the invitation from the Croatian National Tourist Board to visit Croatia for further discussions”.

Air China’s entry would also provide strategic benefits for Croatia Airlines, given both carriers’ Star Alliance membership, enabling expanded onward connectivity, coordinated itineraries and potential feed through the alliance network. The new service is expected to launch in August, in line with the typical approach of Chinese carriers, which often introduce routes and open ticket sales at relatively short notice. Such launches are usually closely coordinated with tour operators, which assemble travel groups in advance to help secure strong passenger loads from the outset. Based on indirect passenger flow, Shanghai is the busiest unserved route in China from Zagreb. It is followed by Beijing and Guangzhou.

Earlier this year, Zagreb Airport identified China as one of its priority long-haul markets for future route development, alongside the United States, India and Japan. If launched, the new service would complement Zagreb’s existing seasonal long-haul network, which currently includes flights to Toronto with Air Transat and Seoul with T’Way Air.

TRIP REPORT: Air Serbia, Belgrade - Toronto inaugural

2026-05-24T08:59:00.000+02:00

TRIP REPORT

I wanted to continue my tradition of flying on Air Serbia’s inaugural long-haul flights, so I purchased a ticket for the Toronto service on February 20, for the May 23 departure. I must admit the business class fare was quite pricey compared to the inaugural flights to Shanghai and Guangzhou. Nevertheless, I went ahead and booked my one-way ticket (as I would be returning home via a different route) and was all set for Toronto, which also marks my first visit to Canada.

I arrived at the airport at around 9.30am. It was a busy day at Nikola Tesla Airport with a lot of long-haul flights departing in relatively short proximity to one another. This included Air Serbia flights to Toronto, New York and Shanghai, as well as Hainan Airlines’ service to Beijing.

The airline dedicated a couple of check-in desks specifically for the Toronto flight. I used the premium check-in facility at the airport and headed to passport control. There was no one in the priority lane for either passport check or security.

I chose not to go to the Premium Lounge as I wanted to walk around the airport a bit. Our gate was C11/12, while a ceremony was being held at C13.

It was a sight to behold that all five Air Serbia heavy aircraft were parked side by side at the C gates at Belgrade Airport. It included all of Air Serbia’s A330-200s (Tesla, Pupin and the EXPO planes), as well as the Hainan Dreamliner. As I walked down the C hall, there was a long line for boarding for Hainan Airlines’ flight.

Hainan flight boarding for Beijing

Initially, YU-ARB (Nikola Tesla) was scheduled to operate this flight based on the seat map, as it has a specific business class cabin layout. However, a day before the flight this changed, and I realised it was either YU-ARE or YU-ARD (the EXPO planes). I changed my seat as I was randomly allocated a middle seat with the aircraft change and chose the window side seat as the cabin is in 1-2-1 configuration. For more privacy, I would recommend choosing the odd numbered side seats, as they are closer to the window, while the side table shields you from the aisle. Although I was aware of this, there were none available by the time I saw the plane had changed, but it was not an issue. I was glad to get this plane as I had not flown with it previously.

Almost all the passengers on the flight were Serbians, although there were some Canadians in front of me at check in. At the gate, I could overhear a woman say she thought she would never see the day she could fly nonstop to Toronto. Most passengers seemed to be visiting family. There were also some Russian speakers here and there.

Boarding began at around 11.40 for the 12.30 departure. A dedicated air bridge was used for business class passengers, and it seems I was among the first to board.

The aircraft features Etihad Airways’ former cabin product, as the airline was its previous operator. Air Serbia has changed the seat covers to the same ones as in YU-ARB. Etihad uses this exact same seat on its B777s nowadays. I actually like it. There are no overhead bins across the middle seats to make the cabin more spacious.

At my seat there was a big pillow, blanket and slippers, as well as a bottle of water and menu. The seat itself is lie-flat, it has a charging port and a USB port.

Shortly after settling in, more passengers started boarding and the crew came around with welcome drinks, including prosecco, water and juices. We were also given a wet wipe.

The cabin crew member serving my side of the aisle then came around and introduced herself and her team individually to each passenger.

Shortly before takeoff we were distributed headphones, which came in this sack, which says it was made from used plastic bottles, which I think is a nice touch considering that such initiatives are still very rare in Serbia.

The crew member then came to take our meal orders. The following is the menu, and you can also find the meal choices for the return flight from Toronto to Belgrade.

I ordered the first choice for the entre and the second for the main. The crew informed passengers that we could have our meal any time during the flight as it is dine-on-demand. The crew also asked about drink choices and if we would like to have different drinks with each course.

I must say that although I think Air Serbia’s crew is generally polite and nice, this crew went beyond that on this flight. They were extremely professional, from the questions they asked passengers to the care they took when placing glasses making sure the airline’s logo was turned towards the passengers and so on. They took care of the little things.

We received a short welcome from the captain who informed us about the flight time, and we pushed back on time. 20 of 22 business class seats were occupied.

We had a long taxi from C12 all the way down to the runway.

We took off at around 12:45 for a smooth flight. After we reached the top of climb the captain came over the PA and gave us another welcome with details about each country we would fly over. He also made note that this was the first flight to Toronto since JAT’s last service.

Shortly after, the crew distributed amenity kits and one could also ask for pyjamas, which are given on demand.

Then the meal service began. We were first served a ramekin of mixed nuts accompanied by drinks, followed by the starter, main course and dessert. Each component was presented individually by the crew rather than being delivered together on a tray. The crew also came around with a bread basket offering several choices. The meals were well presented and tasty. I also noticed that passengers drinking wine were served directly from the bottle at their seat, with the crew waiting for them to sample it before pouring a full glass. It is also worth noting that the tray tables can be slid sideways, allowing passengers to leave their seat even while the table remains fully set.

I visited the washroom around four hours into the flight and found it spotless. One interesting feature of the forward galley, located ahead of the business class cabin, is that there are no crew stationed there, nor is there any kitchenette setup. Instead, all crew activity and galley operations are concentrated in the galley behind the business class section. I also quite liked the faux wood finishes inherited from Etihad, which still give the cabin a premium feel.

The IFE was pretty good. There was a selection of movies, TV shows of all kinds (with around five episodes loaded for each) and some games. The screen was responsive and could be controlled both from the screen and the remote control.

By this point, most passengers had closed their window shades, and the cabin crew dimmed the lights. I then reclined my seat into the fully lie-flat position and fell asleep for the next five hours or so, helped by the fact I hadn’t slept much the night before. The seat is genuinely comfortable because of its thick cushioning. One thing worth noting, however, is that Air Serbia’s blanket is exceptionally warm, perhaps a little too warm, at least for me.

Cabin with lights off

Two hours before arrival, the crew distributed a certificate acknowledging the inaugural flight, as well as a chocolate and magnet with the Belgrade - Toronto branding.

Around sixty minutes before arrival the second meal service started. There was no choice for this one, but everything was again served individually. I must say it was tasty and I like the fact they served parmesan individually with the pasta, which is not so common on planes.

We arrived in Toronto and yes there was applause from the passengers to mark this special flight. Upon disembarking, there is a similar setup as in the EU where you scan your passport and fingerprints at a self-service kiosk. I completed the arrival card online before the flight, which is advisable as it speeds up the process.

Passport control was very quick even though there was a big line and looked very informal, with two officers at a counter which took only a few seconds.

After getting my bag, I transferred to Terminal 1 with the inter-terminal shuttle and headed to the train station. The express train takes you directly to Union Station in downtown Toronto and is the easiest and quickest way to reach the city.

I really can’t fault Air Serbia on this flight. I have written critical reviews of the airline in the past when I genuinely felt certain aspects needed improvement, but overall, this was a flight without any notable issues. The seats were comfortable, the service was attentive, the IFE performed well, and the food was tasty. If I were to point to one area for improvement, it would be Wi-Fi on the long-haul fleet. In this day and age, I think it would go a long way in enhancing the passenger experience. I am not familiar with the economics behind introducing or maintaining the service, but considering how many airlines now offer onboard connectivity, and the fact that Air Serbia itself was once ahead of the curve in this area, its absence does feel noticeable.

However, I should also note that Air Serbia has made noticeable improvements along the way. I have been flying its long-haul services since 2016, and over the past year or perhaps a little longer, I have picked up on a number of subtle but meaningful changes. These include improvements to the food, better presentation, more polished service etc. And there are some small things, like the headphones used to be handed out in simple plastic wrapping, whereas they now come in neat fabric-style pouches. These may seem like small details, but they do contribute to the overall experience and are certainly noticeable to frequent flyers.

As for the aircraft itself, this is, in my opinion, Air Serbia’s best long-haul hard product. I have flown both YU-ARB and YU-ARC, as well as YU-ARA before them, several times, and in business class at least, this is hands down the strongest product the airline has offered to date.

Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.com

Air Serbia restores Belgrade - Toronto flights after 34 years

2026-05-23T09:00:00.000+02:00

AS IT HAPPENED

23:30

Warm welcome

Some 20 people with Serbian flags braved strong wind and rain to welcome the aircraft off the right-hand side of the threshold of Runway 6. Toronto Airport control tower wished the aircraft "Dobrodošli" (Welcome) in Serbian. Photo by Aleksandar Gačić

23:10