JAT Airways
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFormer national airline of Yugoslavia and Serbia, now rebranded as Air Serbia.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
JAT Airways was the national airline of Serbia, headquartered in Belgrade. Its history traces back to Aeroput founded in 1927, later renamed JAT Yugoslav Airlines after WWII. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, it became JAT Airways. In 2013, it was restructured and renamed Air Serbia.
History
Jat Airways traced its heritage to Aeroput, established in 1927 as Yugoslavia's first civil airline. Aeroput opened its first international route between Belgrade and Graz in 1929 and expanded during the 1930s with aircraft including the Lockheed Model 10 Electra. Operations stopped during the Second World War. Post-war civil aviation was rebuilt under state direction. On 1 April 1947, the successor airline was established as Jugoslovenski Aerotransport, commonly known as JAT. Its initial fleet included converted Douglas C-47s and Junkers Ju 52s. The carrier initially operated domestic and regional routes, but the political isolation of Yugoslavia in 1949 caused fuel and spare-parts shortages and led to the cancellation of Eastern European services. Cooperation with Swissair helped JAT open Belgrade–Zurich on 24 August 1949 and reconnect with Western aviation markets. The 1950s brought significant fleet and network development. Convair CV-340 and CV-440 Metropolitan aircraft took over short- and medium-haul work, while Douglas DC-3s were increasingly concentrated on domestic routes. JAT later acquired Ilyushin Il-14M aircraft and Douglas DC-6Bs for longer routes. The first Sud Aviation Caravelle arrived in 1963, beginning the airline's transition to jet aircraft. McDonnell Douglas DC-9s entered service in 1969, Boeing 707s in 1970, McDonnell Douglas DC-10s in 1971 and Boeing 727s in 1974. During the 1970s JAT expanded across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and Australia. Long-haul flying to North America, Australia and the Far East was initially supported by the Boeing 707. New destinations included New York, Beijing, Madrid, Lyon and cities in the Middle East. The DC-10-30, acquired in 1978, became the principal wide-body successor to the Boeing 707 on long-distance routes. By 1979 the airline carried nearly four million passengers. Expansion continued in the 1980s. Chicago, Toronto and additional North American destinations were added, while services also reached South and East Asia and Australia. JAT served as the official carrier and sponsor of the 1984 Winter Olympics. In 1985 it became the first European airline to buy the Boeing 737-300. That period represented the carrier's commercial high point: it operated about 80 destinations on five continents and carried around five million passengers a year. It also invested in a large Belgrade maintenance hangar and a jet-engine test stand. The collapse of socialist Yugoslavia caused a prolonged crisis. In 1992, war, state dissolution and United Nations sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia forced JAT to suspend international transport. Restrictions by Germany, Italy, the United States and Canada removed some of its most important markets. For a time, the airline operated mainly domestic flights linking Belgrade with cities including Podgorica, Tivat, Niš and Priština. International services gradually resumed in 1994, but the carrier remained constrained by sanctions and political instability. In April 2000, director general Žika Petrović was killed outside his home in Belgrade. After sanctions were lifted in 2000, JAT restored international operations. It adopted the Jat Airways name on 8 August 2003 and subsequently merged with Belgrade-based Intair Link Airlines in 2004. The carrier retired older wide-body and narrow-body types during the 2000s, including its last DC-10-30 in 2005. It introduced online booking in 2006 and electronic ticketing in 2007, and celebrated its 80th anniversary that year. In 2012 it refurbished cabins and introduced a new frequent-flyer program. The Serbian government tried unsuccessfully to privatize the airline in 2008 and 2011. A 2013 initiative to attract Etihad Airways led to a memorandum of understanding in June and a formal agreement on 1 August. The reorganization created Air Serbia, owned 51 percent by the Serbian government and 49 percent by Etihad Airways, with Etihad receiving management rights. Some JAT assets and aircraft moved into the new operation, while other aircraft remained in JAT colors until retirement. The transition brought the 66-year JAT brand era to an end.
- 2013
Operations transition to Air Serbia
[1]A strategic agreement between Serbia and Etihad reorganizes Jat Airways and creates Air Serbia.
- 2003
Brand renamed Jat Airways
[1]JAT Yugoslav Airlines adopts the Jat Airways name on 8 August.
- 1992
International operations suspended
[1]The Yugoslav Wars and international sanctions force the suspension of most international services.
- 1985
First European Boeing 737-300 customer
[1]JAT becomes the first European airline to purchase Boeing 737-300 aircraft.
- 1984
Winter Olympics carrier
[1]JAT acts as official carrier and sponsor of the 1984 Winter Olympics.
- 1970
Boeing 707 enters service
[1]JAT introduces the Boeing 707 for long-haul operations.
- 1963
Jet operations begin
[1]The first Sud Aviation Caravelle joins the fleet.
- 1947
JAT is established
[1]Jugoslovenski Aerotransport is formally established on 1 April as the successor to Aeroput.
- 1929
First international Aeroput service
[1]Aeroput opens an international route between Belgrade and Graz.
- 1927
Aeroput is founded
[1]Aeroput, the first civil airline in Yugoslavia and the historical predecessor of JAT, is established.
Products and positioning
National flag carrier
Airline services · 1947
Scheduled passenger flights
Jat Airways operated scheduled domestic, regional and international passenger services from its Belgrade hub. At its mature pre-sanctions peak, the network reached approximately 80 destinations across five continents, connecting Yugoslavia and later Serbia with Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Intercontinental airline services · 1959
Long-haul services
The carrier's intercontinental network used Douglas DC-6Bs, Boeing 707s and later the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30. Destinations over time included New York, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, Beijing, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
Aviation operating services
Charter and wet-lease operations
In addition to scheduled flying, JAT operated charter flights and wet leases. These activities supplemented the regular network and allowed aircraft to be deployed outside the core timetable, including during periods when scheduled international operations were restricted.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 200780 years of service advertising
Serbia
Jat Airways marked its eightieth year with television advertising and anniversary communications.
Outcome. The airline received recognition for its anniversary television advertising and was also named among Serbia's leading brands in 2007 and 2008.
- 19841984 Winter Olympics sponsorship
Yugoslavia · International
JAT served as the official airline and sponsor of the 1984 Winter Olympics, associating the national carrier with a major international sporting event hosted in Sarajevo.
Outcome. The sponsorship increased the airline's visibility during a period of strong network and fleet expansion.
Brand decisions
2013
Etihad strategic partnership and Air Serbia rebrandingM&ABackground
After unsuccessful privatization attempts and a deteriorated operating position, Serbia sought investment and management support from Etihad Airways.
Action taken
On 1 August, Serbia and Etihad formalized a restructuring under which the Serbian government held 51 percent of Air Serbia and Etihad held 49 percent, with Etihad receiving initial management rights.
Aftermath
Jat Airways operations were transferred into the Air Serbia structure. Some ATR 72 aircraft moved to the successor carrier, while other aircraft remained in JAT branding until retirement.
2011
Second strategic-partner tenderStrategyBackground
Serbia proposed creating a successor structure with a strategic partner that would receive JAT's healthy assets, aircraft, slots and selected commercial arrangements.
Action taken
Baltic Aviation Systems obtained the tender documentation but did not proceed with the partnership.
Aftermath
The second tender also ended without a partner, prompting Serbia to pursue Etihad Airways directly.
2008
First privatization tenderStrategyBackground
The Serbian government sought a private investor for the state-owned airline and announced a tender for a 51 percent stake.
Action taken
The government reduced the announced starting price and invited bids for the minority stake.
Aftermath
The tender was canceled after no company submitted an offer by the deadline.
1998
Order for Airbus A319 aircraftOtherBackground
JAT ordered eight Airbus A319 aircraft during a politically and economically unstable period.
Action taken
The proposed deliveries were postponed while the airline struggled to pay Airbus. The order was later discussed as a politically driven transaction and was not delivered as originally planned.
Aftermath
The order became a symbol of JAT's financial and political difficulties in the late 1990s.
Amount reported as paid toward the Airbus arrangement.
Sources1 sources
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