Airlines Etihad Airways and Air Serbia continue the partnership

Etihad continues to own 49 per cent of Air Serbia and remains a fully committed and supportive shareholder in partnership with Air Serbia’s majority shareholder, the Government of Serbia.

President of the Government of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, said that she is satisfied with the decision: “Five years after the commencement of the successful equity partnership with Etihad Airways, Air Serbia is now fully standing on its own feet under the constructive supervision of its two shareholders, the Government of Serbia and Etihad. We are excited about Air Serbia’s perspectives and the continuation of our successful equity partnership with Etihad.”

Interim Chief Executive Officer Duncan Naysmith and Chief Operations Officer Declan Keller will remain in current management positions until the end of this year, 31 December 2018.

Air Serbia operates a fleet of 21 mostly single-aisle aircraft in its regional and European network. The fleet includes one Airbus A330-200, which is used for its daily long-haul connection to New York.

The continuation of the cooperation was uncertain, as Etihad is reviewing its strategy to reduce losses. Beginning in 2011, the Gulf carrier Etihad had acquired stakes in several airlines including Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Alitalia and Swiss Darwin Airlines. After the insolvency of Air Berlin and Alitalia, former Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan left the company in mid-2017. New Etihad Group CEO Tony Douglas has announced major changes in the management structure.

Under the new structure, the group will be reorganised into seven business divisions – Operations, Commercial, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), Human Resources, Finance, Support Services and Transformation, led by a new executive leadership team reporting to Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), Tony Douglas, who also assumes responsibility for Etihad Airways.