"Jat Airways to be renamed to Air Serbia in August"

JAT - Jugoslavenski Aero Transport, though familiar to many, always sounded like it transports cattle, not passengers, not to mention the funky, folk style interiors. The SFRY is finished, and so is JAT. Get over it. I hope Air Serbia does well and that Belgrade Airport (after its extensive refurbishment and expansion) continues to grow and become the balkan hub for air travel.

"JAT is a long respected name and represents a level of regional generality. "
(Bob, 29 July 2013 14:09)

It may be long time, but long respected? With the same arguments, you could have kept the famous Yugo car brand :)

Not a good move.

JAT is a long respected name and represents a level of regional generality.

The new name is more parochial, lacking the regional implications, and also still raises issues in people's minds given the recent unfortunate history.

Potentially a marketing disaster.

I strongly suggest a rapid rethink. This is not a good time for a change.

@ lenard how about air ustas does that sound better

Its about time that Serbia got rid of JAT, this name means nothing to anyone not even Serbia.Air Serbia, best decision ever and the new planes that say Air Serbia finally the Country is moving on and looking to the future.I guess Beograde made one right decision after all.

Bob, if JAT was such a respected name (anymore), it wouldn't be in the dire situation it is today. In the business world, names don't mean as much as numbers. I agree that Air Serbia is a really uninspiring, lazy, and generic name for an airline but the physical changes (new aircraft, new management, etc.) will do it a lot of good.

Sounds like Siberian Air if you crash your body will be well preserved for identificatoin. I don't think to many want to travel to Siberia on Serbian Air it will sure get people confused. Then you explain who the Serbians are. Then it will be even worse it will jog peoples memory and not in a good ways. To top it off now alighned with a Islam country it just goes from bad to worse o well.

I vote for ROYAL AIR SERBIA

I agree with Bob, Air Serbia does not have a good ring to it, as many people around the world still view Serbia as an evil land, and a potential danger. I cannot tell you how many Westerners still ask me, "Is it safe to travel to Serbia", when they hear I am traveling there. People still remember the atrocities they witnessed on TV screens years ago, and think it is still like that. Air Serbia, it may be a marketing problem. Better to have called it Balkan Air, or Air Emirate, since they will be the owners.

Good move. Just keep the crown off the plane (and the flag for that matter).

Serbia is not a Monarchy and should not strive to be one. I applaud the humanitarian efforts of the royals, but they must continue as a sideshow. Please don't talk to me about the UK, Belgium, or Sweden.

Great to hear! Hopefully it can be an airline all Serbs can be proud of. I'm too young to have experienced JAT when it was at its prime (pre-1985 when they flew all the way to US and down here to Australia), and on the times I flew it on short connecting flights between Belgrade and Zurich/Vienna/Frankfurt, it was sub-par at best. There was no way we would fly JAT direct from Dubai to Belgrade, but hopefully that will change next time we visit the region and give that route a go (it'll beat flying all the way from Dubai to Frankfurt/Vienna/Zurich on Emirates or Lufthanza only to fly backwards to Serbia with JAT/Air Serbia).

Despite all the negative comments here I think it is a wonderful move.. Finally the last bastion of Tito’s Yugoslavia will be gone. I know JAT was formed during Kingdom but still had that commo feel about it. They did everything they could to destroy Serbia. I will definitely travel on Air Serbia next time I make a trip to Serbia and RS..will not travel to other parts of the former Yugoslavia.

Have you spoken to tourist in Serbia?
(Peggy, 2 August 2013 01:15)

these were all Americans who had either been to Serbia or were on their way to Serbia or were currently in Serbia. None of them personally had too many preconceived notions. They were just telling me what their friends and family thought back home.

None of this happened in Croatia.

Serbia is not a Monarchy and should not strive to be one. I applaud the humanitarian efforts of the royals, but they must continue as a sideshow. Please don't talk to me about the UK, Belgium, or Sweden.
(Bucko, 31 July 2013 11:51)
=========================================

Seeing how you are mentioning those countries first why should we not mention them? Could it be that the monarchy is an asset to them and you can't debate that?
It's a case of ask the questions I want to answer not the ones you want to ask is it?

I am not saying I am in favour of monarachy but if you want to take a stand on having one then you should be prepared to defend your stand and not tell people how to frame their stand.

Better to have called it Balkan Air, or Air Emirate, since they will be the owners.
(winston, 30 July 2013 15:46)
====================================

They are not the owners. Serbia owns 51%.
Serbia is not viewed the same way as during the war. Nobody I have come across has been suspicious of Serbia.
Maybe you should check out Charles Cather videos on youtube about Serbia. He is doing a lot to promote the country and his videos are being viewed. He thought Serbia was something else too initially but has become Serbia's biggest champion. Air Serbia is appropriate for the airline. If we become ashamed of who we are and not put our name forward to the world, the world will continue to view us in a negative way. By not naming the airline Air Serbia we are showing that we have something to be ashamed of.

Good move Serbia.

Air Serbia? How original...

Air Serbia sounds great. Anyone that does not like it can use another airline. Also, for all of you who write negative comments about Serbia and their progress, why not use your time and effort constructively, such as, donate to charity or make fun of your own kin.

Serbia is not viewed the same way as during the war. Nobody I have come across has been suspicious of Serbia.
----------------------------------


I've stayed in a lot of hostels and traveled with tourists these last few weeks in the balkans.

Everyone had the same story - No one of their friends and families thought they should go to Serbia because war, bad.

If you think Serbia has an ok or neutral reputation amongst your average person, you're absolutely wrong.



I agree, though, nothing wrong with the name Air Serbia. I would have gone with Serbian Airways myself

I've stayed in a lot of hostels and traveled with tourists these last few weeks in the balkans.

Everyone had the same story - No one of their friends and families thought they should go to Serbia because war, bad.

If you think Serbia has an ok or neutral reputation amongst your average person, you're absolutely wrong.
=============================

I can assure you than nobody I know has any bad feelings about Serbs here. On the Contrary, people my family works with actually like Serbs but have negative feelings about Albnaians and Muslims in general. You see, a lot has happened since the war and many people have been exposed to a lot of new information.

The Balkans are a different thing. Croatians, Albanians and other Muslims will always have hatred for Serbs as they always have. Talking to them is not an accuarate way to know how people feel about Serbia.
Talking to touriest in those countries will also give you that impression because they chose not to go to Serbia but how many people who have not travelled to Croatia etc. back at home feel that way?

Have you spoken to tourist in Serbia?

Just saying that the elements of bad reputation Serbia has (some deserved, some not), hasn't all gone away suddenly and is probably a lot stronger than you realize, as is evident by my recent encounters with tourists in the region.

These things take a lot of time to change.
(Danilo, 2 August 2013 14:49)
=====================================

I don't want to argue but you speaking to people is not convincing me, especially when you have presented yourself as a Serb hater which tells me that your thoughts about the country would be voiced to the same people.
I do believe that some people have a negative impression of Serbia but you speaking them will just reinforce that too.

Also, I can tell you that people here in Australia don't have negative feelings at all, on the contrary the negative feelings are towards the Muslims. This is a fact and you can either accept or not. I don't understand why you refuse to believe it.
So you see there are countries where Serbian name is not mud but Muslims certainly are.

these were all Americans who had either been to Serbia or were on their way to Serbia or were currently in Serbia. None of them personally had too many preconceived notions. They were just telling me what their friends and family thought back home.
==========================
So what do you think the ones who went to Serbia think now? What do you think they will tell their families?

Will it be something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSBlS9lJQ4A

There are many, many videos from this man and yes he is spreading the word.

As you can see, people will get to know about Serbia one way or the other and the message is getting through. Don't be too disappointed that your message of hatred for Serbia is being silenced by the real Yanks.

Peggy, I'm just telling you my experience talking to real people that are travelling through the balkans. It has nothing to do with me or what you think I really think about anything.

I don't even know what you're arguing with me about really. I'm just telling you what people have been telling me in the last few weeks. Don't blame me if you don't like it.

I don't need counter-examples of people who travelled to Serbia and loved it, either. I meet these people every day in Belgrade (you know, where I live and where you visit maybe a few weeks every few years).

Just saying that the elements of bad reputation Serbia has (some deserved, some not), hasn't all gone away suddenly and is probably a lot stronger than you realize, as is evident by my recent encounters with tourists in the region.

These things take a lot of time to change.

Peggy, I'm not disagreeing with your experiences. Not sure why you're disagreeing with mine.

Also, my experiences were people in the balkans who don't know me, telling me what their friends thought. Your experience were from acquaintances who know that you might get upset if they say something bad about Serbia.

Do you think I tell the truth when someone in Serbia asks me what I think about Serbia?? I'm not an idiot. I say, "nice, nice".

Anyway, I'm not really sure what we're arguing about here. You want things to be a certain way that they aren't and I'm telling you so.

I guess time will prove me wrong when Serbia becomes a major tourist mecca within the next 5 years :)

Not a good move.

JAT is a long respected name and represents a level of regional generality.

The new name is more parochial, lacking the regional implications, and also still raises issues in people's minds given the recent unfortunate history.

Potentially a marketing disaster.

I strongly suggest a rapid rethink. This is not a good time for a change.

Sounds like Siberian Air if you crash your body will be well preserved for identificatoin. I don't think to many want to travel to Siberia on Serbian Air it will sure get people confused. Then you explain who the Serbians are. Then it will be even worse it will jog peoples memory and not in a good ways. To top it off now alighned with a Islam country it just goes from bad to worse o well.

JAT - Jugoslavenski Aero Transport, though familiar to many, always sounded like it transports cattle, not passengers, not to mention the funky, folk style interiors. The SFRY is finished, and so is JAT. Get over it. I hope Air Serbia does well and that Belgrade Airport (after its extensive refurbishment and expansion) continues to grow and become the balkan hub for air travel.

I agree with Bob, Air Serbia does not have a good ring to it, as many people around the world still view Serbia as an evil land, and a potential danger. I cannot tell you how many Westerners still ask me, "Is it safe to travel to Serbia", when they hear I am traveling there. People still remember the atrocities they witnessed on TV screens years ago, and think it is still like that. Air Serbia, it may be a marketing problem. Better to have called it Balkan Air, or Air Emirate, since they will be the owners.

I vote for ROYAL AIR SERBIA

Its about time that Serbia got rid of JAT, this name means nothing to anyone not even Serbia.Air Serbia, best decision ever and the new planes that say Air Serbia finally the Country is moving on and looking to the future.I guess Beograde made one right decision after all.

Despite all the negative comments here I think it is a wonderful move.. Finally the last bastion of Tito’s Yugoslavia will be gone. I know JAT was formed during Kingdom but still had that commo feel about it. They did everything they could to destroy Serbia. I will definitely travel on Air Serbia next time I make a trip to Serbia and RS..will not travel to other parts of the former Yugoslavia.

"JAT is a long respected name and represents a level of regional generality. "
(Bob, 29 July 2013 14:09)

It may be long time, but long respected? With the same arguments, you could have kept the famous Yugo car brand :)

Bob, if JAT was such a respected name (anymore), it wouldn't be in the dire situation it is today. In the business world, names don't mean as much as numbers. I agree that Air Serbia is a really uninspiring, lazy, and generic name for an airline but the physical changes (new aircraft, new management, etc.) will do it a lot of good.

@ lenard how about air ustas does that sound better

Good move. Just keep the crown off the plane (and the flag for that matter).

Serbia is not a Monarchy and should not strive to be one. I applaud the humanitarian efforts of the royals, but they must continue as a sideshow. Please don't talk to me about the UK, Belgium, or Sweden.

Serbia is not a Monarchy and should not strive to be one. I applaud the humanitarian efforts of the royals, but they must continue as a sideshow. Please don't talk to me about the UK, Belgium, or Sweden.
(Bucko, 31 July 2013 11:51)
=========================================

Seeing how you are mentioning those countries first why should we not mention them? Could it be that the monarchy is an asset to them and you can't debate that?
It's a case of ask the questions I want to answer not the ones you want to ask is it?

I am not saying I am in favour of monarachy but if you want to take a stand on having one then you should be prepared to defend your stand and not tell people how to frame their stand.

Air Serbia? How original...

Better to have called it Balkan Air, or Air Emirate, since they will be the owners.
(winston, 30 July 2013 15:46)
====================================

They are not the owners. Serbia owns 51%.
Serbia is not viewed the same way as during the war. Nobody I have come across has been suspicious of Serbia.
Maybe you should check out Charles Cather videos on youtube about Serbia. He is doing a lot to promote the country and his videos are being viewed. He thought Serbia was something else too initially but has become Serbia's biggest champion. Air Serbia is appropriate for the airline. If we become ashamed of who we are and not put our name forward to the world, the world will continue to view us in a negative way. By not naming the airline Air Serbia we are showing that we have something to be ashamed of.

Good move Serbia.

Air Serbia sounds great. Anyone that does not like it can use another airline. Also, for all of you who write negative comments about Serbia and their progress, why not use your time and effort constructively, such as, donate to charity or make fun of your own kin.

I've stayed in a lot of hostels and traveled with tourists these last few weeks in the balkans.

Everyone had the same story - No one of their friends and families thought they should go to Serbia because war, bad.

If you think Serbia has an ok or neutral reputation amongst your average person, you're absolutely wrong.
=============================

I can assure you than nobody I know has any bad feelings about Serbs here. On the Contrary, people my family works with actually like Serbs but have negative feelings about Albnaians and Muslims in general. You see, a lot has happened since the war and many people have been exposed to a lot of new information.

The Balkans are a different thing. Croatians, Albanians and other Muslims will always have hatred for Serbs as they always have. Talking to them is not an accuarate way to know how people feel about Serbia.
Talking to touriest in those countries will also give you that impression because they chose not to go to Serbia but how many people who have not travelled to Croatia etc. back at home feel that way?

Have you spoken to tourist in Serbia?

these were all Americans who had either been to Serbia or were on their way to Serbia or were currently in Serbia. None of them personally had too many preconceived notions. They were just telling me what their friends and family thought back home.
==========================
So what do you think the ones who went to Serbia think now? What do you think they will tell their families?

Will it be something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSBlS9lJQ4A

There are many, many videos from this man and yes he is spreading the word.

As you can see, people will get to know about Serbia one way or the other and the message is getting through. Don't be too disappointed that your message of hatred for Serbia is being silenced by the real Yanks.

Just saying that the elements of bad reputation Serbia has (some deserved, some not), hasn't all gone away suddenly and is probably a lot stronger than you realize, as is evident by my recent encounters with tourists in the region.

These things take a lot of time to change.
(Danilo, 2 August 2013 14:49)
=====================================

I don't want to argue but you speaking to people is not convincing me, especially when you have presented yourself as a Serb hater which tells me that your thoughts about the country would be voiced to the same people.
I do believe that some people have a negative impression of Serbia but you speaking them will just reinforce that too.

Also, I can tell you that people here in Australia don't have negative feelings at all, on the contrary the negative feelings are towards the Muslims. This is a fact and you can either accept or not. I don't understand why you refuse to believe it.
So you see there are countries where Serbian name is not mud but Muslims certainly are.

Great to hear! Hopefully it can be an airline all Serbs can be proud of. I'm too young to have experienced JAT when it was at its prime (pre-1985 when they flew all the way to US and down here to Australia), and on the times I flew it on short connecting flights between Belgrade and Zurich/Vienna/Frankfurt, it was sub-par at best. There was no way we would fly JAT direct from Dubai to Belgrade, but hopefully that will change next time we visit the region and give that route a go (it'll beat flying all the way from Dubai to Frankfurt/Vienna/Zurich on Emirates or Lufthanza only to fly backwards to Serbia with JAT/Air Serbia).

Serbia is not viewed the same way as during the war. Nobody I have come across has been suspicious of Serbia.
----------------------------------


I've stayed in a lot of hostels and traveled with tourists these last few weeks in the balkans.

Everyone had the same story - No one of their friends and families thought they should go to Serbia because war, bad.

If you think Serbia has an ok or neutral reputation amongst your average person, you're absolutely wrong.



I agree, though, nothing wrong with the name Air Serbia. I would have gone with Serbian Airways myself

Have you spoken to tourist in Serbia?
(Peggy, 2 August 2013 01:15)

these were all Americans who had either been to Serbia or were on their way to Serbia or were currently in Serbia. None of them personally had too many preconceived notions. They were just telling me what their friends and family thought back home.

None of this happened in Croatia.

Peggy, I'm just telling you my experience talking to real people that are travelling through the balkans. It has nothing to do with me or what you think I really think about anything.

I don't even know what you're arguing with me about really. I'm just telling you what people have been telling me in the last few weeks. Don't blame me if you don't like it.

I don't need counter-examples of people who travelled to Serbia and loved it, either. I meet these people every day in Belgrade (you know, where I live and where you visit maybe a few weeks every few years).

Just saying that the elements of bad reputation Serbia has (some deserved, some not), hasn't all gone away suddenly and is probably a lot stronger than you realize, as is evident by my recent encounters with tourists in the region.

These things take a lot of time to change.

Peggy, I'm not disagreeing with your experiences. Not sure why you're disagreeing with mine.

Also, my experiences were people in the balkans who don't know me, telling me what their friends thought. Your experience were from acquaintances who know that you might get upset if they say something bad about Serbia.

Do you think I tell the truth when someone in Serbia asks me what I think about Serbia?? I'm not an idiot. I say, "nice, nice".

Anyway, I'm not really sure what we're arguing about here. You want things to be a certain way that they aren't and I'm telling you so.

I guess time will prove me wrong when Serbia becomes a major tourist mecca within the next 5 years :)