Adria Airways

Adria Airways

IATA ICAO Call sign JP ADR ADRIA
Founded	March 1961
Hubs	Ljubljana Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Miles & More
Alliance	Star Alliance
Fleet size	13 (+2 order)
Destinations	28 (including seasonal destinations)
Parent company	Government of Slovenia
Headquarters	Ljubljana Airport, Slovenia
Key people	Tadej Tufek (President)
Website	www.adria.si

Adria Airways d.d. is the national airline of Slovenia based at Ljubljana Airport. It operates scheduled services to 28 destinations in Europe and the Middle East, as well as many charters. Adria is a Star Alliance member since 2004.

History

1960s: Early years

The airline was founded in March 1961 as Adria Aviopromet (Adria Airways). In August that year the company purchased two used DC-6B aircraft and the same month flew their first commercial flight with a KLM crew. At the same time, the first Adria crew and technical teams were trained by JAT and the air force. Adria carried out its first flight with a domestic crew in December 1961. At the same time all other activities necessary for the company were set up and organised, from the commercial to the accounting department.

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Adria Aviopromet Douglas DC-6B
(1965)

During the following years Adria gradually acquired a market with tourist flights from Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands and Scandinavia to airports on the Adriatic coast. In 1964 flights to the USA and Canada were added in order to meet the needs of ex-patriot organisations. Adria also carried out a considerable number of flights for the United Nations.

With the opening of the new airport in Ljubljana in 1964, Adria relocated its base from its previous headquarters in Zagreb.

The DC-6B aircraft gradually became non-competitive on the market. The company fell into a serious crisis in 1967, which ended with a bankruptcy procedure at the start of 1968. After a compulsory settlement, Adria continued its operations largely thanks to the efforts of the president of the Slovenian Chamber of the Commerce and Industry of the time.

In December 1968 Adria merged with the company InterExport and changed its name from Adria Aviopromet to Inex-Adria Aviopromet (Inex-Adria Airways). The fleet renewal began.

1970s: Jetliner introduction

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Inex-Adria Airways Douglas DC-9-30,
named Ljubljana
(1970)

In 1969 the first jet aircraft was purchased, a DC-9-30 with 115 seats. Thus began a period of modernisation of the fleet, which allowed Adria to increase its share on the tourist flights market. In September 1969 the first scheduled service was established on the Ljubljana-Belgrade-Ljubljana route. In March 1970, Adria had four Douglas DC-6B and one Douglas DC-9-30 with one more on order.

Business saw a considerable increase. Adria, in addition to expanding the number of its own aircraft, occasionally also leased aircraft (Caravelle, DC-8, BAC 1-11).

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Inex-Adria Airways Douglas DC-8-55
(1971)

In 1972 Adria renewed its transatlantic flights to the USA and Canada with Douglas DC-8-55 aircraft. However, it withdrew from that service the following year.

Later in 70s, Adria was awarded as most punctual carrier on the charter flight market. The greatest commercial successes of that period were achieved on the German market which was also the largest at that time, in a productive partnership with Grimex Company. The number of flights to Great Britain, France, Spain and Scandinavia also increased. During that period, Adria also introduced flights within Yugoslavia. The company paid a great deal of attention to education. It founded a professional education centre and assisted in setting up an aviation course at the engineering faculty in Ljubljana. Special emphasis was given to the development of safety awareness, as three accidents occurred during the last decade.

1980s: Modernisation

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Inex-Adria Airways MD-82,
YU-ANG, at Paris-Orly Airport.
(April 1986)

Inex-Adria Aviopromet (Inex-Adria Airways) entered the 1980s as a respectable company with confirmed success on the tourist market and scheduled internal flights.

In May 1981 Adria purchased three new MD-80 aircraft. Unfortunately one of them was involved in an accident in Corsica in December the same year, after just few months of operation.

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Adria Airways Dash 7,YU-AIE
(1988)

The next year, Adria got a new leadership which focused on the education of the flight crews, technical staff and other professional personnel as well as on ensuring safety.

In that period, the business remained focused on charter flights to the Adriatic. Flights for guest workers in Germany and Switzerland, which were connected to internal flights, became an important part of the business. At the end of 1984 the first scheduled international flights was also established on the Ljubljana-Belgrade-Larnaca route.

Prospects for the development of air traffic were very good, so in 1984 Adria signed a contract for the purchase of five Airbus A320 aircraft. Also two new Dash-7 aircraft were bought for Sarajevo winter Olympics in 1984.

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Adria Airways Airbus A320-231,
YU-AOA, at Girona Airport.
(June 1989)

Fleet became very big, in December 1985 Adria had four DC-9-30, two DC-9-50, one MD-81, three MD-82 and two Dash-7 aircraft. One year later another MD-82 joined the fleet.

Due to a commercial law restructuring programme, in 1986 Adria left the Inex group, becoming an independent company and changing its name to Adria Airways. Later, Adria became a member of IATA. In 1989, the first new Airbus A320 arrived. It was 43rd A320 made by the Airbus and the first one to be powered by the new IAE Engines.

1990s: Becoming a scheduled airline

Due to the beginning of the Yugoslavia brake down, the tourist economy on the Adriatic began to stagnate, which was also felt by the air carriers.

In September 1990, another two new Airbus A320 arrived. The last two were expected to arrive the in June 1991.

In December 1990, a referendum on the independence of Slovenia was held in which the overwhelming majority of Slovenian residents (around 89%) voted for the independence of Slovenia from Yugoslavia. Independence was declared on 25 June 1991. Following that, Adria was facing an entirely new set of circumstances.

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Adria Airways MD-82LR,
YU-ANC, at Klagenfurt Airport.
(July 2010)

On 28 June 1991, Yugoslav Federal Air Force attack Adria’s hangar, causing serious damage to four aircraft, building and vehicles. Not even one year old Airbus A320 was heavily damaged and was flown to Tolouse later that year for almost a year of repairs. Same happened to Dash-7 which was flown to Canada for repairs. Another Dash-7 and DC-9-30 were damaged too. Other planes were flown just hours earlier to the near airport of Klagenfurt. Adria was very handicapped that year because of the insurance and registration issues.

In 1991 Adria had 13 aircraft. Three Airbus A320, four MD-82, one MD-81, three DC-9-30 and two Dash-7. The two Airbus A320 which would need to be delivered in June 1991, were sold to further airlines. Flights began in January 1992, when Adria Airways re-established its activities on a truncated market. The majority of charter destinations from Western Europe to the Adriatic coast had become inaccessible as they were now situated on the territory of other countries. The fleet was too big, so many aircraft were leased out across the globe.

Adria Airways became Slovenia’s national air carrier and its operational structure changed. From being largely a charter airline it transformed itself into a scheduled operator. Adria began to set up a network of scheduled flights around Europe to serve the needs of an independent Slovenia. Later in 1992 the company joined the Amadeus global travel distribution system. A period of restructuring and rehabilitation of the company began.

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Adria Airways DC-9-30,
YU-AHJ, at Klagenfurt Airport.
(July 2010)

In the next years, Airbus A320s were mainly leased out, as well as MD-82s. One MD-81 and one MD-82 were sold till 1994. The other three MD-82 and one DC-9-30 were sold till the end of 1995. As a part of the ownership restructuring of Adria Airways, in February 1996 the Government of Slovenia obtained a 100% share in the company.

In 1996, in line with administration’s rescue programme, a rehabilitation procedure was started the aim of which was to enable the company to run on market principles. The main emphasis was on the rationalization and modernization of the operations and the adaptation of the fleet to market requirements. The number of employees has been reduced from 931 to around 618. In 1996, fleet consisted three Airbus A320 with 168 seats (at least two were leased out most of the time), two DC-9-30 with 105 seats and two Dash-7 with 46 seats. Adria started a corporation with the Lufthansa later in 1996.

Adria Airways Bombardier CRJ100LR,
S5-AAH, landing at Frankfurt Airport.
(June 2010)

In April 1997 Adria ordered two new Bombardier CRJ200LR planes with an option for one more. Planes were delivered in the beginning of the year 1998 when two Dash-7 and two DC-9-30 left the fleet. Another CRJ200LR arrived later in the 1998.

Bombardier CRJ200LR were chosen as the best option for flights operated from Ljubljana, which allowed for more flights to be flown directly and more frequent. CRJ200LR are in 48 seats configuration which give space for a larger baggage compartment needed for charters.

In 1999 Adria’s fleet was consisted out of 3 Airbus A320, which were now operating back home and three CRJ200LR.

2000s: Getting on new markets

Adria started to connect the Balkan cities with the western Europe via its hub Ljubljana in the late 90s. Cities like Sarajevo, Skopje, Ohrid, Tirana were connected with Scandinavia, UK, Germany and France. After a Kosovo war ended in 1998, Adria was the first one to fly to Pristina in the winter 1999-2000. In March 2000, the fourth new 48 seats Bombardier CRJ200LR arrived.

In 2001, Adria Airways recorded a large decrease in the number of annual passengers as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. In winter 2001-2002 Adria started flying in the EU market on the Vienna-Frankfurtgg-Vienna route. In July 2002, Bombardier Aerospace selected Adria as the first authorised heavy maintenance facility for CRJ aircraft in Europe.

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Adria Airways Bombardier CRJ200LR,
S5-AAG, at Ljubljana Airport.
(February 2010)

In spring 2003 Adria leased CRJ100LR with 50 seats from Bombardier and is still leased to date. IOSA certificate was obtained in August 2004 among the first airline in the world. The same month a sixth CRJ200LR with 50 seats was leased from GECAS. On 18 November 2004, Adria Airways joined the Star Alliance.

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Adria Airways Bombardier CRJ,
at Ljubljana Airport.
(September 2009)

In January 2005, seventh new CRJ200LR with 50 seats was delivered to Adria. This year, Adria’s financial results were very poor and a new CEO was announced later in 2005. While new leadership ideas were not reasonable, Tadej Tufek became a new CEO in 2006 and is still a CEO to date. Two Boeing 737-500 (112 seats) aircraft were leased from Ukraine International and Cirrus Air to fill the gap between A320 (162 seats) and CRJ200 (48/50 seats). One Airbus A320 was leased to Afriqiyah Airways till the late 2009 while the another Airbus A320 joined Afriqiyah in the winter 2006-2007 till the Summer 2008. In 2006, the company recorded a minimal profit and transported its first annual millionth passenger since the late 1980s.

Adria Airways Boeing 737-500,
UR-GAS, at London Gatwick Airport.
(April 2007)

In the beginning of year 2007, Adria ordered two Bombardier CRJ900 which were delivered in May the same year. During the Summer fleet consisted now out of one Airbus A320 (162 seats), one leased Boeing B737-500 (112 seats) from Ukraine Intl Airlines, two Bombardier CRJ900LR (86 seats) and seven Bombardier CRJ200LR (48/50 seats) aircraft.

In November 2007 Adria has announced to purchase a new CRJ1000 and two new CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. At the end of 2007 Adria Airways carried 1,136,431 passengers and made a profit of 420,000 euro for the year. In 2008 Adria converted its CRJ1000 order into fifth CRJ900 and made a loss of 3,240,997 euro. In March 2009, Adria Airways has signed a letter of intent with Airbus to purchase a new Airbus A319 aircraft. The management board made a plan to replace Airbus A320 fleet with new Airbus A319 aircraft. The seating configuration of the aircraft allows for 135 seats, which is rational for the type of service operated by Adria Airways. Two Airbus A320 were sold to Myanmar Airways International in 2009, S5-AAC in October and S5-AAB in December.

In November 2009 new headquarter at Ljubljana Airport was opened. A loss of 13,991,691 euro was made in year 2009.

2010s: Solving the crisis

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Adria Airways Airbus A320, S5-AAB, at Ljubljana Airport.
(September 2009)

In April 2010, Adria got a first Airbus A319, S5-AAP, few weeks later the second followed, registered S5-AAR. The third A319 should be delivered in 2012.

In June 2010, as a part of reorganisation of the company, Adria Tehnika and Adria Flight School were separated and made into an own company. The whole group has around 800 employees while the airline itself around 600 on September 2010.

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Adria Airways Airbus A319, S5-AAP, on delivery flight at Ljubljana Airport.
(April 2010)

Summer 2010 Adria’s fleet was consisted of one Airbus A320 (162 seats), two Airbus A319 (135 seats), four Bombardier CRJ900LR (86 seats) and seven Bombardier CRJ200LR (48/50 seats) aircraft. On 11 September 2010, the last Airbus A320, S5-AAA, was retired.

In November 2010, Adria will start serving new routes from Pristina, Kosovo with a brand new Airbus A319. Route will be codeshare by Lufthansa, a Star Alliance partner.

Pristina-Frankfurt - 4 times per week
Pristina-Munich - 7 times per week

Adria is expected to fly for Cirrus Airlines on behalf of Lufthansa in winter 2010-2011 with Bombardier CRJ200LR. The retirement of a CRJ100LR is postponed till the July 2011.

Destinations

Scheduled destinations

Main article: Adria Airways destinations

Codeshare agreements

Adria Airways has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Austrian Airlines * Aeroflot (Skyteam) Air Canada * Brussels Airlines * Jat Airways Lufthansa *

LOT Polish Airlines * Montenegro Airlines SAS * Sky Srpska Swiss International Air Lines * Ukraine International Airlines

* Star Alliance

Fleet

The Adria Airways fleet includes the following aircraft in September 2010:

Adria Airways Fleet

Aircraft	In Fleet	Order	Passengers
Airbus A319-132	2	1	135
Bombardier CRJ100	1	0	50
Bombardier CRJ200	6	0	48/50
Bombardier CRJ900	4	1	86
Total	13	2

Note: Number of Business and Economy seats varies according to demand

On 25 September 2010, the average age of Adria Airways fleet is 7.2 years.

Incidents and accidents

• On 30 October 1975, 75 people were killed when an Inex Adria Aviopromet DC-9-32 hit high ground during an ILS approach in fog near Prague-Suchdol, Czechoslovakia.
• On 10 September 1976, 176 people died when a British Airways Hawker Siddeley Trident and an Inex Adria Douglas DC-9 collided over Zagreb. The collision was attributed to an air traffic control error.
• On 1 December 1981, Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 1308 crashed in the mountains while approaching Campo dell'Oro Airport in Ajaccio, Corsica killing 173 passengers and 7 crew members.

External links

• Official website
• Fleet
• Passengers Opinions on Adria Airways