"Aeroflot" confirmed interest in "Jat Airways" – realistic price of national airliner, according to experts, ranges between 100 and 150m USD

Russian daily newspapers announced on May 28, 2007, that "Aeroflot" was interested in participation in privatization of "Jat Airways" and that the opinion of the experts was that, with the procurement of nearly 40% of Italian "Alitalia", that would much help the leading Russian airliner in its appearance on European market.

The Deputy General Manager of "Aeroflot", Lev Košljakov, confirmed to the leading Russian business daily newspaper "Vedomosti" that Russian company was interested in "Jat Airways", but that it would not send any concrete proposals until the privatization terms were completely cleared up.

The analyst of "Trast" bank, Jevgenij Šago, said that the main expenses the Russian airliner would have would be related to restructuring of debts and restoration of the fleet., Russian company would not have much difficulties with the restoration of the fleet when having in mind the purchase of 45 regional passenger airplanes "superjet-100" produced by "Civilna avijacija Suhoj".

General Manager of consulting company "Infomost", Boris Ribak, stated that the fair price for Serbian air transportation company ranged between 100 and 150m USD, which would not represent a problem to "Aeroflot".

According to the opinion of the experts, "Jat Airways" could be a backup variant in case of unsuccessful participation in the tender for Italian airliner, as well as the method for Russian company to make large transit hub in Belgrade.

"Vremja novostej" writes that the possible motive of Russian airliner for participation in the privatization of Serbian air transportation company is the expectation of realization of access to "open sky" of Europe, which Russia can not expect in the near future, while Serbia may enter that zone within next few years.