ETIHAD: Offer for stake in Jat in July 2013

Etihad Airways from the United Arab Emirates is preparing an offer for a stake in Jat Airways.

- We have agreed to start negotiations on the acquisition of Jat. We are now entering a new phase. Within the next 30 days we will submit our proposal to Jat and the Serbian government - said Etihad CEO James Hogan at a press conference in Belgrade.

- Jat is an airline with a strong history, and Serbia is a country with a large diaspora and a big tourist potential. It is our market base. We would not begin negotiations if we did not know that Jat could become successful through a restructuring process. Our company is now focused on making Jat profitable again - said Hogan.

Jat Airways CEO Velibor Vukasinovic stated that Belgrade would become a regional center thanks to the partnership between Etihad and his company.

- I am very proud of being a part of this important moment in Jat's history - said Vukasinovic.

Etihad and the Serbian government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that should improve talks about Etihad's possible investment in the Serbian flag carrier Jat Airways.
mogućem investiranju Etihada u srpsku aviokompaniju "Jat Airways".