Saša Vlaisavljevic
Encyclopedia
Saša Vlaisavljević is a Serbian engineer, business executive, and politician.
Vlaisavljević obtained his transport engineering
degree from the University of Belgrade
's Faculty of Transport, at the Air Traffic Department. He is a member of the Democratic Party
(DS).
, Serbian flag carrier
, in 1995. He soon rose to the position of sector chief and later ground control director. On October 31, 2007, Serbian government
named him to the post of Jat Airways CEO
(generalni direktor). Early into his tenure as the airline head, Vlaisavljević benefited from the encouraging business results he inherited in terms of passenger increase so that Jat finished the year 2007 with a profit and 1.3 million passengers transported, its best results since year 1990. He also presided over three new destination additions: Oslo
, as well as Pula
and Thessaloniki
during 2008 summer season.
However, the privatization efforts were ultimately unsuccessful despite some public interest from Aeroflot
and Air India
. The privatization tender was opened on July 31, 2008 by the Serbian Government's Privatization Agency with a starting price for 51% stake set at US$51 million. Perspective buyers could buy from 51% up to 70% stake in the company. But, until the tender's closing date on September 26, 2008, no one submitted an offer. As a result, Serbian Governmment decided to restructure the company, rather than calling another tender with a lower starting price.
Earlier, in March 2008, Vlaisavljević estimated Jat's fleet to be worth around US$100-120 million. He also mentioned on the same occasion that the amount owed to Jat by other parties (MAT Macedonian Airlines
, Nigerian Sosoliso Airlines
, unused advance paid to Airbus
, General Sales Agent
for Middle East
ern destinations, etc.) adds up to a combined US$50 million. Among the additional assets in company's ownership, he listed 14 slots at London's Heathrow Airport as well as slots at other European airports. On the other hand, he confirmed Jat's debt to be around US$209 million.
Overall, calendar year 2008 was very bad for Jat with an annual posted loss of US$80 million, mostly because of high fuel prices and decreased passenger loads during the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
Vlaisavljević obtained his transport engineering
Transport engineering
Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally...
degree from the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
's Faculty of Transport, at the Air Traffic Department. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Serbia)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Serbia. It is described as a social liberal or social democratic party.-Pre-war history:The Democratic Party was established on 16 February 1919 from unification of Sarajevo parties independent radicals, progressives, liberals and the Serbian part of...
(DS).
Jat Airways
He started working at Jat AirwaysJat Airways
Jat Airways is the national airline of Serbia and the former national airline of Yugoslavia, and has its head office in the Jat Airways Business Center in Belgrade. It was established in 1927 as Aeroput, making it currently one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation...
, Serbian flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
, in 1995. He soon rose to the position of sector chief and later ground control director. On October 31, 2007, Serbian government
Government of Serbia
Officially the Government of the Republic of Serbia is the executive branch of government in Serbia.-Current government:The current government was elected on 7 July 2008 by the majority vote in the National Assembly of Serbia and restructured on 14 March 2011...
named him to the post of Jat Airways CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(generalni direktor). Early into his tenure as the airline head, Vlaisavljević benefited from the encouraging business results he inherited in terms of passenger increase so that Jat finished the year 2007 with a profit and 1.3 million passengers transported, its best results since year 1990. He also presided over three new destination additions: Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, as well as Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
and Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
during 2008 summer season.
However, the privatization efforts were ultimately unsuccessful despite some public interest from Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
and Air India
Air India
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India. It is part of the government of India owned Air India Limited . The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Its corporate office is located at the Air India Building at Nariman...
. The privatization tender was opened on July 31, 2008 by the Serbian Government's Privatization Agency with a starting price for 51% stake set at US$51 million. Perspective buyers could buy from 51% up to 70% stake in the company. But, until the tender's closing date on September 26, 2008, no one submitted an offer. As a result, Serbian Governmment decided to restructure the company, rather than calling another tender with a lower starting price.
Earlier, in March 2008, Vlaisavljević estimated Jat's fleet to be worth around US$100-120 million. He also mentioned on the same occasion that the amount owed to Jat by other parties (MAT Macedonian Airlines
MAT Macedonian Airlines
MAT-Macedonian Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of the Republic of Macedonia, based in Skopje. It operated scheduled services between Skopje and Ohrid and several destinations in Europe...
, Nigerian Sosoliso Airlines
Sosoliso Airlines
Sosoliso Airlines was a scheduled, domestic, passenger airline. For much of its existence it had its head office in Ikeja, Lagos State. Originally its head office was on the grounds of Enugu Airport in Enugu.-History:...
, unused advance paid to Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
, General Sales Agent
General Sales Agent
A general sales agent is a sales representative for an airline in a specific country or region. Typically, the GSA is responsible for selling all products of the airline in its region which includes flight tickets and cargo space...
for Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern destinations, etc.) adds up to a combined US$50 million. Among the additional assets in company's ownership, he listed 14 slots at London's Heathrow Airport as well as slots at other European airports. On the other hand, he confirmed Jat's debt to be around US$209 million.
Overall, calendar year 2008 was very bad for Jat with an annual posted loss of US$80 million, mostly because of high fuel prices and decreased passenger loads during the 2008-09 global financial crisis.