Wet lease

A wet leased flight is operated by one airline on behalf of another, under a formal wet lease agreement between two parties: the lessor (the operating airline) and the lessee (the customer airline). In a wet lease arrangement, the lessor provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance—commonly referred to as ACMI, which stands for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance.

Although the flight is operated by the lessor, it is conducted under the flight number of the lessee. This means passengers book and interact with Air Serbia, while the actual flight may be operated by a partner airline under the wet lease agreement.

Airlines enter into wet lease agreements to gain operational flexibility and respond quickly to changing market conditions. These agreements allow one airline (the lessor) to provide a fully operational aircraft to another airline (the lessee), including crew, maintenance, and insurance, while the lessee retains commercial control over the aircraft.

Wet lease arrangements are most commonly used by airlines to: (a) respond to seasonal demand growth and the need to increase capacity during peak periods; (b) overcome challenges related to aircraft availability due to unscheduled maintenance or delivery delays; (c) test potential new markets and destinations with lower risk; (d) maintain operational continuity and stability; etc.

Fleet development and route network planning are complex processes influenced by numerous factors and require time to execute effectively. To stay aligned with market trends and respond to customer needs, airlines around the world—including Air Serbia—enter into wet lease agreements with other carriers. These collaborations support fleet expansion, enable flexible capacity management, and help ensure operational continuity.

To ensure the execution of planned flight schedules as well as to ensure reliable flight operations, selected flights and routes are being operated in cooperation with our wet lease partner airlines: airBaltic and Bulgaria Air. More information about wet lease partner airlines, their fleet and aircraft seating may be found here.

airBaltic operates a modern fleet of state-of-the-art Airbus A220-300 aircraft, each configured to accommodate 148 passengers in a single-class layout. Renowned for its fuel efficiency and advanced design, the A220-300 offers exceptional passenger comfort and performance. The cabin features a 2-3 seating arrangement, providing five seats per row.

Bulgaria Air operates Embraer E190 aircraft, offering efficient performance and comfortable seating for up to 108 passengers in a single-class layout. The cabin features a 2-2 seating arrangement, providing four seats per row.

For detailed information about the fleet and aircraft seating plans, please click on the wet lease airline logo at the top of this page.

Aircraft or aircraft type changes are a common and routine practice in the aviation industry. The originally scheduled aircraft may be substituted for various operational or commercial reasons, influenced by factors both within and beyond the airline's control. These adjustments are sometimes necessary to maintain schedule reliability, minimize delays, and prevent further disruptions to planned operations.

Yes, you can pre-select your preferred seat on flights operated by a wet lease airline. In the event of an aircraft change, our customer care team will ensure you are re-seated in a location as close as possible to your originally chosen seat, with similar features and comfort.

Yes, Business Class is available on all flights operated by our wet lease airline partners. The selection of meals and beverages matches the offerings on Air Serbia-operated flights. However, please note that onboard service may occasionally vary between aircraft types due to limited cabin space. We apologize for any inconvenience if the service differs from the standard or if your preferred option is unavailable. Thank you for your understanding.

Several factors can affect the decision and feasibility of branding a wet-leased aircraft, including the duration of the lease, availability of painting slots at specialized facilities, and the time required to complete the process. Additionally, wet lease airlines often use their aircraft for short-term contracts with multiple clients, requiring the aircraft to be quickly restored to its original condition without delaying future operations.

However, the passenger cabins of all wet-leased aircraft are branded with Air Serbia elements, such as seat covers, Elevate inflight magazine, Elevate Deli & Bar buy-on-board brochure, autmated announcements etc. We remain committed to providing a consistent travel experience across all flights operated by our wet lease partners.

Standard rules, conditions and procedures apply to all wet lease flights operated under the Air Serbia flight number including, but not limited to, check-in, baggage allowance, baggage transfer etc. If you have an Air Serbia ticket (beginning with number 115) and your flight is operated by one of our wet lease partner airlines, Air Serbia’s Conditions of Carriage apply. All travel-related information, regardless of the wet lease airline operating on behalf of Air Serbia, is available at airserbia.com.

Together with our wet lease partner airlines, we are dedicated to delivering the same level of comfort and service as on board an Air Serbia aircraft. However, please note that sometimes product offering and availability may vary. We apologize if your first choice is not available on today’s flight, and thank you for your understanding. 

The official language on board used by the cabin crews of both airBaltic and Bulgaria Air is English. For your safety and comfort, we have pre-recorded standard onboard announcements that may be played in both Serbian and English. From time to time, a Serbian-speaking cabin crew may be available during the flight.

We strongly encourage you to share your experiences and suggestions that could help us improve passenger experience as well as our products and services, whether you're flying with Air Serbia or one of our wet lease partner airlines. To do so, please click on the following link.

If your Air Serbia flight (JU100 to JU999) is operated by a wet lease airline and your ticket number begins with 115, the contractual relationship remains between the passenger and Air Serbia, the airline on whose network the flight is performed. In this case, all inquiries related to the flight experience, booking (including changes or cancellations), or itinerary disruptions (delays or cancellations) must be addressed directly to Air Serbia. The wet lease airline operating the flight on behalf of Air Serbia is not authorized to process or engage in communication with passengers regarding these matters. You can find Air Serbia's contact information here.  

If your charter flight (JU9100 to JU9999) is operated by a wet lease airline, please contact the travel agency through which you booked your travel package for more information.

Passengers should contact the airline with whom their ticket was booked, i.e. Air Serbia — and not the wet lease partner airline operating the flight. All communication regarding the in-flight experience, booking policies, baggage, check-in, or disruption handling is managed solely by the airline on whose behalf the flight is performed. Therefore, passengers must reach out to Air Serbia directly, as wet lease airlines are not authorized to process inquiries or engage in communication with passengers regarding flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia.

Check-in for wet lease flights must be completed using the same process as for all other Air Serbia flights—either via our website, mobile application or at the departure airport. Wet lease partner airlines do not provide check-in services for flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia.

In the event of flight irregularities, such as delays, cancellations, or disruptions Air Serbia remains fully responsible for managing passenger-related services, even if the flight is operated by a wet lease partner. Since these flights are sold under Air Serbia’s flight number, the contractual relationship is between the passenger and Air Serbia.

All inquiries and claims related to:

·         Flight delays or cancellations

·         Rebooking or itinerary changes

·         Baggage issues

·         In-flight experience

·         Compensation or assistance under applicable regulations

must be directed to Air Serbia, not to the wet lease operating airline. Wet lease partners provide the aircraft and crew but are not authorized to engage in passenger communication or service management on behalf of Air Serbia.

For assistance, passengers should contact Air Serbia directly by clicking here.   

Embraer E-190