B&H Airlines (JA, Sarajevo International (SJJ)) resumed limited operations this last weekend having suspended operations 3 weeks ago owing to its sole operating aircraft, an ATR72-200 E7-AAD (MSN 464) undergoing scheduled maintenance. EX-YU Aviation News reports that a deal was struck with Helitt Líneas Aéreas (H9, Malaga Pablo Ruiz Picasso (AGP)) for the short-term wet-lease of an ATR72-200 whose contract would be extended should the need arise. The airline's other ATR72 E7-AAE (MSN 465) expected back in Sarajevo International (SJJ) from Mönchengladbach (MGL) this week after government agreed to foot its EUR 460'000 bill. Following the arrival of the ATR from Germany, the wet-leased turboprop is to be returned to the Spanish airline. The Bosnia-Herzegovinian national carrier has staggered from one crisis to another with the latest being the cancellation of its planned Skopje Alexander the Great (SKP) route, originally slated to begin on April 1, but subsequently cancelled owing to a lack of equipment. Competition from Wizz Air (W6, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (BUD)), who recently announced the launch of its flights from Tuzla International (TZL) to Malmö Sturup (MMX), Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT), Basle/Mulhouse/Freiburg EuroAirport (BSL) and possibly Sarajevo this summer, has presented more headaches for the loss-making airline.

B&H Airlines (JA, Sarajevo International (SJJ)) was recently forced to cancel flights to Istanbul Atatürk/Yesilköy International (IST), Zurich Kloten (ZRH), Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH) and Banja Luka International (BNX) until Saturday, April 27, owing to its sole operating aircraft, an ATR72-200 (E7-AAD / MSN 464), undergoing scheduled maintenance. The carrier’s other ATR72 (E7-AAE / MSN 465), is grounded in Mönchengladbach (MGL) following a similar maintenance check. It is understood that the Bosnia-Herzegovinian government will shoulder the EUR 460'000 bill thereby paving the way for its return to Sarajevo.

B&H Airlines (JA, Sarajevo International (SJJ)) has denied reports in the local Sarajevo-based press that the Bosnian-Herzegovinian government is considering shutting it down over the hefty debts it has incurred. The carrier is adamant that operations are proceeding as normal, with plans to launch flights to Skopje Alexander the Great (SKP) in their final stages. In an article published last week, the Dnevni Avaz newspaper claimed that cabinet members were to vote in favour of shutting down the struggling national airline, as government could no longer afford to prop it up with annual cash injections of EUR 3.5 million. Government places the blame for B&H's poor financial condition on the failed joint venture with Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Atatürk/Yesilköy International (IST)) which collapsed last year.

B&H Airlines (JA, Sarajevo International (SJJ)) is facing closure if the government of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina decides to stop its financial support for the national carrier. According to the country’s newspaper Dnevni Avaz it is widely expected the cabinet members will vote against additional support for the loss making airline. B&H currently continues to operate with its fleet of two ATR72-200s.

B&H Airlines (JA, Sarajevo International (SJJ)) has resumed operations on Friday, March 8 operating a round-trip from Sarajevo via Banja Luka International (BNX) to Zurich Kloten (ZRH) with its ATR 72-200 E7-AAE (c/n 465). It has since then however again cancelled several flights to Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH), Istanbul Atatürk/Yesilköy International (IST) and Zurich Kloten (ZRH). B&H plans to operate to Copenhagen again from Monday, March 11 and to also operate to Istanbul Atatürk and Zurich again later this week. B&H is in financial troubles having recently had some of its bank accounts frozen by lender Hypo Alpe Adria Bank.