POČECI VAZDUŠNOG SAOBRAĆAJA U POSLERATNOJ JUGOSLAVIJI 1945–1947.
THE BEGINNINGS OF AIR TRANSPORTATION IN POSTWAR YUGOSLAVIA 1945–1947

Summary/Abstract: Before World War II, a domestic company called “Aeroput” operated Yugoslavia’s domestic and international airlines. After the war, the airlines could not be reestablished for two major reasons: they had lost nearly all of their assets during the war and they were a privately-owned company, meaning they would not be allowed to operate in a socialist economy. Due to an urgent need for a fast and reliable connection between Belgrade and the capital cities of the Yugoslav republics, its coastal area, and the outside world, the authorities decided to use the planes of the Yugoslav Air Force First Transport Regiment as a replacement for an actual airline company. As an administrative body, the Main Directorate of Air Transportation was formed within the Air Force Command, although it was financed by the Yugoslav Transportation Ministry. The “Putnik” travel agency was tasked with selling tickets and accommodating passengers. During 1946, using around fifteen aircraft of three different types (Ju 52, Li-2, DC-3), the Main Directorate’s Transport Fleet managed to transport around 10,000 passengers and 100 tons of mail and cargo on six domestic and two international routes. In early 1947, the Main Directorate of Air Transportation, its aircraft and employees, were transferred to the Transportation Ministry. In addition, two airline companies were formed, the state-owned Yugoslav Airlines (YAT) and the Yugoslav-Soviet Civil Aviation Company (YUSTA), which signaled the beginning of a new phase in the development of civil aviation in Yugoslavia.

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