Aviation Law in Serbia

Petrović Mojsić & Partners advises airlines, aircraft owners, lessors, operators, airports and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisations on aviation law in Serbia. Our Belgrade-based team assists with aircraft transactions and leasing, registration and deregistration, regulatory matters, security interests, insurance and aviation disputes.

We work with domestic and international clients to identify the Serbian legal requirements relevant to their transaction or operations, prepare the necessary documents and coordinate the legal steps before the competent authorities. For an overview of our other practice areas, visit our Legal Services page.

Aircraft Transactions and Leasing

Aircraft acquisitions and leasing arrangements require coordination between the transaction documents, the aircraft’s registration status and the applicable operational requirements. We assist owners, lessors, lessees and investors with the Serbian law aspects of aircraft transactions.

• Legal due diligence on aircraft ownership, registered rights and transaction documents.
• Drafting and reviewing aircraft sale and purchase agreements, bills of sale and delivery documentation.
• Reviewing dry leases, wet leases, novations, amendments and termination arrangements.
• Advising on conditions precedent, contractual security and the legal requirements for registration.
• Coordinating Serbian law input with foreign counsel and other transaction advisers.

Read our guide to aircraft leasing in Serbia.

Aircraft Registration and Deregistration

We assist aircraft owners, lessors and operators with aircraft registration, deregistration and changes to registered rights in Serbia. 

Our services include preparing and reviewing documentation for proceedings before the competent Serbian court and the Civil Aviation Directorate, including registration of ownership, operator details and security interests. 

We also advise on aircraft deregistration and export, including the required consents of registered parties, the protection of lessor and creditor rights, and the legal procedures relevant to the termination of aircraft leasing arrangements.

• Applications and supporting documents for registration and deregistration.
• Changes relating to aircraft owners, operators and leasing arrangements.
• Powers of attorney, corporate authorisations and document certification requirements.
• Review of registry information and coordination with the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate.

The Civil Aviation Directorate’s Aircraft Registry page provides official registration information and forms.

Aviation Finance and Security Interests

We advise on Serbian law issues arising in aircraft financing and the creation, registration and enforcement of security interests. We review the relationship between the underlying financing documents, the proposed security and the steps required before the competent Serbian courts and authorities.

Serbia is not a contracting state to the Cape Town Convention or its Aircraft Protocol. Accordingly, aircraft financing and security arrangements involving Serbian-registered aircraft require particular attention to Serbian property law, registration requirements and enforcement procedures.

We assist lessors, lenders, security trustees and aircraft owners in assessing the establishment and enforcement of security interests, including aircraft mortgages, creditor protection, repossession and deregistration matters.

• Legal review of aircraft ownership and security documentation.
• Assistance with the establishment and registration of pledges over aircraft.
• Serbian law opinions within an agreed transaction scope.
• Advice and representation concerning enforcement, interim measures and the protection of creditor rights.

For further information, see our articles on pledges over aircraft in Serbia and enforcement and security over aircraft.

Regulatory and Operational Support

We help aviation businesses assess the legal requirements relevant to their intended activities in Serbia. This includes legal support in matters involving operating licences, certificates, approvals and communications with the Civil Aviation Directorate and other competent bodies.

Our role is to address legal and procedural requirements and coordinate with the client’s technical and operational specialists. The scope of each engagement depends on the aircraft, the type of operation, the parties involved and the applicable regulatory requirements.

Maintenance, MRO and Commercial Contracts

We draft, review and negotiate contracts used in aviation operations and aircraft maintenance. We focus on the allocation of obligations, payment terms, liability, insurance, termination and dispute resolution.

• Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul agreements.
• Ground handling and other airport service agreements.
• Charter, commercial cooperation and related service contracts.
• Contract amendments, settlement arrangements and recovery of unpaid contractual claims.

Where an aviation project also involves establishing a local company or managing personnel, we coordinate our advice with our corporate and commercial law and employment law practices.

Aviation Insurance, Claims and Disputes

We advise on aviation insurance documentation and assist with the preparation, presentation and resolution of claims. Our dispute work includes matters arising from aircraft transactions, leases, maintenance contracts, service agreements and insurance coverage.

We assess the available evidence, contractual remedies, jurisdiction and procedural options before recommending a course of action. Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team provides representation in Serbian court proceedings and support in arbitration-related matters.

Aviation Legal Framework in Serbia

Working with International Aviation Clients

Our aviation practice benefits from Damir Petrović’s professional experience working with Jat Airways and Jat Tehnika, where his legal work involved aircraft leasing, commercial contracts, employment matters, aviation insurance and disputes.

This industry background, combined with our current legal practice in aircraft transactions, financing, regulatory matters and litigation, enables us to advise domestic and international aviation clients on the Serbian legal aspects of their operations and transactions. We work in English and Serbian and coordinate with foreign legal advisers where a matter involves more than one jurisdiction. At the outset, we identify the documents required, the proposed scope of work and any steps that depend on third-party approvals or technical input. Meet our lawyers on the Our Team page.

Practical Questions Before an Aircraft Transaction

Does a bill of sale complete registration in Serbia?

The contract and delivery documents must be coordinated with the relevant court and Directorate procedures. Before closing, we check existing registry entries, the proposed owner and operator, corporate authority, required consents and the documents supporting the change. Where a foreign person will be recorded, any required prior Directorate consent should be addressed early. Registration of title or security, operational approvals and airworthiness documentation are separate issues.

Can a lessor rely on a Cape Town IDERA in Serbia?

Serbia is not listed as a contracting state to the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol in the ICAO treaty status record. A lessor should therefore not assume that the treaty-based IDERA process is available. Contractual powers of attorney, deregistration consents, repossession and export must be assessed under the applicable Serbian rules. A contractual remedy does not dispense with required authority procedures or third-party rights.

What documents should be reviewed before financing or closing?

Typical starting documents include the current registry extract, ownership and lease documents, financing and security instruments, corporate authorisations, insurance documents and the proposed closing steps. We identify filings, releases and evidence of completion in a transaction-specific checklist. Technical status and export airworthiness questions require coordination with appropriately qualified specialists.

Discuss Your Aviation Matter

For advice on aviation law in Serbia, contact Petrović Mojsić & Partners or email Damir Petrović.

In your initial inquiry, please identify the type of matter, the parties involved, the aircraft and registration jurisdiction where relevant, and any transaction or procedural deadline. We can then assess the proposed engagement and advise on the next steps.

Legal content reviewed: 4 November 2026.