Yes ,before JAT got it's new DC-10's they first flew charters to Australia and the USA with the 707's.
The 707 was first used from1970 for JAT's intercontinental routes until the arrival of the DC10-30 in 1979 (747SP and 747-200 were also under consideration) when the 707 was switched to Euro-Atlantic routes and Yugotours charter flights for Air Yugoslavia.
JAT's first 707 examples were some early old ex Pan Am 707-321's which many airlines started to obtain from around 1970/71.
Dan Air, BMA, Lloyd, THY and Donaldson all got some of these too.
JAT then soon got 4 ex PIA 707C's from 1972 and 2 more from Northwest in 1974.
1970
- On May 19, the first Boeing 707-321, YU-AGA, which JAT rented from Pan-Am, flew to Belgrade Airport. remained in the fleet until July 25, 1974.
- On June 1, a B-707 aircraft introduced charter traffic to Australia. This year, flies on average three times a week, twice to Sydney and once to Melbourne, on the route Belgrade - Karachi - Singapore - Australia. Perth was also served.
- June 19, the first charter flight Belgrade - Toronto by B-707. During the year, JAT also opens charter traffic to the United States to SFO and JFK.
Transatlantic flights on the B-707 to the USA went via London or SNN Ireland, while flights to Australia in those years went via Ankara, Tehran, Karachi, India and Singapore.
JAT also leased from Pan Am, 707-321's N716PA/722PA/723PA and 724PA. One was reg'd YU-AGH.
1971
- December 11, the first flight to China on a B-707 aircraft arranged by Air Yugoslavia
1972
- On May 30, the first, then on December 5, the second B-707C aircraft leased by JAT for intercontinental traffic from PIA (YU-AGE and YU-AGG). Both aircraft were purchased in 1975.
YU-AGF and AGD were also added from PIA.
1974
- April another 2 B-707, which JAT bought from NWA (YU-AGI and YU-AGJ), landed on April 17.
1975
- April 1, JAT opens the first intercontinental line Belgrade - Karachi - Singapore - Sydney. Based on the agreement between the Government of Australia, as well as the agreement between JAT and "Qantas". The traffic was performed by B-707 twice a week.
1979
May 18, the new DC-10 flies to Australia once a week instead of B-707, which flew twice a week.
1987, October 31, the last commercial flight of a Boeing 707 on YU-AGI on the Belgrade-Zagreb-Brussels route.
707 v DC-10
- In November 1971, during a visit to the United States, President Tito visits the McDonnell Douglas aircraft factory in Long Beach and inspects the production and latest model of the DC-10 aircraft.
1972
- August 9, the American aircraft manufacturing company McDonnell Douglas organized a demonstration flight of its new DC-10 aircraft in Belgrade. In the cabin of this plane, at the "Belgrade" airport, a contract was signed for the purchase of six new DC-9 planes for JAT.
1977
- May 20, The Managing Authority of JAT made a decision to purchase a new type of wide-body aircraft for intercontinental traffic. The choice fell on the DC-10.
- On July 15, in Long Beach, California, a contract was signed for the purchase of the first DC-10-30 wide-body aircraft.
1978
- February 2, a contract is signed in New York for the purchase of another DC-10. The contract was signed on behalf of JAT by General Manager Dragoslav Radisavljevic.
- On April 2, Air Yugoslavia starts charter flights to Beijing. On September 15, the first test flight of JAT's first DC-10 aircraft - YU-AMA - was performed in Long Beach.
- On December 12, JAT's DC-10, YU-AMA few non-stop from Long Beach to Belgrade Airport. At the festive reception, it was named "Nikola Tesla".
On May 16, 1979, another DC-10 - 30 YU-AMB flew to the "Belgrade" airport, which was named "Edward Rusyan" at the airport reception.
During early 1987, it was decided to buy another DC-10 30 (YU-AMC), but that decision was withdrawn after the decision to buy the then new MD-11 (successor to the DC-10) was formally made. JAT definitely confirmed the decision to purchase MD-11, so in 1989 it gave up the purchase of another third DC-10-30 and began negotiations with McDonnell Douglas regarding the procurement of the MD-11 as a replacement for the DC-10.
The decision to purchase three MD-11s (YU-AME / F / G) was made on March 3, 1989. And in June 1990, JAT ordered a fourth copy, plus two more as an option.
Among the first companies to order this type of new aircraft was JAT, which ordered 4 with delivery in 1992. Although two had already been produced, these were never delivered due to UN sanctions against the FRY. 1 went to AA and the other to WO.