1988 | 737-400 & L-1011-500

YU-HNS
Split

YU-CJA
Bjelovar

1985 brought a minor brand refresh, as Ijekavia for the first time incorporated a significant amount of red into the livery, a red stripe featuring prominently in the central cheatline emulating the Yugoslavian flag. But despite appearances of a unified Yugoslav airline the new livery only further fueled domestic controversy due to the presence of the state seal of SR Croatia placed aft of the cockpit on each Ijekavia aircraft; already embroiled in a conflict with Serbian nationalists and their desires to consolidate Yugoslav airline operations under a singular Belgrade-based carrier, this minor detail was met with incense.

From a fleet perspective Ijekavia continued it's modernization efforts, still at the expense of rapidly deteriorating financial stability. Russian jets were phased out fully in 1988 with two leased 737-400s replacing the last few Tu-134s, which were retired as the Soviet Union began to fall apart. Two L-1011-500 were also brought in to fly high volume routes to major European destinations, although increasing regional unrest meant they often flew quite empty.