Aer Lingus has become the latest carrier to announce plans to serve Dubrovnik throughout the year, as the airport looks to ease its high seasonality. Dubrovnik Airport has confirmed in its monthly publication that the Irish carrier, which maintains seasonal services to the Croatian coastal city, will operate flights from Dublin throughout the winter. Besides carrying local holidaymakers, the airline has seen a significant numbers of transfer passengers on the route throughout the summer, primarily from and to the United States. Furthermore, the winter service will cater for the growing Croatian diaspora in Ireland. As a result, Dubrovnik becomes Aer Lingus’ only year-round destination in the country.
Dubrovnik Airport is gearing up for what is likely to be its busiest winter season on record. Croatia Airlines will extend its summer service to Frankfurt, while Trade Air will continue operating to Rijeka during the winter. Furthermore, Turkish Airlines will maintain its new flights from Istanbul throughout the year. British Airways will continue flying from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik during the winter, however, there will be a partial stoppage in service in November, as well as from mid-January until mid-February. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines will discontinue its flights from Dubrovnik to Rome for the first time since 1994. The route was to be taken over by low cost carrier Vueling, however, no flights have been scheduled so far.
Dubrovnik Airport has previously said it is in talks with Europe's largest low cost airline, Ryanair, over potential year-round flights to the city. The budget carrier has requested for Dubrovnik Airport to reduce its fees and sign a multi-year agreement prior to it starting operations. Following talks with the airline, the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Andro Vlahušić, said the city is prepared to sign an agreement with Ryanair which would be applicable until 2024. Currently, over 85% of all travellers to and from Dubrovnik Airport are handled during the peak summer months. It welcomed 1.438.077 passengers through its doors during the first eight months of the year, an increase of 14.9% compared to the same period in 2015. The 2016/17 winter season begins on October 30 and runs until March 25, 2017.
wow well done Dubrovnik! Great to see Aer Lingus all year round to ex-Yu.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that they have quite a few transfer passengers on the route. I assume American holiday makers. Maybe it’s time to start direct seasonal flights from the US to Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteSure, because of a few transfer pax. The only question that remains is whether to send a B777ER or B748, and whether the frequency should be 14pw or 10pw.
DeleteNo but seasonal flights with a B767 or A330 once or twice a week are possible.
DeleteRemember, JAT used to fly seasonally from Dubrovnik to JFK.
JAT had 14 weekly flights from Zagreb to North America, so what is your point?
DeleteJAT time was something else and company was more promotional tool of Yugoslav communist regime than commercial organization.
That is not correct! It was a true national carrier who represented the country. Remember that JAT was among the top 30 airlines in the World featuring a modern fleet and good service. Times have changed of course and JAT needed a restructuring after the sanctions and a new political setup of ExYU. One should also acknowledge that every political party used to milk JAT since the late 80's for cash without re-investing in the company hence the only direction it could go was "South"
DeleteJAT was never a profitable company. At no single point in its history.
DeleteBravo anon at 10.13am ! The truth always eventually emerges. JAT was no more than what you mentioned - a propaganda tool for a discredited regime which thankfully no longer exists. Anyone who thinks that it was somehow such a successful commercial machine that could do no wrong, is sorely mistaken.
DeleteYes, it may well have been operationally a good airline that was highly regarded and representative of the country whose flag it flew is one thing - but it was never ever a profitable enterprise - like every other public company owned by the communist regime.
That none of those companies exist today is testament to the fact that they were all living on borrowed time and money - may they all RIP
@6:12PM
DeleteIs the free home your parents got a profitable enterprise of the communist regime? Thank you.
Ma parents did not get any fee home. Not even credit. I wonder why if everyone got home?
DeleteMaybe because my father and mother did not want to join Communist party! Nooo, that can not be true. They just did not have luck.
What about your educations? o<O
DeleteCould Dubrovnik now overtake Split during the winter seeing as Split it mostly deserted October – March?
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that Split has done nothing to boost its winter flight offering considering they have a much bigger catchment area than Dubrovnik.
DeleteOU to boost Split - Munich flights - 123457
DeleteThat's just a few extra flights per week.
DeleteYes but I doubt they have to pay for it ;)
DeleteDubrovnik cannot overtake Split. In addition to 3/4 daily flights to Zagreb, there are daily flights to Frankfurt, now Munich and Rome. Plus year round services by Germanwings.
DeleteGood for DBV!
ReplyDeleteExcellent news for Dubrovnik in general, nice to see year round flights since it's really empty during winter time! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteKind of unexpected. Would not have thought they would be even remotely interested considering they give the entire region a wide berth.
ReplyDeleteSo this winter Croatia Airlines, Trade Air, Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Aer Lingus.
Not bad.
Missed opportunity for JU in my opinion. They could have flown to DBV with an ATR maybe twice per week during the winter. They would surely have secured a few point 2 point passengers and could have gotten transfers to the US which will now be going to Aer Lingus.
ReplyDeleteIt is still questionable who will travel to DBV in winter. IMO EIN are not only after tourists here, but also after the North American diaspora visiting South Dalmatia and even parts of Montenegro/B&H.
DeleteASL only has the JFK connection and it's probably not enough to keep the DBV flights year-round.
I don't JU or BEG should even see EI/DUB as their competitors. Not only does EI have a large network throughout the US but Dublin airport is one of the few airports in the world to have US preclearance.
DeleteThat said, two weekly flights should be there throughout the year. They could have a 00.30 departure out of BEG.
Most of all this is a missed opportunity for Austrian. OS are much more present in ex yu market (than EI), just 1hr away and offer many connections to both Asia and North America. Plain stupid and impossible to understand why they are that passive.
DeleteI wonder how much city of Dubrovnik pays to the airlines for winter operations, in addition to the free of charge services by the airport.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Would it have not been better to have invested all of that money maybe in a single LCC maintaining a few routes? Would have brought much more passengers in my opinion.
DeleteThis is great. This only goes to prove that DBV is the future number 1 airport in the country!! So far they always lost because of winter but this will change now. :)))
ReplyDeleteI think you are getting a bit ahead of yourself. How will they overtake Zagreb?
DeleteDBV and SPU will hardly ever overtake ZAG simply due to the fact that they have strong summer, yet rather low winter traffic and potenital for that matter. Too seasonal to overate ZAG on yearly level. Mind you, ZAG is also constantly progressing year on year, not that it has falling trend.
DeleteAs Croatia's tourism develops the number of passengers at coastal airports will grow. In the next five to ten years, both SPU and DBV could easily handle around 4 million passengers. On the other hand, ZAG will eventually reach its maximum... unless someone starts building a hub.
DeleteZAG will never be a major tourist Mecca.
Nemjee,
DeleteWhen it come to Zagreb I don't think tourism plays a big part in pax numbers. It's more to do with the traveling needs of the people of Zagreb and the sourounding region. With an improving economy and increased purchasing power as well as increased business based investment, will result in more people flying over time. This is where most of Zagreb's growth will come from and as long as the economy keeps improving than so will pax numbers at Zagreb.
I am not saying ZAG will no longer grow, it will (up to a certain point). However, each airport has its own catchment area which has its own realistic maximum potential.
DeleteThe same would have happened in BEG if we didn't get Air Serbia which is stimulating growth by attracting more and more transfer passengers.
Same for ZAG. Let's say they grow to 4 million a year. How will they reach five or six million? There simply isn't that much demand for it to grow organically after a certain point.
Also, what will happen to ZAG if LJU, OSI or BNX pull their act together and start developing? They will all take away a share of ZAG's market.
That's where DBV and SPU have an advantage. Their growth is tied to the country's tourism industry which shows no sign of slowing down.
Both SPU/DBV will grow, however they will still remain highly seasonal. ZAG on the other hand will also enjoy growth on account of tourism, but will also be able to grow on year round basis through other segments, including business, government related etc (for tourism also noting constantly increasing city stay during non summer monhts). It is very hard to expect that SPU/DBV can actually overtake ZAG. Decrease the difference yes, but overtake hardly.
DeleteWhy is it so hard to believe that they could overtake Zagreb? They currently handle less passengers than Corfu or Paphos in Cyprus. They are lagging behind when compared to other airports in their league.
DeleteLet's see.
Paphos: 2.277.000
Corfu: 2.438.000
Chania: 2.702.000
Dalaman: 4.377.000
Rhodes: 4.579.000
Heraklion: 6.057.000
Zagreb: 2.587.000
Split: 1.955.000
Dubrovnik: 1.693.000
I know a lot of tourists come by bus or car but there is still so much potential among Germans, Swedes, Norwegians, French... all who will take the plane to visit the Croatian coast. All of these will further boost the numbers. Just look at easyJet which is slowly but surely building up its presence. This is a trend that will continue. Split might be slow in winter but they are exploding in summer time, like most airports I listed above.
Also, given that DBV is working on improving its winter performance, I am sure SPU will try to do the same.
Very good comment, Nemjee, thank you. It is hard to admit that ZAG without becoming a hub, won't grow that much in the future. The problem is that they are doing absolutely nothing to turn it into a hub and maybe it is to late for that.
DeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteWhat you don't want to hear is that Zagreb has more tourist even then Dubrovnik!!!! Last year more then 1 million (Dubrovnik, 0,9 million). And number is still growing.
Deletelogic with LJU, OSI and BNX is the same with TIV, OMO, ZAD on SPU and DBV. If TIV, OMO and ZAD grow DBV and SPU will have smaller number of passengers.
DeleteYes but market dynamics around all these airports are not the same.
DeleteZAD can have more passengers by bringing in new tourists who haven't been to Croatia before. So their growth can occur without harming SPU. Same with the other coastal airports you mentioned.
However, if BNX gets Wizz Air then a considerable amount of passengers from Slavonija who used ZAG in the past would have an alternative airport to fly from. Same with OSI.
In a way, OSI and BNX would have a similar impact on ZAG as INI had on BEG.
DeleteYes but market dynamics around all these airports are not the same.
DeleteZAD can have more passengers by bringing in new tourists who haven't been to Croatia before. So their growth can occur without harming SPU. Same with the other coastal airports you mentioned.
However, if BNX gets Wizz Air then a considerable amount of passengers from Slavonija who used ZAG in the past would have an alternative airport to fly from. Same with OSI.
So now chance of Ryan Air coming this winter after all.
ReplyDelete*no not now, sorry
DeleteAs far as I'm concerned good riddance. Why should Dubrovnik Airport and taxpayers give money to Ryanair when numerous other LCC offer services from/to Dubrovnik, while during the winter there is a sufficient number of airline and routes. It would be a waste of money and resources.
DeleteThey shot them selves in the foot with Rome. Authorities announced Vueling would fly the route, OU got angry, they cancelled the flights and now Vueling isn't coming and there will be no flights to FCO. Dumb.
ReplyDeleteIf the market is there then someone will enter the market. Better to have no one than OU with their extremely high fares and unpredictable operations at DBV.
DeleteGreat news. It will be a fantastic year for Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteDubrovnik joins Ohrid as the year-round destination from the isles. Congrats, great news! The more the merrier.
ReplyDeleteDBV could reach around 1.9 million this year if not more.
ReplyDeleteIf all of this materliazes it will be an amazing year for Dubrovnik. It already is...
DeleteGood catch for Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteLX pushes back its C-series introduction on the BEG route from 12.11 to 10.12. Seems like late deliveries are the reason.
ReplyDeleteNot like anyone's looking forward to flying in that sardine tin anyway.
DeleteBetter seats and toilets than on their A320 fleet!!!
DeleteTin? It's by universes the best cabin experience for pax in jets under 220 seats.
DeletePitty about Vueling cancelling plans for BCN and FCO year-round.
ReplyDeleteDBV will soon become top 5 in ex-YU, you will see! EI is a good airline and has good connections to America.
ReplyDeleteIt already is in the top 5.
Delete1. Belgrade
2 Zagreb
3. Split
4. Dubrovnik
5. Pristina
Oh thanks! I didn´t know it =)
DeleteSo it will compete directly with Split for 3rd place as I doubt it will reach 2nd or 3rd.
Did you read what you wrote?
Delete"So it will compete directly with Split for 3rd place as I doubt it will reach 2nd or 3rd."
Good news just noticed it in the DBV Airport newsletter too but tickets are not on sale still.
ReplyDeleteHave they completed the construction of the new terminal in Dubrovnik?
ReplyDeleteI think it's supposed to be built by March next year.
DeleteNo, from what I heard it was supposed to be finished in September but opened in March 2017.
DeleteNo yet flights are able to book while wintertimetable
ReplyDeleteEI should announce these flights soon along with a number of new destinations they are planning to start, none of them in ex-YU thoug
DeleteOT: Jet2 will inaugerate 2 new routes to Croatia in summer 2017:
ReplyDeleteSTN-DBV 3/7
STN-PUY 2/7
Tako ce dobiti preko DUB jos jednu odlicnu konekciju DBV.
ReplyDeleteINN-NS
Still not able to get confirmation of these flights from Aer Lingus...
ReplyDelete