Zagreb Airport handled its millionth traveller of the year today, marking the first time it has managed to do so in May. The passenger was carried on a Croatia Airlines flight from Zagreb to Rome. They were awarded with two return tickets to a destination of their choice within the carrier's network, as well as access to Zagreb Airport's premium lounge. The milestone was reached six days ahead of last year. With a full two days to go until the end of the month, Zagreb Airport handled roughly the same number of passengers in May as it did last year, with the bulk of the growth so far in 2017 generated in April, when figures improved 18.7%.
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| Millionth passenger at Zagreb Airport in 2017 |
This year has seen Zagreb Airport welcome new airlines and routes. In late April, Monarch Airlines launched services from London Gatwick and Manchester, while earlier this month Croatia Airlines introduced flights to Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and Bucharest. Furthermore, Canada's Air Transat will resume its seasonal service from Toronto to the Croatian capital this evening. Unlike last year, the airline will run two instead of on weekly flight and services will operate longer into the year, until October 18. The second weekly service will be maintained between June 18 and September 3. "We increased our capacity on the destination from one to two direct flights from Toronto for our summer 2017 season in order to offer our customers more flexibility in their choices of holiday duration and packages. Our advantage is that we have an extensive European network, allowing our passengers to combine their trip to Zagreb with other cities, such as Venice and Budapest", Air Transat told EX-YU Aviation News. The leisure carrier's service resumption will be followed-up with the launch of Emirates' new flights from Dubai, which begin this Thursday, and Norwegian Air Shuttle's new service from Stockholm on June 10.
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| Air Transat resumes Zagreb flights this evening |
Growth at Croatia's busiest airport is expected to continue into the winter months with Eurowings to introduce flights from Dusseldorf on October 31. Furthermore, Croatia Airlines will upgrade its seasonal flights to Barcelona and Lisbon to year-round operations. Services to Barcelona will be maintained twice per week, each Tuesday and Sunday, during the winter, while Lisbon will operate on Mondays and Fridays. The Croatian carrier introduced seasonal flights to Barcelona in 2009, while operations to Lisbon were launched last year. Both have proved solid performers for the airline, which will utilise one of its Airbus A319 aircraft on both routes during the winter months. Zagreb Airport anticipates handling three million passengers by year's end.
Great results so far, love the pics! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the millionth passenger.
ReplyDeleteActually airport handled millionth passenger last week, but they totally forgot to organize millionth passenger event. So they're doing it this week.
DeleteThings are still messy as airport management is trying to run what is organized mess.
If my calculations are correct in May passenger numbers will be the same like last year
ReplyDeleteWhy? I don't understand with all this growth in operations.
DeleteI think it's around 10%
DeleteYes, so it say in article. But that is strange to me, because there are few new routes. So, May was not good I guess.
DeleteIr can't be. Look at their May passenger numbers in 2016. Then take a million and subtract the passenger numbers you had for the first four months of 2017 and you will get the numbers for May 2017. Then calculate the percentage difference.
Delete^ using that formula the numbers are 3,000 fewer passengers this May but like it says in the article there are another two days in May so they will probably make it up and have around the same number of passenger or maybe 1000 more than last May.
DeleteIt makes absolutely sense. Pentecost this year falls into June, because Easter this year was in April. Pentecost is a very strong travel event in most of Europe, so again June will be much better. Considering this if numbers in May stay the same it is in fact an increase. It is a simple shift which by the way occurs every year!
DeleteEaster or no easter I'm disappointed because OU launched new flights during the month and Monarch as well. I was expecting a big increase in May. Let's hope then for June.
DeleteThe way the 1 millionth passenger is counted has been discussed here before and mathematically hasn't added up at a few of the airports covered by this blog. What formula they use to determine who the millionth passenger is is some type of mystery.
DeleteI'll be surprised given the extra flights and capacity increases if growth isn't near about the 10% mark.
@Q400 May 30, 2017 at 11:59 AM
DeleteThe airport management messed up, they didn't plan to hold the 1 millionth passenger at all, they have their hands full, millionth passenger passed sometimes on Saturday last week.
May will be around 265-270k. ~8% growth expected.
There's loads of stuff on their plate, the PR event such as these aren't important for airport, well at least for this management, They'll have event for 3 millionth pax sometimes in Early to Mid December.
Zagreb airport is expected to handle between 3.07 and 3.2 million pax this year. Growth of between 305 000 and 430 000 expected this year.
2018, projections are even better, as 4-5 new carriers come to Zagreb. I suspect Transavia France, Flybe, Volotea, easyJet and Aer Lingus will be adding Zagreb next year.
9% increase in May
DeleteDXB-ZAG inaugural flight is overbooked. It will arrive with over 350 passengers!
ReplyDeleteSo they should sell some more tickets and put A380 instead.
DeleteThat's great but how come I can still book a ticket for the inaugural flight in all fare types?
DeleteReturn flight 176 passengers (10 in business) at the moment.
DeleteI don't think it is really heavily booked, all classes in GDS view FULLY opened, even the lowest one, X...
DeleteExcellent loads! It's a new route and it will take some time to make it work!
DeleteWell its a long haul ops that is usually being heavily overbooked. So you can still book all classes but the flight is still full ;)
DeleteHaha, when flight is overbooked, overbooking is not done in absolutely lowest promo class...that being said, that doesn't mean it is empty, but for sure not totally booked.
DeleteNormal overbooking is 5%. On EK129 DXB-ZAG 01.06 in this moment:
Delete7F 19J 342Y
Capacity is 8F 42J 310Y
So they will put one J in F, and 24 Y in J. they miss 8 seats. Not a problem. Be sure 8 passengers will noshow. That is why they sell tickets on. They can go up to 18 passengers. They will put them on 2nd June, or via VIE, but in same time will have more passenger on some flight from ZAG back to DBX.
If you want to buy ticket in this moment DXB-ZAG-DXB with outbound on 1st June price is 602,17 EUR for Y class.
DeleteThat is far from cheapest price!!!
Well because the majorrity of Pax will fly DXB-ZAG (95%)- irony off!
DeleteIronically for me it is showing Air Serbia as the cheapest option from DXB to ZAG during the first week of June. Return tickets at 500 euros.
DeleteEK130 ZAG-DXB 01.06
DeleteBooked: 2F 10J 166Y
Bad news for EY flights from BEG. The EK flight will surely reduce loadfactors and yields on the BEG-AUH route.
DeleteJU had much less passenger from ZAG to Asia that people give it credit for here....no relevant losses will happen as no relevant business was there in the first place.
Delete@ anonymous 2,38pm
DeleteI dont see that happening. EK needs to fill 360 seats daily, per sector, plus cargo. EY with the A320 is less of a challenge. A load of 100 pax is great for EY, while for EK would be terrible loads. EY flights to BEG are full year round.
The shift of pax from JU to EK would be extremely small numbers. The most damage would be from JU ending AUH in October.
JU is doing terribly at Zagreb, 46000 pax for entire 2016. Sunday flights are almost empty, and the rest of the week flights are half full, JU is flying with ATR 72,
DeleteOuch... operating a six hour flight with an extremely expensive aircraft while carrying 166 passengers who all bought the cheapst flights has disaster painted all over it.
DeleteI don't see how EK can make this work unless they are getting subsidies from the French. Something I wouldn't rule out.
All this jealousy... really sad.
DeleteJealousy or realism? Feel free to explain to me how they will make money on this route with those dumping fares thanks to which they got the 166 passengers?
DeleteLOL! So you are complaining about JU being subsidized while you have no issue with EK being as well? HAHAHHA
DeleteThese loads are because of Emirates, not because of Zagreb.
DeleteZagreb has been called 'a relatively small metropolis' in Emirates review. Well, it's either small, or it's a metropolis, pure and simple.
DeleteKoliko zavisti, ljudi moji, pa sto je vama?
DeleteSo first flight is sold out, first and economy class. business class has 20 seats still empty,
Delete1st june,
Capacity: F8 J42 Y310
Booked: F8 J22 Y354
Return isn't as great, however last minute we might see surge as all
Capacity: F8 J42 Y310
Booked: F3 J11 Y174
2nd of june is almost sold out as well
Capacity: F8 J42 Y310
Booked: F2 J11 Y275
3rd of June is also doing quite well
Capacity: F8 J42 Y310
Booked: F1 J7 Y255
The numbers are moving fast, so bookings will change from hour to hour, so my numbers might be out of date by this point.
Anyhow,
A380 on 1st of June is a high possibility now.
And if news of Aer Lingus, EasyJet, Transavia France, Korean Air and few others is true, Zagreb will see numbers go up really fast.
I won't compare Zagreb to any other airport in the region, as growth is based on demand, however I would like to see Zagreb Airport hits 5 million pax by 2020 or in 2020.
What is quite certain Airport will most likely be expanded in 2020 to phase 2D, and around 2030, to 2f phase, which is a final phase that will see airport terminal expanded to 24-25 passenger boarding bridges and main building expanded to 77000sqm, for total area of around 133 000sqm and capacity to handle up to 20 million pax (designed for 12 million).
^^^
DeleteThe booked loads are a bit off, its slightly lower by around 10 pax. Numbers arent moving fast.
The A380 is definately not making the inaugural to ZAG, neither was it planned to do so. The only change has been from the B773 to the B77W, that is from 12 first class seats to 8 first class suites.
It will be an all Croatian crewed 777 from what I'm hearing. I'm just wondering if Luka Modric is still the guest of honour given the champions league game this weekend
Delete@ Q400
DeleteNo, you heard wrong.
DXB-ZAG will have 6 Croats and 1 Slovene out of 18 crew, and ZAG-DXB 5 Croats out of 17 crew.
Ah, thanks for the update.
DeleteZAG airport presentation, looking great, very professional!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=140&v=YZeYyL8hzk0
Admin, also Bucharest route will be all year. Not just Lisbon and Barcelona.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get that from?
DeleteHere it says they plan to be all year from 2018 summer not this winter
Deletehttp://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/05/croatia-airlines-eyes-year-round.html
Oslo is doing really great! Other new routes as well, at least for now!
DeleteNice results. Looking forward to seeing Transat and Emirates :)
ReplyDeletewow great to see Croatia Airlines extending Lisbon and Barcelona. How will they do this though? Do they have to lease an additional plane?
ReplyDeleteI think OU parks one of its A319s during the winter so they will just use that one for these flights.
DeleteAny plans to resume Pristina during the winter?
Delete@anon 10.47 nope. It might even be suspended altogether from next year. This summer just 20 return flights ZAG-PRN.
DeleteI'm surprised it doesn't work for them. They could get a lot of transfers on that route.
DeleteIs ANA flying to Dubrovnik this summer?
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteWhen do they start?
DeleteTwo announcements for next year from Zagreb
ReplyDeleteKorean - become regular route with 1 flight per week seasonal (May-September)
easyJet will start in March 3 routes as 1st phase in open base in Zagreb which will open in October 2018
Aer Lingus will start Dublin-Zagreb with 4pw from April
Deletesource?
DeleteWow, fantastic!
DeleteAlso, next winter, LOT increases winter to 10pw, Norwegian 1pw CPH and 1pw ARN, KLM increases to 7pw.
DeleteSource:
DeleteI am working in ZAIC
With these new arrivals you will have a very good selection of airlines and destinations.
DeleteAny plans for Iberia to go year round?
DeleteAnd what is happening with the planned flights to New York for next year? Any info?
DeleteNe vjerujem mislim da ZAIC ima totalnu drukciju politiku davanja informacija, po tome bi informacija za Emirates izasla puuuno ranije
DeleteTip blefira. sad kao on sve zna. Ne nasjedajte...
DeleteAnon 9:44 je dao točne informacije o povećanju frekvencija, a za ostalo ne znam.
DeleteWow finally! Is it the Korean seasonal to Zagreb once per week charter or regular? Can everyone buy a round ticket exZagreb without joining any tour?
DeleteCongratulations.
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+2
DeleteGreat news ZAG. Amazing. I'm predicting that ZAG will soon overtake BEG in terms of pax numbers per annum. Congratulations ZAG. Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the greetings from BEG! ;)
DeleteYes, yes, any day now.
Delete:majorfacepalm:
Greetings from BEG!!! Bravo Serbia
DeleteTip je strasan. Provocira sto na sat ��
DeleteI think ZAG will manage around 3,2 million passengers this year.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think 10% growth this year is reasonable to expect.
Delete@AnonymousMay 30, 2017 at 10:07 AM
DeleteI project 3.07 million, this my conservative estimate. Available seats and typical load factor for each month indicate Zagreb will handle around 3.17 million.
This is if no new carrier materializes, however the load factor for 2017 is totally screwed up, as unusually high demand for Zagreb in first 4 months has shown. Same number of landings, yet pax number is considerably.
Also major carriers are sending larger aircraft to Zagreb, Air France, Lufthansa, Qatar, British Airways, KLM and even LOT, all have been sending larger aircraft.
So we'll see how numbers stack up at the end of this month. Numbers for May aren't out yet, but I think Zagreb will handle ~270k. this month, between 8 and 9% increase on last year, when airport handled 247 000.
An interesting article today which fits with the topic. Since the opening of the new terminal at Zagreb delays have been increased 200%. It seems Kucko was right when he said this would happen.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/od-otvaranja-novog-terminala-kasnjenja-zrakoplova-povecana-200-posto-328404
Isn't that normal? I mean it's a new building it will take some time until everyone gets used to the smooth running of operations.
DeleteSame thing happened when Air Serbia launched and for a few first months they had delays because airport services were overwhelmed (necessity for more deicing vehicles because of fleet growth, necessity of more catering trucks because of actual existence of catering etc). But that didn't stop people giving us daily reports on delays and writing it was a disaster and that the airline would collapse.
DeleteThe only difference is that back then even Purger used to list all delays by Air Serbia on here. Strangely enough he has not done that for his precious Zagreb.
Delete???? You are joking right?
DeleteNo, we all remember you obsessing about delays on here. You even used to post the times and to add the minutes of delay. Just go back on this blog to refresh your memory.
DeleteOMG...
DeletePurger, pay no attention, facts are facts, regarding both BEG and ZAG, but some people don't like them.
DeleteAnyone know the loads on tonight's Air Transat flight to Zagreb? Or tomorrow return flight to Toronto?
ReplyDeleteArr. 291
DeleteDep 160
Booked status, actual might be slightly different
Pretty good for the first flight.
DeleteIt is good to see Eurowings launching winter flights. I think Croatia Airlines really missed an opportunity at serving more German cities. There is definitely potential and a market there.
ReplyDeleteI agree but thankfully there are others to step in.
Delete@AnonymousMay 30, 2017 at 11:11 AM
DeleteWith what fleet can OU start opening new destinations ??? OU has only 12 aircraft, airline is not going to lease more aircraft over winter. Stockholm, Lisbon, Barcelona and Oslo will be full year service from what I've heard. OU normally performs C and D checks on all its aircraft in winter months. Now you tell me how can OU now with 32 destinations in winter and with 10 aircraft that it can fly in winter months expand ?
Unless OU gets another 6 aircraft, which is plans to do in 2018/19, and 4 more in 2021, OU can't expand beyond its capacity. I'd love to see OU flying to 50 destinations across Europe, but there simply isn't enough aircraft for that.
Two aircraft are serving Split and Dubrovnik daily, up to 5 flights in winter months, in summer months up to 7 such flights for two coastal cities.
That leaves OU with only 6 aircraft to serve 30 or so destinations.
Not enough aircraft or money?
DeleteBoth.
Delete@AnonymousMay 31, 2017 at 8:36 AM
DeleteBoth, OU has no money for new planes but it needs them, wet leasing isn't financially prudent as airline bleeds money. Lease to own is best way to go, but it is a long term commitment and once aircraft are agreed on, it is very risky proposition as airline needs to fly these aircraft constantly to pay for the lease. The risks are many, benefits are few.
So OU is stuck with 6-8 aircraft it can utilize during winter months.
Nice to see. I think summer will be very strong.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be quite a year in Zagreb
ReplyDeletethat is certain
DeleteI hope Croatia Airlines crew don't go on strike. It could impact zag numbers. Or maybe the arrival of all these new airlines would offset that even if the strike happens.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to pay the croatia airlines crew ?!! What are you a kid ? It's their right as employees to claim their rights.
DeleteSeeing as 12 pilot instructors resigned this week because of Kucko's recklessness and discontent is growing I think a strike is very much possible.
DeleteZAG management seems to have really sprung to action to attract new airlines. Good job.
ReplyDeleteAnd people were saying how because of higher fees new airlines would not come. LOL.
DeleteMostly Croats said that but the real question is if they will stay.
DeleteVery good news, it seems that ZAG is on the right track. All it needs is a low cost airline to open a base.
ReplyDeleteNorwegian would be the best for Zagreb
DeleteAgree. We need more LCC at Zagreb but the airport is going in a good direction.
DeleteBut Zagreb almost have taxes and landing fees like CDG and that's crazy!
DeleteWell they do have to pay off that new terminal.
DeleteI hope Transavia considers some routes to ZAG.
ReplyDeleteThis blog posted a news saying Transavia France is considering adding Zagreb from next year. Can't be bothered to look for the article but you can find it, was posted this month i think, or last month.
DeleteIf Transavia comes and Monarch adds Birmingham and few other carriers show up, things are looking quite interesting. 3,75 million pax next year quite likely, 4.0 million if we see some major growth with few additional services.
...numbers will tumble when OU sells all of its assets.
Deleteexcellent news coming in from Zagreb this year. Any morer surprises we might see?
ReplyDeleteJune will be great - Emirates, additional frequency from Air Transat and new flights from Norwegian.
ReplyDelete+ the first full month of Croatia Aitlines new routes.
DeleteSeems like EK will equal to an A320 flight per day.
DeleteWho cares? It's Emirates! Can't wait for Thursday!
DeleteI am happy for you, enjoy it while it lasts. :)
DeleteI will! Thanks ;)
DeleteAnon 5:15PM
DeletePathetic much?
Very interesting on how the gap is slowly narrowing between BEG and ZAG. I wont be surprised that in 3 years time, ZAG reaches 6 million.
ReplyDeleteWrong. The gap has widened. During first 4 months of 2017 BEG had 616,129 passengers more than Zagreb, compared to 523,679 during same period i 2016.
DeleteCorrect. My mistake. Lets wait and see how the trend will be in May and especially June.
DeleteWrong again.
DeleteIn % ZAG is closing that gap
What %? I gave you the figures. You can spin it all you want.
DeleteEven in the summer months nothing will change especialyl since BEG got a second Wizz A320. The gap will only keep on increasing.
DeleteKoja ljubomora sa zapada... ne brinite komsije, prelazite 3 miliona ove godine, skoncentrisite se na to a ne na neke snove o preticanju beograda
DeleteNot really, I thinking BEG is gradually losing ground so the competition will be very interesting
DeleteYes, you are right, double digit growth is really something to worry about.
DeleteOff Topic
ReplyDeleteWhat's going on at the moment by Croatia Airlines. I hear pilots are leaving and CEO is being fired
Regional leader.
DeleteOne check and training pilot was fired and as a result 12 other senior pilots resigned in protest.
Deletehttp://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/19319-12-pilots-instructors-resign-at-croatia-airlines
Oh come on... what's going on with OU?! Why are they doing this now when the airline was getting back on its feet!
DeleteBravo Hrvatska ! :) Hi hi hi
DeleteSome people obviously never heard of protests or resigns.
DeleteP.S. Hope Kucko gets sacked!
Hoce li i Air Transat biti prikvacen za aviomost?
ReplyDeleteEmirates nece biti prikvacen za aviomost, jos nisu dobili dozvole.
DeleteKakve dozvole? Pa svi pisu da je na ZLZ-u spreman taj jedan aviomost za prihvat emirates-ovog B777-300er koji zahtjeva posebnu infrastrukturu.
DeleteZanima me kako ce hendlat sa time kad ce na stajanci imati i Emirates i Air Transat. Jel je moguce da Air Transat bude na zadnjem gejtu s druge strane a da gate do njega bude prazan?
E5R i E8 su pozicije za širokotrupce s mostovima
DeleteZaboravio si reć da ako se širokotrpac parkira na poziciju E5R, zauzima i susjedni most.
DeleteEmirates će biti na mostu, zadnji je namjenjen i za 773, tako da Anon 3:05 ne govori točne informacije. Ipak mislim da će A332 Air Transata biti parkiran na stajanci, čisto zbog toga što je u u sezoni promet velik pa se ne isplati da leisure kompanija zauzima jedan most i dodatno zatvara susjedni, a usput putnici s tog leta nemaju vezanu kartu na ostale letove iz ZAG, što nije slučaj sa Emiratesom.
DeleteAre they gonna be there at the same time?
DeleteYes, on mondays and wednesdays. So just to solve this mystery once and for all, two widebodies can be parked at the terminal and docked to airbridges at the same time, at psn E5R and E8, but when a widebody is parked at E5R psn E6 will be blocked.
DeleteOT regarding Zagreb. I have noticed on flight radar that Qatar's flight to Bucharest is extended to Zagreb a few times a week making Qatar have almost 14 weekly flights to Zagreb. Anyone know anything about this?
ReplyDeleteQ400 Qatar je prije par dana imao emergency landing u Bukurešt i flightradar je to zabilježio i malo se sjebao. Od tada malo malo bilježi među slijetanje u Bukurešt iako avion uopće ne slijeće tmao već leti direktno za Zagreb.
DeleteOT:
ReplyDeleteSarajevo is getting Kuwait-Sarajevo flights. Charter flights will start July 7 and will run until September 10. After Dubai, Sharjah and Riyadh, Kuwait is fourth destination in Gulf region to get direct link to Sarajevo. Qatar Airways is planning to start Sarajevo in winter timetable beginning end of October. From June 20, Flydubai is flying 2 daily, Air Arabia 1 daily, Nesma Airlines 5 weekly, Kuwait will be 3 weekly. Qatar Airways will be 4 weekly.
Svakako ce biti zanimljivo videti koliko ce sad napredovati ZAG sa novim letovima.
ReplyDeleteBilo bi zanimljivo kad bi se znalo nesto vise o Kargo napredku :)
INN-NS
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Tomorrow is the big day with Emirates flights commencing!!
ReplyDeleteThat said, the jams and delays at the new terminal need to be addressed ASAP! This month has been better compared to April, but it's stil not optimal. And now come the three busiest months of the year. They should probably employ more people in baggage and elsewhere. I've seen they're already hiring new air traffic controllers.
Good luck!