A summer like no other
Croatia Airlines is anticipating its busiest summer season since it began passenger operations 22 years ago. With a record tourist season and the country’s entry into the European Union expected this coming summer, Croatia Airlines has significantly boosted its frequencies and flight offering. The Croatian carrier will launch services from Pula to Paris, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Erfurt. Furthermore, it will strengthen its position in Dubrovnik where it was the busiest carrier in 2012 with 408.399 passengers carried to and from the city. The airline plans to launch flights from Dubrovnik to Dresden and will boost frequencies to Zurich to a total of five weekly flights. As Croatia becomes the 28th member state of the European Union, the national carrier will significantly boost frequencies to the European capital Brussels. Flights from Zagreb to the Belgian capital will increase from six to eleven times per week. Equipment operating on the service will be a combination of Dash 8s and Airbus A319s. The airline will extend its seasonal flights from Split to Belgrade by two months compared to last summer and has been ordered by the Croatian government to launch flights from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik.
Last year, Croatia Airlines’ pilots criticised the management’s decision to cut down on the number of charter flights. However, this summer the airline will also boost its charter flight offering. Croatia Airlines will replace SAS Scandinavian Airlines on charters from Dubrovnik to Evenes in Norway and Skelleftea in Sweden, while it will substitute Adria Airways on the Split - Lulea charter service. Flights from Osijek to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split, which the airline was ordered to launch, are still doubtful at this point.
With the busy summer ahead, Croatia Airlines will utilise its entire fleet of thirteen aircraft and could be forced to lease additional jets as has been the case last summer when it leased a Fokker F100 from Tradeair. Croatia Airlines has delayed the arrival of four new Airbus A319s until 2015. Tradeair itself has hinted it will launch its own scheduled flights this summer, adding competition on the home market. Croatia Airlines will also face added competition from various low cost airlines, including Ryanair which will set up a base in Zadar. Furthermore, it will be the first summer the airline will face off against British Airways on flights from Zagreb to London.
What about new flights from Zagreb, new destinations and more frequencies are needed if they want to make a real hub there. :(
ReplyDeleteIt is good they are adding more flights on the coast but they should not forget the capital city.
Recently I flew on their Dash-8 from ZAG to BRU and it was just too long for that aircraft. They should definitely operate this rote with their A319!
My information is that CTN will add new routes from ZAG to Warsaw, Moscow, Oslo, Stockholm and Osijek, and KLM route AMS-ZAG, LH extra frequencies on Berlin-Zagreb route.
DeleteLast sunday or monday i was standing at the gate @ AMS waiting to see the Croatians arrive, when we saw the dash making the corner to park at the gate, i can tell you the faces off the pax where absolute not amused. Flying half the Europe with a think like that is a torture :/
DeleteHORRIBLE! That's even longer than our flight to Brussels!!
DeleteWhy did they do it? Is it a regular visitor or was it a one off substitution?
AMS with Q400 is very rare exemption. Very rare!!!!
DeleteYes it's rare, i cant remember the last time it happend, i belive before the summer once. We are all used to the airbusses, not the crappy slow sh*it thing with platfom boarding AT THE GATE with -3 outside.
DeleteI doubt the business man who got a wet suite before they got on the plane will chose OU once again in the future, when i saw there faces..
Let's hope they take delivery of these A319's! I wouldn't worry about the B.A competition. OU is a far superior airline!
ReplyDeleteDID THEY HIT TWO MILLION IN 2012?
ReplyDeletemost probably or near 2 million, most probably 1.95 or there abouts. they'd announce if they had 2million, i didn't see any major press events in that regard, so not 2 million but close, around 1950 000, perhaps less, but not by much.
DeleteThey've have announced that straight away if they hit the mark. Any airline in exYU hitting 2m is a big deal!! So answer is likely no.
DeleteNo media releases from the airline since early December on their website might be a clue...
Can someone explain to this North American why Croatia can expect way more traffic because of the EU?
ReplyDeleteWhat changes?
@Doot
DeleteIf you study the pax numbers at other (former Eastern block) countries just after joining the EU you will see why.
People (Croats to other EU member states and non-Croats to Croatia) will be able to move without restriction (except the UK, as per usual), including the right to work in certain countries. In addition, as an investor you feel safer and more protected if you invest in a EU member state as you'll be subjected to and covered by EU laws and regulations. So, one would expect more Croats working abroad and more non-Croats investing on the coast. Expect Germans to travel to German-owned and/or German-run hotels and resorts, for example. If you've been to Palma de Mallorca you will know what I mean.
Otherwise, I just booked an air fare with Croatia Airlines to London. Looking forward to flying on one of those much talked about "Dash 8" birds!
You will definetely get an A319/20 to London, and why should Britain not put limits on other countries coming to work here? There are plenty of English born people unemployed!
DeleteDash 8 to brussels oooooo how fun ... I'd rather fly on a 733
ReplyDeleteJat suspend BEG-BRU so you can not fly there with 733.
Delete+ 1
DeleteIt's both crap. One is slow and noisy and the other one is crap, old and falling appart. If your smart you can better take Eurolines bus for 140e to Brussel.
Deletetoo true, last time i was on the 733 i had the door of the overhead baggage compartment fall on me :S dumbf*cks out there
DeleteSurely its more important to match the aircraft type (supply) with the passengers who will travel (demand)?
DeleteIf they can't fill a 319 there's no point sending one...
Who wants to fly to broke EU these days?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteТhe even more broke Croats, for sure...
DeleteI would rather fly with a four year old Dash 8 any day then a nearly 30 year old B733. As for the earlier comment about what changes by joining the E.u. I agree! I don't think this will add more passengers to flight's except to Brussels. But I think 2013 will be a record year for OU in terms of passenger numbers and a return to profit!
ReplyDeleteYou can also fly a 5 yr old a320 to brussel charleroi from serbia talk about range :D
DeleteWhat are the chances of seeing SN Brussels in Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteOT:
ReplyDeletePRN has released its 2012 pax figures and retains the title of the third busiest Ex-YU aiport with 1,527,134 international passengers, representing a 7.37 increase on 2011.
DBV should be up to forth with 1,480,470 pax.
SPU should be up to fifth with 1,425,749 pax.
LJU should be down to sixth with less than 1.2m pax.
Kosovo Numbers should improve even more as new terminal opens, only way to get in with relative ease is by air.
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteAll flights to/from VIE at all exyu airports have been cancelled today. Weather is poor there, but judging on live webcams it is unlikely that weather was cause. Any info what is going on there
It is the heavy snowfall!
ReplyDeleteIt was reported in the Austrian news.
Exactly the reason why the airline shouldn't have put back those new planes if they're going to be short of fleet AGAIN this summer.
ReplyDeleteTheir most pressing need is another 2 Q400s, to be used mostly on the regional routes (within ~90mins) and to open up a few extra destinations/lines. Although perhaps that would force the airline's hand in opening up routes to OSI etc.
As for those whingers from AMS, the important thing is that the plane is safe and you get to your destination. What sooks if you don't get a jet, and the trip takes an extra 20mins??
Croatia needs in this moment 2 extra Q400 (ZAG-OMO, ZAG-OSI + OTP, BEG, SOF, PRG, MPX, WAW) and at least 4 extra 100-seaters, and one A320 (CTF) out of service. So in this moment (concerning needs and new destinations + frequencies) ideal fleet would be:
Delete2 A320
4 A319
4 Embraer 190
8 Q400
If the flight takes an extra twenty minutes just have another glass of wine
ReplyDelete