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| Croatia Airlines to assist with Chongqing - Zadar flights |
Croatia Airlines will cooperate with Chinese carriers and work together to bring Chinese tourists to the country. It comes as the Chinese Southeast Europe Business Association (CSEBA) moves forward with plans to establish charter flights between Chongqing and Zadar. Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Krešimir Kučko, recently presented the flag carrier to a Chinese business delegation from Chongqing, as well as the DC Travel agency, which will assist in setting up the charter service. Mr. Kučko expressed his desire for Croatia Airlines to get behind the flights and offer domestic connections to Chinese visitors. In turn, the airline aims to improve its loads on domestic flights throughout the year, as visitors from China will also be offered packages outside of the busy summer season.
The service from Chongqing, in China’s south-west, to Zadar, is planned to operate once every ten days. Chinese tourists will visit Zagreb and Dubrovnik, as well as Split, Plitvice, Rovinj and Kumrovec during their ten day stay in the country. Charters between China and Croatia would mark the first air link between the two countries. CSEBA hopes to eventually introduce scheduled yearlong services. The arrival of a Chinese airline at Zadar Airport would be a much welcomed addition during the slow winter months when Croatia Airlines is the airport’s sole customer, maintaining flights only to Zagreb and Pula. CSEBA says it will now determine possible launch dates with its partners and discuss the service with interested airlines. The next meeting between CSEBA, DC Travel and their Chinese partners will take place in Chongqing.
Meanwhile, Siniša Malus, CSEBA’s Communications Manager has criticised the Croatian Prime Minister, Zoran Milanović, for his failure to attend this week’s annual summit of Chinese and Central and Eastern European leaders in Belgrade, labelling the move as a “catastrophe”. Mr. Malus said, “Unfortunately, it is in the spirit of his government’s behaviour towards Chinese investors. The only exception is the Ministry for Tourism, which has shown initiative to cooperate on important projects, such as the introduction of charter flights between China and Croatia”. Mr. Milanović has previously said that “big business” is never done at such summits. The number of Chinese travellers visiting Croatia has seen double digit growth over the past few years.
These would be great butI'm just surprised how they chose Zadar out of all the cities
ReplyDeleteWell you see Croatia Airlines is only focusing on domestic flights that one more reason it will never find a buyier who will Pay the correct price .Well I am not surprised that the Prime Minister wasn't there ,this just shows how much does he and his friend Ceo want to find a buyier.
ReplyDeleteThey are finding the buyer (probably) by hiring IFC as a consultant, there was an article about it a few days ago on this blog. They are focuisng on domestic flights (in this particular case) because it's about Chinese tourists who are visiting cities in Croatia.
Delete@AnonymousDecember 20, 2014 at 9:38 AM
DeleteU clearly have no clue, same as Siniša Malus, CSEBA’s Communications Manager.
Guy clearly thinks his neo con agenda merits a response, Croatian PM has far more important things to do than some meeting of little significance for Croatia.
Croatia just secured $12Bn of EU funding for next 5 years, all Croatia has to do is approve projects for major EU funding, High Speed Rail link between Rijeka and Zagreb is a the main priority, as well as Krk LNG terminal.
Chinese investors are coming to Croatia, they know who to talk to should they choose to invest in Croatia and where to invest, for China has invested over $1.4 bn so far in Croatia, mainly in to brown field.
Also mr Kucko isn't PM's friend, in fact Kucko is greatly disliked by Milanovic, but there's little current government can do about OU, as there are far more important issues that need to be addressed in Croatia, such as deep economic recession and 18% unemployment rate.
So you are saying that Croatia is smarter than all eastern or central European nations? HAHAHA
Delete*sigh* what's the point of running behind a charter flight that will operate once every ten days? In addition to that, they will fly to Zadar where there are barely any flights in the winter season.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Croatia is not a big country so it's not like they need to move around by plane. They are tourists, let them take a boat or a bus- that's how they will see the country.
If the current government in Croatia really wanted to strike a deal with the Chinese, then Milanovic would have come to Belgrade during the summit with China.
Zadar-Dubrovnik is trip of some 4-5 hours. Tourist for sure don't want to spent so much in bus.
DeleteAre you implying that there are no places worth visiting between Zadar and Dubrovnik? ;)
DeleteOf course not, but CTN will fly them, so that presume they want to spent in bus as low as thay can.
DeleteI think that you should remove this part with Croatian Prime minister because his decision not to come to Belgrade is pure political, it was his political protest against Šešelj chauvinist speeches where he again ask for occupation of huge part of Croatia, and which was not condemned and criticized by Serbian government, not a bit. Prime minister precisely said that it was only reason. And as it is pure political decision there is no place on this blog to speak about politics, by blog own rules.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't there a place if CSEBA spoke about it. Get over yourself.
DeleteActually, in an interview he gave he said that the real reason he didn't go was because nothing happens during these meetings. lol
DeleteIf Croatia really wanted to boycott the summit in Belgrade then the air service agreement with Serbia would not be signed as there would be no Croatian official there.
Let's forget what he said about that. It is very sad. I understand the Seselj affair, but you can't say nothing is happening during these meetings. A huge mistake. He would have better held his tongue.
DeleteHe is an idiot. It was a Chinese meeting, Serbia was just a host! It's a shame as he could have lobbied for more flights especially since CA CEO was there.
DeleteWait did he really say that?
DeleteIt was all over croatian media. Just 2 examples:
Deletehttp://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/milanovic-ima-jedan-kineski-most-kraj-beograda-a-mi-smo-10-takvih-napravili-980069
http://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/svijet/362113/Vesna-Pusic-ide-u-Beograd-umjesto-Milanovica.html
He is a fool. Just look at how many deals Serbia got out of the meeting with the Chinese.
DeleteFor Croatia it was a missed chance. Serbia, Hungary and Macedonia are getting a high speed train. Maybe if he was there Zagreb would have been included.
The fact that Croatia didn't get anything out of the last two, three years just goes to show his own incompetence.
No wonder he is tolerating Kucko!
^^^
Deleteanything over 30km is a fast train in Serbia. Talk on a fast rail in Serbia is stupid and could only be said by someone from outside of Serbia or naive.
http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Tema-Dana/16961/Vozovi-sporiji-nego-u-19-veku
Above is a link from 2007 and nothing special has happened since. Yes, new trains do come, but when the rail doesnt allow faster than the maximum in rare area's over 120km, what fast rail do you want to talk about?
Croatia is in the EU, this is where its strategic and political agenda lies. Just this week Croatia concluded negotiations for massive EU financial package to finance major infrastructure programs in Croatia in value of $12 Bn.
DeleteChinese know where to go if they wish to invest in Croatia, and Croatia has lost nothing by Milanovic not attending recent meting in Belgrade,
Just for information here, Croatia is upgrading its entire rail network, over next 10 years Croatia's rail network will be fully modernized and upgraded to handle higher speeds, main lines have already received substantial upgrades and line from Zagreb to Split and Zagreb to Karlovac have been upgraded and modernized to handle 160kmph, in all in past 3 years 185km of rail track has been completely modernized and brought to handle speeds of 160kmph, additional 100km have recived upgrades and depending on sections some can handle 80, 100 and 120kmph. New tracks are being laid down between Dugo Selo and Novska, investment valued at $400 million, half of the money coming from EU structural fund, once completed entire track will allow for speeds of up to 180kmph between Zagreb and Vinkovci, tracks between Novska and Vinkovici had been upgraded or is being upgraded with latest signalization and new tracks to handle said speeds.
Plan is to bring local routes from 40-50kmph to 80kph and regional to 100-120kmph and main lines to 160-180kmph by 2025, investment valued at $800 million will be made by Croatian railways with EU funds kicking in to help out.
Old map of Croatian Railways from 2008.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/sisipa/Kartasbrzinama08-09.png~original
Croatia intends to build whole new high speed track between Rijeka and Hungarian border by 2025, investment valued at $4,5 bn, half of which will be EU financed. Speeds of up to 250kmph although greater speeds will be possible but signalization will allow only for up to 250kmph speeds to save the cost of the entire project.
And so on, if you look at map of Croatian railways you'd be hard pressed to find tracks where maximum speeds allowed are 30kmph, even on map from 2008, and since this map was made some 320km of rail track in Croatia has received major upgrades and modernization.
All then information is available on Zeljeznice forum. So if Chinese do decide to invest in to Croatia, they're free to come here.
I guess all those European Union member states that were there are not real members or not as devoted as Croatia. Is that what you are saying? Or is Croatia far more obedient than any of them?
DeleteWell, as far as the Serbian trains go, the same was said when the Chinese announced their intentions to build the bridge. People were so fast to bash the idea because a bridge wasn't built in over 30 years. We are witnessing the same situation with the railway now.
It's funny how no one is bashing the highway construction towards Montenegro. Maybe because it's advancing well and Serbs can't be bitter as always?
Serbia will profit from this. Even if we do not get a fast rail link with Budapest, at least we will get a modernized Kostolac.
@AnonymousDecember 21, 2014 at 8:50 AM
DeleteU're totally missing the point, Chinese investors already have contacts with Croatian Government, they're already investing in to Croatia heavily, but as Croatia is in the EU there are laws which need to be followed, i/e public tenders and competition. Chinese are already talking with Croatian Authorities over Rijeka Koprivnica high Speed rail line, they want to invest there, so does the German Railways and Italian and Austrian. These are massive projects which need to be deeply scrutinized and looked at to avoid corruption and waste of resources.
As Croatia joined the EU many things have changed, and are changeing. What Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria are doing is their buisness, but as I've pointed out alredy, Croatia's priorities are the EU, not China.
BTW in my previous post it came across as if lin between Zagreb and split will be 160kmph, that is not the case, it fact much of the line is on 80kmph single line, and not much has been done on that line, just to make that clear, there are plans but notthing has been done on Split karlovac line, 320km of rail track that has been upgraded is mainly on main lines and some regional lines, Croatia has over 3000 km of rail track, so it a long process, it'll take at least 20 years for all the Railways to be upgraded and modernized, as i've said main lines will be brought to handle 160-180kmph, regional lines to 100-120kmph and local lines between 50 and 80kmph. So far only 320km of track has been upgraded since 2010, another 2700km to be completed by 2030, with 250km of additional high Speed track to be added by 2025, with eventually Croatia having around 320km of High Speed Rail, 700km of 160-180kmph rail track, 1000km or 100-120kmph track and 1250km of local rail tracks with speeds of between 50-80kmph, all of that by 2030.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I have my doubts that Zadar could handle a wide body aircraft.
ReplyDeleteThe apron in front of the terminal looks large enough for single aisle aircraft.
There does seem to be space on the military side but the taxi ways to these aprons and also to the civil terminal look to be too small for aircraft larger than 737 / A320 types.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Zadar,+Croatia/@44.0984157,15.3537355,1103m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4761fa62d2c0b88f:0x12323e1c13f40784
No, you're absolutely correct, Zadar airport can't handle wide body aircraft, for its runways are too short and too narrow, let that not dissuade Siniša Malus, CSEBA’s Communications Manager and his neo con clique of corrupt crooks who think Croatia is full of fools and idiots to fall for his lies.
DeleteThe runway in ZAD can handle widebody. The runway is 2.500m x 45m. The runway width is definately standard and wide enough but the length would mean some serious weight restrictions.
DeleteI understand that a load restricted widebody could take off and land at Zadar but I was talking more about maneuvering once on the ground. Does not look like there is much space for this.
Deletesuppose there would be no need for any restrictions, considering only passengers would be carries, no cargo, as usual on charter flights, and with B767-300 likely to be utilized
DeleteA320 to Thessaloniki today! Does anyone have the loads?
ReplyDeletewhat are you talking about?
DeleteAir Serbia's flight to SKG was operated by an A320.
DeleteWe dont need to be updated on a daily basis on where JU deploys its a/c, just like we dont get briefed daily about aircraft changes in OU and JP.
DeleteActually, if you bothered to read the original post, the whole point was to ask about the loads on the flight as the A320 is not commonly dispatched to Thessaloniki.
DeleteAlso, we were never briefed about JP and OU aircraft changes and loads since people are genuinely not interested on here. If they were, there would be such discussions. So please, no need to be an a**hole.
Air Serbia has loaded its Pula flights into the system.
ReplyDeleteThey will operate three times per week.
With the A319 :
13.00-14.10 // 14.55-16.05
13.45-14.55 // 15.45-16.55
With the Atr-72
13.45-15.15 // 15.45-17.10
Hm, 319 is a nice upgrade, but I was expecting at least daily frecuency. Moreover, I hoped that they will introduce at least 3pw service to Rijeka and Zadar.
DeleteToday is Vueling's first flight from Barcelona to Belgrade. :)
DeleteIberia codeshares on those flights.
DeleteOd 20.12. do 03.01. :(
DeleteI swear ex yu blog is becoming too harsh for no real reason. I only asked what happened yesterday in regards to air serbia rumors on route cuts on this blog and in return I get moderated. In the meantime, before ex yu delted my comment, I did get my answer from a fellow ex yu avaition user who said it was fake info which was posted about air serbia. There is really no reason to delete such posts ex yu admin. I was not trying to spread hate nor behave like a bot, just was curious to what was going on.
ReplyDeleteIt was clearly explained in the comments section under yesterday's article.
DeletePosto ce tesko naci kupca ja bi porucio
ReplyDelete4-5 CS 100
2-3 CS 300
To je najbolja opcija za CTN uz 6 Q400.
INN-NS
a od kud ti znaš da će se teško nači kupac? od kad si ti stručnjak?
DeleteNisam strucnjak pa svako zna da nece naci kupca zbog mnogo razloga.
DeleteINN-NS
Tacno. Nisi strucnjak ali si krajnje nepristojan jer se nikada ne zahvalis kada ti narod da odgovor na pitanje koje si postavio.
Deletenemojte tako, kako mozete sa kazete da covek nije strucnjak kada za zemlju koja ima godisnje 7 miliona avioputnika predlaze Q400, CS100 i CS300, a za zemlju sa 4 miliona putnika A330, B787, i slicne sirokotrupce
DeleteOpet se nisi zahvalio liku koj ti je dao odgovor juce? Kako si nepristojan.
ReplyDeleteGastrabajteri su poceli da pristizu zbog praznika,bice zanimljivo videti brojke za mnoge letove narednih dana
ReplyDeleteOT: Eihad kreće sa komercijalnim letovima A380 za London za samo 6 dana, a nekoliko nedelja kasnije skoro ga povlače (na samo jednom nedeljno) da bi završili obuku posade! Uvođenje prvog A380 kod drugih operatera obično je trajalo mnogo duže. Možda je nekom glava u torbi ako ne počnu ove godine?
ReplyDeletekako se usudjujes da pricas ovde protiv Etihada? To ti je gore nego protiv Er Srbije da pricas. Sad ces odmah da budes izbrisan
DeleteApparently Chinese are fooling Croats, with hopes of direct flights from China to Zadar.. Zadar is chosen intentionally I guess, as the city is well-known in spending millions (not only to Ryanair, but also lots of companies soak up stupid Zadar's and Croatia's money) to attract tourist traffic. I couldn't find any company named DC Travel or any other names mentioned in Chinese delegation as CSEBA's website. Don't you think Chinese would be interested in Zagreb, similar to Korean Air, if they intend to operate to Croatia?
ReplyDelete