Dubrovnik Airport says there are no indications that planned flights between the United States and the Croatian coastal city could launch in 2017, as the airport caps off its most successful year to date and heads into a busy 2017. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, Dubrovnik Airport's Deputy General Manager, Frano Luetić, said, "Unfortunately, there is no progress regarding direct flights to the US and neither are there any indications that such operations could occur next year". In May, local authorities announced they were seeking a partner for the introduction of a two weekly, year-round New York - Dubrovnik service. Mayor Andro Vlahušić said at the time, "The number of visitors from the United States to Dubrovnik has tripled over the past five years, which is why we want to establish direct flights between New York and Dubrovnik. It is unacceptable that Americans visiting Dubrovnik cannot fly nonstop or have to transfer through Belgrade".
US tourists now rank fifth by visits to Dubrovnik and potential flights from the United States could prove popular. Charter carrier National Airlines had previously expressed interest in launching a two weekly seasonal service from New York to Dubrovnik. In 2014, American Airlines began codesharing on Iberia flights from Madrid to the Croatian city, while US Airways, which has since merged with American, added its codes onto British Airways' flights from London. Earlier this year, the Croatian Ambassador to the United States said the Embassy had resumed discussions with various stakeholders in order to explore all possibilities for the establishment of direct flights to Croatia. "We will do all we can to spearhead and facilitate this effort, and achieve direct flights as soon as it is economically possible", the Ambassador said. Recently, Zagreb Airport announced it was working on establishing flights to the Big Apple in cooperation with a European carrier.
This year will go down as Dubrovnik Airport's busiest in history, with 1.971.094 passengers handled during the January - November period, representing an increase of 17.6% compared to the same period in 2015. A number of airlines have already announced plans to start new flights to the city next year or increase frequencies on existing routes. They include easyJet which will introduce an additional four destinations from Dubrovnik, as well as Eurowings, Jet2, Volotea, Condor, Thomson Airways, Monarch Airlines, Flybe and Primera Air. The airport is also putting the finishing touches on its new terminal (C), set to open at the start of the 2017 summer season. Construction of the facility is mostly complete with work on the hall connecting terminals B and C currently underway.
Shame. I think it could have worked. There is definitely potential.
ReplyDeleteZar nije pisalo u 11.mjesecu da ce se pocetkom 12. mjeseca znati tko ce obavljati let Zagreb - New York? A sad evo samo sto nije zavrsila godina...znaci li da nista od toga?
ReplyDeleteA sto je onim Beijing Capital Airlines da zapocne letove iz Pekinga?
Ništa ni od Pekinga ni NYC.
DeleteShame, zag needs more foreign carriers.
DeleteBeijing flights should start in June 2x per week.
DeleteThey haven't even started negotiating with airlines so it might happen next summer. Also passengers to ZAG can fly via BEG or VIE.
Delete@AnonymousDecember 29, 2016 at 9:03 AM
DeleteNYC flights and news in Mid January, BCA starts flying to Zagreb in June. News regarding NYC flights will be made public in January as scheduled, not before. so stop spreading lies.
^ Do you know which airline will fly between Zagreb and New York? Or could you at least give us a hint?
DeleteXL Airways but the deal is still not made because of a dispute regarding airport charges.
DeleteThanks! I hope they resolve these issues :)
DeleteIs it seasonal or year round?
DeleteThe guy saying there will be flights between ZAG and USA is a con man. Forget about it, no flights next year.
DeleteDo you have evidence that he is lying?
DeleteErrrrr yeah, its called common sense. Don't be so naive Jackie.
DeleteOk so none except that you would not want it to happen
DeleteWell think about it... they have another month or two before they need to start selling tickets if the flights start in June. There would be some announcements, some information... you can't hide such developments.
DeleteIt doesn't really matter, since you guys can always fly in 2017 to US or China, via Belgrade.
DeleteYes, but tourists want to go to Croatia, not Belgrade or Serbia, so direct routes are kinda important
DeleteI went to NY in early December with Air France: Zagreb-Paris-NYC and back, paid 500 euros. Airbus 380 to NY, Boeing 777 on my way back. Had a great time, excellent service in economy class!
DeleteThe talks for JFK-ZAG are actually ongoing. And to the person who said that Americans can fly via Belgrade...bwahahahaha!!!!!!
DeleteYeah right. I don't think that a single American flew to Croatia via BEG, when they have London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, Vienna, hell even Lisbon and Madrid.
With 400,000 America tourists expected in 2017. and over a million strong Croatian diaspora in the States..don't worry, Zagreb will get a direct flight soon enough. And then Dubrovnik possibly as well.
Two weekly year round would have been too much. But during the season it would definitely work.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how after JU launched flights to NY it seems everyone wants to have direct flights.
ReplyDeleteSame way Serbian PM announced flights from Belgrade to Beijing days after it was said that flights between Zagreb and Beijing would start. He even said they will start before the ones in Zagreb.
DeleteWell JU does not have exclusivity on the route ;)
DeleteBut unfortunately now flights to ZAG seem to be in jeopardy. Also only our pm cares about it, no one else here does. After all BEG is in a different league.
DeleteIt's completely normal guys. It's called competition, especially between cities which are so close.
DeleteDubrovnik is the only city in Ex-Yu known to the Americans but obviously no need for flights to NYC at the moment. It will happen, there is no need to hurry.
DeleteFully agree with last anon. It is one of the best managed airports in the region. The market is still not sustainable enough for these flights. If it were, the airport itself would pursue these flights.
DeleteI agree this could have worked during the season. Unfortunately an American mainstream carrier wouldn't bother to operate a flight just 2x per week but a charter or leisure airline could. Maybe the cost is still too high to justify such a route.
ReplyDeleteIt could be operated by a European airline. Norwegian seems suitable for this sort of service.
DeleteDidn't JAT used to fly from Dubrovnik to New York in the 80s?
ReplyDeleteAnd PAN AM too I think?
DeleteYes both used to fly between Dubrovnik and the states and that was 30 years ago. So I'm sure there is enough demand today too.
DeleteI have Pan Am's Clipper Magazine with Dubrovnik featured on the front cover :)
Delete:)
Deletehttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChfhgTqWLdI/VEP15CnfOQI/AAAAAAAAOVU/njAETwYW7B0/s1600/panam.jpg
I think PAN Am flew there from there Frankfurt base so I don't think it was a direct flight.
DeletePan Am.
DeleteIt would have been a cherry on top of the cake in 2017 which will be huge. New terminal opening, so many new routes. Let's hope it happens in 2018.
ReplyDeleteTransavia just added 4extra flights from Orly to Dubrovnik, also they added 3extra flights from Paris Orly to Split, Flights commence from April. Summer 17 will be a mad house on the coast.
ReplyDeleteDubrovnik can cope with it, but Split ? They desperately need more space
DeleteExcellent news, OU should watch and learn!
DeleteI think the overcrowding at Split is a bit overstated. I was there this past year on a Saturday and in peak season. It was busy and a new terminal would be great but unless you're an extremely impatient person than really it was not that bad and the staff seem to handle everything well.
DeleteAlso, From Friday though to Sunday, I don't believe they have the capacity to handle more flights, outside those days there is a lot more room for growth.
DeleteIt would be unlikely for NYC-DBV to launch before flights to Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteSomeone could always start New York - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - New York.
DeleteI think JFK-ZAG-SJJ makes more sense
DeleteI think JFK-ZAG-SJJ makes no sense
DeleteI'm surprised Air Transat hasn't tried Dubrovnik from Toronto. Seems like a good fit for them.
ReplyDeleteThat would hurt their route to Zagreb.
DeleteStill don't get that Croatia Airlines hasn't leased one or two A330s. The cost of leasing its quite low at the moment. They could pretty much pick and choose the destinations during the summer - US, Canada, Japan, Korea... You would be earning much more on these tourists that way.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWith what money? They cannot even afford regular servicing.
DeleteAnd loose 500.000 EUR each month on those routes.
DeleteHahahahaa, 5,000 EUR per flight hour. I like this blog, everyone's so competent in aviation :)
DeleteI guess you are. :)
DeleteNo, it is not. Air Serbia has 450 flight hours per week. So it is 1111 EUR per flying hour, not 5.000.
DeleteThere were some 320,000 US tourists in Croatia this year so there is a market. Most came through as transfers via London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Rome and more and more via Dublin.
ReplyDeleteOT - this is a great article which picks up on some of yesterday's comments about Etihad and Emirates ... gives better context into why the middle east airlines are hitting turbulent times ....
ReplyDeletehttp://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/12/28/emirates-delaying-a380-delivery/
In other words, it has little to do with Etihad European investments or individual CEOs.
DeleteOT - some more news that things are not well elsewhere....
ReplyDeleteSingapore Airlines to defer eight A380s
Air Transport World
December 27, 2016
Singapore Airlines and Airbus reached an agreement to delay the delivery of eight A380s by 6-12 months.
SIA's 12th through 19th aircraft will be affected by the new schedule, which will see the 12th delivered in October 2010 rather than April and the 19th arrive in January 2012 rather than January 2011.
It currently operates nine A380s, with two more due for delivery in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. It insisted it is satisfied with the operational and commercial performance of its A380s, which it flies twice-daily to London Heathrow and daily to Sydney, Tokyo Narita, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Hong Kong. Flights to Melbourne begin Sept. 29.
SIA suffered a S$307.1 million ($212.7 million) loss in its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, its first loss since 2003(ATWOnline, July 31). It decommissioned three 747-400s during the quarter and cut capacity by 13.7%.
This has nothing to do with this region...
DeleteErr... didn't the author state it was OT ?
DeleteBesides, there was a lot of discussion around Emirates yesterday, which isn't exactly in ex-yu either
Not sure if (same as EK) the airlines are deffering our Airbus is cutting production rate so airlines need to align?
DeleteIt is a pitty. I'm sure when the airport actually decides to find someone to operate these flights they will be more successful.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised. But I really think it's commendable how the airport was straight forward with its answer and didn't try to fib us. Most in the Balkans would go "New York? Oh sure, yeah definitely coming soon. Not sure on the date but its coming, the interest is HUGE, airline are lining up".
ReplyDeletehahaha true
DeleteWonder how National Airlines planned to fly from New York to Dubrovnik since they only have the B757 which can't make it nonstop.
ReplyDeletevia Zagreb. National Airlines was in talks with them too.
DeleteDon't think it can make it to Zagreb without a stop either.
DeleteDelta flew 757 on EWR-TXL route. It sure can reach ZAG/DBV going eastbound, but I'm not sure about the return flight.
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteNext summer LH will be increasing both MUC-BEG flights to A319. Last year it was E95 in the system but all flights were operated with the 319/320
Not surprising as they're transfering most of their Embraer fleet to OS.
DeleteThey still decreased it from 3x to 2x. Remember the evening flight? It's gone now. Even in winter only 1 flight. LH is not interested in Belgrat like before.
DeleteWizz is dragging people away, especially O&D pax from LH... I wonder if JU will ever consider launching MUC flights?
Delete1 flight is not through all the winter.
The night flight was suspended ages ago. This increase in capacity shows they are still committed to BEG.
DeleteASL should add one daily MUC flight to compliment their network.
DeleteLH is doing great in BEG considering that most of LC destinations from both BEG and INI are to Germany or close to it (have a look at the routes and you will see). LH also lost a lot of transfer pax to Asia and Middle East when JU/EY and QR started flights. In addition TK has been more aggressive in the last few years. Based on this, LH is holding well.
DeleteAs long as Delta flies to Venice we are not going to see any decent airline flying into any of the Croatian airports.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Venice is also very close to all Croatian cities plus they can go around with a boat or via very good roads.
DeleteVenice is close to Istria, but not to Split or Dubrovnik. In the future, seasonal flights to NY will make sense (hopefully).
DeleteSorry but how many are the US visitors to Dubrovnik and please no speculations show me an official web site.
ReplyDelete317.414 in Croatia last year
Delete53.457 in Zagreb last year
as Zagreb has some 15% more tourists than Dubrovnik, I presume there is less than that in Dubrovnik.
343.398 US visitors for the first 10 months in 2016. So that should be about 360.000 for 2016, a 12% increase. A 12% average means 560.000 by 2020.
DeleteI still don't understant who is right the anonymous 3:06 or the anonymous 3:22 ? And by the way I asked JUST for Dubrovnik not the total Croatia . Thanks a lot .
Delete3:06 is for last year, 3:22 is for the first 10 months in 2016.
DeleteVisitors from US
Croatia
2014-256.000
2015-317.000
Dubrovnik
2014-62.348
2015-76.688
This year will probably be 90-95k for Dubrovnik
DeleteNice numbers, increasing every year!
Deletewhat really surprised me was that Dubrovnik just went over the 1 million mark of people walking the walls this year. At 20 Euro per ticket to walk around the city for an hour that is a pretty good profit without even owning an airplane.
DeleteThe city walls are amazing and definitely worth paying!
DeleteImpressive growth continious for Dubrovnik
ReplyDeleteYet another Balkan obsession of having flights to América. DBV can try with AZAL or Ukraine Intl and use it as a stopover e.g MXP and RIX. BEG and ZAG will be hurt if those flights are launched.
ReplyDeleteIts not that much of an obsession. Dubrovnik does have visitors from the US. A seasonal 2-3 pw route is probably viable, just the mayor announced an year long route and that is not so viable..
DeleteAnyone know why flydubai cancelled their departure from Belgrade today?
ReplyDeleteAko im je bas stalo do tih letova mogli su platiti nekoj kompaniji da leti da bi se poboljsao Turizam i to bi dosta znacilo.
ReplyDeleteINN-NS
Today HAM-BEG on B733 (YU-ANI). Economy was full, buisiness maybe 4 seats free.
ReplyDelete