Zagreb Airport is preparing for a busy winter season, which will see it handle more flights than ever before, following on from what is set to be a record summer. A number of carriers have already committed to increasing both frequencies and capacity to the Croatian capital when compared to last year. Among airlines serving Zagreb for the first time this winter are Korean Air, Aegean Airlines, Iberia and ČSA Czech Airlines. Korean Air, which will commence three weekly flights from Seoul this September with an Airbus A330-200 jet, will initially deploy its Boeing 777-200ER on the route for the start of the 2018/19 winter season, which begins on October 28. However, the airline will then switch to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as of January 2, 2019. The two aircraft seat between 248 and 269 passengers. Korean Air will operate the return service from Zagreb to Seoul via Zurich over the winter months, however, the airline has not secured rights to sell tickets on the intra-European sector. "For the time being, it is impossible to purchase tickets from Zagreb to Zurich. However, we will consider ways to make it work in the future", Korean Air told EX-YU Aviation News.
Aegean Airlines has upgraded its seasonal summer service between Athens and Zagreb to year-round operations, with flights to run twice per week. Similarly, Spain's Iberia will extend its operations from Madrid to the Croatian capital past the summer months, with the airline to maintain two weekly flights with its Airbus A319 aircraft. "During the winter months there'll be two weekly flights between Madrid, Zagreb and Dubrovnik, with excellent connections from other airports in our network. These new additions to our programme will reinforce our presence in Croatia, not only for point-to-point flights but for long haul connections as well", Iberia said in a statement.
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| Korean Air to deploy B787-9 Dreamliner to Zagreb from January 2, 2019 |
ČSA Czech Airlines, which previously downgraded its Zagreb operations from Prague to seasonal summer flights, plans to retain the route during the upcoming winter season with three weekly services. Furthermore, Croatia Airlines will run flights to Mostar over the winter, while Emirates will add an additional two weekly flights from Dubai for a total of seven, boosting inbound tourism with over 15.000 additional seats during the slower months. Fernando Echegaray, the Director of International Operations at Zagreb Airport's concessionaire Aéroports de Paris, said, "We have a strong team at Zagreb Airport, which is very knowledgeable, and we are working hard to bring in even more passengers and airlines. In addition, Croatia, being a beautiful country that it is, has huge potential and growth in developing as a tourist destination, and that is what we base our expectations on, as well as the development of Zagreb as a tourist destination".
Zagreb Airport expects to see continued passenger growth in the year to come, with 3.5 million travellers projected to be handled in 2019. "Our trends are encouraging and I honestly hope that the coming years promise to bring us even more new carriers and passenger growth. The only issue that could hinder that is the rising price of fuel on the world market, which has a negative effect on airlines and acts as a deterrent in investing in new routes", Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Jacques Feron, said recently. He added, "Croatia is attracting more tourists than before and Zagreb is becoming an increasingly appealing destination. More passengers results in more new carriers, making Zagreb more interesting".
I wish OU was as successful as ZAG. I fear they won't be returning to Athens now that there is Aegean.
ReplyDeleteThey can always code-share since they are both Star Alliance partners.
DeleteBA will increase ZAG operations to daily this winter too.
ReplyDeleteDidn't someone say it will be double daily now that OU sold its slots?
DeleteJust rumors and rumors
Delete@ 9.09. How many flights did they operate last winter?
Deletewow impressive. Well done Zagreb
ReplyDeleteCongratulations
ReplyDeleteHow is Emirates doing? Good to see flights up in winter from them.
ReplyDeleteVery well. They have been sending their highest capacity B777 to ZAG lately.
DeleteThey do well in summer, not so well outside of it. Seasonality is killing them.
DeleteYes, ther are almost dead lol
DeleteNemjee posted their numbers here. In winter they had 170 passengers. Is that great for you?
DeleteNemjee seems to be their network planner. Very weak winter performance and they increase flight by 30 %. Well done Emirates!
DeleteSo, EK doesn't know how to do their job? Seriously?
DeleteFirst year 170, second 200, third 230, what is the problem. That is only in 3-4 months per year. Other months are very good, summer is full, and some of the flight are overbooked. Annual LF is around 70% in FIRST YEAR of ops... that is great result for EK. Nobody expected 90%LF after one year.
DeleteEK obsession again on the fire. :D
DeleteThis is an aviation forum, what are we supposed to discuss? The weather?
DeleteLike I wrote the other day, based on their first year performance there is no need to increase ZAG to daily in winter. The reason why they are doing it is to try to limit the growth of QR and TK as they are competing with both for the same passengers. TK is back to growing once again in ZAG.
DeleteThat said, this year will be interesting to follow as they are building on their previous loads.
Last year EK operated only six months in Zagreb and they carried a total of 98.301 passengers.
Here are some other markets.
PRG 502.669
BUD 221.132
LCA 179.275
OTP 108.061 (flydubai)
ZAG 98.301 (06.-12.2017)
I flew from Brisbane to Croatia this winter On the day I had to fly there was no flight to ZAG (5 weekly), so I flew to VCE instead. Giving this an example of connectivity which grows passengers numbers with more frequencies, not waiting the passengers to grow to increase the frequency, which such an expert as Nemjee should be aware of. Oh, sorry, It's about ZAG, not BEG pardon me, my mistake, than it's different story
DeleteWhat has BEG got to do with anything I wrote? I didn't mention it at all or are Serbs not allowed to comment on ZAG according to you as any comment we make has to be malicious?
DeleteZAG numbers are not far from BUD, very good result. PRG 500k, how is it possible, maybe EK plus FZ?
DeleteSpeaking of numbers, does anyone know ZAG's busiest route? Or airline after OU?
DeleteTop 3 destinations out of Croatia last year were:
Delete1. ZAG-FRA
2. ZAG-DBV
3. DBV-LGW
"They have been sending their highest capacity B777 to ZAG lately."
DeleteIt is good, but this shows that no demand for first class.
I bet it is better to fill 35 extra economy than 2 first class seats. They send 2 class A380 in PRG, so that is not a big deal. Business class is doing well.
DeleteI think next summer we will definitely see the two class A380 in ZAG.
DeleteDBV and LJU are probably the biggest ex-YU markets to London. I wouldn't be surprised if LJU is actually number one.
DeleteI think overall SPU is bigger than DBV to London.
DeleteHere are some other markets.
DeletePRG 502.669
BUD 221.132
LCA 179.275
OTP 108.061 (flydubai)
ZAG 98.301 (06.-12.2017)
Pretty exceptional numbers for ZAG and EK here according to Namjees numbers. That is basically on par with BUD which has been a developed route for EK and that only for the first year of ops to ZAG. Great to see :)
EK flights to ZAG have hurt the feelings of many conserned neighbors...
DeleteNemjee is a Serb so I don't see his feelings hurt.
DeleteYay Korean will come with a B787 after all.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteB777 and B787. Nice combo.
DeleteSo that will be 3 Croatian airports serving 787s on a regular basis.
DeleteYes. Dubrovnik, Pula and Zagreb. But DBV and PUY only in summer.
DeleteWill the 789 continue to operate to Zagreb after the winter next year?
Deleteprobably yes
DeleteThe flights haven't been loaded for next summer yet. At least I can't see them on their website.
DeleteGreat news ZAG. I think 3.4 million passengers will be achieved this year.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Makes sense.
DeleteVery positive development :) I just wonder how they project 3,5 million Pax in 2019, when they are having a 12 % growth this year, which will result in 3,4 million Pax already in 2018? Will growth slow or are they just being conservative?
ReplyDeleteJust being very conservative.
DeleteStill no Wizz or Ryan. ZAG needs more LCCs.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Volotea and Transavia which said they were considering ZAG?
DeleteThere were also rumours about easyJet but nothing happened.
DeleteNice to see. I think winter will be very strong.
ReplyDeleteVery good news, it seems that ZAG is on the right track. All it needs is a low cost airline to open a base.
ReplyDeleteThat will result in the end for Croatia Airlines.
DeleteZAG management won't make any moves that could hurt OU.
Delete... which is rationally speaking quite intelligent ;)
DeleteAre you sure. Under concession agreement, if Croatia Airlines go bust, French concessionaires will get more money from the state.
DeleteThat is just a safeguard so it would not happen. No concessionaire would be happy to loose its busiest customer.
Delete+1 last anon
DeleteGood reasoning. If French ZAG management won't make any moves that could hurt OU, we can conclude that future French BEG management won't make any moves that could hurt JU, as we concluded that no concessionaire would be happy to lose it's busiest customer. So why would some aviation authors claim Vinci would bring more LCCs to BEG? That's completely irrational and directly opposite of what we learned here about ZAG and LCCs.
Deleteexcellent news coming in from Zagreb this year. Any more surprises/new airlines we might see this year?
ReplyDeleteSomeone said ANA, someone said United.
DeleteYes, but not this year. And, talks are still in progress...
DeleteFingers crossed.
DeleteI think China could be announced this year - Beijing and Shanghai.
DeleteMore direct lines are needed to attract people from long distance destinations.
DeleteIt's going to be quite a year in Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteGreat developments for Zagreb since the French came.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteYou are a bit late. I was worried.
DeleteSeeing ZAG with so many airlines and destinations "only" with 3.4 million passengers projected makes me think that SKP might go after ZAG if they expand their catchment area little bit and try to introduce transatlantic and Asia flights. With proper highways and travel connections SKP might be the center of some 6 million people from Macedonia, South Serbia and Kosovo, Albania and parts of Bulgaria and Greece.
ReplyDeleteThe Croatian diaspora mainly uses buses from e.g. Germany to Croatia, if Ryanair and/or Wizz start flying to ZAG, the numbers will significantly increase
DeleteSKP transcontinental hub of the Balkans, LOL!
DeleteSo, which planes are coming to ZAG today (Russia included)?
ReplyDeleteUzbekistan Airways 767-400, one Aeroflot A321 and A319 each. For now.
DeleteUzbekistan is B763, they don't have B764.
DeleteCorrect, sorry my mistake B767-300.
DeleteWhat about Turkish. Will they operate some charters like the last few days,
DeleteThe full list of World Cup charters today in the end was: Red Wings A321, Ural Airlines A319, Rossiya 777-300 and B737-800, Aeroflot A319, Croatia Airlines A319 (two flights), Turkish Airlines A340-300 and Adria Airways CRJ900.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteAfter a strong summer comes a strong winter ;)
ReplyDeleteWill El Al again be extending their seasonal flights through to November like last year?
ReplyDeleteYes, flights end 20th November.
DeleteThanks. I think they could fly 1 flight per week all winter.
DeleteLove the winter pic :)
ReplyDelete@Nemjee and other smarta**es -EK is happy with pax loads at ZAG. What they are even more excited about is cargo. Big plans is what they have at ZAG in regards to cargo. And pax planes carry the cargo. So yes, there is logic to increasing frequency afterall. You simply lack the access to all the important information.
ReplyDeleteSo please double think next time you post.
Pozdrav iz Zagreba
Why such tone? Are you really that bothered when someone writes an opinion that's different from yours? EK is happy with their loads? Maybe in summer but I am sure they were not too thrilled when they carried 6.000 passengers (return) in February.
DeleteCargo helps improve the finances of a certain route but it is not enough especially when the route is being operated with a heavy aircraft such as the B773. JU to JFK also carries a lot of cargo but they still struggle to make money on the route.
Many Croats on here simply don't want to talk about Emirates or any other airline unless it is to praise them and to talk about their success in Croatia. The problem is that many on here have been insisting EK has been flying full which we can see now is not the case.
As for cargo, here are the available numbers for EK in ZAG.
06.2017 - 84t
07.2017 - 428t
08.2017- 384t
Why would they not be happy with pax numbers in February? 6000Pax return on 16 flights *2 makes around 188 Pax per flight. In the FIRST year op operations and the slowest month of the year. That is great :) There are worse numbers than that- and now as the market matures this February they certainly will have 220 Pax per flight.
DeleteNemjee knows the best, better than EK :)
Delete188 passenger is rather bad for such a big plane.
DeleteI think Nemjee should stop sharing these numbers because most on here do not deserve them.
Delete188 pax is great? Hmmm yes for sure. 70% of them are transfer pax. Lower ticket price.
DeleteNo money on this route during the winter.
Možda mi smeta jer nije više tako kritičan prema AS ali nebitno smatram da se Nemjee razume u avijaciju. S time te molim da ignorišeš određene ljude koji te prozivaju samo zato što si obelodanio neke stvari. Što se mene tiče samo napred.
DeleteJedno je "obelodaniti" stvari u kontekstu a jedno van cijelog konteksta. Apsolutno je jasno da 180pax u 773 nije održiva računica, to nitko ne tvrdi. Ali je jasno da se radi o par mjeseci godišnje i to u prvoj godini prometovanja linije. Ukupni godišnji podaci su više nego dobri i na tragu su brojki jedne BUD koja već godinama uhodava EK.
DeleteDalje, Nemjee, "stručno" tvrdi kako ZAG ne treba imati daily EK zimi jer je to eto samo da se nabije konkurencija TK i QR? Po tome onda ni BUD ni WAW ni LCA nebi trebali biti daily u najslabije mjesece?!
Pa najveći amateri u avijaciji ne rade takve zaključke i ne vade takve podatke van konteksta osim ako su zlonamjerni. Htjeli to prihvatiti ili ne. Živjeli.
Druze ajde pogledaj koliko putnika imaju lca , bud I waw a onds pogledaj koliko zag. Toliko o tome
DeleteEK operated 19 flights in February.
DeleteNakon cijele 2018 svi će biti unutar max 15% razlike u broju paxa druže. I ti pogledaj podatke i zbroji 2 i 2.
DeleteJa ti pricam da pogledas celokupne podatke. U BUD i WAW postoje drugi igraci mesto EK koji zapravo voze ozbiljne brojke. TK i QR su smesni u ZAG u poredjenju sa WAW, BUD, VIE, PRG...
DeletePrimera radi jedan TK preveze vise putnika u LJU tokom godine dok taj isti TK preveze tri puta vise putnika u BUD. A izgleda da EK nije imao preko 160 putnika po letu u februaru, dakle to je ok popunjenost za flydubai.
Deletelol.. nikad prežaljeni EK
DeleteКако да не, као што ни ви нисте прежалили чињеницу да је Београд добио Пекинг или Њујорк пре вас. Овде сте писали данима и данима како Загреб има највише широкотрупних авиона на недељном нивоу док вас Београд и ту није одувао. Дакле и ви користите сваку прилику да бацате блато на нас. Немојте сада нешто као глумити.
DeleteНа крају крајева, има логике што за Београд не лете Емирати. За разлику од вас ми имамо знатно више опција када летимо ка истоку.
Beograd "oduvao" nekog? LOL.
DeleteTko je bacio blato na vas? Nije li Nemjee krenuo sa analizom kako Zagrebu ne treba daily let sa EK i da je to samo pokušaj guranja QR i TK u kut? I onda netko odgovori na to, pa se durimo?
I taj 2pw Peking preko Praga stvarno nikad prežaliti nećeno. Evo, kljukam se tabletama danima.
oduvao lol
DeleteHope CSA does not cancel it's winter flights last minute like last time.
ReplyDeleteThey are such an unreliable airline. You never know with them.
DeleteThey just canned SKP so who knows.
DeleteSuch a shame for an airline which used to be quite decent.
DeleteCongratulations to Croatia for the Vice Worldcup Champion. U played so well even in the final , u played fair without teatralic and provocative Kindergarten. U played with engagement and you showed ambitiousness to win each of the games. I follow YU in football since 1982. Comparing how we played as one Yugoslavia in the past and how you played in Russia, there is a difference and def. a possive development.
ReplyDeleteEven more happy made me, the fact that Nole and HR team exchanged support to each other and thats exactly in line with me. Politicians have changed borders but I dont care about them and even i am just half Ex YU I support all of u from LJU to PRN with my full heart.
When HR made it to final I cried the 2nd time in my life out of happyness. The first time was 1991 in Bari
HR success, Noles success or Slovenias success last year in Istanbul, or all our other successes at Olympics etc show how much capable our region is. And whats possible in Sport, is possible elsewhere. These successes will hopefully stimulate other areas as for example in economy.
Re ZAG airport: the day KE will offer ZAGZRH tickets, I ll be on board
Big hug to all if u and enjoy these beautiful moments whereever u are
I love your words, bravo.
DeleteThanks JU520 BEG LAX! Music for my ears! Sign every word of yours! Cheers!
DeleteI wish Croatia Airlines kept Dublin throughout the year. I hear it is a very good performer.
ReplyDeleteI think there are a few more European airlines that could start flights to Zagreb. Primarily SAS and Alitalia.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised at the relatively low level of flights from Scandinavia to Zagreb while there are dozens to the Croatian coast.
DeleteSince last year at least most of the Nordic countries are now linked with Zagreb thanks to OU - Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark.
DeleteNot sure about Alitalia, but ZAG need direst FCO link, it is sure.
DeleteDont expect OU to grow if you want to bring so many foreign carriers to ZAG. Those carriers will compete against OU and those carriers will carry passengers aboard their aircraft instead of OU ones.
ReplyDeleteIf you want OU to be strong dont invite to ZAG so many foreign airlines, because then OU will have more competitors and will not be able to faith against them and grow their hub here.
OU to grow needs to further develop its hub and get a reliable partner(s) to build an offer for passengers flying to destinations OU will never serve on it's own.
Having EK, UA, NH, SQ, KE at ZAG and bunch of others you mention in your posts will not help OU to develop itself!
OT: LOT will operate DBV flights in winter, 4pw!
DeleteWow, great news! Is LOT really interested in buying OU?
Delete