American Airlines has scheduled and put on sale tickets for its seasonal summer service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik for the 2020 summer season, during which it will operate daily return flights. The world's largest carrier will resume operations between the two cities on June 1, with services slated to run each day from the very start of the season, compared to three to four weekly services this summer. As a result, American will add an additional 836 weekly seats each way between the two cities with all flights to be operated by the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The service is codeshared by fellow Oneworld alliance partners British Airways and Finnair.
Commenting on the expansion of its Dubrovnik operations, the carrier said, "American Airlines is very pleased with the bookings for our flights between Dubrovnik and Philadelphia. We constantly evaluate our network to ensure we are maximising our fleet, while matching customer demand. It was a result of this process that we were able to add more weekly frequencies. We always review the performance of our new routes and ensure we have the right schedule for our customers". It added, "Dubrovnik has been a place of interest for several years. It has grown in popularity among US travellers, but remained unserved by US airlines. American Airlines saw an opportunity to fill that gap". Next year, American will also introduce new flights from Philadelphia to Casablanca, Dallas to Tel Aviv and from Chicago to Krakow, Budapest and Prague.
American notes the Dubrovnik route serves both for leisure and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic. In the long-term, the equipment on the service is expected to be changed from the B767 to the newer B787 Dreamliner. American has confirmed that its fleet of B767-300ERs will be retired in 2021 as new Dramliners are delivered. The current average age of American’s B767 fleet is twenty years. "At present, the B767 is the right aircraft for this route, however, we are always evaluating our network to ensure we are maximising our assets and meeting customer demand. We are excited to be serving the picturesque city of Dubrovnik and we look forward to welcoming more of our customers in both Croatia and the US, thanks to our expansive network of connections", the company said.
The new American Airlines service to Dubrovnik has contributed to the airport's busiest month on record. It handled 514.723 passengers in July, representing an increase of 8.4% on last year. It marks the first time the airport welcomed over half a million travellers in a single month. During the January - July period, Dubrovnik Airport saw 1.574.407 passengers pass through its doors, up 14.3%. Overall, the airport added an extra 197.264 travellers on 2018.
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 26.323 | ▲ 18.1 |
| FEB | 33.765 | ▲ 40.3 |
| MAR | 57.880 | ▲ 21.4 |
| APR | 210.803 | ▲ 39.0 |
| MAY | 315.037 | ▲ 8.1 |
| JUN | 415.876 | ▲ 13.8 |
| JUL | 514.723 | ▲ 8.4 |
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteIf they go from 3 weekly to daily after just one season it means they really performed well. Great news.
ReplyDeleteI had no doubt these flights would be a hit. Good to see booking doing well.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Hope this might trigger other US carriers to start across the country.
ReplyDeleteAgree. I think it will attract other airlines to launch long haul flights to DBV.
DeleteI think it can also attract more US carriers to other cities in Croatia (not just to Dubrovnik)
DeleteIt is certainly very good for DBV in terms of reputation and attracting more carriers of the same type.
Deleteyeah very intresting, what airlines could we probably also expect to conntect USA and Croatian coast?
DeleteCroatia keeps winning!
ReplyDeleteThis really is a major achievement for DBV. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if they will extend the season too. They haven't put tickets on sale past July yet. We will see if they will extend ops into October.
ReplyDeleteProbably not. The increase of 230% is just because they don´t know what to do with the aircraft. Then after July they will park it.
DeleteNo need to be sarcastic and rude. I wasn't saying flights will end in July, I meant I am wondering if flights will operate past September into October. All I said is that we don't know yet because flights still haven't been scheduled in the system past mid July, which obviously they will be. Some of you need a chill pill.
DeleteI agree Anon 09.30 some on here are way too sensitive and their comments do not contribute to the quality of the discussion.
DeleteWell they havent put them past July2020 because airlines file their schedules 360 days in advance. We are just 12 days into August 2019. With the rolling scheduling they will appear rolling in the coming weeks.
DeleteExactly. No where did I say or insinuate that these flights will be suspended in July. I even made clear I was wondering if flights will operate in October but somehow anonymous at 9.28 got offended.
DeleteAre there any prospects for American to start flights to Zagreb? Or any US airline?
ReplyDeleteNot at the moment
DeleteAnonymous12 August 2019 at 09:18
DeleteWe'll need to wait and see, Croatian Gov says one thing, few ppl say thing thing, and we're totally confused. It is quite likely US Airline will start service to Zagreb, question is, will it happen in 2020, 2021 or 2022 we'll find out soon enough.
Croatia expects 700 000 US Visitors this year, when you have these sorts of numbers would be mad not to operate service to Zagreb, which is by far most popular destination for US visitors visiting Croatia.
Yet Dubrovnik got the flights despite Zagreb being the most popular choice. I think something doesn't sound right in your statement and anyway we were listening about Zagreb New York flights for how long?
DeleteCongratulations to Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteGenerally flights from US and Canada should always do well to Croatia. Mix of leisure and diaspora passengers.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Air Transat hasn't tried Dubrovnik from Toronto. Seems like a good fit for them.
DeleteWell Transat is being taken over by AC so we need to wait and see what hshappe there.
DeleteTransat put on sale YYZ from SPU this year postponed it due to the uncertainty of SPU opening its new terminal. Next year should see Transat op flights into SPU.
DeleteLet's see if Transat will be around in a year, I think it's more likely to see Rouge with their B767.
DeleteAir Canada has already announced they will keep the two brands.
DeleteWill be interesting to see what happens with ZAG, right now we have 4 weekly on Rouge and three weekly on Transat in high season, two weekly out of it.
DeleteI think that next up Dubrovnik should definitely target Canada or South Korea flights. After they secure one destination from each they should look into adding more points in the US.
ReplyDeleteI'd say South Korea (seasonally) could work for DBV.
DeleteThey said that US and South Korea are their main long haul markets so Seoul might be next.
DeleteWhat's with Japan flights?
DeleteNothing, endless negotiations and planning same as with JFK flights from ZAG.
DeleteThere are ANA charters to DBV
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/08/ana-returning-to-ljubljana-and-dubrovnik.html
I can't see Korean Airlines flying to Dubrovnik in the near future and cannibalising Zagreb route. Maybe Asiana?
DeleteVery good for DBV
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if they flew Philadelphia - Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Philadelphia.
ReplyDeleteWhy? ZAG should be capable of securing its own flights to the US.
DeleteWhy when Dubrovnik can fill their own flights just fine?
DeleteI was hoping they would fly from May until October but I definitely wasn't expecting them to go daily already. Good development.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic for Dubrovnik and Croatia in general. Could these flights work year round?
ReplyDeleteNo because there is no tourism in Dubrovnik in winter time.
DeleteIt's no surprise this route has great LF during the summer, there is also potential to extend it few months for the next year, but year round ops probably can't work...
DeleteNo tourism in winter time in Dubrovnik? Good joke.Folks will be coming to Dubrovnik after season bc it's impossible to walk let alone see anything during the season.I was in Dubrovnik in November & couldn't find an empty room .Dubrovnik it's not a swimming pool city
DeleteLook at DBV numbers in winter and you will see what we mean. You probably couldn't find a room because many hotels close in winter.
DeleteExcellent news!
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting time for Dubrovnik. Who would have thought it would be the first Croatian airport after so many years to have flights to the US.
ReplyDeleteCroatia Airlines should have codeshared on these flights.
ReplyDelete+1 would bring more passengers to OU's domestic flights from/to Dubrovnik.
DeleteNo way would Croatia Airlines codeshare on United's arch rival.
DeleteAnd why would LH allow them to do that? For LH group OU serves to fill their hubs and not to help their onworld rivals enter and succeed in their traditional markets. Anyway with more flights to the coast ZAG-DBV/SPU was getting smaller for some years now.
DeleteIs that why OU codeshares and cooperates with KLM and AIRFRANCE?
DeleteWhy should LH care about KL when they seem to be struggling in ZAG, especially in winter and n summer they no longer send anything large than Embraer. LH knows they are killing them with cheap fares on OU flights to Star Hubs.
DeleteAnd Air FRANCE?
DeleteThey are no threat as outside the summer season they send Embraers and in summer there is enough passengers for everyone. Also OU's flight arrives quite late to CDG for connections to NA.
DeleteLH has exactly ZERO shares of OU.
DeleteSo if they want to codeshare with a One world or a Sky Team airline they cad just that. And they have!
Other then increase frequencies, would it make sense for AA to add another US destination to Dubrovnik some time in the future? I'm not too familiar with AA's hubs so don't know which city could potentially work for them.
ReplyDeleteJFK obviously.
DeletePhiladelphia is quite close to New York.
DeleteLAX
DeleteChicago could work well too.
DeleteSacramento as well as it's a booming market close to San Francisco. Seattle as well.
DeleteORD, EWR, and ATL
DeleteAmerican hubs that have potential to be linked with Dubrovnik in my opinion are:
Delete- Chicago
- Dallas
- Washington
- LA
Demand from LA is particularly strong to DBV and Croatia in general.
Deleteany evidence of that particularly strong demand?
DeleteBTW great July result for Dubrovnik too. First time over half a million.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI would love to see a trip report from this route on here :D
ReplyDelete+1 yes please.
DeleteAA is really expanding to Europe a lot next year.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to really be attacking LOT with Krakow and Budapest.
DeleteThey can definitely extend the season.
ReplyDeleteCroatia, I Iove you!
ReplyDeleteOnly US3 flying to ex-Yu. This shows to what extent Dubrovnik is a world-class destination.
ReplyDeletehighlight of the year. Huge congratulation to Dubrovnik!
DeleteBEG and DBV seem to be the only destinations that can make flights to the US work, BEG year round and DBV seasonally.
DeleteHope they move to the B787 in 2020 and not wait until 2021 :)
ReplyDeleteB767 is perfect equipment for this route for the time being, just like AA says in the article.
DeleteGiven the issues with the B787 I would rather have the archaic 767. A BA Dreamliner returned due to engine issues, Norwegian lost engine parts on take off from Rome... so no thanks.
DeleteI don't think PHL will get a 787 base next year.
DeleteIf more capacity is still needed in DBV 332s would be fine before regular 787 ops.
In AA's PHL timetable are now 3 787 services to Europe next year (AMS, MAN, ZRH).
DeleteSo there will be a base for 333, 332, 788, 763 and 757 for 20+ daily TATL ops.
So, is Dubrovnik aiming for more cities in the US in the future?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the airfares like on this route?
ReplyDeleteExpensive which makes sense since most tickets are sold via tour operators.
DeleteI just realized that if traffic stays the same as this year there will be 4 widebodies at DBV on Thursday mornings at the same time!!
ReplyDeleteWhich are...?
DeleteWhich ones?
DeleteAA from PHL with 767
DeleteTUI from LGW with 787
TUI from BRS with 787
TUI from BHS with 757
757 is not a widebody though.
DeleteHaving 3-4 widebodies on the ground at the same time won't be easy to handle.
DeleteThey will manage.
DeleteCan three widebodies be docked at air bridges in DBV at the same time?
DeleteThey will have all those flights
DeleteAA from PHL with 767
TUI from LGW with 787
TUI from BRS with 787
TUI from BHS with 757
+ you forgot TUI from MAN with 787
So it will be 3 X 787 and 1 X 767 at the same time!
On Sundays DBV will also have TUI widebodies
DeleteThere is a Qatar Airways 747 parked on Tarmac in Dubrovnik for over 2 weeks now. Sheik is in town on his Yacht. There is also an Qatar A319 parked next to it for the same period of time (Sheik members of staff)
DeleteNice :)
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how many new American tourists will arrive in Croatia this year thanks to these flights.
ReplyDeleteSoon I'm hoping American Airlines JFK-ZAG
ReplyDeleteGreater chance of it being Delta.
DeleteLol sure
DeleteI hope the extra frequencies perform great too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good news. More options for travellers to/from Croatia and some additional income for Dubrovnik.
ReplyDeleteNew York has to be the next destination.
ReplyDeleteI see this route going year round in 2021, maybe once per week. in winter months. Dubrovnik is trying to extend the season, plus for those who don't care about beaches and swimming it is better to visit Dubrovnik in winter when it is a lot less congested.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will go year round that soon. They might extend the season but it is not cheap maintaining such a seasonal route in winter, especially once per week.
DeleteRoutes from US to Dubrovnik definitely have potential.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that American was the first to bite the bullet and start flights to Croatia. I would have thought it would be United considering its Star Alliance membership and potential for codeshare with Croatia Airlines.
ReplyDelete"It has grown in popularity among US travellers, but remained unserved by US airlines. American Airlines saw an opportunity to fill that gap"
ReplyDeleteSmart planning paid off.
The took a risk and it paid off :)
DeleteDid AA provide breakdown on percentage of transfer passengers vs PHL-DBV O&D on this route? Any idea on VFR vs tourist mix? How is J class doing?
ReplyDeleteNo such info is made public.
DeleteWill there be again the 2nd webcam on the DBV homepage?
ReplyDelete