Emirates has said it sees its Dubai - Zagreb service developing in the future and is monitoring the performance of other airports in the country, particularly Dubrovnik. The airline’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations in Europe, Thierry Aucoc, said, “We decided to launch Zagreb a bit more than two years ago and it is corresponding with our development in Europe. We have a wide coverage in Europe, and we understood that Croatia has big potential for two reasons. First, it is a destination that is really interesting for travel from Asia, Australia, China and Taiwan. Therefore, there is a lot of incoming traffic to Zagreb and the entire country in general. From Croatia it is a way to offer the local population a link to our Dubai hub. There is a lot of demand from Croatia to the world. This is primarily to Dubai but also beyond, for example, to destinations in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, such as Phuket in Thailand”.
Mr Aucoc said that Croatia still has “good potential” for future route development and “fits extremely well within our network”. He added, “I was checking the results of airports in Croatia and I was amazed to see that many have double digit growth. I noticed that Zagreb is now at 3.5 million passengers per year, which is a very good result. We are monitoring other airports in the country too. We are closely following the performance in Dubrovnik because we are offering seasonal flights to this city through Flydubai”. The Senior Vice President noted that 258 Croatian nationals work at Emirates. Of those, 210 are cabin crew, while sixteen are pilots, three of which command the Airbus A380 superjumbos.
Emirates recently completed its seasonal operations to Zagreb for 2019 with the route taken over by Flydubai during the winter months. Zagreb was the first example of Emirates’ and Flydubai’s new route-sharing strategy, with Yangon joining its ranks this year. "Zagreb is an example of how much our cooperation with Flydubai managed to improve our results. We served the route in winter with our Boeing 777 aircraft. Then last year, the route was maintained for five months by Flydubai aircraft. This winter, Flydubai will operate for the entire winter season because it emerged that this route is not as strong in winter, so we can still continue serving Zagreb well”, Emirates’ Area Manager, Martin Gross, said recently. This winter season, Flydubai will maintain four weekly flights to the Croatian capital (with exception to the first two weeks of the winter schedule), down from daily last year. "Zagreb was operated with Boeing 737 MAX equipment but had to be moved to the B737-800. Therefore, the entire flight plan had to change and has been partially reduced. Now we have to see when the B737 MAX is allowed to fly again", Mr Gross added.
'I noticed that Zagreb is now at 3.5 million passengers per year, which is a very good result.'
ReplyDeleteMany on here would disagree with him.
Obviously he was not telling the truth.
DeleteIt would not be the first time
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2016/11/emirates-no-plans-for-ex-yu-flights.html
Eto 3x7 u DBV od sljedece sezone
ReplyDeleteSeems like EK is in it for the long haul in ZAG. Puts LJU's dreams of getting EK to an end.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not EK but Flydubai is a possibility.
DeleteEK won't be expanding in ex-Yu in terms of flying with its own metal.
DeleteLJU would eat into their ZAG loads. I think there is most chance to see Qatar or Air Arabia in LJU.
Delete+1 last anon.
DeleteDIstance and size of the Slovenian market make it difficult for any Gulf flights to start to LJU. Narrow bodies can hardly reach LJU, and the size of the market is much smaller than Zagreb.
DeleteQR flies to Pisa regularly with an A320 and sometimes flights to Prague are also with A320
DeleteEK obviously does well in Zagreb during summer but not so much in winter. It's good there is this route sharing system so Dubai can be kept year round.
ReplyDeleteProblem in winter among other things is double daily QR flights.
DeleteI think this is actually a really smart move by EK/FZ and I hope we see more destinations in ex-Yu shared like this between the two airlines.
DeleteI'm happy to see them continuing the same arrangement as last year. I thought FZ wouldn't return at all and EK would keep it seasonal.
DeleteEx-Yu candidates for EK/FZ combination are BEG and SJJ
DeleteSJJ doesn't have enough apron space to handle a B777 and other aircraft at the same time.
DeleteI don't get that they are still not flying to places like SOF or OTP either.
DeleteOTP and SOF do not have "udruzeno oglasavanje" fund
DeleteActually there is a lot more competition on flights to Gulf from OTP and SOF.
DeletePlaces like SOF or OTP have minimal demand for business class. EK aircraft are premium heavy so it doesn't make much sense to fly them just for economy class passengers.
DeleteOTP with 13,8 mil passengers has less demand for business class than ZAG with tiny 3,3 mil?
DeleteFunny
DBV is next, seasonally, they won't have problems filling the planes there!
DeleteAnon at 10:28
DeleteYes it clearly has smaller premium demand than ZAG. OTP (like ZAG) does not have a large business community. But ZAG has great demand from Asia and Australia by wealthy tourists. Romania doesn't. Also Romanian diaspora in Australia is minimal unlike Croatia. Same goes for Bulgaria.
So OTP being full with Romanian gastos travelling to western Europe does not mean that it also has large premium demand to Dubai.
Dude, OTP has way more premium demand but most of it flies via IST on TK which upgraded the route to A333! EK would have to fight them big time which they don't want to do. Also, speaking of demand, two airports can't be compared. OTP grew by 7% this year while ZAG is starting to stagnate.
DeleteNobody compared airport sizes! We are talking about EK not launching OTP and the reasons for it. Try to stay on topic.
DeleteI am very much on topic but you are selectively writing arguments. Some are even hilarious like OTP having same premium demand like ZAG. LOL
DeleteThis winter IST-OTP will have 3 daily on TK where some flights are operated by A333. On the other hand you have 10 weekly IST-ZAG with A319/320. You see the difference and why it's easier for QR and FZ/EK to survive in ZAG compared to OTP?
Anon at 11:02
DeleteDo try to stay on topic. We are talking about demand for EK flights between ZAG and OTP to DXB, not IST. TK is a different airline than EK.
And that is why despite TK serving both ZAG and OTP long before EK considered flying to them the Emiratis chose to start flights to ZAG but not OTP. Sorry if you find that upsetting but you might want to write them a letter and explain to them the mistake in their strategy!
Aha so all of a sudden TK is a different airline because it doesn't suit your argument? They chose ZAG because of initial subsidies, that's why the first year they flew in winter. OTP doesn't have EK because it has much more competition that ZAG does, TK has consolidated its position there.
DeleteJust because you want something to be off topic doesn't mean it is.
Oh and you might want to compare FZ winter timetable of OTP and ZAG. ;)
DeleteIf you are losing an argument try not to change it.
DeleteWe are comparing ZAG and OTP and the reasons EK chose to fly to only one of them.
I understand that you are frustrated about it for some reason but TK and the Turkish market has nothing to do with it. EK made the decision that ZAG can support their premium offering while OTP will have to do with FZ.
As I already told you you can ask EK for some clarification about their strategic thinking. I am sure they would love to listen from you!
Yes, EK chose ZAG over OTP because premium demand out of OTP is served by other airlines. You are basing your argument that just because EK chose ZAG it has more premium demand than OTP which is hilarious. They don't have to listen to me, they are already experiencing it on their own skin, first with year-round flights to ZAG and then with an overambitious schedule with FZ. And yes, TK and the Turkish market have everything to do with this story because they are after teh same market as EK/FZ. That's a fact you want to ignore just because TK has barely 10 weekly to ZAG in winter.
DeleteFinally the fact you are putting ZAG and OTP in the same basket is hilarious since OTP is 4.5 times the size of ZAG.
I knew that EK choosing to fly to ZAG out of all the exyu cities made some people upset but WOW dude!
DeleteAs I explained to you OTP is an overwhelmingly gasto airport. EK can serve that destination with FZ. ZAG and Croatia during the high season has a lot of premium demand so an 777-300ER with large first and business cabins makes sense. A lot of wealthy Asians, Middle Easterners and Australians are visiting Croatia and their numbers are only getting bigger. Try to deal with it.
EK made the choice to serve them. You can write them a letter though and explain them their mistake.
And what happened after you woke up?
DeleteEK kept flying to ZAG and to no other city in Exyu, Romania or Bulgaria.
DeleteAnd you kept getting upset about it!
I don't understand why would demand from Asia be "premium demand", either at OTP or ZAG..what are you people talking about?
DeleteAnd is it true that TK is downgrading equipment to ZAG? When will that happen? I mean, the winter season has already begun and they're still operating A321 and B737.
I don't understand it either Michael.
DeleteIt seems that in ZAG they think EK is some kind of status symbol.
They also fly to Kabul, Harare and Khartoum - all of these cities are known to have very strong "premium demand" to DXB! :-)))
And, yes wealthy Asians are crazy about spending vacations on the places like Kabul.
Hilarious!
I'm glad we have EK in ZAG, hope they're here to stay, at least seasonally. Interesting that they are mentioning Dubrovnik, coincidence? Don't think so!
DeleteGood! It would be nice to see DBV with Emirates during summer! I think there's a lot potential there!
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice. American and Emirates at DBV :)
DeleteDelta will be next!
DeleteQatar airways even. It flies to places like Larnaca, Mykonos and Málaga so DBV makes perfect sense as a destination for wealthy tourists.
Are you seriously comparing LCA to DBV?!?! LOL
DeleteYes I am comparing wealthy tourist destinations like Larnaca, Mykonos and Málaga to Dubrovnik.
DeleteLCA has outboud and year-round demand, DBV doesn't. DBV is a seasonal airport like Mykonos just that Mykonos is way more premium and more well known in the world. It's a global brand just like Greece is.
DeleteAnon 11:03, Dubrovnik is not as famous as Mykonos, but it's a global brand!
DeleteLarnaca, Mykonos, Malaga and Dubrovnik attract the same type of wealthy tourists from the Middle East, Asia and Australia. So it makes sense for QR to serve the Dalmatian coast.
DeleteMalaga has 19 million, LCA 8 million while DBV had 2.5 million.
Deletelol
Mykonos has only 1,4 million pax yet QR is flying there. Sorry if that is upsetting you. ;)
DeleteYes Dubrovnik is the most prime destination in the world especially in November when it has 25.000 passengers. Some people on here really need to reconnect with reality.
DeleteKucko is launching Bahrain-Mykonos flights. Strange he overlooked Dubrovnik...
DeleteMaybe eventually ZAG could become a stop to a North American destination for them.
ReplyDeleteWhy when they are full to Zagreb in summer?
DeleteThey will get better results if they stop by in SKP compared to ZAG to USA :)
DeleteWhy so many people dream of Emirates stop on route to US?
Deleteas far as I knowmthey omly have it in Milan.
Athens has it too. Dubai-Athens-Newark.
DeleteAlthough it's not to North America, they are also starting Dubai-Barcelona-Mexico City. Next month I think.
DeleteEK Emirates talks about
DeleteDubai-Pristina-New York for summer season! good idea
Yeah sure they do. Look it's one thing to have dreams. It's another to claim and present your personal dreams as reality and fact.
DeleteHe was ironically speaking.
DeleteActually joking about people who dream that EK might have stop in ZAG on the way to US
Even that is a more realistic dream.
DeleteBased on what?
DeleteBased on the fact that EK is already actually flying to Zagreb and Croatia has an open sky agreement with US which in theory allows Emirates to start flights to the US via Zagreb, unlike Pristina. Not that I think it will happen.
DeleteUnderstood. Thanks
DeleteYou never know for the future, EK keep going forward good ideas for the future in whole Balkan
DeleteMilan and Athens have massive demand for flights to North America. ExYu countries not so much.
DeleteI don't see EK using any ExYu city as a stop over to the US.
Last year 400.000 people flew from Athens to New York alone, that's 11.5% of the total traffic ZAG handles per year. Just to put things into perspective.
DeleteAnonymous 5 November 2019 at 10:49
Delete+1
And those were probably only those that flew direct. Imagine adding all the indirect travelers who went there via LHR, ZRH, FRA, MUC, AMS, CDG etc.
Same thing for Milan. So some people should stop comparing apples and oranges.
I have a feeling that in summer on top of being full they have very good sales in premium but winter seems to be generally a problem in Zagreb and the airport has to address this. We see this with the example of Emirates but also Korean Air.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure DBV is their next destination, at least seasonally! DBV saw an increase of 22,67% in October!
DeleteI was hoping they would go back to year round.
ReplyDeleteThere is simply no need for a big B777 in winter.
DeleteCorrect, 354 seat airplane during Winter is overkill.
DeleteExactly.
DeleteBut there is a good chance they will make ZAG year round again once the ordered A330s are re-introduced (first ones due to arrive from 2021)
Is there any chance Flydubai may include Split in its network in the future?
ReplyDeleteI hope so. Flydubai should really consider starting Split as well seasonally during the summer.
DeleteI can actually see them flying to Dubrovnik during peak summer months. As for Zagreb, I am afraid starting Dubrovnik might decrease Zagreb to FlyDubai all year round.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be better to keep FZ but get them to fly year round or extend their season?
DeleteEmirates are not expected to be next at Dubrovnik. Air Transat was mentioned as more likely. Last month they planned to announce details of 2020 summer program “shortly” but it didn't happen yet.
DeleteFor Air Transat it was mentioned that they were intersted, which they certainly were as I heard this same info from other people too. But they won't be coming to DBV. Air Transat announced its summer program last week, you can read their press release.
DeleteYUL-CPH was announced on Oct 1, eight days before TS article on this blog. Other than new Faro 1pw service, there was expectation SPU or DBV could be announced too for 2020.
DeleteAs I said they published their summer timetable. Perhaps the talks were unsuccessful.
Deletehttps://ca.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/transat-summer-2020-program-new-europe-spots-and-more-usa.html
Dvajs maraka da Emirates na ljeto stize u DBV a FlyDubai u SPU ili ZAD.
DeleteZAG ostaje kakav je.
Depends if they get good slots in SPU but that makes more sense than EK as they don't have ramp space for a widebody. At least Split is being realistic, that's why they are thriving.
DeleteNije stvar stajanke na SPU vec duljine piste
DeleteIt seems routes to "Indian ocean" destinations are most popular on EK from ex-yu in general. I remember FZ said places like Maldives and Thailand also perform best for them from BEG too.
ReplyDeleteWell it makes sense that most people flying with them will be heading east.
DeleteDoes anyone know how many passengers EK handled to/from ZAG this year or last year?
ReplyDeleteFor a route that they say is performing so well, they are doing a lot of convincing in the media that it is performing well. On the other hand they first make route seasonal one year then they decrease Flydubai flights in winter the next. MAX grounding is a lame excuse seeing other destinations in the region are being kept with the same frequency or are increased.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThey'd also talk positively about any route they operate, I am sure, once media asks them to comment on a certain route.
DeleteI have never heard an airline official saying a the opposite.
They surely have very bad results during the winter as they decreased ZAG from 7pw to 4pw.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we shall see in this case withdrawal from ZAG during winter the same as KE did
Mr Gross commented this is because of 737 MAX outage. Although some other MAX routes were not reduced, but ZAG was (partially logical however due to long sector length).
DeleteWhat are their fares like vs Qatar Airways and Turkish on long haul flights in winter from ZAG? Are they competative?
ReplyDeleteFlydubai will get a nice boost this winter thanks to Korean Air withdrawal.
ReplyDeleteThe executive doesn't even list Korean market as main source of transfer passengers. He says China and Taiwan.
DeleteHe says Asia in general.
DeleteKorean market is surely one of the top contributors on these flights.
DeleteLO is killing it from BUD to ICN. That's the newest entry point for Koreans to the region. Passengers most likely switched to that flights.
DeleteWell LO is dumping like crazy from BUD - so no surprise.
DeleteAnd KE is always very expensive to ZAG.
We will see how they do in the future. I'm really glad they are flying to ZAG. Nonstop flights from China to Zagreb (if they happen) could have some impact on them.
ReplyDeleteOnce EK gets the A330-900 neo in 2021, they will probably take back the Zagreb route in winter.
ReplyDeleteHaven't those been delayed?
DeleteThe current Emirates fleet is so inflexible. I can't believe the airline brought itself to have only A380s and B777s. Better planning was needed. They are very lucky thr sheikh created Flydubai to help.
DeleteWhy would they if even B738 is too big for 7pw during the winter?
DeleteDon't see the obsession of needing to have EK with B777 or widebody in winter. It is far better having more flights than 2 or 3 weekly widebodies. Much more convenient for passengers.
DeleteEK has not ordered the A330-900.
DeleteIt only has 150 777X on order and is trying to switch some or even half of them to 787s but Boeing is playing hard to get.
Wow then I completely mixed something up. I was sure they made an order for A330-900s.
DeleteAnon at 10:24
DeleteNot to worry. They announced at the beginning of the year that they will order 30 of them as well as 40 A350s as part of an agreement with Airbus to cancel the rest of their A380s but it was never shined.
it might happen in the future of course.
@ Anon 5 Nov 10:22
Delete???
EK has officially ordered 40 A330s directly at Airbus. Here is the link:
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/02/airbus-and-emirates-reach-agreement-on-a380-fleet--sign-new-widebody-orders.html#media-list-image-image-all_ml_0-1
Interestingly EK arrival in Zagreb had no major impact on their competition at all.
ReplyDeleteQatar actually introduced second daily flight after EK came.
DeleteOr better to say...The competition caused
Delete- EK to stop flying during winter
- FZ to reduce ZAG
@9.40
DeleteThat's not true. Turkish decreased frequencies in winter since EK came and who knows maybe Qatar would have been using A330s to ZAG by now.
And maybe Korean Air would be flying for whole wi ter :)
DeleteWith A380!
DeleteOverall they had far less of an impact on competition then I personally thought.
DeleteMaybe because there is a market for everyone...
DeleteQR does not really care for RASK and profit margins so they fly as often as their fleet allows them.
DeleteThe Emir will cover the losses.
A lot of QR A321s to ZAG were downgraded to A320 since EK launched flights.
DeleteWould be interesting to compare Zagreb route development with other destinations they fly to in the region. That is how frequencies and capacity developed over time and how long did it take.
ReplyDeleteWhat other routes do they have in the region other tham ZAG??
DeleteBudapest, Prague, Venice...
DeleteBUD and PRG started off as daily with A330.
DeleteEK had an advantage back then since it had much more suitable aircraft.
DeleteEK and Fly dubai will be merged sooner or later. Problem of ex-Yu market would be solved that way.
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt it!
DeleteThe current arrangement suits them perfectly.
DeleteI think Emirates was aware that they would take a hit on the route in winter, and that will happen during the first few years before the route builds up and can generate money year round.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they foresaw it since they flew first winter with their own equipment and scheduled it as daily before decreasing it.
DeleteThey flew first winter because you get discount from the airport if you manage to fly whole first year (summer and winter).
DeleteBut it is true that they initially planned daily in winter and then decreased it.
DeleteWonder what the Indian Ocean destinations are.
ReplyDeleteMaldives, Seychelles, Mauritius
DeleteNot sure for other markets but tour agencies from Serbia are selling Zanzibar like crazy and it's not expensive at all. From what I see they mostly use FZ for these tours.
DeleteI'm glad to see Emirates is sticking to this route and believes in it :) good luck in the future.
ReplyDeleteI want to believe.
Deletehttps://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71U9iDvwjIL._SY606_.jpg
And Croatia Airlines still hasn't seeked a codeshare with EK?
ReplyDeleteThey have an SPA with EK for domestic routes.
DeleteIt's too early LOL
DeleteBravo Croatia!
ReplyDelete