Air Transat has confirmed it is suspending operations to Zagreb for the 2020 summer season. The Canadian leisure carrier, which is restarting its flights and tour operator activities on July 23, will only maintain fourteen routes in Europe this summer, while 25 others have been suspended. "This is a first step towards getting healthy operations back on track, from both a business and financial perspective", Air Transat’s CEO, Jean-Marc Eustache, said. As a result, Zagreb will not be linked with Canada’s largest city this year for the first time in five years. Last month, Air Canada Rouge also announced it was suspending its Zagreb operations for the year.
Air Transat planned to resume flights to the Croatian capital on June 2. The route was to run twice per week during the first two weeks, increasing to three weekly from the week starting June 15 until September 14, when services were again to be reduced to two weekly. Flights were to be reduced to one weekly from October 13 until the end of the 2020 summer season, on October 31. Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat carried 65.486 passengers between Zagreb and Toronto last year, representing an increase of 14.6% on 2018. "The market conditions of the global industry have been completely transformed”, Air Transat said in a statement.
The development comes as the process of Transat being taken over by Air Canada continues at a glacial pace. Last summer, Transat's shareholders approved a takeover offer that would see the company bought out by Air Canada for 720 million Canadian dollars. However, the deal still needs the approval of regulatory authorities in Canada and Europe, who need to be assured the transaction wouldn’t reduce competition. Zagreb is one of the routes on which Air Canada and Air Transat overlap. The deal between the two companies was struck before the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, which has changed the outlook for the industry. "While the corporation remains firmly committed to completing the transaction with Air Canada, certain factors beyond its control and related to the Covid-19 pandemic could influence the outcome of the proposed arrangement", Air Transat said yesterday.
This sucks :(
ReplyDeleteIt amazing how successful the Canada-Croatia flights have been. Both for Transat and Rouge. They will be back in 2021.
ReplyDeleteIt really is considering two airlines can sustain traffic during the summer.
DeleteIn high season, there is enough pax for both. In year-round case, winter could work maybe 2-3pw ACA Rouge.
DeleteThis route is HIGHLY seasonal, like all flights to North America though Canada even more. There is no demand for these flights in winter and diaspora can't sustain the flights alone, except around Christmas.
DeleteAir Transat rarely flies any European route year-round. Much bigger cities than Zagreb are served only seasonally in their network.
DeleteThe only way this route will fly year round is if Air Canada replaces Rouge.
DeleteAnd that will never happen because Air Canada is not flying on leisure routes. Next year we will probably see 6 weakly or daily flights by Air Transat after Air Canada Rouge retires all its widebody aircrafts.
DeleteThere was obviously always demand for this route. Remember Skyservice resumed flights between YYZ and ZAG some 12 years ago, then came Sky Greece, then Air Transat and now Air Canada Rouge. The next step is Air Canada coming too.
DeleteJust take a look on Air Canadas long haul route network and you will understand everything. I dont say that its imposible to see Air Canada in ZAG but when you see that AC mostly flies to megahubs like FRA, VIE, MUC, CDG and ZRH i dont think that they would start flying to mostly leisure routes like ATH, BUD, ZAG, OTP and BCN any time soon.
DeleteIt also doesn't help that they are retiring their B767 which was perfect for this route. Knowing how AC functions they will be happy to shuttle everyone and everything via MUC, FRA and VIE.
Delete@Anon 9:39 - VIE isn't exactly a megahub. I understand that it's bigger and has more pax than ZAG but it is not like FRA or LHR. VIE is served daily in the summer and five times weekly in the winter (IIRC) from YYZ, so ZAG could be served maybe 5x weekly in the summer and 3x weekly in the winter?
DeleteAC is already flying to ATH, same as they anounced ZAG.
DeleteIt's a lost year for the international aviation, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThey will be back in 2021 although the coming years are going to be very hard for the whole industry. Such a shame.
Delete
ReplyDeleteI wonder if their flights to Zagreb are more filled with tourists or diaspora.
Tourists
DeleteMy guess is Rouge gets more diaspora traffic and Transat gets leisure. Transat is a travel company. They sell holiday packages to Croatia.
DeleteIts all about tourists.
DeleteDoes the potential buyout of Air Transat by Air Canada and them pleasing competition regulators means one of them will have to vacate this route to another airline?
ReplyDeleteYes, one would probably have to give up on the route.
DeleteProbably Air Canada Rouge. Their 767 are quite old and they are going to retire them soon.
DeleteOr Rouge could be replace by Air Canada.
DeleteThis route is leisure so i dont think that we will see Air Canada in ZAG any time soon.
DeleteI hope the AC Rouge flights will eventually be taken over by Air Canada.
DeleteThese flights will be overtaken by Air Transat.
DeleteNow Emirates.
ReplyDeleteReally unfortunate but long haul flights that depend mostly on tourists are the one most affected by this crisis. That why Air Canada Rouge and Korean have also suspended ZAG this year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a disappointment
ReplyDeleteExpected considering the situation.
ReplyDeleteNooo :/
ReplyDeleteThis is why OU should have operated these flights like JU operates JFK. Like that they are stuck with those widebody planes and they have to keep on flying and find a way to make it work. Like this even the little Canadian tourism that would come to Croatia is gone.
ReplyDeleteIt's too early. They've been around for 30 years only
DeleteThe government should offer them subsidies.
ReplyDeleteSo much money already given to them, Koran Air, Emirates, American etc.
DeleteThey'll be back within the next 5 years.
ReplyDelete5 years??? You don't expect them back in 2021?
DeleteThey will be back in 2021 but probably at a reduced frequency- The coming years are going to be hell for the whole industry- unfortunately :(
DeleteTS and AC deal is under EU investigation regarding sale conditions of Airtransat to AirCanada . Definitely many indications is showing that deal is done under the table with huge assistance from Canadian government in favor to help AC in controlling prices and certian markets. Canada is one of very few countries in the World to completley control aviation industry by not allowing almost non low budget airlines to operate in the country . They have the most expensive airfares and Toronto airport has the highest landing fees in the World . Route for YYZ-ZAG has been subsidized by Cro tourism office with a special conditions with AirTransat at the start of this route, however AC Rouge was not ready to let TS eat that cake alone . AC was smart and used YYZ as a cnx base for ZAG for USA diaspora, which turned out to be a huge success as those passengers payed up to 40% less then passenger originated in Canada. As of now Rouge is almost gone and probably never coming back to service as well AC is doing everything possible to pull back from taking over AirTransat .
DeleteIt's surprising that a country like Canada has regulated its aviation market so much. I know many airlines from Gulf have major issues being given permits to fly to Canada. More so then anywhere else.
DeleteI think all this talk of a quick recovery is based on a lot of hope. We could see domestic and local travel open up soon but unfortunately think it could be years for international travel to start again or be close to anything we have seen before.
DeleteWill be extremely happy to be wrong.
EU confirmed border closures and therefore quarantine measures from Non EU countries till 31 Aug 2020. Makes no sense for them to operate the route this summer.
ReplyDeleteThat's not true at all actually. In fact the European commission has issued a recommendation for the opening of EU borders from 1st of July to Western Balkan countries and for a list of non-European countries to be made for which the borders can be opened. Canada will most likely be on the list.
DeleteFirst Serbian tourists are going to Greece in 3 days (group) so there is definitely no quarantine for non-EU citizens.
DeleteWell, it was announced nevertheless. But bilateral exception agreements are possible such as the one between Greece and Serbia.
DeleteGood luck to Zagreb. I hope they can secure them back for next year.
ReplyDeleteThis year is completely lost.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope it doesn't spill into 2021.
DeleteNot exactly. Toronto-Zagreb is very unlikely this year, but Air Transat did not announce it will not operate route this summer, just that 13 European routes will start on 23rd July in which Zagreb is not on list.
ReplyDeleteIn same announcement Air Transat said they will open new routes and frequencies after that date. Of course it would not be wise to open route just for one or two months, so, as I said, it us very unlike that it will be reopened this year, but for now route is not officially canceled.
Purger don't embarass yourself. Check their site.
Deletehttps://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/book/resumption-of-our-operations?ici=homepage&icn=showbox_reprise#%2Fsuspension
Temporary suspension of certain routes
Unfortunately, COVID-19 and its impact on the tourism industry are forcing us to extend the suspension of some of our flights, significantly reduce capacity and completely cancel certain routes for the 2020 summer season.
Belgium
Montreal - Brussels
Croatia
Toronto - Zagreb
Czech Republic
Montreal - Prague
Denmark
Montreal - Copenhagen
England
Montreal - London
Vancouver - London
Vancouver - Manchester
France
Montreal - Nice
Quebec - Paris
Toronto - Paris
Ireland
Toronto - Dublin
Italy
Montreal - Rome
Toronto - Venice
Montreal - Venice
Toronto - Lamezia
Netherlands
Vancouver - Amsterdam
Toronto - Amsterdam
Portugal
Toronto - Faro
Toronto - Lisbon
Montreal - Porto
Spain
Montreal - Barcelona
Toronto - Barcelona
Montreal – Madrid
Montreal - Malaga
Switzerland
Montreal - Basel-Mulhouse
Here is the list of cancelled routes for the 2020 summer season:
It literally says on their site this route is suspended for summer 2020.
DeletePurger, what do you think what will happen after AC Rouge retires all of its widebody aircrafts (767). Will be this route totally overtaken by Air Transat or?
DeleteFlights for summer 2020
DeleteHere is an overview of the destinations offered this summer with Air Transat to and from Canada: MONTREAL - ATHENSJuly 27MONTREAL - BORDEAUXAugust 2MONTREAL - LISBONJuly 24MONTREAL - LYONJuly 28MONTREAL - MARSEILLEJuly 29MONTREAL - NANTESJuly 31MONTREAL - PARISJuly 23MONTREAL - TOULOUSEJuly 23TORONTO - ATHENSJuly 26TORONTO - GLASGOWJuly 25TORONTO - LONDONJuly 23TORONTO - MANCHESTERJuly 25TORONTO - PORTOJuly 26TORONTO - ROMEJuly 27
I don't know what you read Purger but their website lists all routes cancelled for this year and Zagreb is on the list.
DeleteI really don't know either where he read that especially since it is clearly written on their website and flights have been removed from the system.
DeletePurger where did you read that?
DeleteIt is confusing to be honest because in the headline on their website it clearly says: Temporary suspension of certain routes
DeleteIt is not confusing at all. They have a list of all cancelled routes for the entire summer. They couldn't be clearer. It's called temporary because they plan to fly it next year. And besides all flights have been removed from the system. Very clear to be honest.
DeleteWishful thinking by Purger.
DeleteI hope this is it as far as cancellations for this year go at ZAG.
ReplyDeleteWhat have been the cancellations so far?
DeleteKorean Air, Air Transat and Air Canada Rouge. Windrose Airlines cancelled new Kiev flights. Croatia Airlines cancelled planned flights to Sofia and Podgorica and will also cancel around 4-5 routes.
DeleteThat's it as far as I'm aware.
Unfortunately I think Emirates will too. It's currently suspended until September but I don't see much point in flying this route for a month and a half.
DeleteThis is bad news for us Slovenians in Canada too. Back to LH this year.
ReplyDeleteDid a lot of Slovenes really use Air Transat?
DeleteNot really but I did last year. To escape the uncertainty of flying an Air Canada + Adria combination since Adria was already cancelling so many flights.
DeleteI expect this too, but it is possible that Fly Dubai takes over.
DeleteVery likely. Let's wait and see.
DeleteThis comes as no surprise. Long haul routes are being most affected by the crisis.
ReplyDeleteThe question is will they be back in 2021.
ReplyDeleteHope so
DeleteIt will also depend a lot on how the deal between Air Canada and Air Transat pans out.
DeleteToronto flights will definitely be back. It's just a matter of which airline.
DeleteIs there any other Canadian airline operating long haul flights? Other than Transat and Air Canada?
DeleteWell now we can put off the US flights to Zagreb for a couple of more years.
ReplyDeleteAs usual
DeleteThis is bad
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty much expected from the start. No surprise.
DeleteBio jednom jedan JAT i leteo 3x nedeljno za Montreal-Toronto...
ReplyDeleteimagine JU could fly triangle flight BEG-ZAG-YUL or YYZ?
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian i will give you more precise information,
ReplyDeleteFirst Air Canada Rouge has retired it*s wide body fleet as they felt the Transat deal was done!!
Shit happens as we say, and Covid 19 was a shock to all and delayed the deal !!
Air Canada is seeking $ 2 Billion CAD is aid, which they will probably get with a few ifs, a main
one being Government of Canada aid money can not be used to buy the Transat shares!!!
Finaly Transat itself has now requested Canadian government aid, so as the saying goes..
never count your chickens before they hatch!!!
Thx for the insight. One should really grab some popcorn and watch what happens.
DeleteWho is AC/TS really competing with on the Canadian market? Gosh, there really should be a couple of independent LCCs. I can only think of Westjet also operating some domestic routes and Porter with some Dash planes.
Good news for Croatia Airlines and Lifthansa.
ReplyDeleteSorry but why is that good news?? You obviously have no clue that last year with 3 full flights a week from Canada, 750 passengers were arriving weekly!! The largest proportion about 75% were tourists arriving on either private or organized tours. I know as I am a tour operator,
Deleteand guided for Canadian groups in Croatia. Say 40 in a group, 10 groups a week departing on
various 14 day guided bus tours, that*s 400 people per night staying in hotels, 400 people
per day eating 3 meals a day, 400 people per day visiting and paying to enter sights, museums,
national parks, shopping, stores, boutiques, bars, cafees, etc..and let*s not forget , 10 local
tour bus companies, and 10 local guides being used daily. So I will ask again please,
why is this good news??