Flydubai to replace Emirates in Zagreb in 2021


Flydubai will substitute Emirates’ summer operations between Dubai and Zagreb next summer season. Emirates has confirmed it is terminating the seasonal service, after it was suspended this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and shelved for 2021. The airline has closed its sales office in the Croatian capital and dismissed local staff. Flydubai plans to commence three weekly flights to Zagreb on February 3, increasing to four weekly from the start of the summer season on March 28 and growing to daily from June 1. Changes at this early stage remain likely. Flydubai initially planned to restore services to the Croatian capital at the end of this month. Emirates will codeshare on its partner’s flights. 

Flydubai will maintain the service with its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will likely be upgraded to the 737 MAX once the type receives regulatory approval to return to the skies. Despite Flydubai’s return, capacity between Zagreb and Dubai will be significantly reduced compared to 2019. During the summer of last year, Emirates offered a total of 137.510 seats between the two cities on 380 flights (return flight included). Services were maintained with the three-class Boeing 777 aircraft. On the other hand, next summer will see Flydubai reduce overall capacity between the two cities by 58.2%. It will offer 57.420 seats on 330 flights. 

At this early stage, Flydubai also plans to resume its seasonal summer service to Dubrovnik starting May 13, 2021, running until August 27. Entry into Dubai is permitted with a negative coronavirus test taken up to 96 hours prior to departure. Under current regulations, Croatian nationals must also take another (free of charge) covid test upon landing at Dubai Airport. Based on existing plans, Flydubai also plans to serve Belgrade, Sarajevo and Tivat next summer season. It currently flies to just Belgrade and Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia. Capacity on flights to Belgrade will grow 37.1% in summer 2021 compared to 2019 levels, decline 5% on the Sarajevo service and increase 3.7% on the Tivat route.




Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    ZAG-DXB is not bookable on their website...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      It will be soon. It's bookable on Emirates' website.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      yes you can book on emirates.com and it is in the system. You can also see the available dates on the Flydubai website. They just haven't made it bookable yet.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    Oh nice, so ZAG will not be left without DXB flights in summer next year :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    At least something

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    This route struggled on EK even before covid. Return of FZ makes s lot of sense. Unfortunately skeptics on this portal were proven right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Route was doing very well in summer months. Sending FZ is jut because od covid situation. I dont know why some people ignore this and play dumb, just to "proove something" out of the context.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:13

      EK made the huge mistake of not working more with OU. They should have timed their flights to offer connections to Europe via ZAG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:15

      But with the vaccine coming soon the whole covid situation will start fading out like a morning star. So if they are sending FZ just because of covid it means EK will be back in ZAG next winter or maybe even summer 2022? Will they get udruzheno oglashavanje?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:18

      I still believe in a better tomorrow.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:24

      If demand will rise again, then EK will fly to ZAG too, simple as that. It is highly possible after 1-2 years covid stagnation.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:33

      Let's hope so. I'm not so optimistic about EK returning any time soon.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:38

      The fact that they closed their office and laid off staff is an indication ZAG is not in the short-term plans.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:06

      EK won't return anytime soon to ZAG.

      "The airline has closed its sales office in the Croatian capital and dismissed local staff."

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:28

      @Anon 09:13: Connections from DXB to Europe via ZAG?

      Emirates flies to most OU destinations in Europe... directly from DXB.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous13:00

      EK passengers provided nice feed on OU's domestic routes actually.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:05

    How come there is capacity jump in Belgrade compared to 2019? Are they operating more flights or does the MAX have more seats?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      More flights. Last year there were fewer flights because of runway reconstruction in Dubai and they didn't go back to daily straight away.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:09

      They were 10 weakly.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:10

      I think in 2019 they operated 5 weekly flights throughout the summer and increased it to 7 during winter or during Christmas festivities. This year they are starting daily flights from the beginning of the summer season in April. Zanzibar seems to be extremely popular this year among Serbs and they almost exclusively use FZ to get to Tanzania.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:10

      What on earth are you talking about. FZ flights to BEG never went above daily.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:12

      Anon 09.10, don't be mean, he probably confused FZ with QR. No need to be so aggressive and ferocious.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:26

      But FZ was 5pw, that is true.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:47

      I hope they add a night time departure like Jat Airways had in the past, I think it was at 21.15.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:48

      Yes, that would be much more convenient for tourists.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous15:23

      Transfers as well.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:17

    "Flydubai will maintain the service with its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will likely be upgraded to the 737 MAX once the type receives regulatory approval to return to the skies."

    So good luck..:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      Let's hope this time it stays in the skies until it has reached its final destination.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:23

    Well it is good to see at least that this line will return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      With SU being rather weak in ZAG and with TK stagnating for several years now (double daily in summer and 10 weekly in winter) it's important that FZ and QR do well, they are the fastest way to Asia, Oceania and Africa. Key players in this department.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      +1 last anon

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:32

    Any idea how many flights QR will have next summer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      They still have it as double daily. I don't think they have updated their summer timetable yet for next year.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:37

    I think it is the right decision. Even with mild recovery, there is no way EK would be able to fill up a B777 on this return next year. Maybe 2022 or 2023.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      *and not on

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      Demand will be significantly lower next year across the world even if things go back to normal.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:39

    My prediction is they will launch flights at the start of summer (not in February as currently planned). Hopefully MAX will be in use by then. It is a much better product on FZ than on the B737-800.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:39

    Will Flydubai use the Emirates Terminal 3 for the Zagreb flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      I believe so. They used it in the past when they flew too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:57

      Yes. ZAG and BEG flights are from terminal 3. But for some reason they keep SJJ at the awful T2.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:02

      Flights that go from Emirates' (T3) terminal are those that have a good volume of transfer passengers. These are:

      Almaty, Basra, Belgrade, Bishkek, Bucharest, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Kyiv, Nur-Sultan, Prague, Sofia, Tashkent and Zanzibar.

      SJJ is mostly point to point or transfers from GCC countries. That's why they had 3 daily flights in the summer.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:02

      Also because a lot of passengers from above cities continued with Emirates it is the reason these routes first got the B737 MAX.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:45

    Pity about Emirates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      It was expected

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:48

    What is the schedule of these flights. Are they the same as EK's?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      DXB ZAG
      10:00 - 14:15

      ZAG DXB
      15:15 - 22.55

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      Not great for P2P passengers but it probably works for transfers.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:57

      It's almost the same schedule Emirates had.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:58

      Yes, EK actually arrived into DXB even later.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:59

      I think it is overwhelmingly clear that the route was used almost exclusively by transfer passengers and not point to point so the schedule is adjusted to them.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:24

      I wonder if they will start flying over Syria soon.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:53

    Nice to see they will be back in Dubrovnik too

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      At the moment. We will see if they keep it in a few months.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:00

    They were the only airline with first class flying to any ex-Yu airport. Shame to see EK go :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:58

      I believe Korean had first class too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:59

      They had it until last year but then they removed it.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:15

    The important thing is there will be daily flights to DXB. Whether it's Flydubai or Emirates isn't that big of a deal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      When EK announced flights to Zagreb people weren't saying it's the same as Flydubai ;)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:21

      It is difference. Even 737MAX cabin layout is better lookin than older EK 77W. But still, EK service and experience is on much higher level than travel imn narrowbody almost 6 hours. There is nothing than wait for demand to grow again for EK!

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:15

    It's good to see they also do not plan to decrease Sarajevo by much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      You have to take all these early frequencies with reservation. The article mentions several times "at this early stage" which indicates things will probably change.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:24

    Good luck

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:42

    I think this is because the Australian borders will remain closed for EU citizens. After all, it comes with no surprise that there is a sizeable Croat diaspora over there.
    Croatia needs to focus on other important markets such as South America.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:48

    Such a shame about EK but I kind of expected it after corona hit.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:52

    One of Emirates' big strategic mistakes is having two widebody fleet model, one of which is the A380.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:25

      nope. the A380 is a joy to fly

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:47

      I know it is, I enjoyed flying on it myself. I didn't mean the plane is a mistake, I mean having just a two type wide body fleet is a mistake. A lot of routes can't work like that. Look at how QR has managed to better navigate during this crisis because it has a more diverse fleet.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:54

      The whole widebody only fleet turned out to be unsustainable.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:55

      Emirates said they are looking at narrowbodies so we might see them fly those into ZAG one day.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:15

      Actually I can see EK 787 in ZAG in few years, in terms of capacity is much better than 77W.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:28

      Agree with last anon it would be ideal for this route.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:52

    I'm surprised there isn't more P2P demand from Zagreb to Dubai.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous11:23

    I hope EK maybe can consider BEG in next period. Etihad is not so strong in BEG as it was, so there is room for EK I belive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:46

      That's for sure especially now when GoS does not have so close relations with EY anymore.

      I have even heard some rumours that BEG did not reply for months to EK inquiry before EK opened DXB-ZAG just in order to protect EY.

      With Vinci now being in the game it could be much more possible.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:20

      Yes, I agree. There is huge potential for EK in BEG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:27

      I think once FZ goes ten weekly then we might expect EK to come. That said I think QR widebodies are more likely. Also don't forget that unlike other cities in the region, SU is extremely strong in Belgrade. They have 21 weekly flights plus 10 on JU. AEROFLOT carries a lot of transfers that go to Asia.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:12

      Where is the connection between how much SU is strong in BEG and EL.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous06:29

      What do Aeroflot and Ellinair have in common here? SU flies to Moscow while EL flies seasonally between Belgrade and Crete.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous12:53

    Nice, I was worried we wouldn't see FZ either. But this is quite good. And it's daily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:27

      In corona times, February/March is still a long way away.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:31

      True FZ's December resumption was cancelled in late November.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:43

      I really wonder how/where they reroute passengers that bought tickets.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:57

      Maybe SJJ and BEG considering they fly there?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous17:27

      I don't think the OU and JU flights to BEG and SJJ can connect onto the Flydubai flights on time

      Delete
  26. Anonymous12:56

    Hardly surprising. Expected this would happen. And we should be thankful there will still be nonstop flight to DXB.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous13:57

    Better something than nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous15:01

    Emirates coming to Zagreb couple of years ago was hailed as one of the best things that happened to Croatian aviation. Emirates now leaving could be considered one of the worst things that happened to Croatian aviation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:13

      Hater...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:22

      Who, the person that said EK to ZAG is the best thing ever in CRO? No I don't think that's hate, that's just being detached from reality. EK to ZAG was not the best thing ever and so EK leaving is not the worst thing ever.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:54

      Purger said "arrival of Emirates in Zagreb is bigger than whole Air Serbia project".
      How unrealistic!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:47

      Fake news!

      Delete
  29. Anonymous16:57

    Anyone remember the year when Flydubai first started flying to Zagreb?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:13

      December 2014

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:28

      Thanks!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:11

      It operated till winter 2017 then they suspended it.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous19:11

      And restarted in winter 2018/19 I think

      Delete
  30. Anonymous18:25

    I prefer this temporary layout of your website to the norm as l one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:35

      It was awful to say the least

      Delete
  31. veliki iskorak unazad, i guess

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous23:21

    I noticed OU also reduced ZAG FRA in January to 11 weekly. On Saturday there is only one flight.

    ReplyDelete

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