United Airlines is considering introducing a second destination in Croatia next year after announcing the launch of its seasonal Newark - Dubrovnik service, which is due to commence this July. The carrier confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News it is “seeking additional opportunities in Croatia” after scheduling its initial service to the country. United is a Star Alliance member and has it codes placed on Croatia Airlines’ services from Zagreb to Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich, Paris and Zurich, from Split to Frankfurt and Munich, as well as from Dubrovnik to Frankfurt. Croatia Airlines does not have its codes on United flights.
According to global data provider OAG, in 2019, 298.136 passengers flew indirectly between Croatia and the United States, with a further 17.782 on the Philadelphia - Dubrovnik service, which has since been discontinued. The busiest unserved route was Zagreb - New York, which accounted for 10% of all traffic between the two markets. It was followed by Dubrovnik - New York, which is being launched this summer, then Zagreb - Chicago, Split - New York and Zagreb - Los Angeles. Lufthansa was the most popular feeder airline between Croatia and the United States, handling 59.629 passengers, or some 20% of the market. Croatia Airlines benefited from its codeshare cooperation with the German carrier as well as United Airlines, handling 14% of all passengers travelling between the two countries. It was followed by British Airways, United and Aer Lingus. The Lufthansa hubs of Frankfurt and Munich were the main transfer airports, followed by London Heathrow and Dublin.
Busiest Croatia - US routes based on indirect passenger flow in 2019
Busiest connecting airlines for Croatia - US flights in 2019
There have been no flights on the busiest route between Croatia and the United States for almost three decades. Zagreb was likely to see its first nonstop New York flight in either 2020 or 2021. Croatia’s former Minister for Tourism, Gari Capelli, announced the service for 2020. Two years ago, he said, "Following the arrangement with American Airlines between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik this summer, which will act as a trial run, we are already in advanced talks for the introduction of a nonstop service from New York to Zagreb. I hope that we will have this route operational next summer". The coronavirus pandemic last year halted development on the route’s launch last summer.
My guess is New York - Zagreb
ReplyDeleteI agree, consdering how many fly with LH via FRA (and sit on UA) logical choice.
DeleteThe question is would it be seasonal or year round
DeleteZAG gives incentives for the first year for flights to operate year round. That's why Korean and Emirates both had year round flights for the first year.
DeleteIf that happens and with FR in ZAG, I predict complete collapse of LH Group domination in ZAG and with it OU. What will OU do without their flights to Mutti hubs?
Deletewow fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised Aer Lingus has so many transfers to Croatia and they only fly seasonally to the coast during the summer.
ReplyDeleteDuring the summer is when there is the majority of passengers from the States.
DeleteThis would be excellent news for Croatia Airlines.
ReplyDeleteBad for Lufthansa though.
DeleteOU could really benefit, especially on domestic and regional routes.
DeleteIt is not bad for LH. LH and UA have a joint venuture between the EU and North America called A++, which is approved by the EU and the US. they even enjoy anti trust immunity. So they share ALL revenues and costs, which is independent of routing. Same with AC. So legally A++ is seen as one company that shares all costs and revenues. So it would be good for LH.
Deletehttps://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/company/alliances.html
Why would someone fly on UA-OU to the coast when UA offers so much more flights via Star Alliance hubs?
DeleteWhy is the codeshare one sided?
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter? Based on the stats, OU does rather well in transporting people to the US by feeding LH, UA and other airlines.
DeleteI was just wondering if there was any particular reason.
DeleteI was wondering the same thing.
DeleteMaybe because OU is the feeder and OU hasn't got any flight out of the USA for US to feed?
Prestigious traffic, typically for Hrvatska. Achieving the attraction of such huge carriers and not only focusing on the capital is a success story. UA is probably considering the largest connected ex-Yu airport SPU although now that ZAG is going to have a busy summer, it is also not excluded as an option.
ReplyDeleteIs Ryanair also part of the prestigious traffic?
DeleteThe difficult part is making those airlines stick or keeping them year round, which has so far not been the case.
DeleteFR is just the beginning of a new era in ZAG but the airport still managed airlines such as KQ and EK.
DeleteAs for seasonality, it's a long process and takes time to become year round, but Hrvatska has the potential for sure.
No Ryanair is the traffic that all called for before ZAG had all (only) that legacy traffic- now it is here as people wanted and now? BAD?? :D I´d say ZAG has it all ;)
DeleteUnfortunately both Emirates and Korean suffered before covid came around, Their dreams of year-round flights turned into a nightmare once October arrived.
DeleteThey keep avoiding SKP although it will be a huge success for them with catchment area of almost 10 mil ppl...
ReplyDeleteThe airport also has to be proactive in securing this sort of traffic.
DeleteDid someone same SKP has a catchment area of almost 10 mil ppl...???
DeleteI need elaboration.
Good to see that things are moving forward.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteInteresting not to see Austrian among the top 5 carriers, but rather Air Lingus.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is because it is on the level of the whole of Croatia. Austrian probably is in the top 5 in ZAG.
DeleteAer Lingus does big numbers of US transfers to Dubrovnik. I think it is because AA codeshare possibly.
DeleteLong overdue and yes it is UA Newark-Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure?
DeleteLet's hope so.
DeleteI doubt it it would be ST because of the proximity between the Dubrovnik and Split airports but stranger things have happened.
Fingers crossed there will be some concrete results.
ReplyDeleteProbably Zagreb starting next year. It would be nice if it were year round too, but doubtful.
ReplyDeleteHoping whatever route it is, it will be operated by that beauty on the photo :D
ReplyDeleteI don't get the hype about direct flights to the US. Ticket price can't be that much lower than with a single stop in Frankfurt or Munich.
ReplyDeleteWell a nonstop flight is always better then one with a stop, no matter how long or short.
DeleteThe hype is because Croatia, due to its natural beauty, is a touristy country and these direct flights mean many more American tourists will come to the country. This means income for the country and for the people, both directly and indirectly.
Deleteespecially that USA passengers prefer nonstop flights and connections in USA.
DeleteThe above is not true at all. When you fly back to the US on a US connection, you have to re-check your luggage and re-clear security for your domestic flight. International connections avoid all that hassle, and most passengers know that.
DeleteI do not get how OU is on the list. If a passenger flies with OU to MUC and then it continues on LH to US, is that pax counted in this table towards OU, towards LH or towards both OU and LH (ie double counted)?
ReplyDeleteBoth
DeleteOr it could be counted as one, depending on via who they bought the ticket. Not sure
DeleteThe list is list of bussiest CONNECTING airlines on flights between US and Croatia. It means not only that OU has no flights to the US, but also it carries only 14 % of passengers who fly between Croatia and European hubs where they change to US flights. Even more depressing for those defending OU feeder role and model, because it shows they pick the breadcrumbs and leftovers even in connecting traffic, let alone core business where profit comes from- long haul.
DeleteThe list shows the number of one-way flights sold by a given airline (ie marketing airline for the flight). It shows that the demand is not on the Croatian side, so your bashing is as always unjustified.
Delete@16.47 it literally says "Two-way indirect passenger traffic" in the table. Don't know how you got to one-way
DeletePan Am used to fly 4 p/w with A310s from New York to ZAG once upon a time plus JAT as well so I'm sure it could work nowadays too.
ReplyDeletethis was the Pan American schedule
DeleteJFK-ZAG PA036 A310 nonstop -23-56- 1830 0755* (next day)
ZAG-JFK PA037 A310 nonstop --34-67 1015 1440
Thanks!
DeleteToday there are much more 1 stop opportunities than at those times. When PA used to fly direct, LH had barely 2 daily flights to NY from FRA. Nowadays you can go from ZAG via MUC,FRA,LHR,CDG,MAD,WAW,AMS, ZRH,IST,CPH,VIE and others at fares starting from 350€ return.
DeleteWhen PA flew directly to ZAG, LH had 3 daily to NYC from FRA, daily from MUC, daily from DUS and 4 weekly from HAM, if I remember correctly. At that time, there were also daily flights from ZAG to LHR, ZRH, AMS, CPH, VIE, CDG and several weekly to WAW and MAD, so there were absolutely the same one stop options as now. People who defend Croatia Airlines feeder model are brainwashed. Real money is in long-haul and that's why mantra is going on with OU not being able to operate long-haul profitably. And I could even understand that mantra, if their feeder services were profitable, but hellooo, they are on the brink of bankruptcy
DeleteYou are wrong.
DeleteGreat times... I was a PA employee in ZAG during 1990 and 1991. Very busy with direct flights at first, but quickly slowing down by the end of the summer 1991. We switched to JFK-ZAG-DBV-JFK, and I even remember that some of the flights went back to JFK via CDG...
DeleteVery good for Croatia but I do wish they find an airline that would serve all year round.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the Bosnian diaspora would use UA flights to Zagreb if they materialize. So you basically get two markets in one.
ReplyDeleteWith US visas being abolished for Croatian citizens, this will only help any future service.
ReplyDeleteUnited would make the most sense to fly to Zagreb since OU is in Star Alliance. Seasonal flight with B767 from EWR to start off with.
ReplyDeleteThe OD market is definitely there.
ReplyDeleteZagreb Airport offers quite good support for new routes so it is worth a try at least seasonally for the beginning.
ReplyDeletePlus there are the new incentives they launched recently which Ryanair is also using, so even more of a reason to start flights.
DeleteInteresting, The demand for the Zagreb route would be quite high, as the people from the Balkans will come to Zagreb to fly to the States and vise verse, Croatia is a nice tourist destination and i think this is a profit-making decision.
ReplyDeleteTrue, I see many people from the Balkans coming to ZAG onboard OU's extensive and mighty regional network. lol
DeleteOU CEO once said that Croatia doesn't need direct flights to NY because they already have so many options to NY and elsewhere in the US with 1-stop connections over Europe...
ReplyDeleteWho takes them seriously anymore?
DeleteWell it will always be one stop for someone. Even if 29000 pax fly ZAG/DBV-EWR non-stop, many will still transfer somewhere. SFO-EWR-ZAG instead of say SFO-ZRH-ZAG. There are no TTL flights that have no transfers.
DeleteEWR to ZAG with United Airlines on a seasonal basis makes a lot of sense, couldn't go wrong tbh.
ReplyDeleteIAD-ZAG would be really cool
DeleteThis is good news. More options for travelers to/from Croatia and some additional income for OU.
ReplyDeleteExciting times for Croatian aviation. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWe are finally getting US flights from Zagreb :)
ReplyDeleteHope so
DeleteIt's good that they have the initiative. Hoping we see some results.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! There is definitely potential.
ReplyDeleteThey have been delaying flights from Zagreb to US each year. Hope it finally happens in 2022! Better late then never.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember United ever announcing flights to Croatia for them to be delaying it. Have I missed something?
DeleteDepends what will happen with tourists. Yesterday the US State Department issued new travel warnings where they recommend traveling to Croatia. They are generally recommending not travel abroad this year because they are afraid of new virus strains.
DeleteI'll believe it when I see it.
ReplyDeleteYou will be seeing their Dubrovnik flights very soon :)
DeleteToday's article is not about DBV
DeleteWhat are the main United hubs in the US?
ReplyDeleteChicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington.
DeleteHopefully we get DEN-ZAG, it could cover all of western USA.
DeleteI hope you are kiddin'. I mean I fully support idea of major US hubs having direct links to Croatia, primarily New York and Chicago, but Denver, hellooo????
DeleteDenver is mostly a domestic/inter-American hub though, not really a hub for intercontinental flights, although there are a few. The primary hubs for transatlantic flights are Newark and Washington, with Chicago a good third one.
Delete15:10 Coming from someone who thinks daily flights to Delhi and Bangkok would save OU? Helloooooo?
DeleteAdd to that LCC division (despite that concept is basicly dead and all airlines go for hybrid model), A350 in the fleet, 3 daily to Podgorica and flights to Cairova.
DeleteUhljebi na aparatima!!!
DeleteTo je argument ili? Stvarno si jadan.
DeleteOk boomer
DeleteStar carriers dominating in transport of US passengers to Croatia.
ReplyDeleteIAG is not doing bad either.
DeleteThat's not a surprise lol. OU is a Star Alliance member itself, so of course it cooperates with other Star Alliance members.
DeleteOU is formally Star Alliance member, in reality it is Star Alliance feeder and servant
DeleteThere were 40 one way passengers per day between JFK and ZAG which is not too bad. Could work twice a week.
ReplyDeleteTo have two of the three major US airlines in Croatia would be a great thing (UA + revival of AA Philadelphia - Dubrovnik route), even if it's just seasonal.
ReplyDeleteSo, this is the second long-haul route this year after Sarajevo-Chicago?
ReplyDeleteI guess it's time for PRN-JFK!
SJJ ORD isn't happening, tickets are no longer on sale.
DeleteIt's happening. They are just waiting for regulatory approval. No need to spread mistruths.
DeleteInteresting they put tickets on sale before getting approval.
DeleteAviation changes every week and day during pandemic. No one could have predicted a year ago we would be in this exact scenario. Give it another year to see what will actually happen.
ReplyDeleteOnce travel rebounds I would bet AA will reinstate service to DUB again and may even add Zagreb on a seasonal basis. Croatia is a beautiful Country and many people will want to visit.
ReplyDelete