Long haul premium economy start-up carrier Pragusa.One has announced it will inaugurate seasonal flights from Dubrovnik to New York’s Newark Liberty Airport and Los Angeles from June. Three weekly operations to the Big Apple will commence on June 21, running each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with a wet-leased Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The LA service will be inaugurated a day later, on June 22, and will be maintained three times per week, each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with an Airbus A340 jet. Flights will be operated until the end of the 2021 summer season in late October. The company said it will offer a total of 15.700 seats between Dubrovnik and New York, and a further 14.700 seats between the Croatian coastal city and Los Angeles.
Ticket sales for the new routes will commence on May 21. Commenting on the new flights, Pragusa.One’s Managing Director, Krešimir Budinski, said, “We worked hard since summer 2020 to create this unique product for avid travellers that are ready and steady to fly abroad. Point-to-point flight operations bundled with a full travel package and premium in-flight service are key success factors for the ultimate travel experience in the future. The US market represents one of the focus markets for Pragusa.One”. Pragusa.One is a UK-based travel company established in August 2020. It is now offering seven and fourteen day full travel packages between Dubrovnik and the United States.
Mr Budinski previously said the company would start off as a tour operator, by selling tour packages to Dubrovnik and Prague, while offering point-to-point flights through a wet-lease arrangement with a partner. “We are going to start as a travel agency but in the next three years we will make the transition towards becoming an airline, since AOC [Air Operator’s Certificate] certification will take some time. In Croatia, we are going to apply for an AOC which will take ten to twelve months. Until then, we will operate with our partner on a full charter basis. We will convert the wet-lease into a dry-lease by 2024”, Mr Budinski said. He added, “We are in advanced talks with Airbus to get brand new A350s in a single class all premium economy configuration by 2024. We decided to launch an all premium economy airline because there is a team of aviation and travel professionals behind Pragusa.One who have studied how airlines used this configuration in the past. We saw an opportunity, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, to offer point-to-point flights for premium passengers, which is why the A350s will have an all economy layout”.
Bravo DBV!!
ReplyDeleteBravo? This is a scam, just look who is behind it. Ticket sale starts on 21.05, flights a month later and with planes that are nowhere to be seen. Yes, Bravo DBV indeed.
DeleteSorry why would they need aircraft in Dubrovnik to be "seen" almost two months before the flights start?
DeleteThe plane doesn't have to be seen in Dubrvnik, it can be seen pretty much anywhere in the world being prepared for delivery to this revolutionary business concept.
DeleteIt has no need to be prepared 50 days in advance. This is a wet lease.
DeleteI don't see who is going to choose Pragusa over United from Newark...
ReplyDeleteMany people. This is full package, not only flight. And this is only direct flight from LA.
DeleteTravel Agencies.
DeleteLast week group of luxury travel agents were in Dubrovnik. I think they could see use from an airline like this.
DeleteI think they would rather go with United.
DeleteAnyone know which airline they are going to wet lease the planes from?
ReplyDeleteMy guess is on Hi-Fly.
DeleteMy thought too. They have the A330-200 and the A340-300 in the fleet.
DeleteSo does that mean they will refurbish the planes? HiFy has a horrible cabin, really outdated.
DeleteI doubt it. Although we are just speculating about HiFly at this point.
DeleteOMG King's Landing Airlines is finally happening!
ReplyDeleteIt happened like multiple times.
DeleteInteresting choice of the A340. I assume the lease rate is low nowadays.
ReplyDeleteBut will its be an A340-500?
DeleteI highly doubt it will be A340-500, seats number from NewYork is bigger than from LA
DeleteA340-300 more likely.
DeleteGood luck
ReplyDeleteIf these start it will be a really big deal for Dubrovnik. Well done.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope it all doesn't turn into a scam.
DeleteI think they actually might find a suitable niche with these package tours.
ReplyDeleteThe concept itself isn't bad.
DeleteBut is it legal? You all remember the start-up airline / tour operator who was going to launch Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade a few years back. They sold tickets, had a plane and were prevented from departing on their inaugural flight. Charter rules in Europe are very different to those in the US.
DeleteI would be careful booking with them.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't rush to book with them that's for sure.
DeleteTo me it looks like they are serious and this is no joke
DeleteReally hope so.
DeleteI don't know what to think of it but I hope it works, for Dubrovnik's sake.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, will it work long-term?
DeleteThis doesn't sound bad actually.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to start US-Dubrovnik. The market on this route is open.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this becoming a reality.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteLet's see if it takes off. It is very ambitious.
ReplyDeleteSame guy (9:18, 9:22) talking to himself. Funny.
DeleteYeah, label everyone who thinks thinks this is fishy a "hater".
DeleteShows once again DBV has a much bigger potential for long-haul flights than Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteOn a seasonal basis though.
DeleteAs long as the aircraft is wetleased and the maintenance is not their job, I'm fine haha.
DeleteCorrect. It had, have, and will have. Not only seasonal, in contrary during winter season far east routes were success. From S. Korea, Japan... Then they open new airport at Zagreb and the flights were diverted from Seoul to Zagreb. Not fer.
DeleteNot correct. Wrong. I am not saying DBV has no long-haul potential, on the contrary, that potential is significant. But let me just remind you of scheduled long-haul services operated from ZAG starting 1970's, till today :
DeleteNew York - Pan American, 4 weekly
New York - JAT- 3 weekly
Montreal-Toronto - JAT - 3 weekly
Toronto - Air Canada - 3 weekly
Chicago - JAT - 2 weekly
Cleveland-Detroit - JAT - 1 weekly
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian - 2 weekly
Toronto - Skyservice - 1 weekly
Toronto - Sky Greece - 1 weekly
Toronto - Transat - 3 weekly
Toronto - Air Canada Rouge - 4 weekly
Dubai (and on to Asia) - Emirates - daily
Dubai (and on to Asia) - Fly dubai - daily
Doha (and on to Asia) - double daily
Korean Air - Seoul - 3 weekly
Just shows that ZAG has at least equal, or bigger long-haul potential than DBV, which has not been realised primarily because of "flag carrier", or more precisely "management", actually party aparatchiks, who, in favour of LH, and for appropriate financial compensation, ruined all chances of ZAG to become long-haul hub of Southeastern Europe, in synergy with the national carrier.
lol, I´d be scared to take a long haul flight with a Balkan startup airline.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteCould be a big development for Dubrovnik if this gets off the ground.
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteThis would be fantastic. But somehow I doubt it will materialize in the end.
ReplyDeleteWhy? It's not that far away
DeleteThat's exactly why.
DeleteMight not be legal.
DeleteVaccinations will be a major element in getting us travelling again. Huge pent-up demand. Hope this works.
ReplyDeleteSo some time in the future we will have the 9A registration on widebodies.
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan
DeleteThat will be a nice sight. Fingers crossed.
DeleteThe planes will be in all premium economy set up?
ReplyDeleteWhy not wet-lease A350s from the beginning?
ReplyDeleteIs anyone even offering A350s for wet lease?
DeleteCost and lack of A350 for wet-lease on the market.
DeleteWaste of money. Not gonna work
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think it won't work?
Delete^ Are you serious? They are starting ticket sales just a month before the flights start. United has been selling tickets to Dubrovnik for 2 weeks already and flights don't start till July. And this is United, one of America's best known brand names.
DeleteIs this a charter or a regular flight aka you can buy just the ticket for the flight?
ReplyDeleteIt seems you will be able to buy just the ticket too. They have on their website "avid travelers" to express their interest for these flights.
DeleteIt is too early but Croatia seems to be the winner of this summer season!
ReplyDeleteWay too early to make that sort of assumption especially because it does not seem UK tourists will be coming in big number. The amount of new routes and flights from the UK to Greece is quite high. For the beginning at least it seems Brits traveling to Croatia will have to quarantine on return.
DeleteNow that Russians are making a comeback to Egypt and with ties with Turkey being problematic, I think Turkey will aggressively work on attracting foreign visitors. It's still too early to predict what will happen with Croatia but they seem to be behind other markets like Spain or Greece in early bookings and flights scheduling.
DeleteCroatia is also profiting from Turkey being closed to Russians. Croatia is the only EU country where Russian tourists are welcome at the moment, which is being reflected by the amount of new flights to the coast.
DeleteYes, Croatia quietly decided to let in vaccinated people with vaccines that haven't been approved by the European Medicines Agency.
DeleteThis is fantastic for Dubrovnik but I'm worried about the fact that the US has put Croatia on its "Do not travel" level 4 advisory.
ReplyDeleteAll ex-Yu countries are on level 4.
DeleteMeanwhile Angola is level 3 (reconsider travel) and Rwanda level 2 (exercise increased caution) wtf?? I wouldn't like to be in either country if I got Covid and had to be treated there.
DeleteInterestingly that even if Serbia is on Level 4 JU is boosting JFK. This gives me hope that Pragusa will indeed do fine and even thrive.
DeleteMajority of the countries in the world are on the do not travel list. It has no impact really. It's just an advisory. No special rules apply.
DeleteOver 80% of the world is lvl 4.
DeleteMakes sense.
Deletethis could only work with 787-8 and not other jets. Others(A340s and A350s) are simply too big for such a destination competing directly with United.
ReplyDeleteI hope this project will be more successful than "Air Ticket Arena"app, previous project by Mr.Budinski. Can't remember any PE only longhaul company ever was successful, as a charter company or as a part of package tour travel agency. Good luck to them, hope market will give them a chance. Will Pragusa be partner in Air Ticket Arena? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI mean I knew DBV is a worldwide tourist destination but didn't know it is that capable of having so many long-haul flights! That'd be EWR (operated by 2 carriers), LAX, PHL....crazy!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up Dubrovnik :)
DeleteHow long will this last?
ReplyDeleteWe will have to wait and see. Hope for the best.
DeleteWonder what the fares will be like.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've heard ticket will be 4500 HRK (for the ticket)
DeleteThis will be to New York I assume?
DeleteWell done, Croatia!
ReplyDeleteBe careful with buying tickets there. No one knows them, they hve no record and will they reprotect u on other carriers if they dont fly??
ReplyDeleteUA is operating EWRDBV, ev DL will come and hopefully next year AA will be back. Besides that, there are enough other carriers operating with a stop in EUR to DBV.
Did they get all the paperwork needed for those flights? DoT? Airports?
ReplyDeleteThey don't need much paperwork if it is being operated by an airline that already has DoT approval, which is likely the case.
DeleteDoubt this will ever happen.
ReplyDeleteEastern was supposed to fly ORD-SJJ, but no flights for sale anymore https://iflyea.com/
What does this have to do with Eastern and how is it relevant to these flights?
DeleteSame region.
DeleteNew flight announced weeks ago and appears nothing will become of it.
People should be cautious with this new airline.
Have they engaged with US tour operators?
ReplyDeleteOn their website they are asking "travel agencies" to express interest for the flights
DeleteSpeaking of, they should really give that site an upgrade.
Deletehttps://www.pragusa.one/
Ticket sales on May 21, for June 22 operations?
ReplyDeleteDue to covid many people are choosing to travel last minute so 1 month in advance is ok.
DeleteIs one month OK for a brand new airline no one has heard of before?
DeleteProbably not.
DeleteExciting times for DBV.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I do not see this a working. To many factors working against them.
ReplyDeleteCorona still in full swing.
Unknown & new airline.
Late start to selling tickets.
Little advertising.
Unstable summer predictions for travel rules and regulations.
All in all too many factors will kill this before it gets off the ground.
By late May will announce delay to kick off date.
Kresimir is clearly known for being involved in multiple scams and this will be one too.
ReplyDeleteFYI:
https://zamaaero.com/10/03/2021/analize/pragusa-megavizionarstvo-ili-scam/
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSHC4TTttgM
any updates?
ReplyDeleteneedle moved from 99% scam to 100% scam?