Ryanair's Chef Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, has said the low cost carrier is considering basing a third jet in the Croatian capital during the 2021/2022 winter season, which begins on October 31, if the existing strong demand continues. Furthermore, the airline plans to introduce an additional sixteen routes, for a total of thirty, by the 2022 summer next March. "I won't reveal how each route is performing individually but I will repeat what I said at the press conference in late April when we announced our arrival. Zagreb has been underserved for years. For example, Zagreb and Dublin are roughly the same size but before Ryanair's arrival, Zagreb had flights to 38 destinations, while Dublin around 200, even though Zagreb is much nicer and more interesting than Dublin", Mr McGuinness said. The CCO added he was surprised by the strong demand for travel to and from Zagreb despite the ongoing pandemic and general interest in coastal sun destinations this year.
Ryanair will commence operations to Zagreb through its Lauda Europe subsidiary this June and has brought forward the opening of its base in the Croatian capital. It will station an Airbus A320 jet in the city at the end of August, and a second in early September. The carrier will employ some sixty people to maintain its Zagreb operations. "Ryanair is quite an opportunistic company and there are a lot of places we don't fly to and people ask why. We have many places where we could place our capacities and where there is a market gap for us, and one of them was Zagreb. I am happy that we have reached an agreement with the airport and that we will fly to the Croatian capital and set up our base there earlier than planned", Mr McGuinness said.
Ryanair is marking fifteen years of operations to Croatia in 2021 with the opening of new bases in Zagreb and Zadar, as well as flights to Pula, Dubrovnik and Split. In total, it will maintain operations to 58 destinations out of Croatia this summer. Of those, 33 are new. Despite the appeal of Dubrovnik and Split, Ryanair maintains limited services from the two coastal cities. While Mr McGuinness said the airline was in talks with the two, he noted both were expensive and it is unlikely a deal will be reached with either of them for operations to be expanded. The CCO added they were committed to Zagreb even though the agreement reached with the airport "could always be better".
Bad news for OU. Very bad.
ReplyDeleteAlso for airlines like LH which profited from little LCC presence so they were flying transfers left and right.
DeleteTransfers make very small percentage of LCC passengers. LH is profiting in ZAG but not because of shortage or lack of LCC'S, but because flag carrier voluntarily decided to act as feeder for LH instead making its own hub and network. So thy would continue to carry all ar almost all transfers as before. FR to and from ZAG is over 90 % P2P, not transfers.
Delete@pozdrav
DeleteThere is no potential for an OU hub and network as long as they are a member of Star Alliance. With so many European airlines being a member of Star Alliance, OU is doomed to be a feeder airline. If they want to have their own hub and network, they should join OneWorld.
This is incredible for Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is bad for people who do not like to fly Ryanair and similar coaches.
DeleteWho doesn't want to fly with almost brand new airplanes, airline with perfect safety record and the biggest network in Europe. Oh, and cheapest tickets also...
DeleteNew plane, hahahah. You know many airline wich are not lcc hasve new planes. And safety record XD, if yoi have 200 pax it takes longer to debord in emergency, even tho they can have more exits.
Delete"You know many airline wich are not lcc have new planes."
DeleteNot in this part of the world. Remember the brand new 737s JU used to operate until couple of months ago? OU's Airbus fleet is over 20 years old. 3 out of 5 JU's ATR's are over 30 years old.
Every commercial airliner needs to be evacuated within 90 seconds from the time the command is given, with half of the emergency exists inoperative, otherwise they cannot be certified. Larger aircraft require more or larger emergency exists, that's why A321(ceo) has 4 large doors forward and aft of the wing instead of the 4 small overwing exists as on A320.
If I can afford flight ticket with flag carrier I would always choose it over LCC. Plus LCC are not really cheap as they advertise (unless you go with backpack only)..so I don't see any benefit of LCC over flag carriers
DeleteLCC are not always cheap but they tend to be cheaper. The competition from them also ensures full fare carriers dont over charge. For example, BEG-BER return can be found for 80€ but many if not most BEG-Balkan routes are over 100€ return without luggage.
DeleteI guess the concept of an elite airport is out of the picture.
ReplyDeleteIt was unsustainable.
DeleteIt's the best realization they have ever made.
DeleteNo one has ever considered ZAG an "elite" airport except for a few delusional posters on here. If LCCs are good enough for GVA, they are sure as hell good enough for ZAG. Everyone sane welcomes this development.
DeleteI know, I was just being sarcastic.
DeleteThat's a lot of new routes. Which routes could we see?
ReplyDeleteDUB, MAN, SOF, OTP, KRK, MLA, ATH, SKG, MRS, TLS, OPO
DeleteI feel like we might see some new routes in Spain
DeleteI hope for Madrid, Barcelona and Lissabon !
DeleteMaybe some domestic one?
DeleteStarting domestic routes would be a final nail in OU’s coffin.
DeleteDUB will almost certainly be a Ryr route
DeleteI doubt we will see them operating routes operated by OU. But let's wait and see.
DeleteWhy not? This could be considered a direct attack on OU.
DeleteIf they fly to Podgorica then they will also fly to Dubrovnik and Split.
DeleteThe government won't select them in the PSO tender.
DeleteForget about Split, it's 4h by car, which is probably not much faster than going by plane.
DeleteThen the government will subsidize empty flights while those of Ryanair are full and profitable.
DeleteBut if a route is PSO subsidized, no other airline can launch it. EU rules.
DeleteBut the PSO has not been renewed for this year.
DeleteThey are being constantly extended. So it's still valid
DeleteSoon they will have to renew it, and that will become problematic for OU.
DeleteA loss of secure and consistent revenue they have had for years.
DeleteI hope Ryanair sues them.
DeleteMost of these routes can be profitable without PSO.
PSO is a loophole Cro gov uses to legally give OU money.
Delete+1
DeleteGood for Zagreb! Not so much for Croatian Airlines.
ReplyDeleteThird aircraft in middle of winter? Bookings must be going really well.
ReplyDeleteso, this is the final end for OU
ReplyDeleteFeel kind of sorry for OU. They don't know what's hit them
ReplyDeleteOU had thirty years do something.
DeleteI dont want to wait another thirty years for them.
Bringing Ryanair seems to be the most clever move ZAG ever made.
ReplyDeleteProbably at least a decade too late. They should try to get them as soon as Croatia joined the EU.
DeleteIt is good of course but it could be a double edged sward. If OU does indeed go bankrupt then Ryanair has ZAG completely in their hands. If the management is smart I would quickly make a deal with Wizz Air so they don't rely on just one airline. Because I think OU is now out of the picture.
DeleteI absolutely agree.
DeleteCan't wait to see the new routes. If they start these in winter, they will be bigger than OU!
ReplyDeleteI really feel next year may be Croatia Airlines' last. I hope not but if they don't do something soon they will be history.
ReplyDeleteRyanair is so aggressive with their expansion.
DeleteIncredible
ReplyDeleteGo ZAG!
ReplyDeleteThey are expanding so quickly from ZAG. I wonder if it's all just to demand or do they really want to kill off Croatia Airlines ASAP.
ReplyDeleteboth ...
DeleteI believe it is the second one
DeleteBit of both
DeleteWhat ever happened to "Zagreb was too good for lowcosters"?
ReplyDeleteI wonder where this guy is hiding now...
DeleteOh dear, poor Croatia Airlines
ReplyDeleteI love that all of these Ryanair routes are year round
ReplyDeleteTrue. This is something Croatia Airlines has not done in years. All of their new routes in past 5 years were seasonal.
DeleteExactly
DeleteThis is incredible
ReplyDeleteWizz, where are you?
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see what Wizz does- I mean they avoided ZAG for the same reasons as FR and said if conditions improved, they would come. Doubt Wizz will leave Croatia to FR.
DeleteI was wondering about that too. Wizz seems to ignore Croatia, except for some coastal cities. Opening a base at ZAG might be an overkill that’s not smart at this moment. Although they could start serving ZAG from certain bases they opened.
DeleteWizz doesn't have many bases in Western Europe, where most of the Ryanair's routes are, so they'd have to do W flights, which bring their own difficulties.
DeleteGreat, this will generate a new type of passengers and will definitely mean a lot of passenger growth for ZAG.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's the end for OU. It had to happen, and good that Zagreb is finally thinking ahead.
ReplyDeleteWow, so Ljubljana really missed an opportunity here..
ReplyDeleteActually Wizzair could spoil Ryan Airs party by opening a Ljubljana base.
DeleteMaribor would pay them to come there.
DeleteAnon 10:05 ... and share the same coffin with LJU.
Deletethis is impressive
ReplyDeleteI am bit surprised with overoptimistic comments on Ryanair and how great it is for Zagreb. 1) Soon you will realize that quality of tourists carried by Ryanair will become hiccup soon for the city 2) Once Croatia Airlines is gone (I hope it won't happen), there will no real competition and Ryanair will either hike airfare or put more pressure on the airport. 3) If Croatia Airlines will go, less taxes will stay in Croatia.
ReplyDeleteI believe that healthy competition is good, but Ryanair only spoils the market. Once all competitors gone, they will rule the market .
LCC are ruthless, no doubt.
Delete3) If Croatia Airlines will go, less taxes will stay in Croatia.
DeleteImagine saying this for a company that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of EUR over its lifetime. Sorry but you can't be taken seriously.
Strateški pozicionirana Lauda, jedini od 5 AOC-eva u RYR grupi koja ima Airbus. Nas Hrvata i Slovenaca na Boeingu ima više od 20 i svi godinama čekamo otvaranje baze u ZAG kako bi mogli normalno živjeti život, bez višednevnog izbivanja od kuće, svaki tjedan, bez commutea u često slabo dostupne baze. Airbus je tu kako bi se navuklo kolege iz CTN i bivše ADR na prelazak, a neće nikome reći kako je plan do 2024. izbaciti Airbus iz grupe (end of wet lease) i u najboljem slučaju nastavak s Boeingom, u najgorem gašenje AOC-a. Obzirom da u RYR ništa ne “dobivaš”, možete misliti kakav trošak (u oba scenarija) čeka sve koji odu u Laudu. O plaćama da i ne govorim. RYR smatra HR jeftinom zemljom...
ReplyDeleteHarvey, your post is not very clear, are talking about pilots?
DeleteYes, he most probably is. Harry, I agree with you. I bet, once they get rid of Lauda, Buzz will take over ZAG, since Airbus has no future in Ryanair. Also, it seems that Ryanair is going back to its roots (contractors, union busting, ...). That is why they have Buzz and Lauda, to reduce the cost of the pilot's workforce. Again.
Delete"Nece nikome reci kako je plan do 2024 izbaciti Airbus iz grupe" To nije tocno. Općepoznata je cinjenica, objavljeno visestruko u javnosti da imaju u planu unificirati flotu na 737 i izbaciti 320. Ja osobno pisao o tome ovdje pred cca mjesec dana. A ako su novci mali u FR grupi, posebno Buzzu i Laudi, a jesu, slazem se, izbor je jednostavan, ne raditi za njih, pa makar i od doma, ili staviti na vagu sve pluseve i minuse pa ako prevagne strana za doma, ostati doma za manju lovu. Ali optuzivati nekoga za posljedice svog izbora uz poznate okolnosti, mislim da nije fer
DeleteWell, truth of the matter is, some of the guys working for Lauda were willing to go on strike to protect their rights in not so distant past and were against LCCs in general. Now, they'll accept whatever is thrown their way and screw over other Ryanair pilots along the way. These Ryanair pilots fought hard to get proper contracts and now it's all coming to an end thanks to Lauda and Buzz.
DeleteAnon 11:16: Yes, 737 type rated pilots.
DeleteAnon 11:14: Correct. Malta Air or Ryanair DAC will never have a base in Croatia because they bring employment status with them. Buzz, on the other hand, by default brings zero hour contracts and prohibition of ANY union effort. You fly 0 hours in a given month, you get paid 0 EUR. As an employee, you get your basic salary regardless of hours flown and union cover, albeit very slim, but better than none. All this didn’t matter until 2020 when SHTF because we were doing 850-900 hours per year, but when the plandemic hit, income of guys on zero hour contracts was badly hit.
Pozdrav iz Rijeke: u idealnom svijetu da. No realnost je dosta drukčija. Svatko si može odrezati ruku, a druga je stvar je li to pametno.
Anon 18:05: Yes. RYR are experts in union busting.
RIP OU
ReplyDeleteFantastic news, congrats, ZAG!
ReplyDeleteFor now there is no news. It is only a spin to get free publicity.
DeleteWell for now the news is that they plan on basing 2-3 planes in ZAG and to launch some 20+ routes and more are planned.
DeleteSo that is news, but we'll have to wait and see if it all happens.
Uhljebi na aparatima
ReplyDeleteFinally, Zagrab is catching up with the rest of the EU capitals when it comes to LCC air connectivities. For sure we might see more Iberian routes and possibly KBP, WMI, SOF, OTP and perhaps TLV or LCA. Very well done, ZAG!
ReplyDeleteMy wish list for 16 new routes:
ReplyDelete1. Cologne
2.Copenhagen
3.Dublin
4.Barselona
5.Stokholm
6.Porto
7.Warsaw
8.Kiyv
9.Hamburg
10.Athens
11.Riga
12.Madrid
13.Bologna
14.Sofija
15.Lisabon
16.Vilnius
I have forget the most important ones:
DeleteFrankfurt and Berlin!
And will you be able to fill one weekly winter flight to Vilnius, Porto, Riga or Lisabon? Highly doubt.
DeleteEindhoven?? Crazy how people seem to forget about the Netherlands!
DeleteThis is likely to provoke Wizz into some form of action .... irrespective, LCC activity will thrive into/out of ZAG in the coming years which will provide it with massive growth.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that ZAG will start to catch BEG and in the near future, I won't be surprised to see it surpass it either.
+1
DeleteFully agree!
DeleteWell that is too optimistic regarding to BEG.
DeleteThe difference is simply way too big.
If ZAG started this LCC story, together with new terminal, and sinergy with different OU, growing and spreading around, decade or so ago, it would have now already had same or more passengers then BEG. With terminal coming later than too late, and with OU shrinking with tendency to disappear, I doubt ZAG can overtake BEG only based on FR and/or other eventual LCC presence
DeleteDa baba ima tockove bila bi tramvaj
DeleteZagreb will certainly reach 6 millon passengers by 2024.
ReplyDeleteWhy not something really new or more creative?
ReplyDeleteJust an example: Zagreb - Lviv in summer would work for sure.
So go ahead and start it. Ukrainians want to go to the sea. And check plane capacity to the Balkans by Skyup or Windrose.
DeleteWhat about Zagreb - Odessa?
DeleteAll flights to the coast of Croatia are from Kyiv, not from Lviv or Odessa. It's not that convenient (especially in summer) to commute from Lviv to Kyiv.
DeleteRyanair will fly to various destinations in Europe from Lviv and Odessa, but not to Croatia: must work for sure. Even tourists from Croatia-Slovenia would fly to these two destinations in summer.
Fantastic news for Zagreb
ReplyDelete