Zagreb Airport has boasted the largest long haul network in the former Yugoslavia over the past few years during the summer months with Korean Air, Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat all maintaining services to the Croatian capital. Talks were also taking place over potential operations from the United States, while Air Asia X was due to launch summer charters from Bangkok in 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic saw the suspension of the airport’s entire long haul network. Korean Air was the first to announce it was temporarily cutting operations. The airline still plans to return to Zagreb but when that may be depends on the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier has told EX-YU Aviation News that a tentative return to the Croatian market next summer will depend on the state of the global health emergency and international travel restrictions. At this point, Korean Air has zeroed out its flights to Zagreb for 2022, meaning no seats are available for sale at the moment, even though services have been scheduled.
On the other hand, Canada’s national carrier has confirmed it will launch operations from Toronto to Zagreb next June, taking over the route from its leisure unit Air Canada Rouge. Air Canada has put tickets on sale for its Zagreb flights and will run three weekly rotations with its Airbus A330-300 aircraft. It will be complemented by leisure airline Air Transat, which plans to return to the Croatian capital next year, albeit at a reduced volume compared to its pre-pandemic schedule. The airline plans to run two weekly services between Canada’s and Croatia’s largest cities from May 27 until October 3, however, only one weekly rotation is scheduled from September 11 until its last flight of the season.
Zagreb Airport is continuing to work on attracting other carriers to build up its long haul network. United Airlines has said it is considering introducing a second destination in Croatia next year. It confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News it is “seeking additional opportunities in Croatia” after launching its initial service to the country, to Dubrovnik, this summer. United is a Star Alliance member and has its codes placed on a number of Croatia Airlines’ services. Thanks to its codeshare partnership, the carrier was responsible for carrying over 12.000 passengers for part of their journey to or from Zagreb in the pre-pandemic 2019, or some 9% of the US - Zagreb market. Furthermore, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has formally nominated Croatia to join the US Visa Waiver Program, which would enable Croatian citizens to enter the US visa-free. While there are still several steps left to be completed in this process, including a final assessment of Croatia’s eligibility by the US Department of Homeland Security, visas are expected to be abolished in the near future, further stimulating travel between the two countries.
Korean low cost carrier T’Way Air plans to launch flights between Seoul and Zagreb next year. The airline is preparing to add three A330-300 aircraft to its fleet in February 2022. T’way Air will deploy the jets on short and medium haul routes initially, and, depending on pandemic developments, operate the widebodies to mid and long haul destinations such as Zagreb, Sydney, Honolulu, and Singapore. The Croatian Ambassador to South Korea, Damir Kusen, believes T’Way will not oversaturate the market. "We believe that this will certainly be an attractive option for younger travellers to Croatia due to the significantly lower priced tickets and will stimulate a new category of passengers”, Mr Kusen noted.
I really hope flights to the US will finally start, especially considering visas will be lifted.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't get them now then I don't know when they will. No entry restrictions for US tourists, visas being lifted for Croatians....
DeleteVisa restrictions should happen either by end of this year or sometimes next year, most likely before full summer season starts. United, Delta and American Airlines are all likely to introduce flights to Zagreb at some point, depending on pandemic outcome, EU has still restrictions on US travellers and Croatia is also about to join Schengen rules, which means the country will need to impose common immigration policy. Of US Destinations, Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh will be in high demand, although, New York would be perhaps initial destination offered. Just before pandemic started, Croatia was visited by 700 000 US visitors per year and was in top 20 international destination for US travellers. So there’s a huge demand for Croatia flights, Dubrovnik and Zagreb alike. It is unlikely however, we would see full recovery of US market due to pandemic before end of this decade.
DeleteWould New York make the most sense from Zagreb to the US poor another destination?
ReplyDelete* auto correct. I meant or instead of poor :D
DeleteNew York would be most logical.
DeleteUnited to EWR
DeleteWhat other long haul markets could wotk other than the ones already served?
ReplyDeleteSingapore once travel restrictions are lifted and Australia reopens.
DeleteJapan also has potential.
DeleteI think Japan, South Korea, China and the US are perspective long haul markets for Croatia.
DeleteNo, no no, no, no, you are all wrong. Q400to MUC, that's the way to go, with never ending subsides and benefits for uhljebs
Delete^ And at least twenty times a day ..
Delete(-_-)
Delete-<>-
Danke Deutschland ..
Hope Korea flights will resume but not sure it will be next summer considering restrictions on Koreans leaving their country.
ReplyDeleteIts the 14 day quarantine thats a pain. But I've no doubt Korea flights will resume. Still much interest amongst different travel related groups here. The T'way flights will make it more attractive.
DeleteSuch a shame the Bangkok charters nevet happened :(
ReplyDeleteWhat you call "final assessment on US VW" it has already been completed and Croatia should enter VW program as of 1st Oct 2021.
ReplyDeleteThere is no date set for visa lifting.
DeleteThe process is over. The date is set. Just not published.
DeleteIf visas are actually lifted on 01/10, according to current regulations, Croats will have travel to the US through BEG or backtrack all the way to IST in order to be admissible to the country. We live in crazy times...
Delete@Vlad20:20
DeleteMakes no sense what you're saying. If restrictions are lifted which looked like it will be by this year's end, then all one needs to do is buy a ticket for NYC and find an airline that will fly to NYC, can be any airport. Problem with EU barring US travellers isn't affecting business travel as long as proof of negative covid test before travel and on the arrival. Also three are daily flights out of Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, London and Munch for US Cities with US airliners as well as European. So no, one does not need to fly to Beg, Istan to fly to US.
Well done ZAG. Worling on both short haul development through Ryanair and long haul.
ReplyDeleteWell done ZAG, for the two, I agree. However, the third, which will probably never happen, is missing big time - synergy with strong flag carrier based at ZAG. Only with all 3 ZAG can become "real airport".
DeleteUnited would be prefect for us flights. But first let's see if they return to Dubrovnik. So far they haven't scheduled any flights for next year
ReplyDeleteI would mind them shifting the flights to Zagreb, while Delta keeps Dubrovnik.
DeleteI dont see any reason why not operate year round to ZAG and seasonally in DBV. No need to shift any operations if they have good loads.
DeleteI think airport management has to work on these to boost revenue after the discounts they gave to FR. They have to compensate somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI still think it's too early to plane for 2022 since winter 2021 is uncertain in many ways. I think ZAG's main priority should be to get FR to launch Berlin now that EW suspended it.
+1
DeleteIf they get a US airline to start flights next year that would be an achievement along with Air Canada and Transat. Doubt Korean or the Korean LCC will come next year.
ReplyDeleteI hope Air Canada will be able to profit in connecting Croatians in Toronto to destinations all over the US.
DeleteWhy not try to get AC or TS to fly year round?
ReplyDeleteNo demand in winter
DeleteThere are several no brainers. All could be served if OU had the guts to launch long haul flights.
ReplyDeleteWith what money and what supporting network? You won't fill long haul from Zagreb with 30 daily flights from Frankfurt.
DeleteSo much money has been squandered over the past two decades, if they had wanted they could have made the savings and received the state support.
DeleteThey don't have to start long haul flights but can actively support them. ZAG has so much potential. OU should leverage from these opportunities and help make ZAG a true transfer hub for the area. Great infrastructure and member of Star Alliance.
DeleteI'd also rebuild it if I were them.
ReplyDeleteUS flights next up.
ReplyDeleteThey have been delaying flights from Zagreb to US each year. Hope it finally happens in 2022!
DeleteIf there are going to be flights to the US I assume sales would have to start very soon.
DeleteThey started sales for Dubrovnik 2 months before they launched.
DeleteWonder which airlines they are talking to.
ReplyDeleteI really do hope that something materializes out of this.
ReplyDeleteThe Emirates example and the fact that all long hauls to ZAG are operated seasonally shows that the airport MUST work on seasonality. It's a major issue at all airports but they should do everything to get airlines to fly year round.
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteGood luck, I hope we get a surprise of two in the next few months :)
ReplyDeleteReally hoping for a nice surprise like the Air Canada news.
DeleteWhat about attracting Air Astana? I mean they are now flying to Montenegro year round perhaps they could give Zagreb a try.
ReplyDeleteHow long would that flight take?
DeleteFrom Astana around 5 hours and to Astana around 6.
DeleteMontenegro has introduced visa free entry from Kazakh citizens. That's why it managed to attract them.
DeleteNice lineup of planes and airlines at ZAG in that photo :)
ReplyDeleteOnly 6 planes :(
DeleteThat's the amount of gates that is displayed in the photo...
DeleteThis nice line up shows that within one hour at least 200 passengers depart ZAG nonstop to Canada on TS, at least 100 onestop to the US on BA, at least 100 to the US on BA, at least 50 to the Far East on SU, and at least 150 to Far East and Australia on QR. While "national pride" operates Q400 to VIE and MUC
Deletecorrecting instead double BA, is once BA and once LH
DeleteTiny number of outbound seasonal charters in Zagreb indicates low demand for vacations outside of Croatia. It would be unexpected to see Visa Waiver as a major boost for tourist travel from Zagreb to the US. Low disposable income in Croatia and high cost of travel to the US are the real roadblocks.
ReplyDeleteAverage salary in ZAG is 1200 USD. Cost of return travel to the US starts at 500 USD, is three times cheaper than to Africa and South America, double cheaper than to most of the Far East destinations and cheaper than to Canada. Yet, prve-covid flights operated to Far East and Canada. Tiny number of outbound seasonal charters indicates that people from ZAG do not prefer cheap packages to all inclusive mass tourism destinations. Official data shows distant market and exotic destinations sell first from ZAG and entire Croatia. Statistics can do miracles and generally do not reflect reality. Cheers!
DeleteDoesn't DBV already top the long haul flights charts in ex- Yugoslavia?
ReplyDeleteDo you count winter as well?
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