Croatia Airlines has leased an Airbus A320 jet, bringing its fleet size to thirteen aircraft. The plane, which carries the registration 9A-CTO, is eighteen years old and was formerly utilised by the likes of Vueling, Air Malta and TAP Air Portugal. It becomes the first A320 jet in Croatia Airlines’ fleet to feature sharklets. The wing-tip devices improve the aircraft's aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline's fuel burn and emissions by 4% on longer sectors. The carrier does not plan to retrofit the aircraft, which features TAP cabin interiors, for the time being. The jet boasts 174 seats and is expected to enter into commercial use once it undergoes necessary technical checks.
In a statement to the “AvioRadar” portal, Croatia Airlines said, “The primary purpose of this aircraft will be to serve as a back-up in Croatia Airlines’ fleet in case of any irregularities, that is, to assist during the bridging period until the fleet is renewed. The aircraft is expected to stay part of the fleet over the next two years, that is, until the start of the fleet renewal process. The jet has been leased through a power by the hour arrangement, meaning there are no fixed leasing costs. Rather, payments are made only for the time the aircraft spends in operation, which in these circumstances, when the aviation sector is beginning to return to normal, is an extremely favourable solution compared to other classic leasing arrangements”.
Croatia Airlines’ average fleet age now amounts to just over seventeen years. Its other A320 is the oldest, at 22, followed by the five A319s, with an average age of almost 21 years. Its six Dash 8 Q400s are, on average, thirteen years old. The carrier retired its oldest aircraft, a 23-year-old A320 this January. The company is still undecided over its fleet renewal plans envisaged by its ongoing post-Covid strategy. Under the program, its entire fleet will be replaced, likely by A220 jets. “Potential options with multiple aircraft manufacturers are being considered and possible fleet renewal scenarios are being developed, which will begin when the necessary conditions are created”, the airline said.
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Bravo OU!
ReplyDeleteSure sure..
DeleteI have been always wondering, how come that OU has 13 planes while JU has 20, but with more than double operations, almost x3, not to mention charters, which OU does not have.
DeleteEnd August, bravo indeed!
DeleteAt least some nicer news from them for a change.
ReplyDelete+ 1
DeleteCool that the plane has sharklets.
ReplyDeleteIs it expensive to install on other planes? Are there A319s with sharklets?
DeleteOf course
DeleteA new era for Croatia Airlines. Well done! Brave move.
ReplyDeleteJust the other day when the Tourism Strategy by 2030 was presented, it was said OU probably won't survive by then.
DeleteNew era for sure.
Really ? Government said it or some organization?
Deletehttps://www.telegram.hr/komentari/ovo-je-ozbiljno-vladina-strategija-turizma-do-2030-genijalno-su-se-dosjetili-da-bi-se-putne-karte-mogle-kupovati-na-internetu/
DeletePišeš gluposti. Kad si već stavio link mogao si i pročitati dokument. Nigdje, ali baš NIGDJE se ne spominje OU, posebno ne propast. Čak suprotno, naglašava se da turisti najviše dolaze autima i avionima, da zračni promet i sve vezano uz njega zapošljava hrpu ljudi. Da treba otvarati nove linije i smanjiti sezonalnost. Dakle, drugi out se malo više potrudi i ne prenosi novinarske bombastične naslove
DeleteCalm your tits. It literally says OU might not even exist by 2030 since it's constantly unprofitable and government constantly beds to pump money in it.
DeleteWhich part you don't understand?
Opet pises gluposti. Znaci tvrdis da u dokumentu pise da OU nece biti. Ja ri napisem da u dokumentu to nigdje ne pise. Samo je novinarski naslov tako pompozno napisan. Al ne odustajes
DeleteMaybe it's English you're struggling with, because I never wrote it will not exist. I said, just what they say in the article that OU might probably not exist by 2030. There is a difference, but looks like not to you.
DeleteOcito je tko ima problema a engleskim, jer ono sto ai napisao u prvom postu ne poklapa se s ovim sto sada pises
DeleteAre you blind bruv or just plain acting dumb?
DeleteQuote from the 1st post you accuse me of: "OU probably won't survive by then".
Point out where I claimed IT WILL NOT exist?
Ocito je tko IMA problema s engleskim. Kradezeovi botovi kojima je lijek madikejsn.
DeleteSo basically JU and OU have the same number of planes?
ReplyDeleteLol no.
DeleteJU has (without wet leases) 19 aircraft. Another A320 and A330 are arriving in the next few months.
DeleteSo just 6 planes difference, that's not too bad. I mean kudos to OU for having so many planes without a real hub in ZAG.
DeleteIt's actually the opposite of kudos. It means their planes have very low utilization because they have so few routes and rotations.
DeleteYeah but OU went wild on the coast this year so their planes were utilized quite a bit.
DeleteWild on the coast? They added a total of 10 weekly flights while they reduced flights from Zagreb. They still have a lot fewer flights than they did 2 years ago.
DeleteVery few airlines had more flights this summer than they did in 2019. Also 10 extra frequencies from SPU on top of the flights they had before. Also they probably made a lot of money from those tourists.
DeleteNot saying they did or didn't make money. I'm just saying their fleet utilization is atrocious. Which you can see in their financial report.
DeleteIn summer 2019 they had 15 planes. 13 + 2 wet leases.
DeleteAir serbia whenever the 1 a320 and the 1 a330 arrive is going to have without leases including the above mentioned 19 airplanes in total . Because when the other 2 ATR 76 arrive the remaining ATR 72 and ATR 75 will leave the fleet .
DeleteNo it has 19 now. Count them.
Delete6 ATRs are in operation, 11 A319s, 1 A320 and one A330.
DeleteI'm talking when the old ATR and wet leases leave and the 1 a320 and 1 a330 come . Then they are going to have 10 a319 , 2 a320 , 2 a330 , 6 atr 76 that is 19 airplanes .
DeleteNot 6 atr they are gonna be 5 so 18 airplanes total.
DeleteSorry 19 airplanes.
DeleteWhere does this obsession with the number of aircraft in the fleet come from, and why is it so important? More important is the number of aircraft owned by an airliner because the costs of operations are lower. In that regard OU is ahead of JU. The sad truth is that both are just toys in the hands of politicians and and continue to generate losses. What I really want to see is an in-depth analysis made public that explains the reasons and benefits for such moves!
DeletePlane ownership is also completely irrelevant considering their age.
DeleteNot at all, they yield more profit no matter their age.
DeleteIt's not true. Look at Croatia Airlines' financial report and the amount of money they invest every single quarter on repairing those 5 planes. Every time they have to replace engines or something and every time the costs are in the millions of euros.
DeleteIt's called maintenance,regular periodical checks. OU's do not suffer from technical difficulties any more than any other airliner using the aircraft of the same age. By the way, how old are you, 8, considering your logic...?
DeleteI wonder why Air Serbia did not conclude this type of leasing, power by the hour, instead of expensive wet lease?
ReplyDeleteBecause it is not easy to find it. There is a reason Croatia Airlines got the "back up plane" at the end of August and won't have it in service by September.
DeleteTrue. By that JU's wet leases will start leaving the fleet.
DeletePower by the hour is difficult to come by now days and would be useless for JU as their planes are constantly flying. This sort of arrangement makes sense if you don't plan to fully utilise the plane. That's why many airline tried to negotiate these kind of terms, including JU, for their fleet during Covid.
Delete* Meant to say by that time JU's wet leases will start leaving the fleet.
DeleteYes, they will use it during summer and pay by hour and than during winter aircraft will be grounded. But for the next summer they can plan this aircraft in traffic and will not pay expensive last minute wet lease. If something unplanned happen they will not pay since AC is paid by hour. Very simple
DeleteA back-up plane that will enter service in September. Wow. You missed the entire peak summer season.
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteSo no fleet renewal for another 2 years?
ReplyDeleteIn that case they will have to be ordering new planes soon, if they are getting brand new A220s. 2 years is not a lot.
DeleteOU probably won't be around in 2 years. This will be a very difficult summer for EU carriers. Have you seen winter cuts at LH and LX? LH will have just a few long-haul destinations out of FRA with at least daily departure.
DeleteYou wish, OU will be around for maaaaany years, you’ve been posting its “imminent demise” for 5 years, they will NEVER go bankrupt, part of Croatian state and tourism, its a Croatian thing ;-)....sorry news for OU haters!
DeleteYeah sure
DeleteOnce remaining ATR72-200 are replaced with ATR72-600 later this year Air Serbia will have much yonger fleet than Croatia Airlines. OU fleet age is now getting old at 17 years. Air Serbia will also get second A330 and A320, both expected to be much younger than 17. Detailed fleet age comparison would be nice.
DeleteAt least they say fleet renewal will happen.
ReplyDeleteFleet renewal with an old plane. Quite the renewal.
DeleteGreat news
ReplyDeleteThis plane was meant to arrive months ago but they could not find a power by the hour deal.
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with OU and JU leasing these older planes?
ReplyDeleteAlways good to see the fleet expanding, even though this plane won't be used much.
ReplyDeleteTAP slim seats in Economy (the green ones you get if you book their Discount fare) are extremely uncomfortable and do come without any head rest / power plug. Will they keep the same color scheme too? Would be funny. Winter season ahead will be interesting: airlines such as LH & LX cut back on planning & routes, while others (the smart ones), such as Turkish, keep expanding the network & fleet.
ReplyDeleteThey also need to reduce seasonality when it comes to their network.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny to read how.many anonymous experts we have on airline sector! Great pitty you are not asked by relebant institutions.
ReplyDeleteAnd what do you think, Turkish has no money influx from goverment? They are smarter tha LX & LH???
Za sledecu sezonu da su nabavili dva A330/A340 za Usa, UK i Aziju samo za charter letove pa makar uz wet lease od Hi-Fly imali bi odlican uspeh steta sto nikad nisu to razmatrali.
ReplyDeleteINN-NS
I believe that best solution for EX YU aviation is joint airline company of 6 states or less like Scandinavian airlines (SAS). It would be much easier and much cheaper solution for each ex yu country. Not to mentioned that joint airline could be leader in such a market. It's such a shame that there is no will for higher goals.
ReplyDeleteNo thanks.
DeleteSAS is not much economic successfull
DeleteSAS is literally in permanent restructuring since ages lol, they even filed for Chapter 11 in the US a few months ago.
DeleteWe had such an airline. It was called JAT Yugoslav Airlines. It was big and profitable company. The same people who destroyed the country and its airline, big and profitable, will never allow new and similar one to be created. And they have their ways to prevent it.
DeleteUredu je, ex-HDZovče.
DeleteIt will be u redu when you take your mAdikejsn, for putting me in any relation with pravomocno osudjena zlocinacka organizacija which rule is based on pure populism and which I despised from the day one of its existence
Delete