Zagreb Airport’s long haul network, which was completely suspended over the past two years during the coronavirus pandemic, is being gradually restored, with more flights to resume in the coming period. The network is expected to fully recover by 2025. This summer saw the resumption of Air Transat’s seasonal service between Toronto and Zagreb after over two years. Its rival, Air Canada, which initially scheduled flights to the Croatian capital for this summer, has told EX-YU Aviation News it still hasn’t made a decision over its potential return to Zagreb in 2023. “Air Canada will continue to adjust capacity and take other measures as required, including to account for passenger demand, public health guidelines, and travel restrictions globally, as well as other factors, such as inflation and other cost pressures. As a result, we continue to monitor market conditions and will make a decision in due course”, the Canadian carrier said.
Korean Air will return to Zagreb in a limited capacity this year with a total of five charter services planned from Seoul. The flights are scheduled to run from the South Korean capital on behalf of the Hanjin Travel tour operator on September 30, October 7, October 14, October 21 and October 28 with the 218-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Similar to Air Canada, Korean Air is still undecided on whether to resume scheduled services to the Croatian capital next summer. Its decision will also be impacted by its the low cost long haul competitor T’way Air, which has announced plans to serve Zagreb in the future.
The General Manager of Zagreb Airport, Huseyin Bahadir Bedir, previously said he believes it will take up to 2025 for the airport’s long haul operations to be fully restored. “It is no secret the resumption of medium and long haul flights primarily depend on travel restriction imposed by different countries. Zagreb Airport had a notable number of passengers from the Far East, Australia and North America. The return of these flights will depend on boarder restrictions. We expect the gradual resumption of these services between 2022 and 2025”, Mr Bedir noted. He added the airport was working on establishing more long haul services. “We are in constant contact with carriers across the world to negotiate and reach an agreement to increase airport traffic. The US market is no exception. We are working on the establishment of nonstop flights between the United States and Zagreb. However, ultimately, whether these services will be introduced depends on the commercial decision of the individual carrier”. Mr Bedir noted.
Really hope Air Canada will launch YYZ-ZAG next year.
ReplyDeletePeople should keep in mind that Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada are very different airlines. Air Canada Rouge had much lower costs and could make a route more profitable easily. I also hope we see Air Canada in Zagreb but it isn't a given and I don't think it is as simple just to replace Rouge.
DeleteYes but AC had flights loaded in the system last year, so it eventually will commence ops.
DeleteWhy did they decide not to launch Zagreb this summer?
DeleteAir Canada is an absolute mess at the moment. Along with Canadian airports.
DeleteWhy not try to get AC or TS to fly year round?
Delete@anonymous 21:05 Think a little bit and it will pop-up!
DeleteConditions are good for the US flights, especially with the US visas abolished.
ReplyDeleteHow many American tourists in Croatia this year so fat?
DeleteA lot
DeleteWow, a lot? Well that’s a reasonable number then, comparable and measureable. How insightful!
Delete2019 - 617 000
Delete2020 - 284 000
I think many Americans who used to go to Croatia have switched to Greece. Crazy number of Americans went there this year. Same with France and Italy.
DeleteYes Americans in Greece went crazy this year, ATH saw 9 direct flights to US from 4 different airlines, I also read that they're planning on inaugurating direct flights to US from SKG and that's gonna be a major change for TIA, SKP, SOF etc.
DeleteLots of American tourists in Croatia from May 27-August 1st the United flights to DBV were mostly 100% full
Delete2025?
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt scheduled Korea flights will resume
ReplyDeleteThey don't seem so certain for next year.
DeleteI think airport management has to work on long haul operations to boost revenue after the discounts they gave to FR. They have to compensate somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhen will ZAG publish its financials
DeleteIf I were a long-haul carrier I'd be resuming ZAG
ReplyDeleteNot even BUD had restored all of its long haul network so how do you expect ZAG to make it work?
DeleteCroatian market is still unstable and depends on tourists a lot. Tourist arrivals in Croatia haven’t reached pre covid levels, next year numbers will improve!
@ 9:05
DeleteWhy? I’d be great to back that statement up with some arguments and possibly numbers. Otherwise it’s just pointless to say it.
What other long haul markets could work from Zagreb other than US and Canada?
ReplyDeleteJapan, once it reopens.
DeleteAnd China
DeletePre-corona there were plans for Air Asia X to operate charters from Bangkok to Zagreb during 2020. They even scheduled the dates. So I think Thailand is a possible market.
DeleteRoyal Brunei should also launch flights as they are a popular option to Australia
DeleteYes, Royal Brunei with a single European destination - London will launch flights to Zagreb.
DeleteSingapore's subsidiary Scoot would be perfect for seasonal flights to Zagreb and transfers from Australia.
DeleteI think Scoot is a must for ZAG! They would be perfect to bring our diaspora back home. If not them than at least Singapore Airlines.
DeleteI dont believe there is a chance for Singapore Airlines to commence flights to ZAG, but Scoot could well be welcomed.
DeleteWhy dont ANA or JAL start seasonal services to ZAG?
DeleteScoot already serves ATH and BER and they terminated LGW I don't think ZAG can work for them.
Delete10:00 Because ZAG is a low yield and no outbound demands and no major alliance hub.
Delete^ yeah sure
DeleteSuch a shame the Bangkok charters nevet happened :(
DeleteThere are several no brainers. All could be served if OU had the guts to launch long haul flights.
DeleteFlights to the US could start 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 wasted over the past two decades, if they had wanted they could have made the savings and received the state support to start long haul.
DeleteGuts or money?
DeleteThey don't have the money for such ventures.
DeleteThe ship for OU to go long haul has sailed a long time ago.
DeleteGuys we don't even know what kind of network OU will have in winter so we shouldn't even think about long-haul flights.
Delete@ 9:46
DeleteTheir winter schedule depends on how much money they will get from the state, yet again.
Why doesnt Croatia have a low cost airline like other countries do? Take for example BlueAir in Romania. ETF and TradeAir should definitely step in.
DeleteThey are already bitching about liquidity issues. I think whatever they get will be used for mere survival rather than growth or consolidation. Because of their inertia they will not be ready for next summer and their financials will just get worse.
DeleteGood luck, I hope we get a surprise of two in the next few months :)
ReplyDeleteGood to see that things are moving forward.
ReplyDeleteIf Zagreb is able to sustain 2 Canadian airlines from Toronto seasonally, then I expect they could sustain a US carrier with 1 or 2 flights per week during the summer.
ReplyDeleteTwo different markets. Canada is not the US.
DeleteNone of the US airlines operate like that.
DeleteUnited would be prefect for US flights to/from Zagreb.
DeleteThey could also harmonize their flights so that OU can feed from Sarajevo, Skopje and secondary Croatian cities as theyre both Star Alliance.
Delete@ 9:15
DeleteTwo airlines from Canada? So far I see only one. Am I missing something?
There used to be both Air Canada and Air Transat in 2019, thats what the writer was refering to.
DeleteFingers crossed there will be some concrete results.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Korean is so uncertain about coming back next year. South Koreans are permitted to travel and they no longer have restrictions.
ReplyDeleteBut Koreans are very weary of traveling, especially long haul.
DeleteIt is still long time until next summer. You can not expect anyone to be sure about that time in this point. Lets wait end of the year and see how things are going.
DeleteI'm hopeful they come back. I would much rather have them than T'way.
DeleteYes they are much more valuable considering the connections they offer.
DeleteI remember reading in an article here that 98% of passengers on that route were O&D. Almost no one used it for transfer.
DeleteBecause they were expensive as hell.
DeleteRestoring network to pre Covid levels by 2025? This sounds like they had 20 long-haul routes, so they need years to get to those levels, while in fact they only had a handful of routes
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThere was Air Canada Rouge, Air Transat and Korean Air as far as I'm aware.
DeleteAnd Emirates of you count it as long haul.
Delete*if
DeleteWhat about Emirates?? Any indication they will come back?
ReplyDeleteConsidering Flydubai currently operates just a few flights per week, I don't think they will come back. In my opinion it makes more sense to launch seasonal flights to Dubrovnik.
DeleteIf and when Asia reopens they could be back. Remember Japan and China are still closed and they were a huge source of passengers to Croatia.
DeleteI do not think Emirates will focus on seasonal flights. Their business model is to fly to premium destinations year round, I seriously doubt we will see Emirates back in the future
DeleteI, too, think Emirates tried and failed. They are back in Venice and Prague, as I’ve noticed (although not with the A388 in PRG, only B773). I think Emirates’s problem was the same as Ryanair’s: good inbound traffic and poor outbound demand.
DeleteEmirates had a good load factor in summer on ZAG flights. Question is whether it was good enough to cover the costs after the airport's incentives expired after 3 years.
DeleteMain reason you see Flydubai instead of Emirates to Zagreb is that most of Asia is still closed
DeleteThis route caters almost exclusively to Asian tourists.
Let's hope they come back when Asia fully reopens but I'm not so optimistic.
DeleteWould be nice to have Malaysia Airlines back in Zagreb like in the 90s :D
ReplyDeleteDon't count on it. They have become a pretty irrelevant airline nowdays.
DeleteThey were a pleasent sight back in the day.
DeleteThey always said long haul would be the last to recover from Covid.
ReplyDeleteLess talk more action please.
ReplyDeleteExactly, just like BEG is booming right now, ZAG should be more serious and responsive to the market as well !!!
DeleteHow come everything in the Balkans is always “booming”?
DeleteBecause the market was underserved and now that the standard of living is growing demand is starting to boom. Some places more than in others.
DeleteLJU is the opposite of "booming"
DeleteLJU is wanishing into thin air lol
Delete@ 10:04, because if its not booming, its bombing.
DeleteWould it be possible for any of the Croatian airlines to start long haul to US/Canada
ReplyDeleteNeither of the private carriers have the financial strength to start long haul flights.
Deleteone decisive point is also the vaccination rate of the population. Croatia has 55%. So lit less than half of the population is not able to travel to certain countries where vaccination is mandate to enter the country. All these points need to be taken in consideration for an airline too, before the relaunch or launch a route. An advantage for airports such as Zagreb is certainly, that airlines will have to come away of hubbing their alliance operations and fly more nonstop flights again. Zagreb can definitely be the gateway for Slovenia and HR coast, where BEG is more the gateway for the rest plus SLO/CRO as JU and BEG offer flights to LJU ZAG and the coastal cities.
ReplyDeleteJu is taking full advantage of any possible market that presents to them which includes Croatia, especially the coast which I am sure they will continue to expand into. All their adventures wont all work but at least they are having a go.
DeleteOU on the other hand is doing absolutely nothing, it is almost like it is being sabotaged on purpose. They have the potential of establishing a great network based in Zagreb with long-haul flights to a number of destinations. During the winter, they have the added advantage of being based in a country which is part of the EU and using this as a way to keep some of their fleet in the air and maintain liquidity. Requires a little thinking out side the square but they could still create something decent.
Sad but completely true
DeleteNetwork didn't fully recover this year. It will not fully recover in 2023 or 2024. Long haul is expected to recover by 2025. Recession already started in the US so full long haul network recovery is more likely 4 years away.
ReplyDeleteYes, highly likely
DeleteIf they don't get US flights now then I don't know when they will. Record number of US tourists, visas being lifted for Croatians....
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+1
DeleteWonder which airlines they are talking to.
ReplyDelete