Air Transat plans to handle more than 10.000 additional passengers on its seasonal flights between Toronto and Zagreb this year. The carrier welcomed 26.473 travellers on the route on 49 flights in 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.1%. This year it anticipates carrying some 37.000 travellers, an increase of 39.8%, which will correspond with the 40.8% increase in capacity. It will do so by resuming flights a full month earlier, on May 4, and progressively increasing frequencies throughout the season to up to four weekly from late June until early September. It will mark the first time the carrier has maintained four weekly flights on the Zagreb route instead of the usual three.
Air Transat operated flights between Toronto and Zagreb between June 6 and October 7 last year with its 332-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Its average cabin load factor for the duration of its summer operations stood at a high 80.9%, representing an improvement of seven points year-on-year. "Croatia remains a key destination for Transat, and in view of the interest shown by Canadian travellers in the summer of 2023 and its potential for tourism development, we will add another connection to Zagreb from Toronto, for a total of four direct flights per week", Air Transat said. The carrier achieved a 100% on-time performance between the two cities last year and has awarded Zagreb Airport’s handler Havas Zemaljske usluge for the accomplishment.
The overall number of passengers on nonstop flights between Toronto and Zagreb is still lower than the pre-pandemic 2019 when it stood at 65.486, as Air Canada Rouge used to maintain operations alongside Air Transat on the route. The Air Canada subsidiary no longer has aircraft capable of reaching Zagreb, but its parent company has ruled out services to the Croatian capital for this year. On the other hand, Air Transat has noted the Croatian market will continue to form an integral part of its destination network in the years to come. “Customers in Montreal and Vancouver may also benefit from a connection via Toronto. We also offer Zagreb to Calgary customers via a roundtrip connection to Toronto", Air Transat said.
If I were Air Transat I would aim for the same.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that.
DeleteYou are more than welcome.
DeleteTime for Air Canada to revaluate potential seasonal ZAG flights
ReplyDeleteWon't happen as there isn't enough premium demand to fill business class. YYZ-ZAG is a low yield market perfect for carriers like Rouge or Transat.
Deletewow a new analiticar is there who knows all about croatian aviation, yield marktes.....
DeleteSo tell us then why didn't AC make a comeback to ZAG if there is so much premium demand? Why isn't DL rushing to launch JFK-ZAG since the market is so premium?
DeleteAir Canada has an order for 30 A321 XLR, very likely they'll return to Zagreb in 2027/8 year round, seasonal flights potentially even next year. If Air Transat is able to carry 37000 passengers this year on Zagreb - Toronto route, Air Canada won't wait till 2027 when first A321XLRs are expected to join the fleet.
DeleteIn the past Air Canada flew to Zagreb year round and noumber of Canadian visitors to Croatia is rapidly growing, in 2023, 155 000 Canadian visitors to Croatia, in 2019, that figure was around 255000, this year 2024, 200 000+ Canadian visitors, and in 2025 This figure should fully recover on 2019 noumber, and 255000+ Canadians are expected to visit Croatia.
US visitor noumbers are also impressive, 710 000 visitors in 2023, and 800 000+ are expected to visit Croatia this year, with 1 million + visitors in 2025. Again, problem is there are no direct connection with NYC or other metro areas in US, out of Zagreb that is. Delta Airlines has converted some of its A321 NEO orders in to XLR, United has order book for 50 A321 XLRs, American has also ordered 50 A321 XLRs, ideal for Zagreb route.
We'll see how 2025 develops for north American market, but 2027 we should see at least one of these 3 major US airlines initiating direct flights to Zagreb, in 2027, I expect, 1.2 million US visitors annually to Croatia, and I am being conservative with my noumber here, as Croatia is becoming rapidly one of the most popular destinations in US, along with much larger European markets of Spain, France, Italy, Germany, The UK, Netherlands and Ireland.
AC is not coming back to ZAG, they did try their best to attract low fares for USA connection passengers and that actually made them lose big bucks on ytz zag service. They did try the same thing with BUD market and they failed their as well. AT already cxld all OCT 2024 and they are not getting substitute from CRO tourism board in Canada.
DeleteAny chance they may add another route to Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteYVR is a real possibility but next summer.
DeleteOnly other base that has reach is Montreal, so maybe. But iirc they've purchased several 321XLRs with the purpose of reaching Split and Dubrovnik all the way from Canada, so perhaps those will come sooner
DeleteThey can't make it in the other direction because of the winds. It makes no sense to add a stop.
DeleteWonder if there is potential for Air Transat to start Dubrovnik in the future?
Delete^ Transat was in talks with the before the pandemic but nothing happened in the end.
DeleteI think it would be more likely they add another destination in Croatia (like Dubrovnik) than fly from another Canadian city.
DeleteDid Dubrovnik ever have flights to Canada in the past?
DeleteI don't think so. There were flights to the US but not to Canada.
DeleteJAT used to have a charter from time to time from DBV to Toronto and Montreal but it was rare.
DeleteAnd the relevance of your comment regarding JAT is... what?
Delete^ he asked if there were ever flights. Maybe read the comments before getting so angry.
Delete@"Anonymous09:02
DeleteAny chance they may add another route to Zagreb?"
Montreal is a very good probability in 2026, Flights to Zagreb were once operated from Montreal in 2019, so in 2026 we could see the return of these flights. In 2026 I expect 300-320 000 Canadian visitors to Croatia who on average stay 4-5 nights in Croatia, so return of Air Canada is all but guaranteed in 2026 on seasonal basis. However beyond Montreal I don't see any additional direct connection to Croatia any time soon, Quebec City is potential on a seasonal basis longer term, perhaps even Halifax, but this is really at least 10 years down the road. At current rate of growth in terms of Canadian visitors to Croatia, it'll take at least 10 years before we can see other destinations being added beyond Toronto and Montreal. Montreal will be added most likely in 2026 or 2027, all depends on how many Canadian visitors visit Croatia, in 2024 we expect over 200 000, in 2025 over 250 000 and in 2026 around 300-320 000 Canadian visitors in Croatia, same year 2026, we expect around 1.1-1,2 million US visitors to visit Croatia.
Would be very interesting to see passenger structure on Transat's route. Diaspora vs tourists.
ReplyDeleteLots of diaspora too. I know many Bosnians who take this flight and then drive from ZAG to BiH. Additionally, this non-stop service also attracts a lot of people from upstate NY, PA, MI and OH. Many people rather drive 5-6 hours to Toronto than taking connecting flights.
DeleteInteresting, thanks
DeleteYup. Out of around 150k Croat Canadians, up to 2/3 or ~ 100k live in Greater Toronto - Mississauga in particular. Most of the rest of them are in Alberta - Edmonton and Calgary.
DeleteThis isn't the case only with Croats tho, but Serbs and Bosnians too, as the comment above confirms. Most of that ex yu diaspora is relatively new, from the 1970s and 80s when a large number of people left former Yugoslavia for Canada, because Canada had needed lots of workforce at the time.
I know my parents had already had plane tickets booked for Toronto in the mid 1980s and were packing up to leave forever, but then at the last minute my dad had been offered a job in Saab in Sweden. Ultimately he landed a teaching position at the Copenhagen Institute of Technology and that's where I was born.
This is going to be a very strong summer for ZAG.
ReplyDeleteGrowth slowed down a bit due to OU 3 planes out of service, but even without those 3 planes numbers should be impressive compared to last year.
DeleteDespite high passenger numbers, is the Canadian-Croatian market also extremely seasonal, as JU noted, which is also a problem for them?
ReplyDeleteYes, that is why there are only seasonal flights, especially since a major part of the passengers are tourists.
DeleteNaturally it's seasonal, Croatia is not located in the Carebeans.
DeletePotentially Dubrovnik, Hvar and even Vis could become year round tourist destination for Croatia, Zagreb too, but Croatia isn't as warm in winter months to attract scantily clad visitors in winter months, sadly. Highest average mean temp in Croatia during winters (Dec-Feb) is on island of Hvar and it averages around 10-15C. So theoretically we could see something developing around there longer term.
DeleteI wonder when they will open seasonal route to BEG.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they will because unlike in ZAG there is no tourism demand to Serbia. There is a reason why Air Serbia, Westjet, Air Canada and Air Transat are all staying away from YYZ-BEG.
DeleteAir Serbia actually said that this market is very good, but highly seasonal and they are not starting YYZ as they want to fly year-round.
DeleteAir Transat flies seasonally to ZAG so therefore they could do the same to BEG.
Btw, number of tourists in Belgrade are higher than in Zagreb. So much about tourist demand.
Zagreb has more premium tourists
Deleteas a tourist that is not from balkan country and I have been to both cities, I could say BEG>>>ZAG. But to each its own. I doubt so many people in Canada are aiming to visit Zagreb, more like the coast
Delete^agree
DeleteMany Canadians who visit Croatia are usually younger people who are on a budget. It's cheaper to fly to ZAG on a LCC than to transfer to the coast. Tickets can be quite pricey especially in summer.
DeleteTickets to ZAG aren't actually cheap, so it makes no sense saying someone flies to YYZ-ZAG in order to go to the coast.
DeleteCheapest ticket in July 835 EUR
More premium tourists in Zagreb 😁😁😁
DeleteThey probably arrive with Lauda.
@Anonymous09:24
Delete"Btw, number of tourists in Belgrade are higher than in Zagreb. So much about tourist demand."
Could you provide link for that bit of data? Zagreb had 1.3 million foreign visitors in 2023!
https://www.htz.hr/hr-HR/informacije-o-trzistima/informacije-o-tijeku-sezone/arhiva-2023
Speaking of tourism here is an interesting stat
Deletehttps://media.licdn.com/dms/image/D4E22AQEq1sCMPU1QjQ/feedshare-shrink_1280/0/1712822412242?e=1716422400&v=beta&t=2BpvkIY8f78gy5ItITNtj40P_vjaUUEIrucAYkDDvQo
https://www.htz.hr/sites/default/files/2024-01/Informacija%20o%20statistickim%20pokazateljima%20-%20prosinac%202023_0.pdf - breakdown of visitors and stays, Zagreb 2.54 million nights, your data @Anonymous13:34 seems to be partially completed. Rovinj had 4.02 million nights, Dubrovnik 3.72, Porec 3.25.... and across the board... your figures are out of sinc.
DeleteNights / Foreign Arrivals
DeleteRovinj 4.259.384 / 739.733
Dubrovnik 3.885.709 / 1.244.302
Poreč 3.457.090 / 642.543
Umag 3.082.034 / 559.338
Split 2.971.744 / 955.588
Medulin 2.815.583 / 446.653
Vir 2.715.592 / 163.045
Zagreb 2.541.660 / 1.307.373
Zadar 2.300.007 / 615.708
Mali Lošinj 2.223.662 / 300.454
JU should fly to Toronto whole SUTT and to Miami whole WITT
DeleteI already said it before, ZAG finally getting more nonstop flights will hurt the LH cartel. The past three days Lufthansa cancelled twice their overnight FRA-ZAG. People are no longer forced to transfer at their hubs. That is why they are cutting Frankfurt so much, there is too much capacity.
ReplyDeleteI am sure Transat is also affecting them because they used to carry many transfers to Canada in the past.
+1
DeleteThey need to open YYZ-SKP ASAP since the market is huge and there are limited possibilities for transfer. Most people are forced to fly through IST.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahah
DeleteNice, but I would have thought LF would be a bit higher considering they operate during peak season only.
ReplyDeleteThe first few flights of the season are not that full in the direction from ZAG.
DeleteIt's not during peak season only. September and October and even June aren't exactly peak season. This year they'll start in May - next month. That's probably the reason.
DeleteGood results. Congrats
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that the national flag carrier has no interest in these flights
ReplyDeleteOU ain't going long haul
DeleteOU has to do something different. They are loss making so they should try to turn Zagreb into a hub. If what they have been doing for years was working, ok they would have a case to stay as they are but it is obvious that it isn't.
DeleteI would love to see OU fly to places like Newark, Singapore and Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Followed by Seoul, Tokyo and maybe Toronto.
The ship for turning ZAG into a hub has sailed, although it had all the predispositions to do so. OU is a Star Alliance carrier, could have done basically what JU is doing but had the added benefit of tourist traffic. It would also now be in a much better position against Ryanair. Unfortunately it chose to do nothing. Every 10 years they change an aircraft type. In the 2000s they went from ATR to Dash, now they are going all A220 and each time they presented it as something that will save them
DeleteWhen did Air Transat launch Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteI mean, which year? Thanks in advance
Delete2016
DeleteLet's hope in 2025 they will fly the entire season.
ReplyDeleteI would rather they introduce a second Croatian destination in 2025.
DeleteDubrovnik would be a good choice for them and we read the DBV is looking at more long haul flights so who knows. It would fit perfectly in what Air Transat does.
DeleteInterestingly they wanted to fly to Split. Until they realized it was impossible with all the take off restrictions.
DeleteThe Air Transat A332 is a sardine can but if it works for some people why not. I would rather transfer through ZRH (they are launching YYZ next month) or go with BA.
ReplyDeleteis ZRH a nice airport? I have a 4 hours layover in August..is it going to be crazy busy?
DeleteZurich is one of the best airports you will find in Europe. Modern, good facilities, good shopping and fining.
Delete* dining.
Deletegood to know! thanks!
DeleteAgree. ZRH is one of the best in Europe and definitely within the top 10 or top 15 in the world.
DeleteIf it is ok for you to pay 7 EUR for a coffee or 30 EUR for a mal at an airport, then ZRH is ideal as an airport to transfer, especially if you have several hours in transit.
DeleteAlso take into account, ZRH is prone to strong turbulence die to its location.
I'd avoid it as much as possible. Rather fly via VIE or MUC for star alliance hubs.
^ True. ZRH is crazy expensive. Even for Switzerland.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteI read here that a lot of their passengers on the Zagreb flights are actually connecting from Montreal. Perhaps an opportunity to introduce Montreal-Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteEven former ZAG CEO, the Feron guy, said they were in talks over Montreal-Zagreb. Then again he also said that about US and China flights but nothing has materialized so far.
DeleteToo many words, but no real action.
DeleteIt amazing how successful the Canada-Croatia flights have been. Both for Transat and Rouge.
ReplyDeleteTrue there has been over 20% increase in Canadian tourists each year since the flights started in 2016.
DeleteDidn't Sky Greece open the doors to this route in 2015? :D
DeleteI think they will keep ZAG and introduce DBV 2 times a week in the future.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteShame they don't want to try year-round :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could fly it via another one of their European cities during the winter. Via Prague or as a stop to Budapest.
DeleteThey should at least start few days before Easter till end of SUTT
DeleteThey have been extending the season bit by bit each year. As you can read, this year by a month.
DeleteI'm sure Air Transat gets their moneys worth out of these Zagreb flights.
ReplyDeleteAir Transat has the perfect strategy for Croatia. Seasonal for diaspora and tourists. They sell packages, they allow your inbound to be to another city and outbound from Zagreb and vicersa. They are flexible.
ReplyDeleteWonderful news for Franjo Tuđman airport.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for flights to Montreal too.
+1
DeleteThey have been growing steadily in Croatia. Looking forward to see what they plan in 2025.
ReplyDeleteThere is potential for more Canadian cities to be linked:
ReplyDelete- Ottawa
- Montreal
- Vancouver
Ottawa? Really?
Delete10:56 you forgot Calgary and Qebeq!
DeleteWinnipeg and Edmonton are must!
DeleteIqaluit!
Delete@Anonymous10:56
DeleteBeyond Toronto and Montreal nothing for a while, perhaps around 2035, we might see another city being added, but there's massive if... Quebec is very likely 3rd city, Vancouver with Air Canada but via Toronto, so I don't count that as its not direct flight. Toronto has population of 6.2 million in metro area, Montreal 4.2 million and Quebec City around 850 000.
Vancouver is 3rd largest metro area, with 2.8 million but it is on the west coast, so no direct flights possible at least not any time soon, perhaps after 2035, if Canadian visitor figure exceeds 1 million visitors per year, which is potentially possible by 2035.
Quebec airport only has seasonal flights to CDG.
DeleteI'm sure ZAG will be its 2nd European destination... 🙄
@Anonymous14:21
DeleteClearly it won't even in 10 years time, I guess Toronto and Montreal is it. Vancouver perhaps after 2035, if Canadian visitor exceeds 1 million, and I am talking seasonal flights here, direct seasonal flights. Not year round. Same goes for Montreal which could happen even next year, but more likely in 2026.
I am certain Resolute Bay to Zagreb at least 3pw would be a cash cow! Maybe with a stop at Alert airport to get more grizzlies on board, I heard they like to travel in premium class due to the larger seats.
DeleteHas WestJet ever flown to or had interest in Croatia?
ReplyDeleteOf course not
DeleteWestJet flies only seasonally to few major European destinations, Dublin, London, Paris, Barcelona and Rome.
DeleteIn today's article Air Transat says "Croatia remains a key destination for Transat" but, since this is an Ex Yu portal, it is interesting they don't mention any interest in Belgrade or any other Ex Yu destination, not even long term.
ReplyDeleteWhy would they mention other markets if they are asked about Croatia?
DeleteWhy would they not be asked about other Ex Yu markets for article on Ex Yu Aviation portal?
DeleteJust because it's an ex yu aviation portal doesn't mean they have to talk about every ex yu country. The topic in this article is about Air Transat Zagreb flights, why do you have the need to mention Belgrade?
Delete