Croatia Airlines has phased out its first 72-seat Dash 8 turboprop aircraft, as the airline transitions to a single-type Airbus A220 fleet. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the carrier confirmed the retirement of the turboprop registered 9A-CQB (Lika), which was delivered new to the company seventeen years ago in 2008. A second Dash 8 aircraft, registered 9A-CQA (Slavonija), is due to leave during the first quarter of the year. As a result, the company is expected to operate four units of the aircraft type this summer. Croatia Airlines’ existing turboprop fleet is under an operational lease. In 2024, the Dash 8s were used on 57.8% of the company’s scheduled flights. The average age of Croatia Airlines’ turboprop fleet is just over fifteen years.
Croatia Airlines plans to select a wet-lease capacity provider for turboprop planes by the end of the year, with the aircraft expected to enter service on behalf of the Croatian carrier in 2026. The airline previously confirmed it would wet-lease turboprops for regional routes to replace its existing Dash 8s. “What we plan to do next is find a partner for 2026 that will operate on our behalf on shorter routes through a wet-lease arrangement. That will involve the partner airline’s crew and aircraft. Austrian Airlines currently has the same agreement with Braathens. These aircraft will be used on shorter routes such as Sarajevo, Vienna, and Osijek”, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, previously said.
The Croatian carrier will take delivery of another twelve A220-300s by 2027, with the capacity to seat 149 passengers, and two A220-100s with 127 seats, the latter effectively becoming the smallest aircraft in its fleet. Its third A220-300 is due to be delivered in March while the first A220-100 is expected before the start of the winter season in late October. In total, six A220 jets are due to be delivered this year. “This will not only enable our growth but also make us more competitive and sustainable, which fits our business plans perfectly”, Mr Bajić noted.
You can't possibly return 2 of your smallest aircraft first?
ReplyDeleteI would get it if they returned A319s, but returning Dashes in January is absolutely terrifying for their financials
LOL, I'm sure you know their lease agreement and its provisions.
DeleteSome people...
Yes, we see the result of the people who "know OU lease agreements".
DeleteLoss after loss.
No way that in any case Dash creates a bigger loss than the A220.
DeleteIf dash is making a loss (so less than 45 pax) A220 or A319 will too.
Give me one example where that isn't the case.
These planes are old, uncomfortable, loud and in need of constant maintenance. It was time for them to go. At least the A320 family is a bit more comfortable
DeleteA320 family is average of 19 years old
DeleteThe Dash is leased. The Airbuses are owned. But yes, it's true - the Airbuses currently all have poor load factors wherever they fly.
Delete^ The Airbuses are not owned. OU does not own a single aircraft.
DeleteCorrect, Croatia Airlines sold all their Airbuses.
DeleteThe Dashes are 17 years old. Probably would need D check soon and also they would have to keep pilots and crew trained on the type, which they obviously don't want.
DeleteThis Aircraft is due a D check hence why they retired it from the fleet.
DeleteIt doesn't matter what aircraft OU fly the LF is dismal.
DeleteI'm surprised that over half of all flights were operated by the Q400s.
ReplyDeleteIt shows that there is no demand
DeletePrices are too high. Absurdly high.
DeletePrices aer too high because capacity is limited (DH4)
DeleteI would not say capacity is limited considering their 60% load factor.
DeleteOne of the reasons they have such low load factor is because of their fares.
DeleteThey are old planes. Time to go.
ReplyDeleteAgree! It's a no-brainer!
DeleteI also agree it is time to go but could they not have waited until the end of the winter season? They are needed now the most in low season.
DeleteGood decision.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what will be the load factor with A220. For example they fly ZAGSPU this Sunday with all Dash. Still seats available. I can imagine with A220 that has almost double and double the capacity.
ReplyDeleteI guess 30% :)
DeleteThey're going to have to work extra hard to boost that load factor this year
DeleteTheir ridiculous high fares are not helping with LF.
DeleteThe fares are less then 30 years ago. The truth is Ryanair are charging too little.The EU should ban Ryanair from under charging!
Delete@09:24
DeleteBecause FR is "undercharging" ZAG grew by 16% last year.
What you talk people ZAG SPU tickets could be found for 40€ one way few years ago if you buy them on time. Now the price is not going under 70-80€. They put fix price like it is public transport
DeleteIt's supply and demand!
DeleteBut demand for their flights is lower than it used to be as illustrated in their own financial results in their load factor figures.
Delete09:24 So how is it in Buzin?
DeleteDoes OU pay PDV on the tickets sold? This would automatically add 25% to the fare.
Delete1242, no, the VAT is paid by the passenger and the money automatically is transferred to the state budget.
DeleteRyanair is undercharging, yes, that’s why it’s immensely profitable. Only in the Balkans can you read such nonsense.
DeleteI'm all for them retiring these older birds but their long-term plans is just to wet lease turboprops? Does that make any financial sense?
ReplyDeleteDepends for whom?
DeleteDid it make financial sense to sign a contract with Networld? It did for some.
Maybe gives them flexibility.... add capacity in the summer, remove the capacity in the colder months. There for you are not paying wages for pilots with no work or paying for parked planes.
DeleteFarewell to the Dash 8s! These aircraft have served the airline well, especially on the shorter routes.
ReplyDeleteNobody will miss that obsolete piece of 1960es technology
DeleteThe 60s tech is still more capable of landing at hard airports than 2010s tech.
DeleteActually the only time Croatia Airlines ever had an incident in its history was with a Dash.
DeleteThat's a Croatia Airlines problem, turboprops do and will have their place in aviation.
DeleteThe reliance on wet-leased turboprops for regional routes seems like a risky move.
ReplyDeleteHow much will wet leasing turboprops cost on top of the A220 payments?
DeleteIt won't be cheap
DeleteI wonder why they didn’t consider buying smaller regional jets or turboprops?
ReplyDeleteAgree. Replacing Dash 8s with wet-leased turboprops feels like a temporary fix. It would have been nice to see Croatia Airlines invest in something like the ATR 72 for their regional operations.
Deletethey’ve been a staple in Croatia Airlines' fleet for years
ReplyDeleteSo who is going to be the wet lease operator? Any idea?
ReplyDeleteSome trusted Lufthansa Group partner
DeleteEven if that is the case, who exactly?
Delete^ Sky Alps possibly.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if this is going to be some deal with Trade Air where Trade Air gets turboprops.
DeleteGood luck
ReplyDeleteDon't get this strategy.
ReplyDeleteThey are a mess. But its just do enough to keep us in a job and not too much to make the EU angry strategy
DeleteThe strategy is to return the hardware lined up for expensive D check.
DeleteAny idea on how many aircraft they will wet lease? 6 to replace all 6 Dash 8s?
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt it will be 6. Probably around 4.
DeletePhasing out the Dash 8s is understandable, but what about the gap until 2026 when the wet-leased turboprops come into play. The company's load factor will be interesting to watch this year.
ReplyDelete2026 is less than 12 months away.
DeleteThe A220s are a solid choice for Croatia Airlines’ future, but I’m curious if they considered the potential cost savings of keeping a small sub-fleet of turboprops for regional operations.
ReplyDeleteThey should have just ordered 12 A220s and got 3 turboprops from ATR
DeleteAny type of the plane as single type fleet is NOT a solid choice for OU. Especially A220 which is the most expensive in its category, with most problems, and with very small, almost inexistent capacity difference/range between its 100 and 300 series. A220 single type fleet is result of highly corruptive deal with BCG, which was instructed how to "consult" OU in the way it remains Lufthansa feeder. Croatian market has so many different segments that single type fleet is totally inappropriate. In addition to that, PSO in Croatia is ridiculous and total failure. Croatia has absolutely no strategy for the development of its inland connectivity and the development and growth of its flag carrier, which operates in the best geographical position, with entire ex-yu and Balkans "behind", on the biggest ex-yu air market with most passengers, with significant diaspora, booming tourism, especially from distant markets, and all advantages EU legislation, numerous open skies agreement and visa free regimes. As a result, OU fleet should have had minimum 30 aircraft, minimum 5 of which long-haul. The ideal fleet should be :
Delete5 units Embraer 175
10 units Embraer 195
4 units Airbus 319
4 units Airbus 320
2 units Airbus 321
3 units Dreamliner 8
2 units Dreamliner 9
Unfortunatelly government of Croatia is part of Mafia, organized crime organization, which does not operate in public interest but only and exlusively for particular private interest of selected individuals who intentionally and deliberately insist on OU remaining shameful miserable feeder for LH.
Pozdrav iz Rijeke
Oh you are back...
DeleteWelcome back pozdrav :)
DeleteLet's see if they go for ATR or Dashes.
ReplyDeleteHope it will be ATRs
DeleteWhy?
DeleteSomeone else have a feeling they will end up wet-leasing 2-3 of their A220s to Lufthansa Group?
ReplyDeleteIf the lease rate is good it would be a smart decision to make easy money.
DeleteAgree. It's what's keeping Air Baltic alive at the moment.
DeleteSo what is the strategy exactly? They are getting rid of planes they obviously need in favor of planes that are too large for many routes so they are going to wet lease turboprops until when? 5 years? 10 year? 20 years?
ReplyDeleteI can guarantee you management thinks how their loads with magically grow and that A220s will become sustainable on routes like Zagreb-Sarajevo.
DeleteGood job. Good luck OU.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteHas Austrian painted the Braathens planes in their livery. Wonder if the long-term wet leases OU is planning will have the OU livery.
ReplyDeleteI remember when hey were wet leasing an Air Nostrum CRJ1000 it was all white but it has Croatia Airlines logo sticker on the fuselage.
Deletehttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48144217982_3581945222_b.jpg
DeleteCompletely forgot they used to wet lease CRJs. I think it was for two summer seasons, right?
DeleteNo, all BRA planes are with their original livery
Delete@ 10.57 Yes, Kucko era decision.
Delete@11.30 Thanks
DeleteThey will need turboprops mostly in the winter
ReplyDeleteFor some routes they need them year round.
DeleteWhen is the next PSO tender in Croatia due? Would be interesting to see for what will OU apply with their new fleet.
ReplyDelete2026 - next year!
DeleteBut take that with a pinch of salt. Last time the PSO tender was supposed to be completed in 2019 and it wasn't completed until end of 2022.
DeleteI really hope they revise the PSO routes. Many of the existing ones make no sense.
DeleteHonestly never liked these planes. Lots of technical glitches. Also the cabins are now really showing their age. Like someone said - time to go. But I agree with what some others said here is that they have not found a suitable replacement for them and I'm not sold on the wet lease idea. We will see.
ReplyDeleteGlitches?
DeleteLots of issues with landing gear.
DeleteThere was one major incident with one of OU's Dashes years ago when the front landing fear failed to open and it landed without it.
DeleteOU Fares are high in general, and many people do not want to fly with old airplanes that are constantly under maintanance. Might be load factor increases with new planes and with some reduced ticket prices but it all will depwnd on management strategy in a time to come.
ReplyDeleteThere is no management strategy in OU. There are political orders and instructions instead. Results are more than visible and will remain the same, disastrous, in time to come
DeleteCan they sell them to Air Albania? Air Albania added around 13 new destinations and I think these Dash planes could be really good for Italy and Greece to be honest.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about Greece but volume of traffic between Italy and Albania is such that A321 would be much better fit than Q400
DeleteIntroducing a completely new type in your fleet while your competitor is flying brand new A321neos and you fly 15 year old turboprops sounds like an amazing idea.
DeleteWhen will they announce new routes? It is already end of January.
ReplyDeleteUsually in February
Delete