High expectations for Toronto - Zagreb service

SkyGreece expects to handle up to 5.000 passengers on Toronto - Zagreb flights

SkyGreece Airlines, the Croatian Ministry for Tourism and Zagreb Airport are all confident in the success of the soon to be launched flights between Toronto and the Croatian capital. The one weekly charter service will mark the resumption of flights between the two cities following an seven-year hiatus. Speaking in Toronto last week, the Croatian Minister for Tourism, Darko Lorencin, said, “Croatia has much to offer to Canadian guests. One of our aims is to connect Croatia with new and far away markets”. In 2014 some 80.000 Canadians holidayed in Croatia, an increase of 19% compared to the year before. Mr. Lorencin highlighted the lack of direct flights between his country and other markets as a challenge for the local tourism industry, thus emphasising the importance of SkyGreece’s new service. It is estimated that almost 5.000 passengers will use the flights.

The charter airline will inaugurate services between Toronto and Zagreb on June 22, with the first return flight from the Croatian capital scheduled for June 24. A total of seventeen rotations, up until October 15, are planned with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which has the capacity to seat 274 passengers. Tickets are to be put on sale during this month. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, tickets will also be available for purchase through a global agency distribution network system, allowing various tour operators to sell tickets for these flights. Furthermore, SkyGreece has been issued all necessary permits for the new service by both Canadian and Croatian authorities. In addition to Zagreb, the airline will also operate flights from Canada to Athens, Thessaloniki and Budapest. It is in the process of acquiring a second B767 jet.

SkyGreece Airlines’ Deputy Commercial Officer, Denis Codere, said last week, “Given its central location within Europe, Croatia will be the go-to European destination for Canadians within the next few years”. However, Mr. Cadare believes the new service will not only cater for tourists, but will also attract Croatian expats living in Canada. “This new direct flight to Toronto will allow families to see each other more often and Croatians can now also discover the beauty and richness of Canada”, Mr. Cadare said. The charter specialist has agreed on a joint marketing approach with the Croatian National Tourism Board in Canada in order to pull even more potential passengers. SkyGreece is a Greek-registered airline, founded by a group of Greek entrepreneurs, with its offices in Toronto, Montreal and Athens.



ZAGREB - TORONTO SERVICE HISTORY

Scheduled flights between Zagreb and Toronto were launched by JAT Yugoslav Airlines in November 1985. In its last year of normal operations within the former Yugoslavia, during the 1990/91 winter season, the carrier maintained two weekly flights between the two cities, each Thursday and Saturday, with a DC-10 aircraft. Services were operated with a stop in Montreal.

JAT DC-10 at Zagreb Airport

Air Canada also operated flights between Toronto and Zagreb, both nonstop and via Zurich. In its last year of operations to the city, during the winter of 1990/91, the airline maintained four weekly flights, from Thursday through to Sunday. Two of these services were operated with a Boeing 767, while the other two with a Lockheed L1011 TriStar.

Skyservice Airlines launched a seasonal one weekly flight between Toronto and Zagreb in 2007 and operated the service again in 2008 with a Boeing 757. However, flights were not resumed in 2009 and a year later the airline declared bankruptcy.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:07

    The DC-10 was such a beautiful aircraft.

    I am sure Lufthansa, OU and the rest of the Star family are all but happy about this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:04

      ...with 5000 low-yield pax a year, they must be shaking right now.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:24

      Ex-YU is a low-yielding market yet that has never stopped them from adding so many flights.

      Also, on this flight you will have a great number of people who do not want to connect via some busy European airport.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:30

      Any possibility for these flights to be extended through the winter?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:20

    wow had no idea Air Canada use to fly to ZAG. Anyway good luck with the new route :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:27

      A lot of airlines use to fly to BEG and ZAG. Many today represent as if JAT had a complete monopoly and no competition. It's actually not true at all.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:31

      I had no idea either. So in 1990/1991 there were 6 weekly flights Zagreb - Toronto! Did AC fly to BEG as well?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:50

      No Air Canada only use to fly to Zagreb. The most exotic airline that use to fly scheduled flights to ZAG was for me Malaysia Airlines. They use to fly Kuala Lumpur - Vienna - Zagreb with B777. Pity they left.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:52

      Not only Air Canada, Pan Am used to fly to ZAG from JFK nonstop, 5 weekly, with wide-body A310 back in 1989-1990, while flights to other two ex-Yu destinations, BEG and DBV, were never nonstop (via FRA,MUC or ZRH), and never wide-body, but on B737/B727 on segments to FRA/MUC/ZRH.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:55

      And back in 1988/1989, JAT operated, in summer season, up to 4 weekly flights to YYZ as well, all via ZAG, 3 weekly BEG-ZAG-YMX-YYZ, and once weekly BEG-ZAG-YYZ. Today YMX is not used anymore, it's YUL instead.

      Delete
    6. QR92119:41

      You make it sound as if Zagreb was the aviation hub of the world. I think the terminal it had built for that purpose and it's been having for more than four decades testifies of its importance.

      Delete
    7. QR92119:45

      *as seen on the picture

      Good evening gentlemen.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous19:53

      Dear friend, I listed FACTS. You wrote your OPINION. I don't mind hearing your opinion at all. And if you mind hearing the facts about anything, not only ZAG, it only shows that you have (rather serious) problem. Cheers!

      Delete
    9. QR92121:14

      Here is my opinion:

      http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8414277.jpg

      Delete
    10. Anonymous21:41

      Just ignore QR921, it's obvious that he is just jealous...

      Delete
    11. Anonymous21:44

      QR921 +1
      INN-NS

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:47

    Hope these flights will be successful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:09

    Anyone have an idea how much these flights will cost?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:27

      They saik it will be "affordable" but no pricing yet.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:12

      @AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 10:09 AM

      An arm and a leg .

      Delete
  5. Anonymous10:29

    It's great that they will be selling tickets through Hahn Air. They will get much more passengers that way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous11:25

    Nice to see a B767 in Zagreb even if it is for a short time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:25

      There were lot of 767 in Zagreb last year. El Al lot of time fly with it from TLV, Air Europa at least 3 times per year, EuroAtlantic, and some charters. Also other long haul were guests in Zagreb last year: JAL, Korean, Titan, Turkish, TAP Portugal, Air Tahiti Nuit...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:20

      are this year planned chartered JAL 772 and KE 772?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:56

      Yes

      Delete
    4. Anonymous02:04

      No.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous08:01

      Korean Air has 16 charters this year, JAL 6, not sure which aircraft. Another Chinese carrier has 4-6 charters planned for Zagreb and another one planned for Zadar will most likely now be at Zagreb, we'll know at the end of April, Zadar can't take wide body B777 or A330.

      There are also few other charters planned we'll know more in few weeks time.

      In all Zagreb will see two-three widebody aircraft during spring and summer months at least on a weekly basis.

      Also if Zagreb airport hits 3.2 million next year as anticipated, than current Airport operator will look at extending terminal by additional 4 passenger boarding bridges, two of whom will be dedicated for wide body aircraft.

      Terminal by 2020 might end up with 12 passenger boarding bridges after all.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous08:59

      hvala

      Delete
  7. Anonymous11:26

    What's happened to BH Air's (Bulgaria) plans to fly to the US this summer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:14

      Moon flights seem more profitable, so they'll fly there instead.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:29

    Beautiful photo of that DC10 in Zagreb! Zagreb Airport seems to have not changed in decades :D good thing they are getting a new terminal.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:51

    The French concession seems to have worked out well for Zagreb. New terminal and a lot of new airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous15:25

    Air Berlin predstavio novu Biznis Klasu
    http://www.austrianaviation.net/news-international/news-detail/datum/2015/03/05/air-berlin-startet-business-offensive.html
    Cudi me taj postupak trebaju da nabave 16000 sedista.
    Pre neki dan su dobili 2 nova A321 i ako konstantno prave minus. Nadam se da ce i ASL dobiti koji A321 posto su jedino sa EY profitabilni u alijansi.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous15:35

    Bilo bi odlicno ako bi sa 2 763 leteli ORD-BEG .
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:36

      Gospodine INN-NS ne lupajte.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:14

      Pa dok ASL ne pocne letove sledece Godine sa A332 :)
      INN-NS

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:18

      INN-NS please stop with this nonsense. Now its March and I dont see any big birds in BEG? Where they at?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:21

      Svaki veči blog ima idiota, mi imamo svog, world class yay!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:36

      INN-NS how about this one instead:

      https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/122710621/hd/6a6ccdecc75881f44602376bc9771c4b.jpg

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:52

      Nisam bas neki ljubitelj 748 vise sam za 77W ili A380.
      A330 bi trebao doci do kraja godine ja jedva cekam da BEG ima wide body saobracaj.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    7. Anonymous17:00

      A znaci nije vise ovog proleca, sad je do kraja godine. Pa to skoro ko' Beograd na vodi, napredno, napredno, nema sta... :) :) :)

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:30

      @4:36
      u fotosopu izgleda FENOMENALNO. Nazalost ostace samo na slici, pusta zelja

      Delete
    9. Anonymous22:21

      Anonymous at 5:00 PM
      Da je do mene ja bi doveo nesto vece od 332 , ali 332 ce doci sigurno.
      I kakve veze imam ja sa Beogradom na vodi nisam ja investitor. A sto vam smeta SNS i Vucic.
      INN-NS

      Delete
  12. Anonymous16:16

    I am looking for tickets from Toronto to BEG 5 May- August 4 and I have used search engines such as cheapoair, skyscanner,etc. I have also checked on airlines sites, and the cheapest ticket I found was with TK which was 944 Canadian dollars. Do you think I should buy this ticket immediately or wait a bit more for cheaper price since I am on tight budget. Btw I was thinking of flying with SkyGreece but the issue is that with the plane ticket to ZAG or bus ticket, plus ride from BEG to my home town in Serbia would end up pretty much the same.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:20

      ^ Unless of course they offer return flights for 650 Canadian.

      Delete
    2. I'd say go for it. That price is as low as it ever was.the only thing I would recommend is that you look at LH, LX, OS as well if you can spend extra $100. Connection at IST not very pleasant plus flight time is quite a bit longer.
      1
      I was looking the other day for SJJ-YYZ for similar dates. I turns out to be arround $1050 via MUC and VIE. That's a steel if!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:06

      Norwegian, May 5, one way JFK-BEG (via CPH, I guess), 346 USD. No flights for your return date, but worth checking further. Best regards from Croatia!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:33

      Thanks guys! Norwegian is not an option since in May one way ticket is obviously cheaper while in August they cost more so it would end up around 750 plus I need to find a flight fron Toronto to New York which is another 200 so I will just go with Turkish I guess.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous21:46

      Najjeftini vam je AF-KL ima za 750 eura u julu.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    6. Anonymous21:54

      ^ INN-NS, 750 euro is around 1030 Canadian dollars so TK is a bit cheaper. Dont worry I will make sure to use ASL to maybe Rome or some weekend destination when I come to Serbia ;)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous22:07

      ^ If the price is right of course ( too bad Easyjet will be gone by then)

      Delete
    8. Original comment,
      I found for 940 Canadian dollars Air Canada/Lufthansa via Munich on your exact days. Not much cheaper, but perhaps you have a preference for Air Canada and Lufty.

      I highly recommend using Google Flights.

      https://www.google.com/flights/#search;f=YYZ,YKF,IAG,YHM,YTZ;t=BEG;d=2015-05-05;r=2015-08-04;sel=YYZMUC0LH495-MUCBEG1LH1722,BEGMUC0LH1723-MUCYYZ0AC847


      Good luck.


      Delete
    9. Anonymous22:33

      Anonymous at 9:54 PM
      Ja sam isao na flüge.de i tu je naj jeftini iz YYZ je DE i LO ako se leti iz BEG onda AF-KL.
      Nisam to rekao zbog ASL :P
      INN-NS

      Delete
  13. Anonymous21:28

    OT: What happened with Air Serbia's flight from Ljubljana? It seems to have landed in Zagreb?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:43

      Nobody knows.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:20

      Nije mogao da sleti u Ljubljanu zbog windsheara pa je sleteo u Zagreb.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:32

      Јел се то десило у одласку или у повратку?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous01:01

      Hmmmm... 23 leta u LJU na vrijeme. Kako to da je Air Serbija jedina danas rerutirala let.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous04:52

      Odlično pitanje stari, na putu si da otkriješ nešto senzacionalno. Sherlock Holmes ti nije ravan.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous06:45

      Both flights seem to have landed in LJU without an issue.

      JU 190 YU-ALU 08.32 (08.45)
      JU 194 YU-ALT 19.54 (19.45)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:35

      Netocno. Sletjeli su u ZAG. I stvarno je čudno da je jučer u LJU sletilo i poletjelo 44 leta na vrijeme, ali Air Serbia jedina nije.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:10

      Вероватно зато што је летео Атр... сигуран сам да постоји добар разлог за ту одлуку.

      Delete

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