Emirates to boost winter operations to Zagreb


Emirates will grow its operations between Dubai and Zagreb this year by adding an additional two weekly flights for a total of seven over the 2018/19 winter season, boosting inbound tourism with over 15.000 additional seats during the slower months. As a result, the airline intends on maintaining the same number of rotations on the route both during the summer and winter with its three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates, which launched services to the Croatian capital last June, initially planned on running daily flights throughout the year but later reduced its rotations to five weekly in the winter of 2017/18 based on demand. The airline previously said it would work hard to support the route and grow its passenger numbers, which it has since achieved.

Emirates noted it was satisfied with the performance of its Zagreb route. It has shifted around equipment on the service over the past two quarters between different variants of the Boeing 777 aircraft depending on demand, as the jets vary in seating capacity. However, the airline has recorded better than expected bookings for its premium product, meaning there were more passengers flying upfront in first and business class. "Emirates is pleased with the reception our product has had in the Croatian market. Passengers out of Croatia are travelling to Dubai, but also to the Far East, Australia and the Indian subcontinent and coming into Zagreb from Dubai and other destinations from Emirates' global network", the company said. Last week, the airline's partner, Flydubai, introduced seasonal flights from its hub to Dubrovnik, with Emirates codesharing on the service.

Flights between Dubai and the Croatian capital have brought in well over an additional 80.000 travellers to Zagreb Airport, which expects for its passenger numbers to continue growing throughout the year. Fernando Echegaray, the Director of International Operations at Zagreb Airport's concessionaire Aéroports de Paris, said, "We have a strong team at Zagreb Airport, which is very knowledgeable, and we are working hard to bring in even more passengers and airlines. In addition, Croatia, being a beautiful country that it is, has huge potential and growth in developing as a tourist destination, and that is what we base our expectations on, as well as the development of Zagreb as a tourist destination". Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Jacques Feron, has echoed those words, noting that traffic is expected to further grow this year based on estimates for a strong tourist season in the country, as well as new routes.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Yet Qatar is not responding. Soon they are going to suffer like TK did which can't fly double daily now because they lost passengers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      They responded last year when EK launched flights by starting double daily. What more can they do?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      They will. From summer 2019 they will have one daily rotation with A330-200.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      Hope so. Would be nice to have widebodies from Qatar, Emirates, Air Canada Rouge, Air Transat and it was reported here that Jin Air plans ZAG in 2019 with B777.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:28

      And let's hope there will FINALLY be some flights to the US next year too.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:57

      What r they waiting with US flights? C'mon already!!!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:20

      Was QR using A321s to Zagreb last summer? This summer it's all A320.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:28

      Yes but last year was 10 weekly. So capacity wise its the same. The thing with the 321 is that they have too few of them. Otherwise it sould be flying to ZAG.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:30

      They are currently replacing the 320s with 321 neos. Then we will see double daily to ZAG with the 321neo.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:39

      So will it be neo or A330 in the end?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:41

      @ AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 10:28 AM

      "Yes but last year was 10 weekly. So capacity wise its the same."

      No, it was double daily.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:47

      The Qatar Crisis started on 5 June last year. Until then Qatar definitely operated 10 weekly. From July on they increased gradually to 14 weekly with 320.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous10:56

      They increased to double daily from 1st July
      http://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/06/qatar-airways-goes-double-daily-to.html

      Delete
    13. Anonymous12:25

      Anon 09:11: I don't really see a logic point for QR to lose double daily 320 in favor of 1 daily 330 vs EK 1 daily 777 (so to have same frequencies with lower capacity). The actual key advantage QR has on EK is exactly in having two flights a day achieving better connectivity and superior frequencies. 99% of traveling public could not care less about 7777 vs 320 (noting that QR 320 is not typical short haul 320 equipped). So I doubt QR will drop double daily; the only thing they can is to sometimes upgrade some of 320 to 787 or 330 depending on expected demand, but definitely not switch over to 1 daily.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous19:24

      You did not understand.

      They will fly 7xA320 + 7xA332

      Delete
    15. Anonymous20:40

      Anon 7:24. Seems you know more about QR in Zagreb than QR themselves...interesting, it would be great if you could share some more info and source on that.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous21:33

      @Anonymous (12:25): Everything true!

      Mihael

      Delete
    17. Anonymous23:16

      @AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 7:24 PM

      7x320 and 7x332, seems tad optimistic me thinks.

      It is possible, after all Emirates flies B773, which is slightly less than A332+A320.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous13:10

      Month ago I flew to Kuala Lumpur, went with QR second daily that day because of better connection (doha 2h, with emirates 4.30h layover)
      But what I regretted was flight from zg to doha 320 was not equipped with media entertainment and seats were older ones not that comfortable, while on the other side flying from doha to zg all great. I am quite sure zg can't fill one more widebody qr 332, with emirates and TK in system

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Good news. It makes them more competitive in winter against Qatar Airways with double daily flights and Turkish with 10 weekly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      It's becoming very competitive on the market from the Gulf to Croatia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      QR is in a good position in my opinion because they offer the same capacity as Emirates but have two flights/departure which gives more connections.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:12

      +1 last anon

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Nice and tickets are on sale too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    There must be very strong demand in summer if they are comfortable with FZ starting Dubrovnik. Good to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      FZ ostaje i zimi na DBV, 2pw.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:19

      That's not bookable.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:21

      Maybe they could link it up with another destination like there is DXB-SJJ-TGD during winter.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:36

      DXB-DBV-TIV :P

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:45

      EK managed even with FlyDubai flying to Dubrovnik!

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:05

    So much for all the gloom and doom scenarios peoples were commenting on here about this route.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:08

    Glad they are satisfied with ZAG performance.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:08

    Good for cargo numbers too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:10

    It will be interesting to see how the competitors will respond to EK this winter. Will TK keep 10 weekly or go back to daily, and how many flights will Qatar fly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      At this moment it's 10 weekly TK and double daily QR. Same as last year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:31

      TK is planing 14 weekly during winter and 21 during summer 2019.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      No they are not. Stop trolling.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      TK is planning 2 daily flights to ZAG during winter. Don't know about QR.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:49

      TK is ten, at least according to their website.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:58

      I said "planning", and they are, be patient!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    Emirate plan to take old terminal for cargo operation. They will be the one to conduct cargo in Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      Really??

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      Source?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:25

      Stop trolling, not gonna happen

      Delete
    4. Anonymous19:29

      You will see. It's finished deal!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous23:18

      @AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 9:12 AM

      That seems very presumptuous. I think would be nice, but I remain skeptic.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:15

    Good luck EK

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:16

    Would be nice if someone had the average loads on these flights. Generally speaking, what would be a satisfactory load on a B777 for a flights of 6 hours like Zagreb? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      In 2017, average LF was around 75%

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:16

      Thanks. That's in line with their expectations. I remember early on EK said they expect 70-80% LF in first year of ops.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:51

      @AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 10:16 AM

      Actually they've said they expect 65% LF in first year of operations. They're hoping for better.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:23

    How many flights did EK operate to Prague and Budapest when they started these routes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      Both were daily.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:24

      Prague now going double daily!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:27

      But both started with A330.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:30

      BUD was daily but with A332, easier to fill than much bigger 773.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:31

      But still EK succeeded in ZAG from the beginning.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:49

      Everyone succeeds in Zagreb.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:54

      When EK started ZAG, they already had 777 as the smallest aircraft in the fleet. 330 was already phased out, as opposed to when BUD/WAW ere launched.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous21:25

      ZAG could see the 787 as soon they join EKs fleet.

      Mihael

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:26

    Emirates should have considered Dubai-Zagreb-US flights. Would have been a win for both sides.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:21

      No, it would't. The O&D-market is to small, no real transfer-network @ ZAG and yields would be low.

      Mihael

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:27

    How will it work once Flydubai starts Ljubljana flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      They would not start it if they feared about loosing loads on ZAG flights. Flydubai and Emirates are now partners and coordinate their flights closely. Flydubai recently ended a handful of routes so it wouldn't provide extra competition for Emirates. Same way they didn't start Dubrovnik without getting approval from Emirates.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:32

      And when will this happen?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:35

      They are still negotiating with Slovenian government and Fraport. Either this winter or next summer.

      Delete
    4. Nemjee09:45

      I think FZ in LJU is a preemptive strike against QR.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:58

      I'm sure EK counts on that, they probably thought this through before deciding!

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:29

    The EK B777-300ER is a very nice fit on the new terminal. It looks amazing docked there every day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:33

    Neka malo stjuardese discipliniraju.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      ?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:35

      +1

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      Malo si previse toga dopustaju, posebno one s HR putovnicom.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:38

      Općenito one sa "ovih prostora", i QR i EK

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:53

      Dakle , svi smo mi od krvi i mesa , u svakoj profesiji ima ljudi koji svoj posao rade bolje ili slabije, ali generalno, bez obzira na kompaniju, cabin crew postaje neljubazan /neljubazna samo kada ima posla sa primitivcima, umisljenim velicinama i balkancima u najpogrdnijem smislu te reci

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:23

      Moj slucaj nema veze s ljubaznoscu vec neprofesionalnoscu.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:41

      Can we learn more about your slucaj?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:51

      Moze....
      Ali malo kasnije

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:46

      Ukratko, stjurka mi je cim sam usao u avion kazala kako moram usporiti a vinom.
      Kao, na jednom od proslih letova su joj neki prigovarali kako puno pijem.
      Na moje pitanje da li sam svojim ponasanjem na ikoji nacin ugrozio sigurnost leta, dobio sam negativan odgovor.
      Na pitanje da li sam svojim pinasanjem prekrsio ugovor o putovanju, opet sam dobio negativan odgovor.
      Dakle, moje dvoje suputnika.....
      Vratimo se na pocetak. Cim smo se ukrcali, doticna je dosla pozdraviti i posluziti to dvoje do mene. Koliko j3 sjecam, to je rodbina ili prijatelji neke njezine sta god. Ona ih nije prije poznavala.
      Inace, pijem umjereno ali cesto idem na wc. Tako da sam se odmah obratio zenskoj osobi koja je sjedila do prilaza, da se mjenjamo za mjesta. Ja sam bio do prozora.
      I to je to. Nikakva daljnja razgovora nije bilo. Ja sam uredno popio svojih 6 ili 7 butelja do DXB, kao i nebrojeno puta do tada.
      I tako, na zadnjem letu mi se doticna pozalila onako s visine, kako su se bunili.
      To sve stoji, no doticna je morala reagirat na predmetnom letu, a ne mjesecima poslje.
      Nadalje, sumnjam kako su joj se pozalili na predmetnom letu vec se tamo netko NN ide postavljati vecim i visim i vaznijim nego sto jeste.
      Ugl., cekam sljedeci let i doticnu za casicu razgovora ponad Iraqa ili Turske.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:01

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:05

    Love seeing Emirates' B777 in Zagreb. Wish them good luck for the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:17

      Any chance we might see the B777-300er new product with the new cabin in ZAG soon?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:06

      I believe the new business class is first deployed on Boeing 777 200R and the new first class won't be deployed anytime soon for sure (only Geneva and Brussels sofar)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:16

      @Anonymous (10:17): There are a lot of routes with more premium demand and higher yields. So I doubt it.

      Mihael

      Delete
    4. I asked the same question about the new product because Zagreb prices are still affordable for me, I'd have booked the first class ticket in the blink of an eye. But nope.
      Geneva & Brussels are the only one in Europe, with Heathrow being introduced next.

      Ps. I'm not the other Michael. :)

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:14

    Would be nice if they sent an A380 as one off.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      For that to happen ZAG first needs to get certification it is able to handle an A380.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:32

      as a one off they would get a special permission.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:55

      @AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 10:22 AM

      I thought Zagreb already had met these requirements. It has 3250m long CATIIIb runway, fully integrated ATC and part of EU wide network.

      What else is needed ?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:56

      " part of EU wide network." has nothing to do with anything. An A380 can land in Beirut. It's not part of the EU.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:14

      @AnonymousApril 18, 2018 at 11:56 AM

      what I meant, it has to apply EU rules and regulations, maintain EU standards.

      Delete
  20. interesting information about demand for premium product. glad to hear there is such demand, but it's a shame that domestic carriers cannot tap into that market properly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      Well I think it was a smart move for Croatia Airlines to make an interline with them on domestic route. They must get some feed off this Emirates flight.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:10

      Why doesn't Croatia Airlines codeshare on these flights?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:21

      There is already interline with OU on domestic routes

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:25

      I know. Can anyone explain to me what is the difference between the two?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:25

      I mean interline vs codeshare

      Delete
    6. Nemjee12:29

      Interline is one of the most basic agreements between airlines and it usually comes out last during search engine results.

      For example, if someone was to fly from AMM to DBV, the EK-OU interline would come only after all direct and code-share options were shown. Very often, most website don't even show interline options.

      A code-share agreement is more formal and there are more obligations from airlines towards passengers.

      For example, Air Serbia has interline agreements with many unusual airlines such as Iran Air, Uzbekistan Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines ...

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:58

      Thanks for the explanation Nemjee. Much appreciated.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:14

      When I flew last time with EK from Zagreb many people where connecting from Zadar, quite interesting and just showing how extensive domestic Croatia airlines' network contribute a lot to tourism.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:40

    Is this the first announcement for W18 at ZAG?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:13

      BA (LHR) goes daily too, thru whole winter (W17/18 was 5pw)
      OU ZAG-OMO is year round.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:14

      Someone mentioned on another forum that British will be going daily during winter.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:59

      No, they mentioned that BA will be going double daily in summer which has not happened.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:30

      No, I meant what I wrote, daily during winter!

      Delete
  22. Anonymous11:11

    Have the fares on EK from Zagreb increased since the launch? I remember last year they had some great prices to cities like Kulala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:22

      Prices are still good but there have been fewer promotions. At least what I have noticed.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:10

      No more promo prices like last year, KUL used to be from 400 € return, now it is around 550 € cheapest. Market is growing, customers are now familiarized with EK superb service and willing to pay more.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous11:43

    Great news. This will help Zagreb Airport's number nicely during winter season.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm surprised nobody is looking at ZAG-LAX or BEG-LAX direct. Southern California is very densly populated and surely could be served by direct flights to ex-yu. LOT flies WAW-LAX, so I think it's feasible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee12:52

      Austrian Airlines launched LAX last March and then there is also LO as you mentioned. The region is well covered by other airlines. Fares are not that high so I imagine neither are the yields (from our region).

      Delete
    2. I didn't know about VIE-LAX, that is a good layover for people going between West Coast of US and ex-yu.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:04

      Unknown, and who should offer this route? The both airlines you mentioned, OS and LO, have feeder networks to support such routes. OU could not offer something similar. JU? And i doubt, that an US-Airlines would offer such a service...

      Mihael

      Delete
  25. Anonymous13:34

    How likely is it - say in 10 years time- that we see a double daily EK service to ZAG? Any opinions?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:06

      who live who dead in 10 years

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:37

      Unisti ga sad tim nepotrebnim prevodom

      Delete
    3. Well, who plumps you!

      Delete
  26. Anonymous16:39

    EK is expanding in the region. Last week there news in Bulgaria that Emirates soon will be launching flights to SOF

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:46

      Doubt it. SOF already has 11 weekly QR and 5 weekly FZ. It was just because they opened a Bulgarian embassy in UAE

      Delete
  27. Anonymous19:20

    Next one Ethiopian :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous19:37

    Will Emirates starts. Belgrade any time soon?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:55

      Wait for new suprises :)

      Delete
  29. Anonymous22:14

    We might see the A380 by summer 2020, you neva know. ZAG can be the next PRG, MAD or BCN too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? ZAG will probably never be in that league. PRG one day maybe, the rest - no way.

      Delete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.