Croatia Airlines is upgrading its seasonal flights from Zagreb to Barcelona and Berlin into year-round operations, while services to Stockholm, as well as the Split - Istanbul route, will be extended into part of the winter season. On the other hand, the carrier will suspend its Dubrovnik - Frankfurt operation over a limited period. The development is in line with Croatia Airlines’ plans to reduce seasonality from its hub.
The Star Alliance member will maintain flights to both Barcelona and Berlin throughout the upcoming winter season, which begins on October 26, with three weekly rotations to each destination. Services between Zagreb and Stockholm will also operate three times per week during November and December, continuing until January 9, 2026. Meanwhile, flights between Split and Istanbul will be extended until November 30, then resume for the Christmas and New Year holiday period from December 21 to January 11. Afterwards, the route is scheduled to restart on March 5, 2026, and will operate three times per week during the winter period.
To accommodate growth in its network, Croatia Airlines will reduce frequencies on its domestic Zagreb - Dubrovnik service from 22 to 20 weekly flights for the entire winter season. Additionally, the carrier will suspend its Dubrovnik - Frankfurt route from January 11 to March 8, 2026. The move coincides with plans by Lufthansa’s leisure subsidiary, Discover Airlines, to upgrade its summer seasonal service between the two cities to year-round operations. For now, the remainder of Croatia Airlines’ network remains unchanged when compared to the 2024/25 winter.
At least something. Good to see
ReplyDeleteFinally some evidence that Croatia Airlines is thinking beyond summer tourism. Still a long way to go, but this is a step in the right direction.
DeleteI agree about that. They should finally focus on building hub in Zagreb, adding more year round flights. First step is just like this, to focus on really good routes with best yield, which Berlin, Stockholm and Barcelona are for sure. Next step would be focus on more frequencies on Belin, Barcelona, Stockholm and Hamburg next summer. Also bring back flights to Priština.
DeleteI really don't think Zagreb-Barcelona in February has the "best yield". I don't think it has any yield at all. The route will make a loss.
DeleteI am sure you know what and when will make a loss.
DeleteOf course, the minute Discover starts winter flights to DBV, OU suspends its own.
ReplyDeleteCroatia Airlines should focus on retaining core European links, not giving them up.
DeleteWinter loads on Dubrovnik flights to Frankfurt was terrible, and its not bad move to suspend it. At least Dubrovnik will keep connection with FRA
DeleteGlad they’re extending the Split – Istanbul route! There’s definitely enough demand there beyond the summer. Hope it becomes year-round in the future.
ReplyDeleteBiggest surprise for me on the list. In a good way
DeleteI'm not sure who uses this route in summer and who will now in parts of winter but last time I flew from split there were lots of Russians on the flight
DeleteSo many north America connections on there.
DeleteI appreciate the effort but three weekly flights to major cities like Berlin and Barcelona still feels too conservative. They need to be more ambitious if they want to compete with Ryanair.
ReplyDelete3 weekly is very good for start
DeleteRyanair does not have any Zagreb flights to Barcelona, not even Girona at the winter.
DeleteProbably end up being 1 weekly, look at the cuts the new summer routes have had.
DeleteWell done Croatia Airlines. Now just keep the fares reasonable!
ReplyDeleteI doubt this will happen
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteHau jes nou. If this started happening 20 years ago, with parallel introduction of long-haul, and with much faster and more extensive development, it might have led to Bravo direction. Today, with these too late, too few, too uncertain and too expensive attempts, it's much more another failure than Bravo. Therefore, very big LOL for Bravo Hrvatska
DeleteAny chance they will start flying from LJU?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteThe fact that it will be 2026 when they decided a route like Berlin should be year round...
ReplyDeleteThey used to fly to Tegel years ago year round.
DeleteThey first started flying to Tempelhof years ago and year round. They switched to Tegel only after Tempelhof was shut down
DeleteGreat to see this positive development . I'm sure many people will go home more often or at least for Christmas and this might fill a few seats to SPU, DBV, SJJ and SKP but do you think this will steal pax from connecting airports
ReplyDeleteThis will only happen if Croatia Airlines makes connections available. Typically Croatia Airlines is useless at connections
DeleteAny news about Ljubljana flights
ReplyDeleteOU are interested but not enough money offered. LJU-FCO nonstop is the first potential route.
DeleteHahahahahahaha, it would be hilarious if they open LJU to FCO nonstop and keep flying to FCO from ZAG with stops in SPU and DBV.
DeleteSmall steps in the right direction, but finally something.
ReplyDeleteToo few, too late, too uncertain, too expensive....
DeleteWhy is too late? Is there any time counter which says when is the deadline to open new flights and offer new service to people?
DeleteAegean Airlines is finally making ZAG year round with 3 weekly frequencies.
ReplyDeleteLJU will also be flown 2 weekly until 2nd of January and will restart in the middle of March.
Aegean's Zagreb service has been year-round since last year, and the increase in winter frequnecies was reported in a separate news item on May 19, which you can view here. Aegean's plans for a year-round Ljubljana service was reported in a separate news item on March 25, which you can view here.
DeleteYou can always click on the tags for a particular city located on the right hand side to check the latest updates in order to avoid posting comments unrelated to the artcile you are commenting under.
Many years ago, I flew from Skopje to Zagreb with Croatian Airlines.
ReplyDelete