Croatia Airlines saw the delivery of its eighth Airbus A220 aircraft this morning and the second -100 variant of the jet. Registered 9A-CAQ and named Pula, the aircraft flew nonstop from Montreal to Zagreb, unlike earlier deliveries which routed via Copenhagen. The plane, which is under financial lease to the airline, was handed over yesterday after completing a series of test flights and checks since February 12. Its arrival marks the first of seven A220s scheduled to join the Croatian carrier this year and the final -100 variant to be delivered. A further six aircraft will enter the fleet by the end of the year, bringing the total number of A220s to fourteen (twelve A220-300s and two A220-100s). The airline’s transition to a single-type fleet will be finalised next year with the arrival of the remaining A220-300 aircraft.
Asked by EX-YU Aviation News this week how the airline plans to successfully utilise its single-type fleet on thinner routes, Croatia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Slaven Žabo, said, “Croatia Airlines’ strategy is to operate a single type fleet with A220s but it does not exclude other aircraft types under different arrangements. We will engage proper capacity on the proper routes through ACMI arrangements”. The Croatian carrier plans to retire a total of five aircraft this year, having already phased out its last A320 last month. It currently operates four A319s and three Dash 8 Q400s, in addition to the growing number of A220 aircraft in its fleet.
Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, recently said, “2026 will be particularly demanding in terms of fleet renewal, as it will involve the induction of seven new aircraft while five aircraft are simultaneously phased out of the fleet. At the same time, further steps in optimising the route network will be crucial in a higher-capacity environment to effectively meet growing travel demand and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction. Investments in digital services and the enhancement of the customer experience will further strengthen passenger confidence and the company’s competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic market”.
The big question is still how Croatia Airlines plans to make this work economically.
ReplyDeleteThey will just as Plenkovic for another hand out
Deletethey won't. this is a start of croatia airlines bankruptcy
DeleteThe A220 is a great aircraft, but the airline itself is the problem. Management has had decades to turn things around and yet the company remains small, uncompetitive and heavily dependent on the state.
DeleteA 100-seater should be no problem to fill up. The lease is high, no question about it, but the maintenance and fuel costs are beneficial.
DeleteGreat to see another A220 arrive in Zagreb. The fleet renewal has been long overdue.
ReplyDeleteThe old fleet was just fine, and much better for the airline financially than the A220s which are on an expensive lease and also totally unsuitable for the airline.
DeleteThey burn 10% less fuel, but leasing cost 350% more
Deletein any case its nice to see them parked in zagreb
DeleteThey burn 25% less fuel.
DeleteBravo OU!
DeleteMore planes but still very limited connectivity for passengers from Zagreb. Many travellers continue to rely on foreign airlines because Croatia Airlines offers too few destinations and often higher fares.
DeleteFuel consumption is indeed 35% less, the lease is surely not 350% higher. On top of that, there is no or little maintenance cost in the first year.
DeleteInteresting that the aircraft flew directly from Montreal this time instead of via Copenhagen.
ReplyDeleteSo you get 15 new aircraft, all the same only to realise that you will now need to wet lease planes because the new planes don't suit your needs.
ReplyDeleteCredits given where credits due! OU managed the impossible here. They succeeded in getting an airplane that is at the same time too big and too small for their needs. But, it's nice and shiny and is great for the feeder service to FRA and MUC and ACMI for LHG if needed. It is almost as if LHG ordered these airplanes for OU, or at least advised them to do it.
Delete^ fully agree!
Deleteyep, the second Air baltic.
ReplyDeleteOf course makes sense for both, as they have too many planes and have no real use for them in their respecitve regions
He is talking of getting planes through ACMI, not giving OU plans to others through ACMI.
DeleteIf they were smart they would wet lease their own planes in winter.
DeleteACMIs are popular in summer when extra capacity is needed. In winter, airlines have more (potential) capacity than needed. That is why, OU's strategy of brand new aircrafts does not make sense for the highly seasonal market of Croatia. They need to fly them 3-4 rotations per day through out the year for the lease to make sense, but their network strategy does not support this.
DeleteFrom a passenger perspective the A220 is a massive upgrade. Larger windows, quieter cabin and modern interiors. It will be nice to see these replacing the Q400s eventually.
ReplyDeletethis is very unfortunate. once the payments for these new planes start kicking in they will run dry in ~2yrs probably. and then it's either bankruptcy or lufthansa takeover.
ReplyDeleteTrue unfortunately
DeleteFalse actually.
DeletePeople here are delusional. Airlines don't get bust because of single type fleets.
DeleteYep. As we see OU's finances are doing amazing since getting the A220s...
DeleteI noticed that 9A-CTN (A319) went to Cairo yesterday. It does not seem to be on some reparation flight. It has been parked there since. Is it leaving the fleet too?
ReplyDeleteFourteen A220s by the end of the year is actually quite a significant fleet for a small airline like Croatia Airlines. The challenge will be filling them outside the peak summer months.
ReplyDeleteThey struggle in summer too!
DeleteCroatia Airlines should have kept at least some turboprops for very short domestic sectors during winter.
ReplyDeleteThe A220-100 is quite a rare variant globally compared to the -300. Interesting that Croatia Airlines opted for both versions instead of standardising on one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a strange choice unless you expressly need it for some performance restricted airports lile LCY.
DeleteI think it was done because of Brac. There is some issue. I believe with runway length on hot days. Something like that, so they needed A220-100 for that. They had similar issues in Skopje last summer.
DeleteFleet renewal is one thing, but route development is another. If the airline doesn’t open new markets, these aircraft will end up being underutilised.
ReplyDeleteSeven new aircraft in one year is a huge operational shift for such a small airline.
ReplyDeleteAgree. The pace of deliveries almost feels unusual for such a small airline. It’s rare to see so many aircraft entering a fleet in such a short period.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteOMG. Boring Boring Boring
Delete+1
DeleteOne thing I’m curious about is maintenance. Will Croatia Airlines handle most A220 maintenance in Zagreb or rely on external partners?
ReplyDeleteZagreb
DeleteThanks
DeleteThey need to invest in better connectivity and schedules
ReplyDeleteYou retire Q400, you say that you want to have fleet consisting of single aircraft type and then you give such a statement:
ReplyDelete"We will engage proper capacity on the proper routes through ACMI arrangements”
Crazy
DeleteHow long did the nonstop flight from Montreal take?
ReplyDeleteIt took 8 hours 30 minutes.
DeleteI wasn't aware the A220 had such range
DeleteKeep in mind plane was empty.
DeleteIt does not have such range when fully loaded, like any other type. It flew empty. If plane, irrelevant of the type, is empty, It can fly much longer than in regular operations with passengers, luggage and cargo
DeleteEmpty, full tanks and good tailwinds aloft.
DeletePure ferry flight.
I hope the airline takes advantage of the improved range to explore slightly longer routes from Zagreb.
DeleteI wonder what the loss will be this year
ReplyDeleteMy guess around 50 million
DeleteWhich city will the plane be named after?
ReplyDeleteIt says Pula in the article
DeleteI really don't understand an expensive fleet renewal only to have to wet lease planes because these are too big for you and you do that with full knowledge in advanced.
ReplyDeleteNo one understands
DeleteThis is make or break for OU.
ReplyDeleteCroatia Airlines has been surviving on government support for years and now they are adding expensive aircraft without a clear strategy on how to make them profitable.
DeleteIt is interesting how the airline talks about ACMI arrangements already. If the A220 is the perfect aircraft for their network, why do they already expect to lease other planes?
ReplyDeletehow will they fill fourteen A220s in January and February?
ReplyDeleteI really hope Jasmin asked himself the same question.
DeleteDear Fans
DeleteGreetings from Buzin, where my third coffee of the day is being drunk outside in the spring sunshine. I'm so proud of this new shiny fleet of planes where we will be able to offer our esteemed customers an even greater level of comfort and space due to our dismal LF. Fret not about next winter, my governmental friends will give me some more taxpayer money to keep this great symbol of national pride and freedom the cash to survive.
Yours
Ever faithful Jasmin B
Every delivery is presented as a big milestone, yet the airline’s market share in its own country keeps shrinking.
ReplyDelete