Croatia Airlines’ winter expansion

Croatia Airlines leasing small jets for flights from Osijek

Croatia Airlines will expand operations from its secondary hubs such as Dubrovnik and Osijek this winter season. The Croatian carrier will introduce all year long flights from Dubrovnik to Munich, which will accompany the existing winter services to Frankfurt, Paris, Rome and Zagreb. Flights will be inaugurated on October 28. Croatia Airlines’ flights from Dubrovnik are subsidised by local authorities and plans are being made for additional subsidies for domestic routes. Recently, financial advisors found that flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik are producing losses but should be kept within the network due to the state subsides. It also found that Munich is the airline’s most profitable destination.

Meanwhile, Osijek Airport has been given some good news. So far this year the airport has had to deal with the departure of Ryanair as well as financial problems and management issues. However, Croatia Airlines will introduce daily winter flights from Osijek to Zagreb and Split. Two thirty seat aircraft will be leased and exclusively used for the abovementioned services. The flights will be partially subsidised by the Croatian Ministry for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. The services are set to launch on October 30. They will be scheduled so as to connect on to Croatia Airlines’ flights to Western Europe.

Croatia Airlines had had a solid 2012 so far. It has managed to handle a record number of passengers in the first half of the year despite industrial action and problems with its pilots in early 2012. Furthermore, it has also managed to somewhat reduce its losses. The airline’s new CEO, Krešimir Kučko, will take over the reins from September 1. His first moves will be closely watched.