Dubrovnik Airport CM speaks to EX-YU Aviation

Dubrovnik on plans, cooperation with Lufthansa and Air Serbia and long haul flights

Dubrovnik Airport’s Commercial Manager and Deputy Director General, as well as officials from the City of Dubrovnik have spoken to EX-YU Aviation News and revealed some of their future plans for Croatia’s third busiest airport, which continues to maintain solid passenger growth following last year’s record breaking performance. Some of the issues discussed include potential long haul charter flights, Croatia Airlines’ decision to cut down its operations during the winter, plans for its new terminal, as well as a range of other topics. Commercial Manager and Deputy Director General at Dubrovnik Airport, Frano Luetić, says all conditions must be met for the launch of regular seasonal long haul flights from Dubrovnik. Mr. Luetić confirmed there was interest last year from Chinese carriers but these did not materialise. Only recently, American Airlines began codesharing on Iberia flights from Madrid to Dubrovnik while US Airways added its codes on British Airways flights from London. US tourists now rank fifth by visits to Dubrovnik and future flights to the United States could prove popular. During the 1980s, Pan Am operated summer services from the States to the seaside city.

Future look of Dubrovnik Airport (visual)

Winter months have proven difficult for the airport as it handles 85% of its total annual traffic during the high summer season. The situation has been made worse by Croatia Airlines’ decision to cut down on destinations and frequencies from October through to March. “We will see how things work out with Croatia Airlines. So far, the schedule for the 2014/15 winter season has not been finalised”. Mr. Luetić adds the airport is trying to stimulate airlines to maintain year long flights to Dubrovnik by lowering handling and landing fees during the winter months. “We hope Air Serbia will continue flying during the winter as it provides a significant number of transit passengers. We are very happy with our cooperation with Air Serbia and are in discussion about future flights”, Mr. Luetić says. In addition, the Deputy Director General notes that Turkish Airlines intended to operate scheduled services from Istanbul to Dubrovnik, however, the airline decided against the move later on. On the other hand, Romana Vlašić, head of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, says the city is now turning to new partners following Croatia Airlines’ decision to rationalise its Dubrovnik operations. “We are currently in talks with Lufthansa. We need to connect Dubrovnik with international hubs to maintain passenger flow throughout the year”, Ms. Vlašić says. The German national carrier currently operates flights from Frankfurt and Munich to Dubrovnik, while its subsidiary, Germanwings, maintains services from Berlin, Cologne, Hannover, Hamburg and Stuttgart. In 2013, Lufthansa alone was the fourth busiest airline operating out of Dubrovnik handling some 80.000 passengers on 718 flights. It was behind only Croatia Airlines, easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle. During the winter, the airport is served only by two airlines to three destinations - Croatia Airlines to Zagreb and Rome and British Airways to London.

Dubrovnik Airport to become first in Croatia to feature air bridges

Despite woes with its national carrier, Dubrovnik Airport is content with its current performance. “We hope that in the next five years we will handle 2.5 million passengers on an annual basis. Our results are directly linked to the number of tourists visiting Dubrovnik. We currently have some fifty airlines operating to the city of which 50% are low cost carriers, 30% are legacy carriers, while charter and business aviation accounts for 20% of traffic”, Mr. Luetić explains. Currently, the airport  has no plans to follow Zadar Airport’s example and provide subsidies to the likes of Ryanair in order for the airline to set up a seasonal summer base. In order to accommodate rising passenger numbers, Dubrovnik has begun expanding its terminal building. It expects to finance 70% of the construction work from European Union funds. The project involves the extension of the terminal, including the installation of air bridges, construction of a new administrative building, as well as catering and cargo facilities. Dubrovnik Airport has confirmed earlier reports published by EX-YU Aviation News that it will become the first in Croatia to feature air bridges. An agreement has already been signed for their purchase and the air bridges will be installed by the end of the year. Dubrovnik Airport opened a brand new terminal, Croatia’s most modern, in 2010. It stretches over 13.700 square metres and has the capacity to handle two million passengers per year.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:05

    Dubrovnik is without a doubt the best looking airport in Croatia and really puts Zagreb to shame in every single way. The major problem is the winter as you say but I support their decision not to subsidise airlines directly. Would be nice to see Air Serbia continue flying during the winter. As for long haul flights I have always wondered why some US airline hasn’t started flying. There would be enough passengers to validate those flights

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:02

      Zagreb airport built in 1962, Dubrovnik airport built in 2012, new terminals being added to Zagreb in 2016 and Dubrovnik in 2017. ;)

      Split airport however is best looking imo.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL18:38

      I agree, SPU is a nice little airport :)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:08

    Last pic is great.DBV looks good.Much better than 98% of coastal airports in Greece

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:44

      Ali Grčka ima mnogo više aerodroma na obali, uključujući i one na ostrvima. Samo jedan Rodos ima oko 5 mil. putnika, takođe i Iraklion i Hanja na Kritu. Izgled nije presudan. Kako god, meni je Dubrovnik najbolji aerodrom u HR i država bi trebala da više pomaže taj aerodrom.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:09

    Mark my words, in a few years Dubrovnik will overtake Zagreb in terms of passenger numbers. The airport is run by professionals and they have a vision- which is very important.
    As far as Air Serbia goes, they would be perfect to fly here since they are making it easy for Balkan and eastern European people to fly in!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:10

    Is OU planning on taking up some A340s? :O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:31

      No A380, a fleet of them, on order as we speak. Moon flights after that.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:22

    Good news. When should the new terminal be completed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:44

      Construction of 2nd section should start in October or November this year, old terminal was knocked down and cleared in April,

      Construction should start in early 2015 with pause during high tourist season and be finished by the end of 2017. The EU is financing with 75% and Dubrovnik airport with 25%. Zagreb airport could have been financed the same way, why it didn't we can only wonder. Zagreb had saved up 250 million kuna by the end of 2011, with 2012 and 2013 and now 2014 Airport could have easily come up with another 250 million kuna. Croatian State and City of Zagreb could have put another 500 million kuna, and the EU would finance the airport with around 60% funds or around 1.5 billion kuna.






      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:23

    It is sad that OU leaves Dubrovnik airport during winter months... It is a shame, also. The best propaganda is if tourist come to Dubrovnik flying with OU... Introducing winter flights by Lufthansa is not so bad, but it is bad knowing that OU failed...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:10

      Aren't you happy Air Serbia might stick around for the winter season? o__O

      I am sure they could make Dubrovnik work, after all, they managed to turn Banja Luka into a success story.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:58

      It is not clear if Air Serbia turned Banja Luka into successful story since we do not know if that flight got subsidies. Also, getting a smaller aircraft to fly on that route (Saab with 50 seats instead of ATR with 66) does not look like success.

      Also, reducing the return ticket price to only 54€ (almost like you took a bus) does not look so bright...

      Only if Trebinje and Nevesinje people would use Dubrovnik, only then I would imagine Air Serbia flights to Dubrovnik year long.

      If OU is giving up, they are giving up with reason. I know Zagreb could never offer that much connections as Belgrade, but I just think there is no enough demand for Dubrovnik...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:14

      Hmm not quite. The only reason why Darwin operates flights to Banja Luka is because JU needed to launch Pula flights. It was a win-win situation, especially since Darwin would sit for hours in BEG collecting dust. Loads to Banja Luka have considerably improved. It went from 10 passengers per flight to 45 now! If that's not a success then I do not know what is.

      As far as the drop in price goes, it was reduced not only because JU got their charges down but because both Republika Srpska and Serbia agree to abolish a few taxes. If only other regional airports and governments would be as creative and efficient. What Air Serbia did in Banja Luka was revolutionary, they create a flying public which takes the plane in stead of taking a bus. Mind you, only 50% of the passengers from Banja Luka are transfer ones- at least that's according to airport and ministry officials.

      Air Serbia would be a great option for Dubrovnik. They would open new markets, as mentioned earlier, Balkan folk could finally fly in, in addition to the Middle East and the rest of Europe becoming more accessible. Now, if they could attract both Lufthansa and Air Serbia then it would be the best, especially since both airlines have the right aircraft for the winter season in Dubrovnik.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:37

      OU maintains winter flights, just not many, i think 3 weekly flights, in the past it had 10-12 weekly flights during winters. There's also flights to Rome twice weekly during winters. Dubrovnik isn't profitable as a route during winters, why maintain flights, what OU did was best for them, not for Dubrovnik airport profits.

      OU slashed its Zagreb operations by 25% all in effort to reduce the cost, any growth at Zagreb is due to presence of foreign carriers who are now maintaining 50% of the market share, this ratio should be 75%, and hopefully can be achieved by 2020.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:18

    Good news. Why hasn't Lufthansa ever opened its own airline in Croatia? Something like Lufthansa Italia once upon a time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because Lufthansa already has an airline in Croatia.

      It is called OU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:25

      I know but wouldn't it be easier to set up their own operations

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:31

      Pa OU radi sve sto im LH Grupa kaze,moze biti da ce za 3-4 godine da postoji Lufthansa Croatia tako sam cuo.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:32

      INN

      Delete
    5. Certainly not easier. Starting operations in Croatia would require investment and risk. Why bother at all when Lufty already gets all the feed that they can get, and it comes at zero risk and zero investment.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:55

      Aleksandre nije to rizik za njih samo bi preuzeli Avione od Ou i dodali leti jos koji A321.Aco sta mislis sto ne lete za ESSA(LH tu kasira dobre pare)
      Njima Ou samo smeta sa codeshare agreementom na njihovim letovima za Nemacku.
      Ja licno znam ta je LH trazio od Adrije da leti sa Lodz i uskoro za Bydgoszcz zbog prevrtljivog Lota koga EY namerava da kupi:)
      INN

      Delete
  8. Anonymous10:27

    Odakle BA leti za LDDU jel iz EGKK ili sa EGLL
    I koliko putnika ima Godisnje LDDU :)
    INN

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nikola10:50

      EGKK

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:23

      BA leti s Gatwicka tijekom cijele godine. Oko 1,6 milijuna putnika godišnje.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous12:22

    Uhapšen direktor BEG zbog navodne štete koju je naneo državi ugovorom sa W6. Uskoro opširnije.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can discuss that news here http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/p/belgrade-airport-ceo-arrested.html

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:36

      That should have been the news of the day, not this.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:36

      Thinking that yesterday he was there, opening the TAP line.

      Delete
    4. I don't have magical powers to predict whether someone is going to be arrested or not. News here is published each day at 9.00 CEST. You have the link to the news, so you can discuss it there.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:47

      But for sure that should be news tomorrow. Director of biggest airport in exYU arrested because of subvention to Wizz which was denied to even exist several months ago. And of course it was not found before Air Serbia (whan you desperately need Wizzair in BEG), but now?!?!?!

      Delete
    6. JATBEGMEL18:30

      BEG wasnt desperate for WizzAir. The time Wizz Air came to BEG they were starting their expansion to the exYU region, SKP quickly followed etc etc. The option was either INI or BEG, but BEG came to be more favourable due to this agreement for which the CEO is in custody. Wizz wasnt denied to operate in Serbia, rather made to operate under the same terms like every other airline does. Btw, Air Serbia was created in the new government (SNS) where as Wizz entered the Serbian market under the former Government (DS)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous21:19

      Oh yes BEG was desperate. In time Wizz came BEG and ZAG traffic was almost the same, and cargo in ZAG was much better.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous22:56

      BEG and ZAG traffic was never the same, sorry...

      Delete
    9. JATBEGMEL23:07

      Wizz Air came to Belgrade towards the end of 2010. That year, traffic figures at the airport were:

      BEG: 2.698.730 (+13%) and 7.427t cargo (+11%)

      ZAG: 2.067.646 (+0,5%)

      Lets give 2011 as the first full year of Wizz Air which is when they also opened their BEG base. BEG that year had the 3rd highest pax numbers since opening in 1962.

      BEG: 3.124.633 (+15,8%) and 8.025t cargo (+8%)

      ZAG: 2.319.098 (+11,9%)

      Zagreb was clearly not 'almost the same' as Belgrade, and each passing year is becoming more distant and distant in pax figures, as well as cargo etc. In 2011, Jat was still some how holding in and had pax growth.

      Delete
    10. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    11. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Zagreb has had more cargo traffic than Belgrade through to 2013.

      Belgrade total cargo 2013 = 8.704t.
      Zagreb total cargo 2013 = 9.206t.

      So far this year,

      Belgrade = 5.117t (this includes flood relief)
      Zagreb = 4.477t

      Delete
  10. Anonymous12:58

    Trazi li ovde neki Pilot poso ako mu treba nek napise ispod.
    INN

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous13:57

    OT: QA A388 had a minor accident, cabin water leakage. http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/qantas-flight-from-los-angeles-turns-back-after-water-pipe-leaks-20140702-zstzf.html
    Its the secont A388 accident, the first was also QA from several years ago, it was engine failure.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nikola15:29

    OT: YU-APD in full cs at SNN 02jul14 after paint prior delivery
    we might expect it soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jos dva ATR 72-500 pa da nakrivimo kapu

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:56

      Ex yu why are dusans comments always deleted? Does he really right something bad or is it an error?

      Delete
    4. I deleted my post because i mad mistake....about Yu-APD

      Delete
  13. Anonymous17:49

    Interestingly, the article mentions that Turkish Airlines considered launching flights to DBV, then decided against it. What about Pegasus? They would add real value if they connected DBV with Istanbul.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous18:18

    OT: June at ZAG is up 6.8% with 243.984 pax

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:01

      recovery in full progress, although numbers are still low, its moving for the better, July and August should see also nice numbers coming in.

      Lets see how other airports have done in the region.

      Zagreb:
      Ljubljana:
      Split:
      Dubrovnik:
      Skopje:
      Sarajevo:
      Belgrade:
      Pristina:

      Not sure if other airports frequently publish their numbers.

      I hope 2015 will be a great year for Zagreb and continue with strong passenger growth in rest of Croatia.

      prediction for 2014.

      Zagreb: 2 500 000
      Split: 1 720 000
      Dubrovnik: 1 620 000
      Zadar: 520 000
      Pula: 420 000
      Rijeka: 185 000
      Osijek: 35 000

      Total: 7 000 000

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:22

      And LSZ and BWK together 15.000

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:04

      I think that PUY will have a great season and we will surprise with their statistics... During some days they have 1 flight per hour, even 2... It is a great result if we consider have small and insignificant is this airport in european context.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous18:35

    ASL should have daily winter flights to DBV, which is for citizens of Herceg-Novi even closer than TIV. At least with atr72. Thanx and I love Dubrovnik airport. Regards from Belgrade!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous19:21

    ot: what about 2 mill passengers on beg yesterday?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11.800 less than 2 mill.....pitty

      Delete
  17. Anonymous20:19

    Gde je DR Avijacije Purger =D
    INN

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, where is Purger? He should give us some comments Purger, do you think that JU could realistically fly to Dubrovnik during the winter?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23:30

      Ja volim purgerove postove. Mislim da je izuzetno avijacijski obrazovan. I svaki put kad nesto napise, tj.predvidi, tako i bude. Voleo bih da znam sta on u stvari radi..

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:14

      Ja isto obozavam njegove postove, i sto je najvaznije ne pod...... druge ko dosta njih primitivaca ovde,
      INN =D

      Delete
    4. Anonymous02:08

      He disappeared after everyone on here absolutely trashed him for his harsh review of JU a few months ago.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous02:12

      He is not active on other forums either lately so he is just busy with work. He posted a lot here after that review

      Delete
  18. Anonymous20:49

    Etihad Regional planira letove Linz-Zürich-Linz
    INN

    ReplyDelete

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