Chongqing - Zadar flights to launch in March

China approves Chongqing - Zadar service

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved the launch of charter flights between Chongqing, in the country’s Southwest, and Zadar. The CEO of Zadar Airport, Irena Ćosić, will form part of a Croatian delegation which will visit Beijing from February 5 to 9 where details of the new service will be finalised and an operating carrier selected. “This is an important project which should be concluded with these talks and we expect to sign an agreement. This is also important for our airport as it will open the doors to a major new market”, Ms. Ćosić says. The new service has been initiated by the Chinese Southeast Europe Business Association (CSEBA).

Flights from Chongqing to Zadar are planned to operate once every ten days. Chinese tourists will visit Zagreb and Dubrovnik, as well as Split, Plitvice, Rovinj and Kumrovec during their ten day stay in the country. According to Ms. Ćosić, Zadar’s position on the Adriatic coast will give Chinese tourists an opportunity to make a quick visit to Italy as well. Charters between China and Croatia would mark the first air link between the two countries. CSEBA hopes to eventually introduce scheduled yearlong services. Zadar Airport’s CEO says she expects for flights between China and Croatia to commence by early March.

Recently, Croatia Airlines said it would cooperate with Chinese carriers and work together to bring Chinese tourists to the country. The airline’s CEO, Krešimir Kučko, presented the flag carrier to a Chinese business delegation from Chongqing, as well as the DC Travel agency, which will assist in setting up the charter service. Mr. Kučko expressed his desire for Croatia Airlines to get behind the flights and offer domestic connections to Chinese visitors. In turn, the airline aims to improve its loads on domestic flights throughout the year, as visitors from China will also be offered packages outside of the busy summer season.