ECA to launch international flights in 2016

European Coastal Airlines expanding network and fleet

Croatian-based European Coastal Airlines (ECA), Europe’s only scheduled seaplane service, plans to add flights to Italy and Montenegro next year as it continues to expand its fleet and destination network. Less than a year following its launch, ECA has become a success story with the airline estimated to handle some 221.000 passengers this year, which would make it the fifth busiest airline registered in the former Yugoslavia. The carrier’s three-member fleet can land both on ground and water. With a capacity of nineteen seats, they fly to a handful of destinations across Croatia. By 2016, a further four aircraft will join the fleet and international flights are expected to be launched, including Montenegro and Italy. However, services to the Italian coast, primarily Ancona, are unlikely to be introduced prior to Croatia’s entry into the Schengen Area, expected in late 2016.

ECA plans to expand its destination network and workforce as early as this year. New flights from Novalja, a town on the island of Pag, on Croatia’s central coast, will launch from June 1. They will complement existing services between Zagreb, Split, Pula, Rijeka, Jelsa and Rab. “If we add all our planned destinations, we anticipate having some 400 employees”, ECA says. The airline will invest a further twenty million euros in its operations in the coming period. CEO Klaus Dieter Martin, says, “Currently, we are updating our present fleet and welcoming new seaplanes to it, establishing Europe's first seaplane airline with scheduled flights, changing approaches to business and improving sales”. The carrier is also developing a fleet of "floating airports" fitted with restaurants, bars and shops.

Despite its success, the airline has had to deal with significant bureaucracy over the past several years. Thomas Kuhmann, a Munich financier who invested 750.0000 in ECA, says, "The maritime ministry and the aviation board came up with endless objections. When Martin [CEO] produced pictures from 1927 showing postal seaplanes moored in front of Diocletian's Palace in Split, suddenly headwinds became tailwinds". Part of ECA’s success is its customer base. Tourism accounts for less than 50% of business, allowing the airline to operate flights throughout the winter months as well. "For Croat islanders, we are the quickest way to the mainland”, Mr. Kuhmann concludes.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:08

    Take note B&H Airlines. ECA has a bigger fleet than you, more employees, 4 times more passengers than you and it has been around since August last year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:17

      B&H Airlines is owned by shity government. How do you expect the airline to be have profit when it is owned by a bunch of fucktards.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:12

    Really happy for them. Good work,

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:22

    Refreshing to read some news on this airline. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:24

    ECA news are always good news :)

    is the next Twin Otter still in Bern?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:44

    Now that's what I'd call groundbreaking and innovative really realising customer needs. A big thumbs up!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:56

    LOL! This is nothing ground breaking, and it was tried before! They will NEVER get permission from Montenegro to fly seaplane, as there is no regulation for them. Even flying copters from/to ships is very problematic, but seaplanes much harder. Think about all the groups for protecting this and that how they will react.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:35

      I am sorry to be direct - but who cares about MNE? That market is entirely insignificant to ECA.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:09

    Interesting that tourists don't account for the majority of their passengers. 221.000 pax is really solid. Half of MGX and they launched 9 months ago!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:11

    OT: Turkey issues permits for Air Serbia (Aviolet) charters for the upcoming summer season.

    http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2015&mm=05&dd=12&nav_id=990740

    Hence, comments over the previous few days of some sort of negative reciprocity have been unfounded. This paints a far more balanced picture and, thankfully, takes into consideration Air Serbia's legitimate interests. Belgrade airport is not Sarajevo airport, where the Turks can flood the market as they please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20

      Broj do ovog trenutka odobrenih čarter letova za Aviolet i Turkish Airlines je skoro upala manji nego što ih je iz Beograda u okviru čartera obavljeno ka turskim letovalištima za vreme letnje sezone 2014. godine.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:27

      Don't think you will be celebrating when pax numbers decline in june and july because you didn't want Turkish airlines 'flooding' the market with seats.

      Delete
    3. Sarajevo12:06

      AnonymousMay 12, 2015 at 10:11 AM

      Uuuu jeste opasni, evo klanjamo vam se.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:36

      What's that got to do with Air Serbia, if people simply have less money to travel? If the packages were bought there would be a corresponding number of charters.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous10:14

    I wonder if the managed to make a profit last year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:28

      I don't think any startup airline makes a profit during the first year ;)

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:28

    The good thing about ECA is that they are investing in these floating airports too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. OT : A friend of mine flew today to WAW on JU 630 , where the LF was 25 - 30 %.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:24

      LOT also having poor loads. Any more recent experience?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:50

      I would say even that is good, taking into account that there is NOTHING to feed those flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:57

      ASL load factor on the route during W14/15 was 44%, in April the same. During last summer season it was better, though. In fact, nearly 57%. For LOT not available data.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:07

      How don't you people get board discussing Air Serbia LFs day in and day out on every single news every single day.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:17

      WAW ima dobar Kargo LF to i vadi liniju ,kako sm ja cuo LO stoji bolje na liniji za LYBE.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:54

      More and more I am hearing news of catastrophic loads at JU flights. On SSC you have a fresh example of flight to AUH with some 25% LF
      ASL will soon need to give up on any expansion and drastically reduce mot operations, with postponing expansion for 2020 and beyond. Otherwise they will go bankrupt in 2016.

      Delete
    7. I don't know about LOT, but this was a situation on today's ASL flight. LOT might have better LF as they don't rely just on O&D pax... I didn't want to start any fight, just said the real situation.
      I think it would be bad to cancel any route, but to reduce some frequencies.
      Every route needs time to have a good load factor. Maybe here particulary it would be great if ASL had some smaller plane like LOT has (E170 - E175) , which they could also use on long ATR routes (PRG for example) ...

      Delete
    8. JATBEGMEL15:58

      ^^^

      I wrote on here and in SSC.

      AUH is highly seasonal. The return flight from AUH had over 80 pax. Flights from AUH to BEG atm see a much better load, Problem from BEG is I dont think enough feeds the flight to AUH, whilst O&D can only feed so much.

      What is interesting is the amount who come from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to fly with either EY or JU rather than FZ. Emiratis are among those who I frequently see on those flights, who go to vaccation in Serbia.

      There is a rumour in EY that a A330 maybe sent during the summer months when they take over the flight. The demand is there for at least an A320. That flight fills well and doesnt see drastic change as does JU800.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous16:18

      JU is slowly improving its cabin load factor to AUH. It was 54% for all year round, while it was 56% until 5th May. January was the bast month during last winter. Etihad simply must've had incomparably better CLF.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous16:20

      There is a rumour in EY that a A330 maybe sent during the summer months when they take over the flight.

      Hope you are right since EY is dropping Belgrade this autumn - completely. JU will take over the EY slot and it will be one AUH daily only. The evening JU departure will be gone.

      FZ on the other hand is doing quite well from DXB but the line is still not mature for Emirates entry. EK have no plans for BEG anytime soon, even as a tag-on.

      With EY's departure, QR will be the biggest winner since it will remain as THE premium carrier between ME and BEG - with IFE and their so-called 5* service.

      Regrettably, this winter we will see BEG being dropped by at least three more carriers, while JU will also terminate few routes. Won't try to convince or prove this news to anyone, just sit back and watch... but I myself am not happy with this development.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous16:26

      EY ce slati A330 to sam i ja cuo ili 789 .
      INN-NS

      Delete
    12. "There is a rumour in EY that a A330 maybe sent during the summer months when they take over the flight. The demand is there for at least an A320."

      It would be sweet if they do send the A330 but to be honest I highly doubt it. I know that EY flight has great loads (during summer 2014 time any flights were overbooked), but the maximum scheduled aircraft we can see is the A320 family for now. The only way I see EY sending A330 regularly to BEG is if ASL discontinues AUH so from double daily to daily. At the same time maybe if the load on specific flight is great, we might see one or two A330 just like one last year due to cargo.

      Delete
    13. "
      Hope you are right since EY is dropping Belgrade this autumn - completely. JU will take over the EY slot and it will be one AUH daily only. The evening JU departure will be gone."

      It would more sense to be the other way around. EY flights are recording great numbers, while ASL is having around 50% LF which is terrible for such a long route.

      Also, first somebody said " ASL is cutting AUH"
      Now " EY is cutting BEG"

      Delete
    14. Anonymous17:08

      Admin do you have any info on this manner. I would really appreciate if you could clarify this situation.

      Delete
    15. Regarding Etihad's future Belgrade operations (winter 2015/16) an Etihad spokesperson told EX-YU Aviation News two weeks ago, "Etihad Airways does not comment on rumours or speculations":

      There are some indications that flights between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade will operate once per day during the winter, down from double daily, however, the official line is "no comment". Tickets for both flights are on sale though.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous17:17

      Have just received FZ's statistics for april, DXB-BEG-DXB 134 passengers per flight, load factor almost 77%.

      Delete
    17. Anonymous17:32

      "Have just received FZ's statistics for april, DXB-BEG-DXB 134 passengers per flight, load factor almost 77%."
      If those numbers are true I bet we will see EK in BEG before across the pond flights :P

      Ok thanks admin, so for now lets wait and see!

      Delete
    18. http://www.aviokarta.net/vesti/3126-reportaza-srednjelinijska-biznis-klasa-flydubaija/

      1) They are saying that ultimately FZ wants to fly daily to BEG. My point is that when FZ starts DAILY flights to BEG or ZAG then we can expect EK.
      2) On their flight there were 156 pax of which 6 were in C ( now that is a hit ASL/EY face).

      BTW can somebody provide FZ numbers for Zagreb, Sarajevo, and Skopje. I heard they are doing good in Sarajevo and also ZAG considering that both the flights will go 4 weekly.

      Delete
    19. @YYZ

      Nice review, they could add more pics though, but I guess I'm used to those trip reports from airliners.net
      Let's not forget that they operate 4 times a week, while ASL/EY are 2 daily together.
      I bet the loads to AUH with one daily would be similar to those that FZ has.

      Delete
    20. Coma,
      I do believe that on daily flights during summer time EY would do fantastic, I was just trying to make a point that FZ is here to stay. I remember before people were speculating on whether FZ or QR is going to leave BEG due to double daily by the ASL/EY.

      All of this proves that in aviation business you have to fight for the share of the market by all means possible, and that sometimes too rapid of an expansion does not work.

      Delete
    21. @YYZ ,

      I agree with you. Rapid expansion is a bit foolish and costs a lot of money.
      I've never thought that FZ would leave.
      For QR I was suspicios, as they always got blocked by either Turkey for fifth freedom on ESB - BEG route, or now by DCV for SOF - BEG and vice versa. Also due to their poor LF that was discussed here many times.

      Delete
    22. JATBEGMEL03:38

      Lets wait and see what happens. JU800 seems very seasonal. In the summer it is packed, in the winter not as much. EY flights are always full, A321 could be used all year, with occassional A330 upgrade during the summer months. Its not often EY has many empty seats left on the flights. It definately not as drastic as with JU800.

      QR is definately the weaker carrier in BEG and I dont see how theyve stayed in BEG for soo long. FZ seems seasonal to me just like JU is. When I checked loads for a few of their flights in the winter they had over 100 empty seats. As I said as well, I travel between BEG and DXB but choose to fly from AUH as it is more convenient and cheaper most of the time.

      Delete
    23. JATBEGMEL03:45

      Regarding the reduction, I think it will be a wrong move as that would possibly feed the other competiting carriers with pax. Returning that 2nd daily would be harder. Something more needs to be done from the Belgrade side as JU800 isnt really being fed. Regional connectivity is horrible.

      Delete
    24. JATBEGMEL,
      regarding prices from DXB to BEG, whenever I look for those flights SU and QR are almost always the cheapest options by far. I put some random dates in June period and what I got was SU for 414 euros, TK for 446, and QR for 452. ASL/EY is around 490 euros.

      Anyhow, Before FZ came to BEG market I remember I paid close to 800 euros for a return ticket to DXB with OS/LH. Nowadays with decent promotions you can find for even 350 euros.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous11:18

    Svaka cast sto su se usudili da investiraju u tako nesto i sto su obstali.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:52

      "Obstali"? Ozbiljno?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:54

      'mojne' da nam diras patriJotu...

      Delete
  13. Anonymous11:23

    A takodje danas je veiki dan za Srpsku Aviaciju zbog ugovora sa USA .
    I da cestitam svima koji su radili na njemu na uspehu :
    I da se ostvari sve planirano za ASL.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iako ovo uzima puno vise vremena, nekako mislim da DoT dozvola moze da bude puno problematicnija sobzirom na trenutni "rat" izmedju Americkih kompanija i MEB3

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:08

      SM
      Ne bojte se YYZ pocinje imacete direktnu liniju i brze cete stizati u SJJ :)
      INN-NS

      Delete
    3. Iz tvojih usta u bozije usi, sto bi rekao nas narod. Iako ja bas ne djelim tvoj entuzijazam iz vise razloga. Kao prvo mislim da imaju i imace dosta problema sa dozvolama, a drugo i bitnije ja ne vidim kako mogu biti profitabilni.

      Tako da cu ja da pocnem vjerovati onda kad sve to vidim svojim ocima.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:52

      Sto se tice CAN nije problem toliki kao za USA , videcemo ja kako sam cuo mocete svakako brze stizati do SJJ .:)
      INN-NS

      Delete
    5. JATBEGMEL03:50

      @ INN-SNS

      Air Serbia is not opening flights to Guangzhou neither to Concord, North Carolina! Learn your IATA codes!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous04:02

      Haha, you sir just made my day :)

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:02

    I can imagine a line to Ohrid. The airport is next to the lake so the terminal and probably great part of navigation equipment are already there.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous17:29

    Air China codes added onto JU's morning flights to Vienna.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:31

      Do you people even read the news here or just spam the comments section of non Air Serbia related articles

      http://www.exyuaviation.com/p/air-serbia-air-china-begin-codesahare.html

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:46

      Yeah, we read the news and they were only added this morning.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:48

      I think we can't count much on that code-share. There is a 7 hours wait in Vienna which is uncompetitive to say the least. Qatar in the meantime is becoming more and more of a 'nuisance' to other carriers in Belgrade (impacting even Etihad as we can see) and currently they're offering flights to Beijing for 386$ one-way. That's some serious dumping. I hardly see anyone sitting the whole day in Vienna just to pay more.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:21

      "There is a 7 hours wait in Vienna which is uncompetitive to say the least."

      My favorite 7 hour Vienna stopover includes visit to Belvedere and enjoying Klimt's masterpieces with significant other. Not into arts? Jump onto CAT train at the airport and enjoy Sacher or Doboš cakes in the city!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous19:21

      Wow, that's some nice publicity you're doing out-there. Are you getting paid for it? Actually, that's good idea to spend another 100 Eur. for an afternoon in Vienna after overpaying the ridiculously high Air Serbia/Air Chine codeshare, being an idiot till the end, you know, and when we hear about a 4 hour wait in Belgrade it's all gloom and doom for FYROM or Croatia pax.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous19:11

    OT: Does anyone know when is the new ATR due to fly for Air Seria for the first time?

    ReplyDelete
  17. AirCEO19:52

    OT: http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Ekonomija/558406/Ispunjeni-tehnicki-uslovi-za-direktne-letove-do-SAD

    "Ambasador SAD u Srbiji Majkl Kirbi je poručio ... ovaj sporazum otvorenog neba "govori da će više kompanija imati mogućnost da leti i imati direktne letove".
    - Da li će to biti Njujork, Čikago ili Los Anđeles, sve opcije su otvorene i zato kompanije moraju znati čime raspolažu da bi na kraju i zaradile na svemu tome"

    Huh. More companies? The only company with hubs in all three mentioned cities is American Airlines. They are ideal choice as Air Serbia codeshare partner, but are they really interested to fly from any of those points to Belgrade? Could there be a deal where Air Serbia serves New York while AA covers Chicago-Belgrade, or even LAX-BEG (wow!) with their own metal, and both codeshare on those routes? They certainly have an arsenal of A330, 767 and 788 to choose from. Perhaps I am reading too much into this statement...

    Worst scenario would be not cooperation but competition, as in ASL starting BEG-JFK and soon after Delta starting the same route. There's no profit for either side, but airlines have been known to do that. Huh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you are reading too much into this. I think BEG is not even on their radars.

      On the other hand journalist asked her about Etihad closing its office in Belgrade. Has anyone heard anything about this? To me it doesn't make any sense for EY to have office in Belgrade when JU can take care of everything for them

      Delete
    2. I highly doubt that BEG is even considered as an option for the USB3. They aren't active in South East Europe. If the city can't fill a 767, or it is too far for a 757, then they simply leave it to their alliance partners.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:53

      Resenje je da Air Serbia postance clan neke alijanse, najbolje ST ili eventualno OW. OW ima ogromnu ruu u ovom delu sveta nakon propasti Maleva a QR je predaleko da bi to popunio kaoi ostali clanovi alijanse o siroj okolini AB, RJ...

      Delete
    4. OW would probably be the best, but I don't think that EY will want JU to join an alliance without them. Ideally, Etihad, Alitalia, and Air Serbia would join Oneworld, along with Air Berlin which is already Oneworld.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous21:55

      Za pocetak se leti samo za jedan grad naverovatnije JFK.
      Mozda AA pocne sa letovima ORD -BEG sa 788 i ako bi ja vise voleo iz LAX mada je to ne moguce :)
      INN-NS

      Delete
    6. Anonymous22:21

      Ja sam se nadao da ćeš nam dati neku vruću vest..

      Delete
    7. Anonymous22:26

      Pa sta vas tacno zanima.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    8. Anonymous22:34

      Kada, gde, koliko...

      Delete
    9. Anonymous22:58

      Prvi kvartal 2016 , odluceno je vec kojih 15 -15 pilota ide na sim,.
      A332 je i ako sam ja vise bio za 789 ili A346.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    10. Anonymous00:17

      sta znaci 15-15 pilota? 30 ili?

      i od koliko ljudi se sastoji posada jednog 332? mislim na pilote kopilote i osoblje

      pozdrav od nikada-interkontinentalnog putnika :)

      Delete
    11. Anonymous01:12

      @ 12:17 AM
      Ide od 15 do 16 pilota na sim za A332 i letece posada od 2 Capt i 1 Fo .
      Obicno bude ukupno 12 clanova posade na A332.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    12. Anonymous01:44

      "A332 je i ako sam ja vise bio za 789 ili A346."

      Hahaha, INN the fleet planner :D Dear friend, it'll most likely be the A333 since they don't need the cargo and range of the A332, but maximum number of passengers for the cheapest fares, same as OK got from KE.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous01:49

      nema veze dali ce doci A333 ili A332 vazno je da se uspostave linije.
      Ja sam cuo da ce biti A332 a takodje postoji kargo potencijal i u Srbiji za USA .
      Sta hvali mom predlogu od 789 ili 346 :P
      INN-NS

      Delete
    14. JATBEGMEL03:23

      A346 is expensive to maintain. B789 is expensive to lease.

      It matters what ac they lease because the goal is to fill the aircraft and run the flights profitable.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous04:02

      If they plan on doing LAX at one point, A333 is not going to cut it in the real world, A332 will do fine.

      Delete
    16. JATBEGMEL04:07

      btw, has anyone read that article properly? the above mentioned quotes just mentions that from signing the open skies agreement, both sides have rights to open any destination in the respective countries, whether that be LAX, ORD or NYC.

      @ INN-SNS

      It depends on the requirement of the airline, but yes it is usually 15 crew needed for that long A330 flight. The extra CAPT is a relief pilot whilst one of the flight crew sleeps. The breaks are rotated.

      Regarding alliances, Jat was supposed to go for Skyteam but didnt. Air Serbia is tied with Etihad so I doubt it will seek to go for an alliance.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous21:33

    I hope Air Serbia stops flying to Abu Dhabi completely.Why do they have to compete with Etihad,which has much better to offer is beyond my understanding.
    If rumours are true that Etihad cancels Belgrade i will take Qatar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:20

      Ko ti brani. Putuj kako hoćeš.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous21:53

    wow really glad to see this news is interesting to people. Already number 1 most popular news this week according to the right hand column. Really happy for ECA :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous01:11

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:32

      First intelligent thing you've done on this blog

      Delete

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