Sea Air to expand across Croatia

Sea Air to add new flights from Osijek, Zagreb and Pula

Croatia's Sea Air, which commenced operations last summer, plans to introduce a handful of new routes from its base in Osijek, including its first domestic services, as well as international flights from Zagreb and Pula. Starting March 24, the airline will begin flying from Osijek to London Southend Airport, which will be followed by services to Zagreb on March 30. Furthermore, it will also add flights from both the Croatian capital and Pula to Germany. However, Southend Airport's Managing Director, Glyn Jones, said discussions were still ongoing with the airline and no routes have been confirmed. "We are talking to a number of airlines about the possibility of commencing services to and from London Southend Airport, however, it would be inappropriate to comment on these talks whilst our discussions with them are still underway", Mr Jones said. Sea Air states the flights will operate every Thursday and Sunday, while the carrier has decided to introduce the new service to London because its passengers "often requested the destination". The airline also says it will include a one-way train ticket from Southend Airport to Liverpool Street as part of the ticket.

Sea Air, which operated services to Germany last year before they were cancelled, will launch its first domestic flights - between Osijek and Zagreb - three times per week, which will continue on to Stuttgart. From Pula, the carrier will run three weekly flights to Dusseldorf and two weekly to Leipzig. Tickets are already on sale, though potential travellers should take caution when booking tickets. The airline previously announced it would launch flights from Osijek to London Stansted, Pristina, Mostar and Tirana, as well as services to Kuwait City via Tbilisi, none of which materialised. Sea Air plans to mantain operations with three wet-leased aircraft, a Boeing 737-300, a corporate B737 jet with the capacity to seat sixty passengers, and a Saab 340.

Sea Air, which commenced operations on August 23, 2015, does not hold its own Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and thus operates all of its flights under that of Maleth Aero from Malta. "Sea Air will do its best to obtain a new AOC from the Croatian Civil Air Office", the company says. Osijek Airport's Managing Director, Domagoj Marinić, recently noted, "Sea Air had a lot of difficulties in developing its route network and establishing flights. However, we should not forget that the company has hired some twenty locals. This is a positive development for our city. We want to assist them where we can and we believe their idea deserves our help".