NEWS FLASH
Croatia Airlines will suspend flights from Zagreb to London's Heathrow Airport by the second half of 2017 after the carrier decided to sell its lucrative nine weekly slot pairs. The carrier's CEO, Krešimir Kučko, said, "I do not understand all the fuss concerning one destination. It is just one of our 35 destinations and its suspension is foreseen in our restructuring plan for 2015 and 2016. In 2015 we decided it was not the right time to discontinue flights and this turned out to be a wise decision. We will go through with it this year, partly because of accumulated losses which the route has been generating for years, and partly because of unsettled dues from the past which we must resolve". Croatia Airlines is believed to be in talks with Aer Lingus regarding the sale of its Heathrow slots.
Croatia Airlines will suspend flights from Zagreb to London's Heathrow Airport by the second half of 2017 after the carrier decided to sell its lucrative nine weekly slot pairs. The carrier's CEO, Krešimir Kučko, said, "I do not understand all the fuss concerning one destination. It is just one of our 35 destinations and its suspension is foreseen in our restructuring plan for 2015 and 2016. In 2015 we decided it was not the right time to discontinue flights and this turned out to be a wise decision. We will go through with it this year, partly because of accumulated losses which the route has been generating for years, and partly because of unsettled dues from the past which we must resolve". Croatia Airlines is believed to be in talks with Aer Lingus regarding the sale of its Heathrow slots.
The "fuss" is that it is widely accepted that having Heathrow slots is recognised as having tremendous value and negotiating power, and historically, failing airlines that have sought to sell their slots have then gone on to bankruptcy. It's usually seen as a desperate measure to stay afloat (i.e. Cyprus Airways).
ReplyDeleteIn fact, LHR slots are so valuable that they can be used as collateral to obtain funding, which is what Virgin Atlantic did this year. So yes, if Kucko does sell the slots, Croatia Airlines is no longer of any interest to the majority of potential investors. Stupid strategy.
And they still haven't decided on continuing flights to London? Wow, way to go, idiots!
ReplyDeleteIt is actually a good thing to seel the LHR slots now. In a few years time with the opening of Heathrows third runway slots will be widely available and their values will considerably fall.
ReplyDeleteYou mean in about ten years or so.
DeleteBy the time the new runway opens up OU will be long gone.
DeleteKucko said that selling slots at LHR is a part of the restructuring process. But the restructuring was finished, as far as I know?
ReplyDelete@AnonymousNovember 4, 2016 at 12:55 PM
ReplyDeleteYes, thats what I mean. Whats your suggestion? To burn a lot of money just to stay there? And alle the arguments about connectivity to Star Partners are non standing as long as OU bunrns money there.
Well, is there any route for OU where they are not burning money? Low oil prices and they are still not profitable? And what will happen when they sell the slots? Something else will come up. They had so many chances, now it's time to shut them down!
DeleteMy gut feeling is once the slots are sold, someone will take the money and run. CTN won't see any of this money.
DeleteWhy are you all complaining about this? Selling LHR slots is a normal procedure. Besides, if there is more O&D traffic then choosing LGW is a wise decision. LHR is used to make transfers.
ReplyDeleteJust get over it and stop yapping.
OK, OU fan boy.
DeleteWhat a dimwit.
Selling all their LHR slots is normal if they have no money left? Really? How about thinking long term before it's too late!
DeleteMonarch will be flying on LGW route. Who will choose OU with higher prices? And Kucko said they have losses on LHR. OU have higher prices then British, so how British dont have losses, and CA have???
DeleteSo what LGW is a just fine airport and with gatwick express in 30 minutes you are at London Victoria station. Now if some people here are concerning about the OU future, what can we do, we can't have it all. Life is moving on if they go bankrupt, be certain some others EU airlines will quickly fill the gap.
ReplyDeleteThen they need to bankrupt now. Not to sell everything, somebody take the money, bankrupt, and then, tax payers pays their debts.
DeleteJoke of an airline.
ReplyDeleteWhat you probably mean to say is that the airline is a good solid airline - it's the leadership led by Kucko which is a joke
DeleteExactly.
DeleteI honestly don't understand what's stopping Croatian government in replacing Kucko with someone who can actually do his job properly!
DeleteThat should be the main concern replacing the incompetent management by the government.
ReplyDeleteThis Ceo Kucko is a total joke.
Fuel prices have never been so low and still making loses.
Maybe he should focus more in saving OU.Instead of flying up and down to Holland. This is where it starts .Ceo should live in the Country in another country
Kreteni.! nista drugo nego Kreeeteeniii.! oprostite radi izrazavanja..ali ne mogu si pomoci..
ReplyDelete