Croatia Airlines to quit Heathrow by H2 2017

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.

Comments

Anonymous said…
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).

In 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.
11:52
Anonymous said…
And they still haven't decided on continuing flights to London? Wow, way to go, idiots!
12:40
Anonymous said…
It 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.
12:43
Anonymous said…
You mean in about ten years or so.
12:55
Anonymous said…
By the time the new runway opens up OU will be long gone.
12:55
Anonymous said…
Kucko said that selling slots at LHR is a part of the restructuring process. But the restructuring was finished, as far as I know?
13:24
Anonymous said…
@AnonymousNovember 4, 2016 at 12:55 PM

Yes, 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.
13:25
Anonymous said…
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!
13:38
Anonymous said…
Why 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.
Just get over it and stop yapping.
14:14
Anonymous said…
My gut feeling is once the slots are sold, someone will take the money and run. CTN won't see any of this money.
14:42
Anonymous said…
So 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.
15:40
Anonymous said…
Joke of an airline.
16:04
Anonymous said…
What 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
18:56
Anonymous said…
Exactly.
19:04
Anonymous said…
OK, OU fan boy.

What a dimwit.
19:12
Anonymous said…
Selling all their LHR slots is normal if they have no money left? Really? How about thinking long term before it's too late!
19:15
Anonymous said…
I honestly don't understand what's stopping Croatian government in replacing Kucko with someone who can actually do his job properly!
19:16
Danijel said…
Then they need to bankrupt now. Not to sell everything, somebody take the money, bankrupt, and then, tax payers pays their debts.
20:56
Danijel said…
Monarch 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???
20:59
Anonymous said…
That should be the main concern replacing the incompetent management by the government.
This 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
09:03
Anonymous said…
Kreteni.! nista drugo nego Kreeeteeniii.! oprostite radi izrazavanja..ali ne mogu si pomoci..
10:47
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