Zagreb Airport plans new development phase


Zagreb Airport has completed work on its new terminal building and is now preparing for a busy twelve months during which its focus will shift away from construction to attracting new airlines and more passengers in what it has dubbed as its "new phase of business operations". Several carriers have already announced plans to commence flights to the Croatian capital next year, while others will boost frequency and capacity. Zagreb Airport's busiest customer, Croatia Airlines, is considering introducing services to Moscow, Dublin, Oslo and Stockholm, with all four of its new seasonal routes launched this summer (Milan, Prague, Lisbon and St Petersburg) planned to resume. Despite the competition, CSA Czech Airlines will add a further three weekly flights between Prague and Zagreb next summer and operate the route daily.

Low cost carrier Monarch Airlines will launch year-round flights to Zagreb from London Gatwick and Manchester during 2017. The airline will operate three weekly services from Gatwick and two weekly from Manchester. Meanwhile, Beijing Capital Airlines is planning its arrival and is expected to run two flights per week from the Chinese capital starting next June. Furthermore, Zagreb Airport has said it is in talks with a European airline to commence operations to New York in 2017, which would mark the resumption of services between Croatia and the United States after 22 years. In addition, Swiss International Air Lines, which suspended operations to Zagreb at the start of the winter season, will resume operations to the city from March 26, 2017.

Several airlines have also announced plans to add frequencies to Zagreb including Air Transat, which will resume its seasonal service from Toronto earlier in 2017 and run two instead of one weekly flight, as well as Iberia which will add two extra departures each week from Madrid for a total of five. Other carriers that are said to be considering introducing flights to Zagreb include Finnair, while TAP Portugal, which had been mulling its return to the Croatian capital, has not included the city in its preliminary 2017 summer network. Meanwhile, Aegean Airlines has told EX-YU Aviation News that it currently has no plans to add Zagreb to its list of destinations, following rumours the Greek carrier was considering launching the service from Athens. However, this is subject to change.

Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Jacques Feron, recently said, "We are currently in talks with a number of airlines to introduce new routes, which is one of the ways we are preparing to transition into a new phase of our business operations, which will begin with the opening of the new terminal. An airport such as Zagreb cannot decide to become a hub on its own. It is airlines which make the airport a hub. At our concessionaire level, we shall accompany the airlines, and especially Croatia Airlines, in their strategies by being efficient and flexible". He added, "We are confident that with this new tool [terminal], we will definitely be able to improve the quality of services that are provided to all of our business partners". Zagreb Airport's new multi million euro terminal will undergo some eighty tests starting this January to trial different components of the structure. The facility is scheduled to officially open its doors to the public in March.

Photo credit: Petar Meznarek

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:04

    What are the chances of Korean Air launching direct flights next year? It would probably hurt Qatar a bit as well as Finnair's prospects of coming since their main passengers to Croatia are Asian tourists.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      I remember someone saying their initial plan was to possibly start scheduled flights in 2018. But a good indication could be how many charters they plan for next year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:37

      More than 100.000 Korean tourists in Zagreb and 400.000 in Croatia for sure is good push for Korean or Asiana to start regular flights to ZAG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:39

      How many of those tourists come exclusively to visit Croatia, though? That makes or breaks the flights' viability.

      Delete
    4. ...Not if we are talking about 400.000 tourists and 2 or 3 pw type of seasonal direct flights. Even if most of these trips originate from Vienna and/or Venice, there's enough space to expand on this...

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:16

      Well if 500 000 Koreans arrive to Croatia in 2017,it is highly likely there'll be a demand for direct link between Zagreb and Seoul, the fact the Chinese are having direct link with only 200 000 Chinese visitors to Croatia is very encouraging.

      Croatia is becoming popular tourist destination in Asia these days, time to exploit that fact and bring more visitors from Korea, Japan and China. Not sure if JAL will return to Zagreb, but there's a chance ANA might come to Zagreb with seasonal charters.

      Lets wait and see till March next year we'll see who is coming to Zagreb.

      I am hoping for return of TAP and EasyJet.

      SAS, Alitalia, Lingus, Finnair, Air Blatic and Aegean should also be looking at Zagreb at establishing flights there as these airlines already fly to Croatia heavily during summer months.


      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:27

      ANA did get the A380 so it's perfect for a weekly summer flight.

      Delete
    7. Alen Šćuric Purger18:56

      Hahahaha...

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:05

    It's going to be quite a year with the new terminal and seeing the effects of it on air traffic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:18

      Indeed, I am predicting 3.070 000 passengers and 22500 landings. I am being cautious in my predictions.

      Delete
    2. That's indeed qyite a bit a catious prediction I think it will be more

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:09

    Note that tourist traffic from Asia to Europe dropped in 2016 and will continue to drop in 2017 due to security concerns. Therefore destinations driven by Asian tourists could be disappointed next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09

      Actually that suits Zagreb more. Asian tourists are increasingly looking towards eastern europe because they fear possible security issues in the west more and more.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:09

    Zagreb Airport is increasing its fees from January so the chance of new LCCs coming are as good as dead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      By how much? This means tickets on legacies will increase as well.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:16

      Sorry I made a mistake not from January but from 1st March, probably because of the new terminal opening. Not sure at the moment by how much.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      That does not automatically mean that new carriers wouldn't start flights. Zagreb has a comprehensive incentive program for new airlines which lasts a couple of years.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:19

      It's not surprising that their prices will go up. First they will offer a ten times better product then they had until now, second they have been recording a loss for the past few years which is normal since they invested in constructing the terminal. Now they need to make up for it.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:19

      My friend, no one said airlines won't launch flights just that those which are already there will charge more.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:42

      @9:19
      Has ZAG published a single financial report for the past few years? It would be really interesting too see how their finances are doing.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:23

      Could be that they might just start charging for the use of air bridges?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous15:05

      @AnonymousDecember 8, 2016 at 9:42 AM

      Not since 2014, I presume they're making similar profits they did before 2014, around 50-60 million kuna per year. I still think this lease is really bad for Croatia and Zagreb, should have been done with the EU money, Zagreb airport had 250 million kuna in savings, and the city would have given the airport another 500 million kuna towards the new terminal, the rest would come from EU funds, around 1.5 billion kuna. For that money the original design could have been implemented in full, that is 75000sqm terminal, 650m piers with 12 passenger boarding bridges.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:20

    O.T. It seems that codeshare between YM and JU is already started. According to beg.aero on number of JU flights there is already YM sign (including New York YM 4770)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:20

    There are still a few airline I could see flying to ZAG. I'm surprised there is no Aegean since they do fly to Dubrovnik and Split and are a * alliance member. Also TAROM would be a welcome addition and Alitalia too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      SAS would be logical for me too.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:36

      I am not surprised Aegean isn't flying to ZAG. The market to Athens doesn't seem to be that big and neither is the one to the Middle East. Given that A3 is experiencing a fleet shortage it makes more sense to use their fleet elsewhere.

      SPU and DBV are a whole different story.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:06

      All airlines in the whole world would be logical!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:32

      I think Kenya Airways and South African Airways would also be a perfect match for Zagreb. Croatia is missing connections to Africa and Zagreb could become a hub connecting Africa and the rest of Europe.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:37

      Add to that list Ethiopian and after a year ASKY as well.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:21

      @AnonymousDecember 8, 2016 at 12:32

      Rome, London, Paris and Madrid are already well connected with Africa, in fact you can catch a flight to Johannesburg trice a day out of London.

      Nairobi twice daily.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:24

    I'm still surprised Fly Dubai left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:23

      I am not, nobody flew with them, not surprised at all.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:30

      That says more about Zagrab than FZ.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:00

      AnonymousDecember 8, 2016 at 4:30 PM

      Yeah, Purgeri like to fly with only legacy carriers in style. /sarcasm

      Nobody in Croatia goes to Dubai unless they must. Asian tourists come through major European airports and Qatar/Turkish Airways.

      flyDubai offers no transfers, no wonder they can't make people in Zagreb fly with them, what for ???



      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:39

      Yet they are doing fine in all these other cities, right.

      Delete
    5. ...at the moment.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:26

    Has anyone worked out which airline they are talking to about New York flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:28

      Negotiations are taking place with Air France and Thomas Cook. Maybe AF sends their B787 to this route. :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      wow Air France would be a big catch. Do you know if its on a seasonal basis? Thanks for the info.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      Yes all would be, there is no market in winter. One weekly flight.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:34

      Thanks. This is excellent news. Hope for the best outcome.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:35

      My opinion is that Norwegian Air Shuttle will operate Zagreb-JFK service, but we will see soon.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:47

      They are opening a base at that airport in NY's countryside. Perfect fit for a lowyielding diaspora travel to ZAG.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:41

      When are negotiations for this route expected to be completed?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:44

      I think the plan is to operate May, June, July, August and to the first half of September.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:32

      So what you are essentially saying is that it pays off for example for Air France to fly their planes from Paris to Zagreb, get passengers from Zagreb and fly to NY, then fly back NY ZAG and then fly ZAG Paris, all that just for one weekly flight while at the same time having a huge hub in their home town.
      Makes no commercial sense what so ever, in all honesty i am sure politics is behind this, but hey if they are willing to do this, why not, just dont understand what compensation potential airline would be getting.

      Delete
    10. Alen Šćuric Purger11:57

      And why not
      CDG-JFK-ZAG-JFK-CDG?

      Or CDG-ZAG-CDG with 777 twice per week instead of A320 and than ZAG-JFK-ZAG.

      But the best logic would be
      CDG-ZAG-JFK-ZAG-CDGA with A330-200 with CDG-ZAG-CDG leg twice per week as increase on top of A318 AF i A319 OU every day capacity. We all saw last year most of AF flights were with A319, A320, even A321, very rarely they fly planed A318. Also Croatia usually fly with A320. So, there is need for extra capacity which A330-200 can bring with twice per week CDG-ZAG-CDG flights.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous12:38

      Na kraju ce verovatno biti tresla se gora rodio se mis. Ako bude letova bice sa XL-om, kakav crni AF, bas njih briga da lete ZAG-JFK.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:57

      na kraju ce biti onaj koji ce imati interesa taj ce i letjeti. i mali i veliki imaju samo jednu brigu, profit.

      Delete
    13. Norwegian seems far more likely than AF, but ultimately what matters is to resume those flights to JFK already!

      Delete
    14. Anonymous17:09

      CDG-JFK-ZAG-JFK-CDG? po ovome vidite kakav je Purger amater. Uvek me nasmeje.

      Delete
    15. Alen Šćuric Purger19:04

      Konačno je netko shvatio da sam amater i komičar. Pa mi je jedina svrha nasmijavanja amatera po forumima.

      A kažete, vaša stručnost se dokazuje time što se potpisujete kao anonymous! Bogami referenca vam je na mjestu. Jednako na mjestu kao i obraz koji skrivate iza anonimnosti.

      P.S.
      Takve W long haul letove je Air France već radio u povijesti. Naravno, to ste znali, jel da?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous19:20

      U povijesti, u povijesti. Sada ih ne radi komicaru.

      Delete
    17. Alen Šćuric Purger20:30

      I to što ih trenutno ne radi, znači da neće?

      Puno toga je Air France do nedavno letio, Anonimni superecperte, pa neko vrijeme nije, pa sad opet leti.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous20:38

      I da ih radi sto bi to radio sa zagrebom a ne sa znatno vecim trzistima?

      Delete
    19. Alen Šćuric Purger23:11

      - zarada (subvencija, unaprijed prodana mjeta preko turističkih agencija, popusti na ZLZ),

      - zahtjev ADPI (isto vlasnik Air Francea i ADPI koji je vlasnik ZL Zagreb)

      - privilegije (TZGZ, ZAIC, zaštita kupovine Airbusa)

      - politika

      - utjecaj (pokušaj ulaska u hrvatsko tržište, izvlačenje Croatie iz Star Alliance i ulazak u SkyTeam - iznenađujuće Air France i KLM imaju code-share sa Croatiom iako nisu u istoj alijansi)

      - možda pripremaju kupovinu CTN-a, pa je ova linija odlična ulaznica na tržište

      Da se razumijemo i meni ta priča sa Air Franceom izgleda potpuno nevjerojatna, ali toliko puta je toliko različitih izvora ponovilo da počinjem razmišljati o scenarijima zašto i kako. Uz sve gore napisano još uvijek vjerujem da će to biti neki od leasure prijevoznika, no, da bi i ovo moglo biti ostvarivo, moglo bi.

      Delete
    20. Anonymous01:37

      Abslotuely no chance for AF to operate this route. Lyon witch will have like 10 million passagers this year is not even considerated. Don't be children...

      Delete
    21. Who plumps you!

      Delete
    22. I don't believe that AF will fly on this route, but these arguments about bigger markets, or airports with bigger traffic, that I see repeated whenever Zagreb is concerned,don't hold water either. Companies make investments and open new routes based on a much wider set of considerations. Like what the growth potential of a market is. Way more important than what the current traffic is. That's how they achieve much bigger profits, if they estimate the circumstances right. And honestly, this management of ZAG has been doing a great job in making ZAG attractive to new players. They're also not shy about their strategy being an even faster growth and turning ZAG into a regional hub. Now, considering the increasing number of Croatian citizens flying and the region gravitating to Zagreb Airport basically being entire North Croatia -close to 3 mill people, and even some Bosnians and Slovenians. Furthermore, fewer and fewer citizens of Zagreb are flying out of other airports, but there's still a considerable number there to contribute to the overall figure increasing. Then consider how strongly and consistently so many of us from the diaspora have been asking for more direct lines (in North America alone, there's over 1,5 million Croats living, South America around 400,000, Australia and New Zealand 200,000, all over Europe another half a million),and finally considering the tourism growth in Croatia, with Zagreb actually being among the fastest growing destinations, even tho it's not in the coast...this year it'll probably have around 1,25 mill tourists, then hopefully putting further emphasis on developing Zagreb as a congress/conventions destination, new state of the art terminal..all of that actually speaks to the fact that ZAG quite possibly has the best potential for growth in all of ex Yu. So why not think big? Don't forget that until recently every single news about ZAG getting a North American flight was being met with mockery in certain cirles here. Then Toronto happened. Same thing with China. Same with JFK. And every single time the joke was on those people mocking Zagreb.

      Delete
    23. Anonymous08:04

      Alene, uzeo te Pedja opasno na zun

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:35

    Is there a chance of JAL returning to Zagreb? They used to fly there a couple of years ago during the summer with charters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:24

      Not Sure, but ANA has plans to start flying to Croatia, they've been talking about it for sometimes now.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:41

    The best managed airport in ex-yu together with Skopje.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:59

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      And both are managed by foreigners ;)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:14

      disagree....best managed airports are DBV & SPU. they are putting their own money in expansion.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:45

      @AnonymousDecember 8, 2016 at 12:14 PM

      Not true, Dubrovnik is getting $300 million for new terminal, Split will get $50 million from the State and EU funds will also help out with 25% of the total costs.


      Split's new terminal will cost around $70 million but the land will cost another $40-50 million on top of that and new access road another $20 million. Also runway to be upgraded as well, another $30 million.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:55

      no concession, no loans and credits? that means yes, they are putting their own money.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous13:36

      Then BEG is doing the same as SPU and DBV. ;)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:40

      Both Dubrovnik and Split are financing their expansion from loans.

      - "The state will exempt Split Airport from paying tax on profit, which will fund part of the investment (17.1 million euros) through its accumulated profits. The rest will be paid through a loan from the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will not require state guarantees".

      - "The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide a 7 million euro direct loan to the Dubrovnik airport and another 10.5 million euro as an intermediated loan through Croatia’s state-run development bank, HBOR, it said in a statement".

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:43

    Great years ahead of Zagreb! Zagreb definitely needs a link to Stockholm or Oslo so I do hope Croatia Airlines delivers on this promise and starts them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      I think eastwards connections would also be good. Places like MSQ, KIV, OTP, SOF...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:00

      MSQ? KIV? No way... there is barely any demand for Moscow even less so to Belarus and Moldova. OU could barely make IST work.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:36

      OU is not flying to Istanbul.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:37

      Sorry, my mistake, now I am seeing the COULD.

      Delete
  12. Completely ot: Does anyone know how the route BEG-TIA vicevera is performing? Haven't heard much news there...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      Tirana was a stellar performer since day one, it's one of the rare destinations to have been consistently reinforced with extra flights.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:04

    Very good news for Zagreb. I think we might see passenger growth of around 10% next year.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous10:22

    With these new arrivals they will have a very good selection of airlines and destinations. All they would need then is a LCC to base an aircraft,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:40

      Eurowings would be the best choice and would make the most sense.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:43

      Within three or 4 months they will have to think of a new expasion.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:29

      what is the capacity of the new terminal?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:35

      @Anonymous 11:29

      Around 5.5 milion.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:03

      Not true. Equipment is for 3,5 million passengers (what Zagreb should have till 2018). For 5,5 million they have to expend pears and put some more equipment. At least 50 million investment.

      Delete
    6. No no and NO...anonymous 12:03 PM...!!!

      Current terminal is being built for 5 mil pax. The equipment is for 3, 5 mil and by "equipment" that pertains to additional check in counters plus some additional hallway space, both for which the space has already been reserved...just minor works needed. This "adaptation" type of work needs like a month or two...

      With extension of piers, ZAG's terminal will be able to handle 8 mil pax

      Those are the official facts and figures.

      Delete
    7. Correct Petar!

      Delete
  15. Anonymous11:38

    For Croatians in Australia using Thai/Finnair seems to be a popular choice to get back home so a direct flight from Helsinki to Zagreb makes sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:21

      Isn't it easier just to use Qatar Airways from Croatia?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:33

      Qatar is but Finnair seems to be a popular choice too. Must be the price but I've never really checked.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous12:06

    OT:
    SOF +49% in November
    November: 431.642
    YTD: 4.508.539

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous12:21

    Good news for Zagreb. Can't wait for next March.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aэrologic13:14

    OT - Aegean ATH-BEG this morning, LF around 40%.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:35

      Only a matter of time before they suspend it like all those other airlines. :(

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:39

      But the other way (BEG-ATH) you can have connections (very long ones tho) to major destinations for under 50$ one way

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:02

      hahaha just 50 € more and fly like a king on TK

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:40

      just?

      Delete
    5. Aэrologic12:56

      The real problem is that connections are either too long or too short short i.e too long to stay at the airport while too short to go to Athens for a visit/spend the night.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous14:20

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous16:37

    FZ from DXB to BEG today 85% LF...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:43

      Wow and it's the slowest period of the year.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous18:31

    OT: for those interested, anna.aero:
    Sofia-Chicago is “Skyscanner Unserved Route of the Week”

    http://www.anna.aero/2016/12/07/sofia-chicago-is-skyscanner-unserved-route-of-the-week/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:55

      Wondering if ASL increased SOF to twice daily and inaugurated BEG-ORD daily flights, or at least thrice weekly to start. They could also consider adding YYZ 2-3 weekly.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:31

      If ASL could hit most Balkan airports 2-3 daily they could clean up on transfer pax to N. America if they add ORD & YYZ.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:34

      ASL's subpar product (ungodly hours, ATRs, etc) put it at a disadvantage in Bulgaria. ASL already dropped VAR, while SOF frequency has been reduced.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:54

      How does ASL's product compare in TIR, or OTP? I suspect very similar. So how is it that these loads are quite good?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous22:57

      I don't know. The fact is that ASL is struggling in that market.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous08:28

      ASL is not struggling in SOF and I don't know what ungodly hours you are talking about.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:29

      60% LF and reducing frequency is hardly a success.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous18:51

    Can someone tell me why is there an Air Berlin a320 currently at BEG from TIA?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:08

      Probably they are transfering immigrants from Germany.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous21:43

    Bice svakako zanimljivo da se vidi ko ce da obavlja letove za JFK.
    Ali TP je danas objavilo nove destinacije ali nema medju njima ni ZAG niti BEG.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous16:31

    Yes, Stockholm - Zagreb routes direct flights please!

    ReplyDelete

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