Turkish Airlines is negotiating the introduction of its third destination in Croatia following Zagreb and Dubrovnik. The carrier's Country Manager, Ugur Cantimur, said, "Twenty years ago we launched two weekly flights to Zagreb, while today we maintain double daily services. In addition, two years ago we commenced four weekly year-round operations to Dubrovnik. This summer, services have been increased to eleven weekly. Our plan is to launch another route to Croatia so we can better connect the country to the world and bring even more tourists". Mr Cantimur noted that the airline's flights to Croatia see a mix of leisure, point to point and transfer traffic with an increasing number of passengers connecting via Istanbul to the United States.
Commenting on carrier's operations in the former Yugoslavia, the Country Manager noted, "Turkish Airlines currently flies to every capital city in the region such as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Podgorica and Ljubljana. Before we decide on introducing a new route within our destination network, our team of experts conducts a number of studies focusing on various aspects and taking into account the performance of our existing destinations, which also plays a deciding role in our network expansion. In addition, it is important to take note of various changes on the market and have initiative". Turkish Airlines carried just over 132.000 passengers on its flights between Istanbul and Zagreb last year, while its figures to Dubrovnik increased over 80% on 2016.
Turkish Airlines has previously been linked to a potential takeover of its fellow Star Alliance member Croatia Airlines, however, the carrier has denied such claims. "Such speculation is incorrect. We have a very professional partnership with Croatia Airlines which we will continue to nurture in the future", Mr Cantimur said. The two carriers have a wide ranging codeshare agreement in place with Croatia Airlines adding its designator code and flight numbers onto Turkish's services from Istanbul to Zagreb and Dubrovnik, while the Turkish airline has its own flight numbers on its Croatian counterpart's flights from Zagreb to Pula and Zadar.
Brac. No doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteMali Losinj comes to mind as a potential new route ;)
DeleteVrsar
DeleteIt’s going to be Zagreb Lučko people!
DeleteUnije
DeleteNope, finally Ploče airport is officially opening its doors to the public again! That is the place of the missing airport between SPU and DBV that was discussed on here a few times in the past.
DeleteNe, ne, Gubaševo Zagorje International.
DeleteMy guess is Split.
ReplyDeleteOSI or BWK, no other option :)
DeletePula? Split? Zadar? Rijeka? HR has a lot more international airports.
DeleteObviously he was being sarcastic.
DeleteMali Losinj no doubt about it ;)
DeleteI bet it is SPU, and I can say finally!
ReplyDeleteBetter year round potential than DBV.
Not really. DBV has much more potential vs SPU.
Delete+1
DeleteBigger city and catchment area.
But would there be much point in starting Mostar then like they said. I mean flying to both Split and Mostar which are so close would be a bit of an overkill.
DeleteI dont think so. 2pw in winter can work for both, OMO and SPU.
DeleteAnon 9:06 AM
DeleteWhy you say that? Dubrovnik is small city, and loads depends only on toursts come INTO town.
But Split has tourists and big catchment area, almost 500000 in Split-Dalmatia county. Cannot compare potential, especially in winter.
But doesn't DBV have more flights during winter than SPU?
DeleteIts almost the same number. But only because of SPU bad management, and good management in DBV. Thats nothing about potential, you cant compare Dubrovnik with 45000 and Split area with 500000
DeleteThen why does DBV receive more flights in winter? SPU just depends on mainly drunk UK tourists that come in huge numbers.
DeleteDBV has more culture to offer, no wonder why Asians want to come here.
Split has to offer a lot of culture too, don't be so ignorant (in the sense of not knowing something).
DeleteDubrovnik, with all due respect, is a dead city. An empty shell made of city walls. The people are what makes a city. In that sense Split is miles ahead.
DeleteNext to DBV you have Budva, Mostar and warmer compared to SPU. The area itself is more interesting and rich in history.
DeleteI am not saying SPU is a "bad" place. Just DBV has more potential and much better airport management for instance. It is classified as one of the best airports in Eastern Europe and can be compared to the standards of BCN.
DBV is just a small airport that will always be third or even fourth in Croatia with the potential to fall even further down the list. Regardless of that historical "supremacy" or "advanced" management
DeleteWe will see this summer who is small and who is big.
DeleteJudging by the Q1 numbers I would say the bronze medal in Croatia is secured for 2018 with no chance of anything better.
DeleteAjde sto izvodite vi sa SPU, obicno skladiste a ne terminal. Odakle obraz usporedivat se u bilo cime s DBV??
DeleteDBV is a nice airport but it will lose pax due to TIV, OMO and SPU. Eventually it will reduce to 1.5 million pax in the next two to three years. SPU will be at 4 million pax by then.
DeleteSPU is most likely to freeze its growth or maintain a 3-5% growth. Also DBV has a 3300m runway and SPU only 2550 meaning that we may see much bigger aircraft even Korean Air A380. So small, small...not so small after all.
DeleteAgain TATL fantasies at DBV. SPU is focusing on good connections to EU which is what people around SPU really need. The length of the runway is more than sufficient for any aircraft flying within Europe.
DeleteSPU depends heavily on massive tourists mainly from UK and Germany.
DeleteDBV is now connected to a top world airport - DXB while SPU is if you check is connected to Swedish villages or small French towns.
I think SPU has more to learn from DBV.
SPU has a sustainable business model that shows good results and has a potential for future growth. DBV on the other hand is already close to its limit. This will become more obvious next year when SPU will explode with new terminal coming into operation while DBV will continue to grow on a much lower rate. The final death blow to DBV will be once the Peljesac bridge gets built, then landing at SPU and going to Dubrovnik by car for a one day visit will become real possibility.
DeleteZAD, SJJ and OMO are already gearing up seriously to get their share of the cake. So, not sure of what business model you are referring to. SPU is a destination for an average budget tourist wanting to spend a little.
DeleteDBV is looking for cities with money like DXB and surely Korea and USA soon. Like I said, we will wait and see. Meanwhile SPU can enjoy flights from VXO and BRS or LPL. We will stick to DXB.
This obsession with DXB is irrational. What does it mean to have a pax arriving from DXB, is it some uber-mensch who will spend a lot? In reality it is those silly looking kinds from all across the world who come for city break trips and Ultra Europe who will spend a lot on booze and fun. Dubrovnik is far from any elite destination, Porto Montenegro is much closer to that. So the money lies in numbers in Croatia, not in some self-proclaimed elitism.
DeleteWow. How old are all of you?
Delete@frishki: What sensible contribution you bring to our discussion? Don't be a troll!
DeleteMaybe Pula or Zadar You never know especially since it seems they fly almost all their scheduled routes year round.
ReplyDeleteAnd they codeshare from ZAG to these two.
DeleteThat's a healthy number of passengers to Zagreb. There were some rumours they wanted to go third daily to ZAG is that true?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice that they reintroduce 14pw in winter again. Its not time for third daily.
DeleteIndicates that loads vary seasonally although I think their decision to reduce ZAG during the winter had something to do with them flying to Dubrovnik as well.
Delete@9.13
DeleteIf I remember correctly the rumour was that they would get Croatia Airlines to resume IST and fly the third daily flight.
I think if there was potential for more flights to/from Turkey Pegasus would have launched flights by now.
Delete@ Anonymous 9:16
DeleteKeep in mind Qatar/Emirates took away a lot of passengers from them in Zagreb.
I hope they consider another Serbian city as well. The other day, we made a recap of the TK Balkan coverage. They fly to at least more than 1 city in most countries.
ReplyDeleteIn the Balkans they fly to more than one city in Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. I think Romania is the most - 3 cities.
DeleteHR - ZAG and DBV
DeleteBG - SOF and VAR (year round)
RO - OTP, CLJ and CND (only 2 weekly)
Turkish has defeated pretty much every ex-Yu airline. Adria stopped flying from LJU to IST because of them, Croatia Airlines stopped flying ZAG to IST because of them and Air Serbia stopped BEG to IST because of them. Now Turkish is spreading its wings even more in the region. I don't understand that neither of these airlines had a response.
ReplyDeleteIt's very difficult to compete against Turkish because they attract a lot of transfer passengers and also because Turks who are going on city break holidays prefer and almost exclusively fly with Turkish carriers.
DeleteAnd don't forget that they were almost always cheaper than the ex-Yu alternatives.
DeleteIt comes down mostly to their dumping prices.
Deletedumping prices and better product than all ex-yu carriers- a win-win combination for most passengers
DeleteA lot of legacy or national flag carriers airlines do not or cannot fly to IST (anymore): Air Serbia, Croatia, Adria, Swiss, Austrian, SAS, Aer Lingus, Czech and the list goes on...
DeleteI flew TK recently short haul for the first time. I don't get why people are so fascinated by this airline. Except for offering a hot sandwich on board and free drinks I don't understand what exactly sets them apart from other airlines? The crew is the same as in any other airline and the seats are quite crammed. Maybe I was just expecting something out of the ordinary since I have been listening to people talk about them so much for years and everyone was so amazed for some reason. I still find MEB3 airlines better.
ReplyDeleteWhile you may be correct on some points I have to ask whether your ticket was expensive? TK usually has very cheap fares and for the money you pay the value is quite good.
DeleteTrue, the ticket was relatively cheap.
DeleteMaybe because they have a super coverage. TK has the most numerous number of destinations and countries covered in the world. Just open their route map !
DeleteE taj sendvic je osnova celog marketinga u avijaciji. Kad pocne AS da ti ga naplacuje znas da im se blizi kraj kao i Adriji.
DeleteThey are not so good compared to Etihad, Emirates, Qatar but they are far better than European airlines. And, yes, the have good prices and reasonable transfer times.
DeleteThe only problem I have with TK is IST airport. It's far too small, always crowded and the staff are always so rude. Hopefully this will change when the new airport opens in Istanbul.
DeleteCompletely agree. They are fine company, but their hub in IST is just awful.
DeleteCekacete novi IST bar jos godinu dana.
Delete^ It opens 29th October.
DeleteCetvrtkom prepodne. Naravno da ce kasniti.
Deletehttp://www.arabianbusiness.com/394153-istanbuls-new-airport-85-completed
Delete"The airport will open on October 29. The completion rate by the end of March was at around 85%," Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan told reporters at the airport.
Nema trika da ga otvore do oktobra. Da li imas predstave kolika je to gradjevina?
DeleteMaybe they manage to open it!
DeleteIs Ataturk going to remain open or completely close?
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteGreat news for Croatian tourism.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that more people are transferring through IST to get to the US. Shows how much people from the Balkans value price over comfort by adding several hours to their journey and going eastwards.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise.
DeleteLet me fix that for you
Delete"Shows how much people from across the world value price over comfort"
I'm pretty sure they have the most transfers to the US from all ex-Yu markets.
DeleteAnon 10:35, I think that title easily goes to LH group + OU/JP code shares.
DeleteI do not have numbers but highly doubt they have so many transfers to US. It should be LH group followed by the AF/KLM.
DeleteThis winter I took a horrible trip from Vancouver to Belgrade via Toronto and Istanbul. It was horrible, but I would do it again, it was so cheap.
DeleteWill they launch it this year or next?
ReplyDeleteProbably next. I doubt they would launch a service to the Croatian coast in winter. It's too late for this summer.
DeleteThey have a huge offer to ex-Yu. Not the best news for Croatia Airlines-Lufthansa with another new route to be launched (probably Split).
ReplyDeleteWhy? it not as if either of them fly from any other Croatian city to IST so they are loosing nothing.
DeleteBecause passengers flying to 3rd destinations will now travel via IST instead via ZAG, FRA or MUC...
DeleteExactly, I will fly to LYS from Zag now via IST instead of MUC. Can save 20 EUR and travel 7 hours more :)
DeleteAnon 10:18, I believe you are just being sarcastic in trading 20EUR for 7 hours of extra travel time :)
DeleteThere is nothing wrong saving 20 EUR if the times are convenient :)
DeleteOf course, but you can save even more and go on foot (analogy if you are really willing to double your travel time over 20EUR)...
Deletegood news. Now let's hope that these flights will also stick during the winter.
ReplyDeleteDoes TK operate any of its routes seasonally?
DeleteNo they don't
DeleteInteresting, thanks.
DeleteNot true at all.
DeleteTK currently operates 7 seasonal only routes out of IST alone.
It will be Split and it is good for anyone coming/going to the Middle East, Asia and Australia...No more backtracking. There are Asian tourists in SPU in winter too (usually the only ones)...
ReplyDeletePity they are not interested in OU.
ReplyDeleteWhat equipment do they usually use to ZAG and to DBV?
ReplyDeleteMix of narrow body Airbus and Boeing planes.
DeleteA320.
DeleteDBV nikad Boeing.
DeleteIt is quite interesting that they have a lot of passengers from Croatia to the US. One would think most would use Lufthansa or Austrian and not backtrack to IST.
ReplyDeleteLike someone said above, it is all about price my friend.
DeleteIt is good to hear their numbers are still growing in Croatia. I thought they would be most affected by Emirates' arrival.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Although we don't know if their numbers were up or down in Zagreb last year. Since they now fly to Dubrovnik for the entire year this has probably improved their overall performance
DeleteOr the market has simply grown so all the can coexist.
DeleteThey have reduced Zagreb to twelve per week during the winter time and they a sticking to that schedule next winter season too.
DeleteRemember that Turkish penetrated into the ex-Yu market far before Middle East airlines so they have a better starting position then Emirates, Qatar or Etihad.
DeleteWell there are not a lot of options left for them - Split, Tivat and secondary airports in Croatia. That's about it. They already serve all the capital cities.
ReplyDeletePegasus starting TIV this summer.
DeleteRegarding Pegasus, here are the schedule for TIV:
DeletePC 1321/1322 SAW/SAW STA:1240/STD:1330, Days:4,7 From: 07.06-25.10
It amazes me how this airline is profitable at all. They seem to fly to every village in the world.
ReplyDeleteMassive diaspora and they have made IST into a huge transfer point. They were also smart to expand in Africa before the competition.
DeleteThe state helped them with billions of dollars.
DeleteJust at the US has helped their carriers with billions at some point of their existence.
Deleteneither ME3 nor TK are inventing the wheel in the aviation business
Don´t forget the massive Turkish diaspora in Germany.
DeleteLook at Chapter 11. 'nuff said.
DeleteAny airline growing in the region is good news. Hope they keep increasing frequencies and destinations.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know or care to guess how many passengers they carry on an annual basis from/to ex-Yu?
ReplyDeleteAround a million I would assume.
DeleteI really hope they will consider transatlantic flights from an ex-Yu country soon. Istanbul-Zagreb-New York would be fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWhy would they be considering this? There is no such precedent in TK's network.
DeleteConsidering they have expressed interest in many ventures like Macedonian national airline, Macedonian TATL flights, Bosnian national airline, Albanian national airline, possible Croatia Airlines acquisition, I think it is safe to say they are interested in doing something in this region and are waiting for the right moment.
ReplyDeleteYes but Croatia is nowhere close to Turkey like Albania or Bosnia are.
DeleteThey can be. Depends on the wind.
DeleteAnon 4:14, it has nothing to do with wind, but more on business and traditional ties between the countries....
DeleteYou very well know that if bigger states give Croatia the green light, they can do business with anyone. It is not about ties, it is about permissions to do business with somebody that could be a friendly country or not. And Croatia isn't deciding about that. Unfortunately.
DeleteThis green light is at least 20 years away.... at least!
DeleteHrvatsko is booming again. Très bien !
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDelete