Air Canada has resumed flights to Zagreb through its Rouge leisure subsidiary this morning after 27 years. The airline will offer a total 20.586 seats each way between Toronto and Zagreb during the June 2 to October 7 period, over which it will maintain the seasonal service. The carrier has highlighted it will offer more flights to Croatia than any other airline in North America. The Star Alliance member will also offer a range of connections to Croatian travellers across the United States and Canada and says it will evaluate the potential of extending operations to Zagreb based on its performance over the coming summer. "We are pursuing our international expansion further solidifying Air Canada’s position as a leading global carrier. With this new service, Air Canada becomes the only North American airline offering the most weekly seats and frequencies from Canada to Croatia", the airline told EX-YU Aviation News. It added, "Our leisure carrier Air Canada Rouge will be operating this route between June and October, and we are always assessing every route’s performance to ensure our schedule meets demand".
Speaking to tour operators in Toronto ahead of the launch this week, Air Canada's Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Carolyn Hadrović, said, “This direct air service promotes tourism, commerce and investment, but equally important, it connects friends and family in Canada and abroad". The new route strikes a personal chord with Ms Hadrović, who has family in Croatia. “My father immigrated to Canada sixty years ago and I still have many relatives who reside in Croatia today", she told agents, pointing out that Zagreb was a city that Air Canada first began serving in 1989. In a statement, the Canadian - Croatian Chamber of Commerce said, "An e-mail a few years ago, a number of discussions, a string of correspondence and lots of persistence ever since ... et voilà - Air Canada recognised the potential of a direct route between Toronto and Zagreb".
Croatia Airlines has a wide-ranging codeshare agreement with Air Canada in place. The Canadian carrier is maintaining services to Zagreb with its 282-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, boasting 24 seats in Premium Rouge (business) and the remaining 258 seats in economy class. It will compete directly against Air Transat on the route. This year marks the first time the Croatian capital will have more than one airline operating to Toronto since the early 1990s, when both Air Canada and JAT Yugoslav Airlines ran flights between the two cities. Both Air Transat and Air Canada Rouge will have a flight each operating on the same day to Zagreb, each Tuesday. Air Canada Rouge is the latest long haul carrier to begin serving the Croatian capital, with Korean Air to follow with scheduled flights from September 1 and more to come in the foreseeable future.
Comments
There is a lot of extra demand these last few years, competition is always good.
Wish you good business and full flights
What strengthened LO primarily was the growth of Poland's economy, its tourism and the fact that is a country of 40 million.
Do you think anyone from Wroclaw, Poznan... goes to WAW to fly? Why don't you look at a map and see where Warsaw is located.
Is SJJ cancelled today because of lack of aircraft?
But somehow a Polish passenger from Wroclaw or Krakow won't go to Warsaw to take those flights. That is the "wisdom" of certain members of this blog...
SMFH!
Or maybe it is not efficient from a cost/business prospective.
For the exact same reason that people in the Balkans despite the multiple daily connections to MUC, FRA, VIE, ZRH, AMS etc fly to WAW to take a flight to North America!!!
The same reason that makes them travel east to IST zoo and fly from there to North America!
Only in Zagreb among Ex-Yu territories.
People only fly via IST because of dumping fares, something LO doesn't really do.
Prices will be low!
And it is a lot smaller from Wroclaw or Krakow.
And because LO has good service, schedule and prices so many people from the Balkans started using them to go to North America.
This is part of the reason for LOT's massive expansion in our region. It is not just O$D.
You have to live with fact that ZAG has Maple Leaf, not the other airports in Ex-Yu. You should congrats for that.
Within Europe almost nobody offers a good product anymore. It is just a race to the bottom.
But that is what passengers want, to find the absolute lowest price.
funny thing is that i couldn't make search on official rouge site because you can't enter it from "my" country. so i made it in official air canada site...
Does it include luggage as well?
The plane is not that old, 17 years.
I still don't get why you all upset.
As a Croat, I am proud that ZAG has Maple Leaf. When BEG or any other Ex-u airport gets Maple Leaf I will be among first who will congrats on that.
Am I make myself clear?
but, nevertheless, congrats to ZAG!
It's especially stupid when you take into consideration their product is much inferior to Transat.
and that been said, for the same money id rather fly with a legacy carrier, than with their budget versions
"Never understood argument country of 40 milion" And do you understand this : UK, France, Russia, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain - countries in Europe with biggest population - British, Air France, Aeroflot, THY, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Iberia - biggest airlines in Europe. Maybe you understand now.
Eastern Europe is treated second class as usual.
But anyways, congrats ZAG.
Also, look at this:
AF: CDG
IB: MAD
BA: LHR
TK: IST
LH: MUC/FRA
.........
LO: WAW
Do you understand now?
hillarious statement anyway
Maybe it is time to rename eX-Yu to SRB-Aviation. Would you be then happy ?
Take your rent somewhere else.
Why is the standard AC sent to AMS, CPH, GVA, LHR, MXP, CDG, ZRH and Air Canada Rouge to OTP, BUD, ZAG, PRG?
Ex-Yu is definitely Easten Europe, my friend. If you think the Balkans are in western Europe, then I suggest you open an atlas.
Your post fails apically!
Rouge flies to ATH, TXL, EDI, GLA, LIS, GTW, MAN, MRS, NCE, VCE. It also flies to NGO and KIX in Japan!
Talk about "second class" destinations...
:D :D :D and SMFH!
Jin Air will fly to ZAG, together with Korean Air, similarly as both Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat fly.
Secondly, I keep reading that CTN may be going on strike and they have many cancellations. Didn`t want to take the chance on extra delays. I know it can happen with anyone. I look at it this way, the money I saved on airfare, is being better spent while visiting Croatia. ie better hotels, more tours. This is my first time back in 35 years and I am bringing my daughter with me . I am Canadian born and am looking forward to this trip.
145000 Canadian Visitors
476 000 US Visitors
Visited Croatia in 2017, generating nearly 2 million nights.
I think even with double daily service to Warsaw, we barely tap in to the pie. at best
LOT could service 30 000 Croatian and North American visitors vising Croatia and vice versa, last year over 620 000 North american visitors to Croatia, this excludes number of Croatian visitors to North America which could have been as high as 30 000.
I find it odd that we have agrument here over LOT taking massive chunk of the market and squeezing Air Canada or Airtransat out of the market, don't you see how silly that is when looking at sheer market size and rapidly expand i might add.
This year, 175 000 Canadian visitors are expected to visit Croatia and 575 000 US Visitors. Some 32000 Croatians will travel to US and Canada.
We could agree there's plenty of room for expansion.
What fascinates me most is the wording used in the article, depending on performance this summer, Air Canada might extend service year round.
I hope by 2020, we get year round service with Air Canada, and as long as they offer competitive pricing structure and connections to US, it'll be very successful service, no doubt.
Japan and China next :@)
Hianan Airlines - Beijing - Zagreb after that.
Singapore Airlines, not sure about that one, might happen, but not before these two show up, as talks with these carriers are all but complete and we are just waiting for the annulment.
Would love to see Singapore start flying, but it might take few years for them to show up,
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are good market, of around 250 million, last year over 100 000 visitors from that region.
Malaysia - 55000
Singapore - 30 000
Indonesia - 8000
Thailand - 28000
No data for Vietnam, and other south Asian countries, but in 2020, from the above 4 markets we can expect:
Malaysia - 105000
Singapore - 55 000
Indonesia - 40000
Thailand - 58000
over 200 000 visitors, this might tempt Singapore airlines to start the service to Zagreb. Malaysia once flew to Zagreb and they did well, however financial crisis and bad state of the airlines made the route unsustainable as Malaysia airlines withdrew from number of European routes.
Delta Airlines or even American Airlines might be tempted to start operations to Zagreb.
In 2017, Croatia was visited by:
145 000 Canadian Visitors
476 000 US Visitors
In 2018 this number is projected to reach
175 000 Canadian Visitors
575 000 US Visitors
in 2019;
210 000 Canadian Visitors
700 000 US Visitors
So potential direct New York/JFK/LGA/EWR or even Philadelphia or Chicago could be connected to Zagreb directly on a seasonal basis sometimes in 2020 when.
250 000 Canadian Visitors
800 000 US Visitors
are expected to visit Croatia, third of them will stay in Zagreb for at least 1 night or longer.
Hope you enjoy your stay here.
Reminds me of that Ukrainian airline CEO, you can't show off your cards 2-3 years ahead, not the way to do a business.
These commercial announcements are made at most 9 months ahead. I doubt Jin air is serious and plans to launch any new flights/routes beyond Asia.
Have a great holiday!
That is indeed true, however, the market is growing really fast and having direct link expands options.
This year Croatia expects 20 million tourists, 20 million !!!
For a small country of 4.3 million that is a lot of visitors, by or in 2025, at least 32 million visitors, and large number of these are non-European.
At present rate of growth, between 1.2 million and 1.5 million US visitors to Croatia and 500-550 000 Canadian visitors in 2025.
Huge %g of these would no doubt use direct flights out of Toronto, Montreal and NYC when these become available.
We just can not make you happy.
Swiss air is going year round with 3 weekly flights out of Zurich, they should announce the news soon.
I was worried when Korean Air announced Zagreb - Zurich as their winter schedule, but from what I understand, they won't be taking passengers from Zagreb to Zurich, as they didn't get permission from the Swiss authorities, now we know why the Swiss didn't give permission...
More importantly though, and due to dramatic increase in number of wide body aircraft that land @Zagreb airport, the terminal will expand ahead of schedule, phase 2 and 2b will be completed ahead of schedule this winter 2018/2019 if weather permits.
2 additional wide-body aircraft passenger boarding bridges will be added as part of phase 2a and 2b design.
https://i0.wp.com/hajdasdoncic.hr/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/radovi-faze-2.png?w=562
The work on expansion should commence in October to minimize disruption to ongoing traffic and should be completed by late April 2019.
Terminal will get total of two additional gates with 4 additional passenger boarding bridges, capable hosting two B777 wide body aircraft or four single isle A320 type aircraft.
The original plan was to add these features when terminal exceeds 5 million pax, but was brought ahead due to dramatic increase in number of carriers that land at Zagreb and future prospects. In 2020, up to 10 daily wide body aircraft landings are expected, and having only one gate to deal with B777 or A330, isn't adequate. Hope is 3 should be sufficient until Zagreb airport exceeds 10 million pax, sometimes in late 2020s.
When all the work is completed, terminal will be capable of hosting 12 single isle aircraft or combination of 7 A320 type and 3 A330 type and four Q400 at remote stand at the same time, increasing the capacity significantly.
Most successful for OU is Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki and Dublin.
Prague and Milan are doing really well.
Of legacy carriers carriers, Zurich and Swiss is doing exceptionally well, and Vueling an lcc is doing smashing job with Barcelona.
Vueling actually plans to go year round with Barcelona flights either this year or next, we'll see soon enough. The LF on Barcelona flights are around 90-95%.
If numbers are good, AC with shiny new B787 will be in Zagreb in no time, I expect 2020.
Is doing ok, not spectacular, average lf is around 77% on the route.
Stockholm is 87%
Oslo around 85%
Helsinki 84%
Dublin 81%
Zurich 80%
Bucharest 69%
St Petersburg 65%
Problem with St Petersburg is, planes are full to Zagreb, from Zagreb to St Petersburg, plane is half empty.
DUB has interestingly became a Croat new gasto destination...lets see what happens..
No wonder how no UK destinations are launched from ZAG especially to BHX, MAN, LPL, EDI...crazy!
Could you please enlight me how you become a product expert?
What's your qualifications to grade products that AC Rouge product is "much inferior to Transit"?
Your post is so stupid, hope you find it stupid as well.
Koja količina zavisti može proizvesti tolike teorije - curenje goriva, mehaničari iz VIE, ...
Vueling should be starting their year round service to Zagreb this year, announcement pending, however Vueling is also looking at adding Valencia to roster. Zagreb and Croatia are experiencing massive influx of
Spanish visitors in first 5 months of this year number is up by 25%.
SAS should announce flights to Zagreb this year, year round service linking Stockholm and Zagreb, starting October 1st, announcements should be made soon, Vueling too.
Zagreb airport management is also talking to EasyJet and TAP, there's a great chance both carriers will start flying to Zagreb in 2019.
Air France is also set to announce increase towards Zagreb for 2019, they're doing really well in Zagreb, lf on the route is above 80%.
This year is the cornerstone for Zagreb Airport, so many good stuff will be announced and loads of new routes and carriers. Zagreb could well do over 3.45 million pax this year.
Things are moving in the right direction. However, until number of LCCs base at least one plane in Zagreb, don't expect 20%+ growth rates, much of Zagreb's growth is based on legacy carriers and increase load factor, with each passing year carriers are sending larger aircraft to Zagreb.
Also OS 763ER have only 211 seats whereas AC-Rouge have 282 seats and also LO had on same airplane a lot more seats compared to OS. That is a massive difference of some 30% for example compared to AC.
Btw...the results are still not available, but if I'm not mistaken, this May should also be very good at ZAG. I believe the airport either reached,or surpassed 300,000 pax. for the first time this early. Could even be at the level of last year's June.
Load Factor is what gives good result, the loss of Monarch and OU reduction @Heatrow did its bit to dampen this number, which would have been around 320 000.
300k is still spectacular considering Zagreb is still relying on almost exclusively on legacy carriers. The tourism in the city is experiencing rapid expansion, and 1.5 million visitors this year seem all but certain.
The good thing is, the strong base is being prepared for future growth, number of new carriers are arriving and Zagreb is becoming popular with all sorts of visitors.
It is relatively cheap city, compared to Vienna or Milan, yet it has decent offer, sadly we have Mayor who has done absolutely nothing for the city, not a single thing since he came to power.
I can't understand how people can vote for that corrupt idiot.
We need new mayor who has a vision and ambitions to make the city what it could be.
@AnonymousJune 4, 2018 at 12:17 AM
ACR has no B787s, has only 767s and A330s or soon will have A330s when they're transferred from AC mainline to Rouge.
AC has an order for 50 B787s, and 25 B777s already in service.
As soon as numbers for Zagreb are good, i expect lf on the route of around 85% in first year and 90% in 2019, AC mainline will step and in and start year round service to Zagreb.
I think this could happen in 2020, and AC will utilize B7878 on the route with 255 seats. Best capacity for the route.
I am very happy that AC Rouge is flying to Zagreb with 767, AC soon will have 30 of these aircraft as last 5 are transferred to ACR from Air Canada.
B767 300ER is a good aircraft, in service with many carriers, even Austrian Airlines uses one on its long haul destinations. Nothing to be ashamed of B767 300ER.
Yes they're bit old, so what, it is Air Canada for Christ sake, not Mogadishu express !!!
Be thankful a carrier from North America sees demand to send one of their aircraft to Zagreb on a regular basis.