Croatia plans to secure additional long haul services after American Airlines announced plans to launch seasonal operations from the United States to Dubrovnik next summer, which will mark the resumption of flights between the two countries after 28 years. The Croatian Minister for Tourism, Gari Capelli said, "This year, a total of seventy new routes were launched to Croatia. This is the result of our project aimed at positioning the country as an airline destination, for which the Ministry and the Croatian National Tourist Board have allocated four million euros. This has allowed us to extend our reach beyond traditional foreign markets to far-away markets such as China, South Korea and the United States". Next week, Korean Air will commence scheduled services between Seoul and Zagreb, while earlier this summer Air Canada Rouge launched seasonal operations from Toronto to the Croatian capital.
Zagreb Airport's General Manager, Jacques Feron, said recently, "Next year we hope for flights between Montreal and Zagreb to be launched. We also anticipate to finalise talks for the arrival of a Chinese carrier because Croatia is becoming of growing interest to Chinese tourists". The Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, added, "We are attempting to reach an agreement over nonstop flights between Zagreb, Beijing and Shanghai". Furthermore, the Croatian government has authorised the Minister for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure to commence talks with his Japanese counterpart over the establishment of scheduled flights between Zagreb and Tokyo. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has maintained summer charters from Japan to Dubrovnik for several years.
The Minister for Tourism noted that, "Flights are crucial for boosting visitor numbers, especially from far-away markets. Several years ago, a very small number of holidaymakers arrived to Croatia by plane. Today, that figure is constantly growing. According to our estimates, it will amount to some 20% in 2018". The budget for the project entitled "Positioning Croatia as an airline destination" will be doubled next year. "The project aims to attract carriers from far-away markets. The Ministry's strategic goal is to develop Croatia as a destination which is accessible to various airlines, particularly before and after the height of the summer season", Mr Cappelli said.
Comments
So what do they do with this budget? ;)
Flights to Dubrovnik make a lot of sense as seats will be filled by tourist agencies so it's a relatievly safe business adventure. Flying to ZAG would be more tricky as they would have to compete with other airlines and hubs for the traffic.
Also interesting that this massive AA expansion has come at the expense of major cuts elsewhere. Let's see what sticks and what doesn't.
I almost 2 years EK, AC, AA (DBV) and KE flights are secured. There is TS to YYZ, possibly YUL in next year.
I am sure, China and US flights to ZAG are very close.
The most interesting is that those who're saying JFK-BEG will be affected by some sparrow peeing on Bane Jelacica square are the same ones that says that nobody from Croatia connects via BEG to New York.
So make your choice.
They did cut a lot of flights like JFK-DUB, ORD-China, PHL-FRA...
VIE-ZAG will be affected also.
The biggest losers will be LH, OS and JU.
1. get enough mechanics to service their planes.
2. create a normal relationship with its employees.
3. get the capital to fund this adventure by selling the remainder LHR slots and its engines.
Just because you want something to happen doesn't mean it will.
I wish to see an A380 in ZAD- so you may now comment ;)
Sorry, why do you think DL flying to ZAG is unrealistic?
As for Zagreb I think China flights are on the horizon.
I baš su se odlučili za DBV? Vjerojatno lutrijom.
So please stop with the fairytales.
Flights from Dubrovnik to Belgrade arrive at 16.15. Departure from Belgrade to New York is at 07.20 and 13.15.
So what was the point of your lie?
Other potential candidates are
SQ ZAG-SIN.
LA ZAG-BUE - many Croatians in Argentina
Does it hurt you that your airport is not receiving AA at all? Or is it just pure JEALOUSY?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_Argentines
If not LA, at least AR can try because OU doesn't have a wide body.
anyhow, i highly recommend anyone to visit restaurant "azur" while in dubrovnik. killer food. chef brothers who lived in southeast asia are making european meals with asian twist. (not paid advertisement, but i plan to squeeze a free beer when i show this post to the waiter)
cheers to all!
https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/passenger-aircraft/a380-family/airlines-destinations/airport-compatibility.html
Zivo me zacese koliko dugo treba za zamjenu gume
Balkan is always poor :(
We can put it this way, too :
Bologna, city of almost milion, in a country of 70 milion, 4 per week
Berlin, city of almost 3 milion, capital of country of 90 milion, 4 per week
Dubrovnik, village of 40000 in Balkans country of 4 milion, 3 per week.
How does it sound now ?
But : ZAG is missing link to the US and working to get it
ATL is the biggest airport in the US and the HUB for one of the USB4 - DL
DL is flying from ATL to airports like Stuttgart and Venice
So , everyone can do his or her maths whether is it absolutely impossible, highly unlikely or highly likely to happen
No wonder why OK ditched ZAG, because it was SkyTeam - it's all about aviation star wars.
I think Anon 18:08 is right...the AA 767 really looks shabby compared to the rest of nice, new planes.
Seasonal US flights to Zagreb are very likely, how soon, we'll see, I said before it won't happen before 2020, but I could be wrong. 475000 US visitors to Croatia last year, 240 000 US Visitors to Zagreb, yes Zagreb is most popular destination for US Visitors who spent 320 000 nights in Zagreb last year.
Some guy on other forum has some contacts with Zagreb airport and he is saying there's a major surprise in place for Zagreb, should be announced soon, either this month or sometimes next.
Chinese Carrier is coming to Zagreb next year, which one we'll see, there's speculation it would be china southern, however Hainan is also likely. ANA is also looking to start Zagreb service, however we won't know before few months they actually start the service.
Also, there's talk of South Eastern Asian airline coming to Zagreb soon, which one, we don't know yet, speculations are rife on forums, and this blog said something about Air AsiaX.
However, potentially, once ANA, China Eastern/Hainan, have initiated their operations to Zagreb, further down the line, i see potential for more carriers to come to Zagreb from the region. Cathy Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways or some other carrier.
With Emirates, Air Canada and now Korean in Zagreb, i won't discount possibility of other carriers coming in. US Carrier that could come to Zagreb are either Delta or American, sadly United doesn't fly outside major EU hubs, they fly yo 8-10 major hubs in the EU and that is it. American and Delta run only seasonal service, if they do come to Zagreb it'll be a seasonal service from early May to late October.
Last year, Cratia was visited according to e-visitor,
By:
475 000 US visitors
142 000 Canadian visitors
444 000 Korean visitors
160 000 Chinese Visitors
126 000 Taiwanese visitors
37 000 HK Visitors
142 000 Japanese visitors
32 000 Singaporean visitors
57 000 Indian visitors
210 000 Australian visitors
64 000 Brazilian visitors
35 000 NZ visitors
30 000 Thai visitors
42 000 Argentine visitors
60 000 visitors from South america
170 000 from far east Asia
The potential for business and travel in future, is boundless.
"My guess is that both DBV and BLQ have some sort of subsidy deal or bulk seat purchase (cruise ships for DBV) supporting the flights". Another comment: bold move, "or Croatia's paying through the a$$ for it."
I am asking you because 32 thousand from Singapore is just crazy.
Scoot and then Singapore Airlines upgrade? What do you think?
Stop that nonsense, Zagreb is a destination not an airline. Wtih your logic, Korean Air wouldn't fly to Zagreb , Emirates, KLM, Air France, Iberia, ... I mean are you for real...
I know you're trolling, but you need to be trolled back.
If DL launches flights from ATL then it means it wants to conquer US market. As you know OU is basically part of LH especially on MUC and FRA routes, not to mention the coast...they will put pressure on airport not to allow SkyTeam expansion with AF and KL.
Trust me, it's all studied and LH are not stupid...
Lufthansa group won't be affected by few American airlines flights to Dubrovnik, considering 570 000 US visitors are projected to visit Croatia, based on first 6 months data. At most AA is offering 12 000 seats over 5 month period to Croatia, Lufthansa alone had over 500 000 passengers to Croatia last year.
Transfers via Belgrade are minimal from Croatia, 2-3 years ago, you had some traffic, these days, all melted away. Also, there are no flights to Dubrovnik from Belgrade, so to get to Belgrade person in Dubrovnik needs to fly to Zagreb with OU and than take a flight to Belgrade and again another flight to JFK, however OU had direct flights out of Dubrovnik to Frankfurt and Munich, Paris and Amsterdam, do you see where this is going...
With this logic we can add KEF, PMI, RIX and so on with millions and millions of traffic. Not a good example.
Possibly only if OU can afford A321 NEO LR, these are now certified for transatlantic flights, A321 NEO LR configured with 192 seats has range of 4350 NM or 8000km. From Zagreb to NYC is 6900km, so direct flights are a possibility, potentially flights via Dublin would also be possible, pick up business travelers there and and back. However, for that OU needs to sort its finances and new management.
Yes money is used exclusively to promote Croatia, no airline can be given preference or money or financial incentive. it is against EU law. All Croatia is doing is promoting Croatia at major airline and travel events, there's name for one where airline decide on new routes, forgot the name of the event, but this is one way or promoting Croatia as a destination.
Last year 2.25 million visitors outside Europe have visited Croatia, nearly 700 000 from Americas last year. This year 2.5 million visitors non-European visitors are expected to visit Croatia, in 2020, that number could exceed 3 million, easily.
I expect in 2020 800 000 US visitors and 250 000 Canadian visitors will visit Croatia, for any major US airline, well there are only 4 legacy carriers there, and only 2 fly seasonally, is a massive potential. I am sure this is sufficient incentive for most airlines to look in to establishing direct links to Croatia. Croatia will be in to 10 European destination for US visitors in 2020, ahead of Greece.
Top 10 in 2017 are. https://travel.trade.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2012_US_Travel_Abroad.pdf
UK - 3.2 million
France - 2.85 million
Italy - 2.55 million
Germany - 2.25 million
Spain - 2.1 million
Ireland - 1.6 million
Netherlands - 1.2 million
Switzerland - 1.0 million
Austria - 820 000
Greece - 490 000 (down from 740 000 in 2015)
Croatia - 475 000
Poland - 392 000
Russia - 366 000
Czech R - 320 000
Belgium - 310 000
Sweden - 250 000
Denmark - 210 000
Hungary 186 000 ....
Zagreb can handle A380, problem is leaving the terminal, the aircraft can't leave along the taxiway as old taxiway is too narrow, i men the access road is, however these will be expanded this winter, plans are afoot, to take off, A380 had to do same thing B777 does, halfway along the taxiway it moves to the main runway and does 180 turn at the bottom of the runway for take off. Airport is expand all taxiways and adding extra platforms this winter, so B777 and A380 can land and use taxiway all the way.
BTW 777 300 is almost as big as A380, http://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/7/1/3/1491317.jpg?v=v40
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/6b/49/ab6b49f0a0241fbb68033a68d6c46ac8.png
https://i.4pcdn.org/pol/1491235658951.jpg
So if Zagreb can handle B777 300ER, on a daily basis, it can handle A380,
30 000 Thai visitors is more impressive, cause Thailand has population of 70 million, imagine this number grows in to 200-300 000 down the line. Singapore is exciting, and would be cool to have direct links with the city state, but i don't expect more than 50 000 visitors from Singapore to Croatia any time soon. Same goes with Hong Kong, we could hope to see double figures from HK and Singapore in short-to medium term, now that Croatia is so well recognized, World Cup and all, things could go well for Croatia in coming years, really well.
Would love to see Singapore airlines or Thai airlines in Zagreb, however it won't happen soon, numbers need to go up for both for this to happen, but there's speculations, and they say where's smoke...
Airport is owned by the state, and manged by the French, who have close links to Air France, you see where this is going.... State itself wants NA flights. Trust me on this, OU has little say what Zagreb airport does, and which airlines land at it.
If you said Croatian state is putting pressure on the management, yes that would hold some water, but no, the government wants US carriers in Zagreb, problem was and still is, lack of interest from US carriers. Dubrovnik got the doors open, now things can go smoother, if AA does well in Dubrovnik next year and year after that, they might add Zagreb in 2021 or 2022.
However, Delta is more likely to come before that, Delta has interest in Zagreb, they took over Pan Am and knew Zagreb was really good destination. They might look at figures now that AA has started flying to Dubrovnik and decide on it. 570 000 US visitors to Croatia this year, is quite a big incentive to come, 250 000 US Visitors to Zagreb, 320 000 nights generated by US visitors last year, these are all nice numbers, and Zagreb is also home to one of the NATOs main security agencies specializing in strategy and war planning.
Building stronger trade/commercial links is also important, Croatian-US economic interest balance is around $5.5 billion, normally when that figures is around $10 billion, US carriers tend to have direct links, so halfway there.
So please, hold your horses, and illusions of grandeur.
Kiss from Latin America.
JU flies to ZAG (year round), DBV, SPU and PUY (all in season) in Croatia
Say no more
I remember that when I was frequently traveling to US using Star Alliance couple of years ago, we were trying to avoid United and go with LH because of better product.
.....
Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Dublin, Rome, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Zürich, Edinburgh, London and Manchester. they have Seasonal to Porto and Geneva.
Thy have stopped flights to Stockholm and Copenhagen in 2017. These are two massive airports, with nearly 30 million pax each.
United flies to Geneva and Brussels for obvious reasons, same goes for Manchester and Edinburgh.
All other airports are massive hubs in Europe.