Air Transat will introduce a seasonal one weekly service between Toronto and Split next summer, the Canadian - Croatian Chamber of Commerce has announced. According to the Chamber, the flights will be launched on June 20 and run each Thursday until September 12. As a result, Split would become the third Croatian airport to boast transatlantic and long haul flights over the summer, following the lead of Zagreb and Dubrovnik. For its part, Air Transat told EX-YU Aviation News that its "2019 transatlantic program will be unveiled shortly". In previous years, the airline has announced its summer plans by mid-October. The Canadian leisure specialist has been flying to Zagreb over the summer months since 2016 and this year added four one-way services from the Croatian capital to Montreal. Air Transat's leisure division offers both seven and sixteen-night joint travel packages to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split, through its Zagreb service. Apart from its wide-body fleet, the airline could deploy the new 204-seat Airbus A321LR aircraft to Split, which it will take delivery of next spring and has earmarked for European services.
The new fights, if officially confirmed by the airline, would mark a major development for Split Airport, which has previously said it had no interest in attracting long haul services. The airport is in the midst of building its new multi million euro passenger terminal to which it will move by the end of the year. The building itself will be opened for travellers from next summer season, after which the overhaul of the airport's existing facility will begin. Furthermore, Split plans to overhaul its runway, build a parallel taxiway and expand the apron next year, which should reduce congestion. The entire investment is estimated to be worth some 59.7 million euros.
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| A poster published by the Canadian - Croatian chamber has since been removed |
Air Transat has also been in talks with Dubrovnik Airport over potential flights and is believed to be considering seasonal services between Montreal and Zagreb. The airline has faced strong competition on its Zagreb flights this year from Air Canada Rouge, which offers more weekly departures, additional capacity and has a wide-ranging codeshare agreement in place on domestic routes in the country with its Star Alliance partner Croatia Airlines. Last year, there were a total of 136.519 Canadian visitors entering Croatia, representing an increase of 24.4% on 2016. Air Transat yesterday announced that, as of October 2, passengers booking its lowest fares - entitled Eco Budget - for travel from April 1, 2019, will be charged a fee for their first piece of checked baggage of 23 kilogram on its European services. The fare also prevents any ticket changes or cancellations.
Wasn't the USS too short for long-haul flights?
ReplyDeleteThey could operate the flights with the A321lr.
DeleteNot for A321LR and A330-200, though for A330-200 the lack of taxiways poses a challenge.
DeleteThe flights will operate with the A310 once a week in addition the the two A330 to ZAG!
DeleteThe A330 can land in SPU, but it cannot depart with full payload.
DeleteIs there room to lengthen the runway in Split?
DeleteAirbus A330 Landing - Split Airport SPU:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58LJjUaf06U
@ 11.16
DeleteLike someone said above an A330 or 747 which have all been numerous visitors to SPU can land there, but they cannot depart with a full payload to long haul destinations. They can to destinations within Europe.
It is such a pity, as visible in the video above, that AC need to backtrack for departure. This takes up so much time and limits the airport in the max operations. They need taxiways urgently :S
DeleteIn the text it says they will add taxiways next year.
Delete@ Anon 09:50: There is clearly room for a longer runway. About 100m to the SW and 450m to the NE maximum.
DeleteCurrent runway has 2550m so in total 3100m should be possible, of course only after long lasting land acquisitions and court decisions.
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!!!!!!! Bad news for ZAG. finally some merit for the coast and not only capital
ReplyDeleteI guess this is their response to Rouge launching Zagreb flights.
DeleteWhy does everything always have to be bad news for someone? Such comments only incite haters, specially when prople prophecize bad news over introduction or reduction of a single weekly frequency.
DeleteThis is good news for anyone living in Croatia and who wants to get to Croatia as it provides more options. There is demand enough for both ZAG and SPU to maintain Canada flights.
Exactly! It is a good news overall. Zagreb tourism is booming and it is great that Split is also getting direct connection to Toronto. It is a win win situation.
Delete@Anonymous28 September 2018 at 09:02
DeleteYou couldn't hold it, could you, every time I read one of your posts, it is always bad news, only if it is INI and Belgrade than any extra operations, than it is a brilliant news. Troll alert.
Oh please. Every time there is good news for BEG or INI someone writes "Bad news for Air Serbia". Stop playing saint. Both of you are exactly the same.
DeleteDidn't people write on here how many will fly into ZAG and then continue onto the coast? So what happens now? Will they still do it even if there are non-stop flights to SPU?
DeleteAnonymus 14.57, to vjerujes sve sto ljudi ovdje pisu?
DeleteI'm guessing Air Transat wasn't happy if they asked them to remove the advertisement :D
ReplyDeleteWow this would be fantastic for Split.
ReplyDeleteI think when they release their schedule we will see
ReplyDelete1x Split
1x Dubrovnik
2x Montreal - Zagreb
We will see soon enough.
But will they continue YYZ-ZAG is the question.
DeleteI think they will maintain Zagreb-Toronto, the loads weren’t bad at all despite AC definitively leaving its mark on them. IIRC their LF on Toronto-Zagreb were 75-85% even after AC.
DeleteI think they will but I'm not so sure they will introduce those Montreal flights.
DeleteThey will! 2 times a week as this year.
DeleteNo need to continue, this is a smart move. They will probably concentrate on flights out of Montreal and serving coastal cities from Toronto.
DeleteThey could fly YYZ-SPU-DBV-YYZ with A330. That way the A330 could actually operate to Split.
DeleteWell, the poster says: Toronto to Croatia Summer 2019; Split on Thursdays, Zagreb on Mondays and Sundays. I can't see Montreal or Dubrovnik there.
DeleteSorry, Tuesdays, not Mondays.
DeleteAnd I notice on the right hand side that the schedule for Luxair's and Eurowings' new flight have been published. Seems like SPU will have a lot of new flights next year. Could they actually become number 1 in Croatia for 6 months a year?
ReplyDeleteIf you mean Eurowings new route to NUE, it’s not available as nonstop anymore! It was only 3-4 days on sale, now only via other bases 🤷♂️
DeleteSPU is already number one in ex yu during peak summer months.
DeleteThey were number 1 only in July in ex-Yu.
Deletehttps://www.eurowings.com/en/booking/new-routes.html
DeletePlease read, what I wrote and check the booking system.
DeleteYes, but it will be back next week with the summer schedule full release
DeleteCool, thanks for information :) happy to hear abt that
DeleteI love how SPU is all about not wanting long-haul flights until someone shows interest.
ReplyDeleteThey just do not need to. Airport is congested.
DeleteHonestly Dubrovnik makes more sense to me over Split.
ReplyDeleteIt's a more well known tourist destination, yes.
DeleteDBV is just more famous. But SPU has a much larger catchment area, both regarding inhabitants in HR/BiH as well as number of tourists all along the coast from Zadar/Kornati till Neum/Ston plus all the islands there such as Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis just to name a few.
DeleteBravo, Split!
ReplyDelete"Air Transat yesterday announced that, as of October 2, passengers booking its lowest fares - entitled Eco Budget - for travel from April 1, 2019, will be charged a fee for their first piece of checked baggage of 23 kilogram on its European services. The fare also prevents any ticket changes or cancellations."
ReplyDeleteNow that's just stingy. If you ask me would I choose Air Canada Rouge or Air Transat to Zagreb I would choose the latter because of this stupid baggage allowance. They will loose a lot of diaspora traffic on this route because of it, especially because people don't pack light.
+1
DeleteOnce people do their math, they will decide what is the better option.
DeleteWhich one is better service and comfort wise? Transat or Rouge?
DeleteBoth are bad.
DeleteMore or less everything is bad when you fly long distance in economy.
DeleteTransat is way better than Rouge, more legroom, PTV's and free IFE in economy.
DeleteThe flights will operate with the A310 once a week and be in addition to the twice weekly ZAG service!
ReplyDeleteI just checked and their A310s have 250 seats!! Yikes how did they manage to cram so many inside.
DeleteOverall this would be fantastic news for Split.
Their A330 have over 300 seats ;) They do have cramped seating.
DeleteBetter for the airports :)
Delete345 seats on an A330-200 to be exact.
DeleteThat's a squeeze, especially on a 8+ hr flight.
DeleteTheir pitch is better than at most airlines
Delete- Air France 32'
- Aer Lingus 31,5'
- Air Serbia 32'
- Air Canada 31,5
- Etihad 32,25'
- KLM 31'
- Iberia 31'
- Turkish 32'
- Qatar 33'
- Lufthansa 31,5'
- Swiss 32'
And Air Transat: 32,5'
This is for the A330 of course.
DeleteBut 3-3-3 configuration -.- This is very unusual for an A330
Delete3-3-3 on A330?
DeleteThat is disaster for us chubbies xD
Has Split ever had long haul flights?
ReplyDeleteDon't think so.
DeleteTo YYZ by Skyservice one season
DeleteAh that's right. Thanks for reminding me.
DeleteThose were on the B757 right?
DeleteYes. They had a technical stop in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland
DeleteWell done Split and Croatia.
ReplyDeletePerfect. SPU will work during high season, once per week.
ReplyDeleteAir Canada Flights to ZAG are on sale for nex year as well!
ReplyDelete4 times a week as this year!
DeletePity they won't keep it during the winter too. I think it could work.
Delete@Anonymous28 September 2018 at 10:16
DeleteAir Canada R never flies in winters, to any destination in Europe. If Service proves a success, and it seems it has, in 2020 we might see air Canada mainline start year round service, this is just a guess of mine. Numbers so far are really good, with LF in high 70s, for first year of operation that isn't bad at all. last year 142 400 Canadians visited Croatia, this year 175 000 are expected to visit. in 2019, 210 000 visitors from Canada and in 2020, 250 000 Canadians could be visiting Croatia .
Opet baca grah...
DeleteThis would be the cherry on top of the cake with the new terminal also opening next year.
ReplyDeleteI still think they should have added air bridges to the new terminal.
DeleteThat is really not needed in SPU. There will be like 8 stands for A320/737 right in front of the two terminals, literally 20 metres by foot to the planes. Jet-bridges just delay boarding and deboarding processes a lot and with the too small apron in summer I am sure they can't and don't want to afford extra 5 mins turn around time per flight.
DeleteIsn't this going to be tight for 321LR? YYZ-SPU distance is 3917nm.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the A310 is the likeliest option for this route. But they plan to replace these aircraft next year with the A321s so if they intend on flying to Split in 2020 as well I don't know what they will do.
DeleteA321LR has range of around 4150NM this is with 204 seats, should be fine I think, A321LR with 174 seats, range is around 4500NM. So both aircraft can make it to Split.
Delete8 hours on a narrow body sounds daunting. I know some airlines have already started it but still...
DeleteTATL flights on narrowbodies were done on 757s decades ago. And they sometimes lasted longer than 8 hourse since 757s were used on routes at the very edge of their range and they often had to make technical stops for refueling on westbound flights due to headwinds.
DeleteRange is 4000nm not 4150. And ic Air Transat will put 175 that flights will loose money.
DeleteCongrats for SPU management. They know what they are doing. They waited for the new terminal to be completed before they started talking with airlines about long haul flights.
ReplyDeleteSame like Dubrovnik.
DeleteSame as Zagreb.
DeleteNo in Zag they don't. Not a good managment.
DeleteThat is because of Air Canada, Emirates, Korean of Iberia?
DeleteGood route for tourists. More convenient for them than having to transfer elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteRunway is to short for A330. A321LR has not enough range. With one stop flight is not competitive. A310 should be short time possibility just for one season. I hope it is not one season route.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Split!
ReplyDeleteGreat news for Split!
ReplyDeleteI think there is room for even twice weekly.
Great news. Can't wait to see them at SPU :)
ReplyDeleteI think I read somewhere else that the flight will be via ZAG once a week. So pattern will be either YYZ-SPU-ZAG-YYZ or YYZ-ZAG-SPU-ZAG-YYZ.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this indicates usage of the A332. It may not depart SPU with full load but the short hop to ZAG does not pose a problem at all.
That would make more sense. But does the ZAG flight operate on Thursdays? This could be a clue.
DeleteZagreb is on -2——7
DeleteBut it would be 2,5 times weekly to/from ZAG, meaning ops at 2-4-7 weekdays next summer, whereas on ---4--- the plane also serves SPU.
DeleteSuppose this is to test the grounds in SPU first as Transat wants to be careful.
Congrats Split. Hopefully the US is next.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned lol
DeleteLol
DeleteExcellent news!
ReplyDeleteIt is now certain, that SPU will surpass ZAG by 2021 and become the second busiest airport in Yugoslavia after Belgrade. This is really impressive and who would've thought such an achievement will be reached. SPU can easily reach 5 million by 2023.
ReplyDeleteNot in 2019, but in 2020 for sure. If in meantime ZAG will not attract some LCC.
Delete@Anonymous28 September 2018 at 11:03
DeleteTrolling again,
Projections for Split, Zagreb and Dubrovnik airports...
Delete2018
Zagreb - 3380
Split -3140
Dubrovnik - 2570
2019
Zagreb - 3700
Split -3450
Dubrovnik - 2800
2020
Zagreb - 4000
Split -3700
Dubrovnik - 3100
2021
Zagreb - 4400
Split -4000
Dubrovnik - 3400
2022
Zagreb - 4750
Split -4350
Dubrovnik - 3750
No idea where you see Split overtaking Zagreb....
This growth is based on Zagreb getting no new carriers from now on, only relies on increased load factor and more flight operations. If new carriers arrive, SAS, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, EasyJet, Wizz, TAP, Alitalia, Air Ukraine, Transavia France, Chinese Carrier and Brussels air, Swiss, Norwegian, Vueling (they add Valencia, Seville, Malaga and Palma seasonally) and Czech extend their service to year round, we could see more pronounced growth, of 500k per year.
If if if...
DeleteBrussels air, Swiss, Norwegian, CSA, TAP have all downgraded fights to ZAG in last year or two so I don't think we will see any expansion on their behalf. Hope I'm wrong but we will see.
DeleteEmirates and TK as well, both have reduced their operations into ZAG while SPU keeps on adding more and more flights from all corners of the world.
Delete@Anonymous28 September 2018 at 14:58
DeleteTK hasn't reduced anything, Emirates will be sending B777 300ER back in April.
So after Split which other Croatian airport can we expect with long haul? :D Pula?
ReplyDeleteDon't think so. Only Split, Dubrovnik and Zagreb have the potential for summer intercontinental routs.
DeleteIs it true that Ryanair will close its base @ZAD? A guy told, all routes to Zadar will be flown from the other bases!
ReplyDeleteWould be strange as ZAD is doing quite well.
DeleteZAD isn't doing that well this year, 3/8 months had a passenger drop.
DeleteBecause of Ryanair’s strike as well. Many flights were cancelled
DeleteBeijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, Montreal, Singapore are all on the cards If you look at tourist arrival numbers from select locations:
ReplyDeletein 2018, so far Croatia was visited by in 000 :
USA - 417 000 - up - 22.5%
S. Korea - 335 000 - down 3.5%
Australia - 187 000 - up 15.5%
China - 138 000 - up 37%
Canada - 120 000 - up 24%
Japan - 108 000 - up 20%
Taiwan - 69 000 - down 1%
India - 51 000 - up 7.5%
Brazil - 48 000 - up 3.5%
Argentina - 40 000 - up 30,5%
New Zealand - 32 000 - up 22%
Hong Kong - 24 000 - up 16%
Singapore - 32 600 - up 17%
Malaysia - 30 200 - up 16%
Thailand - 21 000 - up 40.5%
South Africa - 20 000 - up 16%
Mexico - 15 000 - up 21.5%
UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - 16000, up by 43%
Chile - 10 000 - up 14%
This is projected number of visitors for entire 2018,
USA - 575 000
S. Korea - 455 000
Australia - 255 000
China - 210 000
Canada - 175 000
Japan - 170 000
Taiwan - 120 000
India - 61 000
Brazil - 65 000
Argentina - 57 000
Singapore - 47 700
New Zealand - 44 000
Thailand - 42 000
Hong Kong - 35 000
Malaysia - 35 400
South Africa - 25 000
Mexico - 20 000
UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - 21 000
Chile - 12 000
This is projected number of visitors for entire 2019,
USA - 700 000
S. Korea - 500 000
Australia - 325 000
China - 300 000
Canada - 217 000
Japan - 200 000
Taiwan - 140 000
Brazil - 80 000
Argentina - 72 000
India - 65 000
Singapore - 57 500
New Zealand - 55 000
Thailand - 50 000
Malaysia - 44 000
Hong Kong - 40 000
South Africa - 30 000
Mexico - 30 000
UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - 27 000
Chile - 15 000
And 2020 might go this way:
This is projected number of visitors for entire 2020,
USA - 800 000
S. Korea - 550 000
China - 400 000
Australia - 370 000
Canada - 250 000
Japan - 250 000
Taiwan - 170 000
Brazil - 120 000
Argentina - 90 000
India - 90 000
Singapore - 80 000
New Zealand - 70 000
Thailand - 60 000
Malaysia - 50 000
Hong Kong - 45 000
South Africa - 35 000
Mexico - 35 000
UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - 30 000
Chile - 20 000
Koji sistem koristis za te nebuloze? Sto vise brojeva i postova, to vise pada tvoj kredibilitet. You're a joke.
Delete@Anonymous29 September 2018 at 09:00
DeleteI couldn't care what you think however, the data I am basing my projections is based on
following data published by two reputable organizations in Croatia that publishes that data.
https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2017/04-03-02_01_2017.htm
https://www.htz.hr/sites/default/files/2018-09/Turisti%C4%8Dka%20statistika%20-%20kolovoz%202018.pdf
and bit of related news ...
https://www.htz.hr/hr-HR/press/objave-za-medije/ove-godine-100-milijuna-nocenja-ostvareno-mjesec-dana-prije-nego-2017-godine
My estimates are based on trends in 2018 and 2017, average of the both is used to project future figures, which is quite simple.
If 3+4=7 /2 = 3.5
The transcontinental passenger figures indicate demand for destinations, in particular, air passenger demand, so direct connections to China and elsewhere this demand originates would be a logical conclusions.
If you're disputing these numbers, btw, than dispute also actual visitor figures of official Croatian agencies responsible for these numbers. My projections are based on these, and are relatively modest.
If we use actual numbers for example number of Chinese arrivals, the figures would be far higher.
Actual number based on the actual trend
2018: 220 000
2019: 310 000
2020: 437 000
A guy herr once said how we don't have self-critisism. Now the same goes for you neighbor :)
Delete