Air Transat tipped for Split service


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.

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.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Wasn't the USS too short for long-haul flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      They could operate the flights with the A321lr.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:06

      Not for A321LR and A330-200, though for A330-200 the lack of taxiways poses a challenge.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:18

      The flights will operate with the A310 once a week in addition the the two A330 to ZAG!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:44

      The A330 can land in SPU, but it cannot depart with full payload.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:50

      Is there room to lengthen the runway in Split?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:16

      Airbus A330 Landing - Split Airport SPU:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58LJjUaf06U

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:20

      @ 11.16

      Like 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.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:00

      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

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:34

      In the text it says they will add taxiways next year.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous15:43

      @ Anon 09:50: There is clearly room for a longer runway. About 100m to the SW and 450m to the NE maximum.
      Current runway has 2550m so in total 3100m should be possible, of course only after long lasting land acquisitions and court decisions.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    WOW!!!!!!!!! Bad news for ZAG. finally some merit for the coast and not only capital

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      I guess this is their response to Rouge launching Zagreb flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:12

      Why 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.

      This 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.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:20

      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
    4. Anonymous12:19

      @Anonymous28 September 2018 at 09:02

      You 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.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:21

      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.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:57

      Didn'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?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous08:56

      Anonymus 14.57, to vjerujes sve sto ljudi ovdje pisu?

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    I'm guessing Air Transat wasn't happy if they asked them to remove the advertisement :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:05

    Wow this would be fantastic for Split.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    I think when they release their schedule we will see

    1x Split
    1x Dubrovnik
    2x Montreal - Zagreb

    We will see soon enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      But will they continue YYZ-ZAG is the question.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:16

      I 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.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      I think they will but I'm not so sure they will introduce those Montreal flights.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:19

      They will! 2 times a week as this year.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:21

      No need to continue, this is a smart move. They will probably concentrate on flights out of Montreal and serving coastal cities from Toronto.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:45

      They could fly YYZ-SPU-DBV-YYZ with A330. That way the A330 could actually operate to Split.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous16:31

      Well, the poster says: Toronto to Croatia Summer 2019; Split on Thursdays, Zagreb on Mondays and Sundays. I can't see Montreal or Dubrovnik there.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous16:34

      Sorry, Tuesdays, not Mondays.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    And 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?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If 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 🤷‍♂️

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:22

      SPU is already number one in ex yu during peak summer months.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:28

      They were number 1 only in July in ex-Yu.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:30

      https://www.eurowings.com/en/booking/new-routes.html

      Delete
    5. Please read, what I wrote and check the booking system.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:18

      Yes, but it will be back next week with the summer schedule full release

      Delete
    7. Cool, thanks for information :) happy to hear abt that

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:09

    I love how SPU is all about not wanting long-haul flights until someone shows interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      They just do not need to. Airport is congested.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    Honestly Dubrovnik makes more sense to me over Split.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:35

      It's a more well known tourist destination, yes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:47

      DBV 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.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:12

    Bravo, Split!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:14

    "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."

    Now 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      Once people do their math, they will decide what is the better option.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:05

      Which one is better service and comfort wise? Transat or Rouge?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:52

      Both are bad.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:32

      More or less everything is bad when you fly long distance in economy.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:23

      Transat is way better than Rouge, more legroom, PTV's and free IFE in economy.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:17

    The flights will operate with the A310 once a week and be in addition to the twice weekly ZAG service!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      I just checked and their A310s have 250 seats!! Yikes how did they manage to cram so many inside.

      Overall this would be fantastic news for Split.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:44

      Their A330 have over 300 seats ;) They do have cramped seating.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:01

      Better for the airports :)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:13

      345 seats on an A330-200 to be exact.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:15

      That's a squeeze, especially on a 8+ hr flight.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:48

      Their pitch is better than at most airlines

      - 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'

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:48

      This is for the A330 of course.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:52

      But 3-3-3 configuration -.- This is very unusual for an A330

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:33

      3-3-3 on A330?
      That is disaster for us chubbies xD

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:22

    Has Split ever had long haul flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:28

      Don't think so.

      Delete
    2. To YYZ by Skyservice one season

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:35

      Ah that's right. Thanks for reminding me.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:36

      Those were on the B757 right?

      Delete
    5. Yes. They had a technical stop in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:35

    Well done Split and Croatia.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:40

    Perfect. SPU will work during high season, once per week.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:45

    Air Canada Flights to ZAG are on sale for nex year as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      4 times a week as this year!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:16

      Pity they won't keep it during the winter too. I think it could work.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:29

      @Anonymous28 September 2018 at 10:16

      Air 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 .

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:35

      Opet baca grah...

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:49

    This would be the cherry on top of the cake with the new terminal also opening next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:36

      I still think they should have added air bridges to the new terminal.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:55

      That 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.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:51

    Isn't this going to be tight for 321LR? YYZ-SPU distance is 3917nm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      It 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.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:33

      A321LR 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.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:37

      8 hours on a narrow body sounds daunting. I know some airlines have already started it but still...

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:36

      TATL 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.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:44

      Range is 4000nm not 4150. And ic Air Transat will put 175 that flights will loose money.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:58

    Congrats 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:01

      Same like Dubrovnik.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:35

      Same as Zagreb.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:33

      No in Zag they don't. Not a good managment.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:46

      That is because of Air Canada, Emirates, Korean of Iberia?

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:05

    Good route for tourists. More convenient for them than having to transfer elsewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:09

    Runway 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.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:09

    Congrats, Split!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:10

    Great news for Split!

    I think there is room for even twice weekly.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous10:22

    Great news. Can't wait to see them at SPU :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous10:37

    I 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.
    In 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50

      That would make more sense. But does the ZAG flight operate on Thursdays? This could be a clue.

      Delete
    2. Zagreb is on -2——7

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:59

      But 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.
      Suppose this is to test the grounds in SPU first as Transat wants to be careful.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous10:49

    Congrats Split. Hopefully the US is next.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous11:03

    Excellent news!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous11:03

    It 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:31

      Not in 2019, but in 2020 for sure. If in meantime ZAG will not attract some LCC.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:35

      @Anonymous28 September 2018 at 11:03

      Trolling again,

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:50

      Projections for Split, Zagreb and Dubrovnik airports...

      2018

      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.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:39

      Brussels 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.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14:58

      Emirates 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
    6. Anonymous16:55

      @Anonymous28 September 2018 at 14:58

      TK hasn't reduced anything, Emirates will be sending B777 300ER back in April.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous13:40

    So after Split which other Croatian airport can we expect with long haul? :D Pula?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:30

      Don't think so. Only Split, Dubrovnik and Zagreb have the potential for summer intercontinental routs.

      Delete
  30. Is it true that Ryanair will close its base @ZAD? A guy told, all routes to Zadar will be flown from the other bases!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:18

      Would be strange as ZAD is doing quite well.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:59

      ZAD isn't doing that well this year, 3/8 months had a passenger drop.

      Delete
    3. Because of Ryanair’s strike as well. Many flights were cancelled

      Delete
  31. Anonymous18:55

    Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, Montreal, Singapore are all on the cards If you look at tourist arrival numbers from select locations:

    in 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:00

      Koji sistem koristis za te nebuloze? Sto vise brojeva i postova, to vise pada tvoj kredibilitet. You're a joke.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      @Anonymous29 September 2018 at 09:00

      I 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

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:09

      A guy herr once said how we don't have self-critisism. Now the same goes for you neighbor :)

      Delete

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