Korean Air’s service between Seoul and Zagreb will enter its second year in September, with the carrier planning to increase capacity on the route in summer, and maintain triangle flights via Zurich in winter. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, Korean Air said, “Since the launch of the route between Seoul and Zagreb, it has been performing with a high load factor. There has been growth this summer season, mainly on demand originating from Korea”. An official from the airline also noted, “As Croatia has emerged as a popular tourist destination in Eastern Europe, the number of customers who use the direct flight to the country is growing. More and more younger people are going on self-guided trips to Europe”.
Due to increased demand, Korean Air will boost capacity on the Zagreb route from mid-September. The carrier will maintain the three weekly service with the 269-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jet instead of 218-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft starting September 17. The change in equipment will come around the Chuseok festival, a major three-day thanksgiving holiday during which demand for travel on the Korean peninsula increases significantly. Last year during the same period, services to Zagreb were close to completely full. The President of Korean Air previously said that the next generation of fuel efficient jets, such as the Boeing 787-9, will allow the airline to "reduce costs and improve the business". He added, "This will give us an opportunity to improve our results and further expand in markets such as Croatia”.
Commenting on the upcoming winter season, the airline said, “During the 2019/20 winter season flights will operate the same way as the previous year, with the routing Seoul- Zagreb - Zurich - Seoul. No decision has yet been made for 2020. For now, it is not possible to purchase tickets between Zagreb and Zurich”. Unlike last winter, during the upcoming 2019/2020 season, services will run with the B787-9 jet from late October. Last year, during the first half of winter, until January, the route was operated with the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Despite Dubrovnik Airport identifying South Korea as a market from which it could sustain services, Korean Air noted that “for now” it has no plans to add the coastal city to its network
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"Unlike last winter, during the upcoming 2019/2020 season, services will run with the B787-9 jet from late October. Last year, during the first half of winter, until January, the route was operated with the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft."
B787 - 269 seats
B777-200ER (two versions) - 248 and 261 seats.
Korean Air seat capacity:
B787 - 269 seats
B777-200ER (two versions) - 248 and 261 seats.
B772 has less seats than B787 in KE fleet!
Last year in September and October they used A333, this year B787, but after that they switch to 772. This year there is no B772, just B787 whole winter, which means they will put more seats on the market than last year.
Not sure about increasing ZAG, let's see what will happen next year, but I doubt it.
No, Swizerland IS part of Schengen.
With kind regards,
Mihael
With kind regards,
Mihael
In my opinion, they should increase Zagreb next summer to 4 per week, operating with B789 or A333. For example tuesday and thursday flight with A332, Saturday flight with B789 or A333 and one more weekly flight also with B789/A333. On that way they would offer more seats, give more solutions for passengers with one more weekly rotation, etc.
Also, winter in Zagreb is bad for almost every airline, but that should not be case for Korean since this passengers are here all year round. They should fly via Zurich for November, December and January, when demand is the lowest, but February and March should be direct and those can be with 3 flights per week with A332 which has the less seats in Korean fleet, at least that is on their website.
In conclusion, I think everything will stay the same for Korean in Zagreb, next year 3 per week and A332, winter again via Zurich. Unfortunately, my feeling is that they do not analyze this market on proper way.
Qatar is good example, A321 depending on demand, Emirates with HD B777 when is needed, Turkish switching all the time between A319/20/21, Lufthansa as well. Korean is, in my opinion, quite close. They don't do such things, not only in Zagreb, as I can see, same aircrafts are all around the europe all the time.
Sorry for long post. This is just my opinion. They will be in such a drama when Asiana starts some line near Zagreb and when they start with taking their passengers (or some other company).