Croatia's nine commercial airports are set to handle a record number of passengers during the coming peak summer months with 81 new scheduled and charter routes introduced from 24 different markets. The majority of the new services, a total of fourteen, have been launched between Croatia and Germany, followed by twelve new routes from the United Kingdom, eight from France, five from Italy and four from the Netherlands. The greatest number of frequencies this summer season are being maintained between Croatia and Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Austria and Switzerland. It is estimated that the nine airports will handle a total of eleven million travellers by the end of the year.
Capacity increases at Croatia's five busiest airports this summer are being driven from three of Europe's biggest low cost carriers - easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Ryanair. easyJet will operate over 3.100 flights to the country this July and August and has more than doubled its capacity to Zadar compared to the summer of 2018. Furthermore, it now maintains over fifty services to Croatia. Ryanair has introduced eleven new routes to the country this summer season for a total of 32. Its growth has been focused on Zadar with over forty weekly flights maintained to the city. Its overall operations are up by 50%. Transavia has increased frequencies across Croatia, with operations in Rijeka up 350%.
January - June 2019
| Airport | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Zagreb | 1.534.105 | ▲ 4.2 |
| Split | 1.102.118 | ▲ 8.0 |
| Dubrovnik | 1.059.684 | ▲ 17.4 |
| Zadar | 295.316 | ▲ 38.0 |
| Pula | 242.826 | ▲ 17.3 |
| Rijeka | 62.204 | ▲ 19.4 |
Several markets have experienced significant capacity growth from Croatia this year. Among them is Ireland with the seat count up by 60% compared to 2018. This summer saw Aer Lingus introduce new services from Cork to Dubrovnik, while Ryanair commenced flights from Dublin to both Dubrovnik and Split. Croatia Airlines is also upgrading its seasonal operations between Zagreb and the Irish capital to year-round flights starting this winter. Services to Spain are up by almost 50%, with Iberia increasing capacity on flights to Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb in 2019 by 44.6%, offering up to 204.586 seats between the two countries. Its low cost subsidiary Iberia Express introduced services to Zadar last week. Air Serbia has increased seat capacity to Croatia by 18% and now has over 95% of all available seats being sold between the two countries.
Comments
Numbers are only going to get better.
"Wizz Air keeps on expanding there."
No, it has not "kept on expanding". That would indicate they have been growing there year after year which is not the case at all.
If people are looking for a cheap summer holiday with cheap hotels, food and drinks they can go to Turkey. More affluent tourists from all over the world will take their place.
No new airline for this winter and a lot of reductions (FZ, KL...)
Poor tourists go to Turkey and Chalkidi. Facts are facts.
Of course it is important to maintain prestige and the positive image.
tacka. peace
https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/79610-easyjets-holidays-unit-to-launch-in-2020
We might see much more UK-HR routes next year.
KL is not reducing ZAG this winter, it is same like last winter.
And it makes me laugh to hear about Croatia as a "prestigious" destination where low-cost carriers run the show and the vast majority of accommodation is private.
If it was truly a prestigious destination, chain hotels would be strung out along the entire cost. Hardly the case today.
The sea and coastline are beautiful, but not more so than in 2013. Meanwhile, prices have increased significantly since then. And people are starting to realise that.
And who mentioned prestigious destination, beside that one delusional bot? Did I? And why are the hotel chains the sign of the prestigious tourism? They are certainly not. Also, they are being built one by one, but I guess if there aren't thousands of them in a decade, something must be off, right?
So, you're saying nothing changed since 2013? I guess all these tourists that are keep coming must be idiots and someone should tell them that they are walking straight into a trap.
Bitter much?
A true story is that this year Greece and Turkey are becoming more and more popular again, and you can see a slow decrease in Croatia. -7% if you consider the same period of last year. At the end the season will be great again, but the boom is past. For now.
I live in Istria and can tell you that newly renovated top hotels, like Rovinj Park, are now very difficult to fill.
Private accomodation is in a bit of a crisis too, las year was definitely better.
So guys, just be honest.
And where did you get -7%?
And private accommodation should be in crisis since bunch of them got greedy and saw quick earning in opening their shabby little rooms and offering nothing in return. And now they are complaining how they can't fill their beds? Surprise, surprise.
CRO is truly impressive!
I stayed in almost all chains that exist. And I stayed in lot of non-chain hotels which were better than chain ones. I don't know where you got your info there are no chains in HR because Kempinski, Le Meridienne, Westin, Radisson, Hilton, Sheraton, Rixos all do business in HR. And on the coast. In addition to that there are several Croatian chains with 4 and 5 star hotels. Also, dozens and dozens small family boutique hotels with amazing offer would it be spa and wellness, health and sport, gastronomy. If you read my post, you realize I don't agree with generalizing and I would definitely not call entire Croatia "prestigious", it's BS. But also I cannot agree with you saying that HR is average or less, and on the same level as 2013 because it is simply not true as the quality of offer is constantly raising, and that's why the prices become higher as well.
I also think that demographics play a role. We all know its decreasing in almost the entire continent (which is also a factor). Finally, today the world is becoming smaller. Less visas or electronic visas. Options to fly...whoever thought Argentina will cost 200€ OW from Europe.
The world is evolving :)
Maybe the prestigious one is the only one run by commercial purpose, maybe the ones who run companies like ADP, TAV, Bouygues, IFC, Marguerite and invest billions into this business are aware of the optimum financial and operational strategy better than the commenters of this blog, or government assigned party members and their relatives? Maybe government owned airports are not focusing on profitability of the business but trying to balance public service and commerce?
Or maybe you're right.
So unlike other legacy carriers which are concentrate in hub like British, Iberia, Air France, Turkish, Tarom...
Feeling sorry for the Spaniards, though. I have been to many parts in Spain and to me, they are really one of the best. Especially, Níjar, Menorca, Fuerteventura and of course La Costa Brava. Beaches are very clean and usually with very easy access.
Iberia will have one more flight (this year 3, last year 2)
British two more flights (extra flight on Friday and Sunday)
Korean will increase capacity to 787-9 from September, and all winter
Croatia 2 more flights as Dublin will become all year destination
"It's easy for JU or JP to carry most tourists in their home markets when demand is from there. OU has a much more difficult job in reality"
So beside bringing the tourists from Serbia JU is also transporting tourists out of Serbia to the Croatia and back.
If your point was to belittle Air Serbia you missed the target
FlyDubai will fly 4pw instead 7pw
For people who are trying to have a holiday by spending only 5€ a day on food, 20€ max on a room and get drunk every night with cheap booze Croatia is the wrong place to be.
I bet the most prestigious guests stay in Haludovo on Krk island.
There is always Ohrid for the likes of you.
And if you can afford a plane ticket Sochi in the Russian Black sea!!!