Air Transat has said the Croatian market will continue to form an integral part of its destination network and is looking at opportunities to strengthen its operations in the country. The Canadian leisure carrier previously expressed interest in flying both to Dubrovnik and Split and contact has been made with both airports. “Croatia remains a key destination for Transat in view of the interest shown by Canadian travellers in the summer and its potential for tourism development”, the company said. It added, “We are continuously looking at all opportunities, including Croatia. Like all airlines, there are a number of considerations involved when we are selecting a destination, including customer demand, airport infrastructure and competition from other carriers”. Air Transat has been flying to Zagreb over the summer months since 2016.
Commenting on potential flights to either Dubrovnik and Split, the airline noted, “We continually analyse and re-evaluate the market and our roads, based on a variety of factors, to optimise our operations”. Both Air Transat and Air Canada Rouge have contributed to a boom in travel between Canada and Croatia. "Further growth in travel is expected from Canada to Croatia at around 20% per year. Estimates are based on the recovery of the Canadian economy, the strong contribution of nonstop flights linking Toronto with Zagreb, and general growth in interest for travel to Croatia”, Ina Rodin from the Croatian National Tourist Board said.
Transat hosted its travel agents, managers and suppliers in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto for an annual meeting last week, during which the destination of focus was Croatia. “We've seen great interest in Croatia since we started flying there in 2016”, the carrier said. Last year, there were a total of 172.712 Canadian visitors entering Croatia, representing an increase of 26.5% on 2017. The airline plans to announce full details of its 2020 summer program “shortly”. The company’s executive board recently approved plans to merge with Canada’s flag carrier, Air Canada, which is set to be completed during the second half of 2020. However, both brands will continue to operate separately.
Didn't they schedule Split last year, put tickets on sale and then cancel it?
ReplyDeleteThey did but in the end they decided to add an extra frequency to Zagreb instead.
DeleteThey should have chosen Dubrovnik over Split in my opinion. They would have had more success.
DeleteCan Air Transat's A321LRs reach DBV nonstop from Toronto?
DeleteNot without major restrictions in number of pax.
Delete@anon 9.1. yes. This was their planned schedule
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/p/air-transat-toronto-split.html
@Anonymous9 October 2019 at 09:07
DeleteA321XLR can reach Dubrovnik, not sure about A321LR
Would you guys please inform yourself before making any remarks ? The Split Airport is focused on LLC and they got no parking space to host all that traffic happening in peak of the season, that's why they were forced to cancel it. Dubrovnik is the more likely option for Air Transat & that will happen very soon, ps I'm still not gonna write off Split, but will see
DeleteDubrovnik would be a good choice for them and we read the DBV is looking at more long haul flights so who knows. It would fit perfectly in what Air Transat does.
ReplyDeleteAgree, DBV is the obvious choice! I wonder if AC Rouge could fly there.
DeleteThey could but will they is the real question!
DeleteThere would be little point in AC Rouge and Transat to fly there. It well be one or the other.
Delete173K Canadians entered Croatia so far ,that makes point indeed, as it mentioned abkve in article, demand is huge & they will step their game up.
DeleteI wonder if Rouge will suspend flights to ZAG and Transat will increase their own.
ReplyDeleteI find the future role of Rouge within Air Canada group questionable now that they are acquiring Transat.
DeleteAir Cananda flight are on sale already 6 times a week.
DeleteIs that the same as this year or increased frequency?
DeleteNeither Transat or Rouge will be suspending ZAG.
DeleteIt's only 4 times a week for next summer.
DeleteI read here that a lot of their passengers on the Zagreb flights are actually connecting from Montreal. Perhaps an opportunity to introduce Montreal-Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteEven former ZAG CEO, the Feron guy, said they were in talks over Montreal-Zagreb. Then again he also said that about US and China flights but nothing has materialized so far.
DeleteSince he left there have been no new airlines or routes from ZAG.
DeleteNot just Montreal but also from Ottawa.
DeleteBravo Croatia Airlines!!! Go on feeding Mummy until it shows is mean stepmother. If Adria was not enough to open your eyes, then be it so
ReplyDeleteAre you suggesting they start flying to Canada??
DeleteOU is stupid. With Transat expanding in Croatia there will be less passengers for LH hubs going to Canada.
DeleteYes, but what are they suppose to do? Start long haul???
Deletewhy not? they have a decent domestic network with massive demand for north america. look at aa success in dbv.
DeleteBecause it costs money. I'm not sure if you are aware but they just literally got bailed out by the government. They needed money to pay suppliers. If it didn't happen we would be witnessing an Adria style scenario at the moment.
DeleteToo expensive for OU at this point. They would need support either from the state or a strong partner to start those kind of flights.
DeleteThey would not need to offer one destination. They could start China, Korea, US. Markets from which Croatia has a significant number of tourists. And if winter is a problem they could wet leaase.
DeleteThat move would be a final nail in OU's coffin.
DeleteThat move would be a final nail in OU's coffin. Fully agree. With OU as it is now, it would be disaster. But if OU would have regional fleet three or four times bigger than now, with let's say Embraers 170 and 190, if it would open two or three times daily to OMO, TGD, PRN, BEG, INI, SOF, BUH, BUD, TSR, OHD, SKG, ATH, in addition to already flown SJJ, SKP, PUY, ZAD, SPU, DBV, if it would use Airbus to LCA, TLV, BEY, AMM, CAI, GYD, TBS, IKA, it could easily fill 4 wide bodies on following way : one long-haul wide-body goes 4 weekly BKK, year-round with minimum 10-15 codeshares with TG to Australia, New Zealand, southern China, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia. 3 long-haul wide bodies go with 18 weekly to North America , daily EWR, 4 weekly ORD, 4 weekly YVR, 3 weekly YUL , (providing Canadian companies remain flying Toronto only), in peak season Jun-Sept, 15 weekly in Apr, May and Oct(minus one EWR, ORD, YVR), and 5 weekly in winter timetable - 3 EWR and 2 ORD. Of course, again with codeshares from YVR to SFO, LAX, and from EWR and ORD throughout the US, and from YUL to Hamilton, Toronto and throughout Canada, and some US eastcoast cities as BOS. Two remaining long-haul wide bodies in winter : one takes over Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo (which are already introduced or are negotiated), with one frequency weekly each, as there is obviously no demand for more. Other one covers maintenance, standby, adhoc lease or charter. At the moment, with this "management", this politicians, this number of administrative employees in excess, this low work productivity and this irresponsibility, this is just a fairy tale. But, with professional management, without influence of politics, with getting rid of surplus workforce and motivating remaining, this should have been reality already long ago.
DeleteZAG needs a win after a series of setbacks. I don't think AC is looking to deepen cooperation with OU as they are expanding in Vienna which offers far more possibilities. ZAG needs to encourage them to launch non stop flights from Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary... and to make ZAG a gateway to Croatia.
ReplyDeleteThat or they could work to make Toronto a year round destination.
DeleteIt couldn't work. To name a few: Emirates, Korean.
DeleteAko se pogodimo sa MZLZ mozemo da uvedemo treci let preko Zagreba do Toronta zimi.
Delete^ ?
DeleteIt amazing how successful the Canada-Croatia flights have been. Both for Transat and Rouge.
ReplyDeleteTrue there has been over 20% increase in Canadian tourists each year since the flights started in 2016.
DeleteDidn't Sky Greece open the doors to this route in 2015? :D
DeleteNo. It was Skyservice 7-8 years before. And Air Canada before, during ex-yu they flew Toronto to ZAG. JAT as well, but via Montreal
Delete"pozdrav iz Rijeke", What are you talking about???????? you think AC and Air Transat decided to fly to Croatia direct in 2016 based on 26 year old JAT data, or old Skyservice numbers, and bypass fresh SKY Greece numbers from 2015?! I know first hand that Air Transat requested ZAG airport to give them some SKY Greece loading numbers, and on the inaugural AT flight in 2016 I asked the Air Transat delegates what gave them incentive to fly to Croatia, they unofficially conceded that the SKY Greece numbers proved to be pivotal. Just goes to show once again that "pozdrav iz Rijeke" is a troll, has no idea what he's writing and knows nothing about aviation.
DeleteLol @ 11:38, he just noted who flew this route in the past. You really have issues.
DeleteLast anon, NO! Read the comment once again!!!
DeleteNo need for that many question marks @An.11.38. I mean precisely what I wrote. In my opinion, and with my logic, "door openings" means viability of commencement of service. Service from Toronto to Zagreb commenced much before Skygreece. And it was not operated by JAT only, but by Air Canada as well, which you so conveniently forgot to mention. And I am pretty much sure that both of Canadian companies considered AC numbers, more likely than the ones of some obscure Greek company which lasted one summer. And I am so happy for you that you are not a troll, and that important business people share with you business secrets which of corse makes you such an expert that I am now ashamed and will never write here anything again. LOL!
DeleteTime for SPU to get some long haul flights. YYZ would be a good choice.
ReplyDeleteI doubt they will go for Split as they already tried selling tickets and there wasn't as much demand. In my opinion they should either introduce a second destination to Zagreb (one weekly would be fine to start off with) or launch Dubrovnik.
DeleteOh really? Demand was not there? The reason they abandoned the plan was that SPU had no capacity and the new terminal opening was delayed. Do you think the pax load of an A330 in SPU on top of all the other pax in the old terminal would have worked?
DeleteYou think they might start SPU now that the new terminal is completed?
DeleteBut isn't having a widebody an issue for Split because it takes up too many parking positions? The issue isn't so much the terminal, it's a lack of apron space for parking.
DeleteDemand is enormous in summer for SPU. They could easily handle 1 million pax in July alone. But they first have to do their homework in terms of expansion. Terminal is done. Now they need to enlarge the apron and add taxiways to increase the operations per hour. Then Transat will be fine.
DeleteA problem for SPU is that a A330 can't take off from the airport with a full payload.
DeleteWith the reduced weight you can easily make it.
DeleteI think they will keep ZAG and introduce DBV 2 times a week.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if their flights to Zagreb are more filled with tourists or diaspora.
ReplyDeleteShame they don't want to try year-round :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could fly it via another one of their European cities during the winter. Via Prague or as a stop to Budapest.
DeleteThey should at least start few days before Easter till end of SUTT
DeleteThey have been extending the season bit by bit each year.
DeleteObviously too early for Air Transat to look for anything beyound Croatia ...
ReplyDeleteThey could easily do a few rotations to Belgrade and Skopje during the summer.
DeleteNo, it is too early.
DeleteIf you say so.
DeleteNot enough demand from Canadian tourists for these destinations.
DeleteI'm glad they are looking at more Croatia flights but they have one of the most dense seating on earth. They managed to fit 345 seats on the A330-200 in 2 class config -.-
ReplyDeleteTransat's business class is not bad actually.
DeleteThat's a squeeze, especially on a 8+ hr flight!
Deletehttps://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_Transat/Air_Transat_Airbus_A330-200_V2.php
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteBravo Canada!
DeleteBravo Canada double - it's two companies :)
DeleteI'm not surprised. I'm sure Air Transat gets their moneys worth out of these Zagreb flights.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what were Transat's loads like to/from ZAG this summer?
ReplyDeleteloads are healthy.
Deletegood loads, 85-90%.
DeleteAir Transat has the perfect strategy for Croatia. Seasonal for diaspora and tourists. They sell packages, they allow your inbound to be to another city and outbound from Zagreb and vicersa. They are flexible.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSvaka kompanija nudi multi city opciju.
DeleteBoth ACR and AT have good business models so it works.
DeleteWe will see soon enough since they will publish their summer schedule. Would be nice to see them in DBV.
ReplyDeleteIf that happens, then all Dubrovnik would need is a route from Asia :)
DeletePity that instead they are not planing to extend their summer flights to Zagreb into winter.
ReplyDeleteAir Transat is leisure company that operate mostly on seasonal basis in Europe.
DeleteFlights to Canada & US are very seasonal from this part of the world. You will get tourists and diaspora flying during the summer and you might get some diaspora during Christmas & New Year, which isn't enough, unless you have transfer passengers heading elsewhere, which these flights don't.
DeleteInterestingly they have recently announced Montreal-Copenhagen flights with A321.
ReplyDeleteThat's a long flight on a narrow body.
DeleteDBV could work during high season, once per week.
ReplyDeleteYYZ-ZAG-DBV-YYZ could be a possibility too.
DeleteZagreb does fine on its on. It doesn't need a tag.
DeleteI wanted to say on its own.
DeleteDid Dubrovnik ever have flights to Canada in the past?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. There were flights to the US but not to Canada.
DeleteJAT used to have a charter from time to time from DBV to Toronto and Montreal but it was rare.
DeleteI hope the AC Rouge flights will eventually be taken over by Air Canada.
ReplyDeleteUnlikely, as Croatia is a typical leisure destination for them. And Rounge is their leisure branch.
DeleteI think it's quite impressive that 2 Canadian airlines fly to ZAG. YYZ-YUL-ZAG-YUL-YYZ could be a good option for Air Transat in the future.
ReplyDeleteThey have been growing steadily in Croatia. Looking forward to see what they plan in 2020.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if there were flights to Zagreb in December since the Advent Christmas festival is winning praise every year
ReplyDeleteMore would have to be done to promote Croatia in winter to Canadian tourists.
DeleteAcrually from mid December till mid January this route could easily work mostly because of diaspora.
Delete*actually
DeleteDid they use A333 or A332 to Zagreb this year?
ReplyDeleteA330-200 was used on all flights this summer. I guess since they added the extra weekly flight, it would have been to much to operate with -300.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteThere is potential for more Canadian cities to be linked:
ReplyDelete- Ottawa
- Montreal
- Vancouver
Ottawa? Really?
DeleteAir Transat only flies to central American beach destinations from Ottawa (seasonally) and Air Canada Rouge is the same (plus some US cities). Air Canada's only international non-US routes from Ottawa is Frankfurt, and it's seasonal too.
DeleteThere is potential for much more cities from other continents to be linked with ZAG, not only Canadian but it's Croatia Airlines that should be operating at least part of them.
DeleteWhen will Air Transat A330-200 seasonal Toronto - Dubrovnik service be announced? It says shortly but that could be tomorrow or a month from now?
ReplyDeleteNo one said they are announcing Dubrovnik.
DeleteI am ready to bet 100EUR they will be.
Delete