Several airports in the former Yugoslavia are hoping to get better connected with the Croatian capital in the coming period. Within the former state, Zagreb Airport is currently linked with Belgrade, Skopje, Sarajevo and Mostar, once domestic flights within Croatia are excluded. Podgorica, Ohrid and Pristina all hope to see services to the city, with the recent collapse of Adria Airways creating opportunities for carriers to fill the void to cater for transfer passengers. Montenegro Airlines recently noted it is considering flights to Zagreb. “One of our target destinations is Zagreb. The Montenegrin national carrier aspires to link nearby cities. Passenger growth on a global scale and the importance of the Montenegrin market leaves room for us to make such plans”, a spokeswoman from the carrier said. She added, “The regional market, as well as the terms and conditions offered by airports, are constantly reviewed. Zagreb certainly has the potential of being a future destination for us”.
Croatia Airlines, which discontinued its three weekly flights between Zagreb and the Montenegrin capital in February 2012, held talks with operator Airports of Montenegro last year over its potential return. “The resumption of flights between Podgorica and Zagreb would be of great importance to the Montenegrin diaspora in Croatia, but also for Croatian nationals in Montenegro. Furthermore, it would serve as an added benefit for the tourism sector which is vital for both countries”, the Ambassador of Montenegro to Croatia, Boro Vučinić, said. The resumption of flights between the two has also received support from the mayors of Zagreb and Podgorica, as well as the Croatian Ambassador to Montenegro.
The head of the Agency for the Promotion and Support of Tourism in Macedonia, Ljupčo Janevski, recently held talks with the Croatian Minister for Tourism, Gari Capelli, as well as representatives from Croatia Airlines over the potential launch of flights between Zagreb and Ohrid. Some 22.600 Croatian tourists visited Macedonia in 2018, while 35.600 Macedonians travelled to Croatia. Croatia Airlines is the busiest airline from the former Yugoslavia operating in Skopje, with its passenger numbers on the route increasing over the past two years. In 2015, the carrier introduced a seasonal one weekly service between Split and the Macedonian capital, however, the flights were short-lived and cancelled after just two flights.
The President of Kosovo has advocated for the resumption of flights between Pristina and Zagreb to help bolster economic cooperation between the two. Croatia Airlines pulled out of the Kosovo market last year by terminating its seasonal flights between the two cities. It marked an end to its gradual reduction of operations on the route. The Croatian carrier had maintained year-round operations between Zagreb and Pristina until 2016, after which services were downgraded to seasonal summer flights. It commenced operations to Pristina back in 2008, with three weekly services. The route was primarily targeted at transfer passengers at a time when there were limited options for travel from Pristina. At one point, it ran up to seven weekly flights between the two cities. However, with the arrival of new and low cost carriers in Pristina, as well as an increasing number of travellers from Kosovo using Skopje Airport due to its generally cheaper air fares, Croatia Airlines became less competitive.
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Sounds to me like they want to sat ZAG is expensive.
It is still too early to react to that.
In the wider region (ex-YU bordering countries) there are also flights to VIE, OTP, SOF, SKG, ATH, TIA, VCE, MXP, FCO
Taking in consideration how big is Air Serbia's network I honestly doubt YM can do anything significant with OU and ZAG
Simply because their O&D takes the plane in stead of the bus, look at the distance between Skopje and Zagreb and then compare it to Belgrade. You will have your answer.
its not easy to get to the croatian coast from Macedonia passing million of borders (and the MNE/HR is one of the least pleasant ones in whole of Europe believe me)
there are not even decent scheduled bus connections apart from some buses organized by local travel agencies
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/05/croatia-airlines-scales-back-lisbon.html
Announcing that you are suspending Belgrade-Rijeka for example 5 days before the suspension is abrupt.
They don't go there to church, so religion pays zero role to go to Greece, and hardly anybody in Macedonia speaks and/or understands Greek, so, so much for "cultural similarities".
The second huge mistake, few years later, was decision to change reliable, excellently maintained, relatively new and 100% PAID B737 fleet for A320, which needed to be paid for, was drastically more expensive at that time compared to B737, needed completely new trainings for all of the staff, and was more difficult to fill and much more expensive to operate.
The third huge mistake was to become LH feeder, instead building its network, making ZAG real hub, and taking advantage of tourism which was starting to re-blossom, industry which still existed, diaspora of the entire ex-yu territory which even expanded during the last decade of wars and unfavourable situation of regional competitors.
The fourth huge mistake was to make the company sanctuary for political party buddies, relatives and nephews and mistresses and to invent for them positions non-existent in other airlines, which resulted in unreasonably high number of employees in general and especially administrative employees.
The fifth mistake is lack of any strategy, plan and vision what, when and how to do.
The result of these mistake is shameful condition of the company which will probably follow the pattern already set by Adria.
our cultural similirarity is stil Dzoni Stulic and Ceca ;)
seasonal flights to the croatian coast would be popular
Long are the days when they shortly exploited Kosovo immigrants with "transfer" flights when Serbia didn't accept Kosovo travel documents.
I also remember the 80Euro "transit visa fees" to just pass through Croatia. *cringes*
1. No significant no of people living in respective countries.
3. Not an interesting stop for transfer.
2. Not many want, or can afford to pay 20Euro for cevapcici plate in summer time. Esp. not when Montenegro, Albania or even Greece offer alot more for less money.
Croatian should take an example of Air Serbia not compete with Eurowings that's ridiculous.
Btw I am a new anonymous.
Some reacted fast but even they will have to adjust and it is not so that their reaction estabilished the situation forever. JU increased frequences, but now it is almost all on ATR and I wonder what the LF and fares are on these flights. Maybe they will have to scale down now.
OU has more departures for SKP in the evenings where JU has the most at midday.