Croatia Airlines sees bookings and demand plummet


Croatia Airlines has seen its booking numbers and overall demand decrease sharply as the carrier continues to maintain operations to several European destinations in the face of the coronavirus Covid-19 global pandemic. In a statement, the company said it wants to give Croatian and foreign nationals the opportunity to get to their homes as countries across the world introduce entry bans and restrict commercial flights. “We share the same fate as the entire aviation industry, which is one of the most vulnerable at this time and is suffering on a daily basis from the effects of the pandemic”.

Croatia Airlines saw its booking numbers decrease 50% last week when compared to the same period last year, with a 50% decline registered this week too. “During the week of March 16 - 22, we saw a 50% decline in bookings compared to the same period last year. We expect the figure to decrease by the same margin this week too, while, based on current data, bookings are down 39% for next week. From the planned 407 flights this week, 196 will be operated”, the company said. It added, “If we go back to the first half of March, from March 1 to March 15, when the effects of the coronavirus were not as great, Croatia Airlines operated 3% fewer flights and handled 31% fewer passengers compared to the same period in 2019”.

During the first twenty days of the month, Croatia Airlines has been carrying an average of 2.590 passengers per day. The airline is one of the few in the region still in operation. However, according to broadcaster “RTL”, there are unofficial reports Zagreb Airport may be closed in the coming weeks to stem the spread of the virus. The Croatian carrier has cancelled nine return flights for today, but will maintain services to Brussels, Amsterdam, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris, Sarajevo and Split.




Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Congratulations to Croatia Airlines for still flying in these tough times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:33

      For what exactly?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:09

      Congrats to the government since they decided to keep them operating, this is not decision from OU.
      Also, its really nice that is possible to fly from Amsterdam to Zagreb, you can easily book a ticket, but I can't go out from Zagreb back home to the coast to be safe since we have earthquakes all the time, especially for us living in the city center. How stupid is this?! So it is ok to feel unsafe in Amsterdam and to fly back home to Zagreb, but it's not ok to feel unsafe in Zagreb and run to the coast. Horrible.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:18

      This is STUPID ! They should not be flying. People's health and wellbeing, as well as stopping the spread of this terrible virus, should be the only priority at the moment for everyone concerned.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      Anonymus 10:09 I am very sorry for the earthquake but you have to stay there and this is a very good decision of the authorities. We have something else going on now: corona.
      You are not in danger any more, and to let you on the coast so you can feel safe could jeopardize the corona situation on the cost.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    To be honest, I would have expected bookings to be down 98% at this time, so 50% does not sound too bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:20

      Croatia is heading the EU right now and they must be connected to the EU at least which they do. There is essential business travel demand right now.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:20

      50% overt two weeks equates to 75% down in bookings, which is catastrophic.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:26

      "Essential business travel demand". Haha! Please leave those ego stories at home. Peoples' lives are at stake. All meetings are now conducted via Skype, Zoom, etc. There's no demand, and there's no meetings. This airline is contribution to Croatia having the second highest infection rate in ex-YU. close the damn airports before its too late.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:29

      Oh really, is that why LH and others still fly to Milan and NY? Really? Just because JU stopped operating does not mean others have to follw suit...

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:40

      Not sure why you are singling out JU specifically, since many minor airlines across Europe have ceased operations, JU included. OU, as a minor, non-essential European airline should follow suit and let the strategic air corridors be maintained by the likes of LH and AF.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:42

      How come you don't have an issue with TAROM flying?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:47

      With 578 cases in Romania and 361 in Croatia, yes I do have an issue all round, since there's a clear correlation where the regional epicentres seem to be forming.

      Delete
    9. To have 12 flights per day (84 per week) is total madness. TAP has 25 international and 45 domestic flights per week.

      They should have 2 flights to Split per day (morning and evening that all officials, health and other crisis workers, and civilian with permission can go to Split or Zagreb and come back same day + cargo) and 2 to Dubrovnik per day (they should open airport as soon as possible as this part of country is far away, isolated because of BiH that should pass to go to Zagreb or Split and small with less than 100.000 inhabitants what makes them so needed by support of rest of the country) and 1 flight to Frankfurt per day and 6 times per week to Brussels. From there all officials and crises workers can connect to every part of Europe and even to some part of World.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous13:51

      I guess they are like 30% full right now. It is stupid to operate now, at some point being grounded is cheaper.

      Delete
    11. Not exactly.

      1. in this moment it is not about price or economic reasons. Especially to Split, Frankfurt and Brussels

      2. they will still pay for salaries, airport parking, for sure there are some obligations of Country to concessionaire in case of elementary catastrophic...

      3. if they will not have regular route they still have to fly evacuation flights what cost money.

      So, anyhow State will pay money to Airport and to Croatia airlines, so why not to fly than.

      Of course not 12 flights per day, but some 6-7 is reasonable.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous16:57

      Because the costs of empty planes are higher than if they are on the ground in this situation. With grounded fleet company needs to pay fixed costs only, but if they fly with 30% LF they need to pay expensive costs of fuel, airports charges, air control etc.
      And they can't cover all these costs from the revenue.
      So it is much beter not to fly - the amount of money Government will need to donate will be much, much less in that case.

      Delete
    13. Fuel is very cheap in this moment. Rest is anyhow paid by government. So, they can pay to Croatia Airlines and Zagreb airport to be closed (at the end all governments will pay for bill), or they can pay them to fly/be opened.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous06:21

      Yesterday even Ryanair announced that they are grounding their planes. If someone with their cost structure and know-how can't make money in this environment then I don't see how OU can. This will come back to bite them in the ass. Partial grounding and partial flying with empty planes will cost them a lot. I wouldn't be surprised to see them get another €100 million after corona which should last them for about a year. Don't forget that the upcoming winter will be even tougher than the summer. At least JU has transfers to rely upon.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:09

    I'm surprised OU is still operating. Good on them but surprised. And it's quite a few flights.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:12

    The losses must be huge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:26

      yes for all airlines at the moment...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:18

      It is bigger loss at this moment if you are flying than if not

      Delete
    3. No it is not. And for sure routes to Split, Dubrovnik (when it will be opened), to Frankfurt and Brussels in this moment is not about money but strategic connection.

      Delete
    4. Just about losing money or startegic connection only : Flew LOT 12.03. ZAG to WAW for 90 euros ow. Was supposed to come back 20.03. but came back 14.03. because Poland announced closing borders 14.03. midnight. Bought one way ticket WAW to ZAG 3 hours before the flight 14.03. and paid 606 euros ow. Now you do your own math and make own conclusions, providing OU is doing the same, which we of course, don't know, and which I , frankly speaking, doubt

      Delete
    5. Anonymous17:00

      Strategic connection.

      Say no more.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:41

      Strategic connection, thank you! Sometimes it's better to keep mouth shut to appear smart, but some people just can't help it.

      Delete
    7. 50 % less bookings, written in the article. And 600 % up fares, personal example. So, 300 % more money on flights operated. Besides, wrote "if" and "doubt". But some people need to offend and humiliate, and just can't help it, no matter of all ifs and doubts

      Delete
    8. Anonymous21:56

      You are not serious,aren't you?

      You think that if you had to pay more for some flight that it is suddenly the roule?

      Do you know that you have FRA-ZAG flight for THIS weekend for only 169 EUR?

      Usually 2-3 days before the flight the tickets are poisonly expensive especially for fri
      -sun combinations?

      This is dirt cheap because they fly empty

      Delete
    9. Anonymous06:23

      Just because they offer €600 tickets doesn't mean many people end up buying them. One or two tickets at this price won't make their flight profitable.

      JU will already revise its charter traffic and I am sure OU will have to do the same. They need to make contingency plans for the failed upcoming summer season.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:13

    It's really sad it has come to this. Let's hope this dark period for the aviation industry passes as soon as possible.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:15

    Based on those stats they gave, it means they have around 92 passengers per flight, which I highly doubt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      It is possible. Lot's of people have no other way to get home. Flights are full of people from neighboring countries too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:57

      Flights are empty. Mostly with less than 2digit number L/F. There is no possibility to use this flights for people from neighboring countries since borders are closed and Croatia banned border crossing.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:19

    Aegean announced yesterday that they will be stopping all international flights from 26.03. TK is stopping 99% of international flights.

    Yet OU still flies empty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      Emirates and Austrian stopped flying. It is unbeliavable to see OU still flies around. Probably they know something much bigger players don't

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:21

    Maybe OU has some obligation to fly since Croatia is residing over the EU presidency.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      for virtual meetings? surely

      Delete
  9. This company management is extremely sick, worst than coronavirus, they don't care about their passengers, their employees or themselves. Just for the shake of the minimum money they might get. Shame on them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:25

      Yes like Lufthansa , British, American, Air France and so on.....

      Delete
    2. Well @ANONYMOUS 10:25 I see that you have guts so I dare you to travel to Milan, it's very easy to get there, Croatia airlines to Frankfurt and then from there with Lufthansa to Milan, piece of cake for you. As for me I admit it I am a p.....sy.

      Delete
    3. For sure you will not, I will not, even Anonymous 10:25 will not, but someone from Italian embassy or some Italian bank or company that is stuck here, or some health workers... will have to fly even to Milan. But many more are flying to Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Zurich, Brussels, London... Of course this amount of flights (12 per day) is total madness. 6 flights per day (2 to SPU, 2 do DBV when it will be opened, 1 to Frankfurt and 1 to Brussels) is enough.

      Delete
  10. Prepelica09:37

    It's still too early for OU to react. On more serious note, it's unbelievable how irresponsibile it is that they are still having any flights except repatriation or cargo ones. Same goes for MZLZ, which is still open for regular flights. OU should be so thankful for this, because now government can pump infinite amount of money into it, otherwise they wouldn't survive the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:24

      Why irresponsible? Most train operators within the EU still operate as well all domestic services by other airlines are operated as well.

      By the way your arguments go for any carrier in the world now. Even Swiss applied for state support yesterday.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:50

    So we have another measures active in this country, such as recommendation not to go out from the house, forbidden travel between regions and cities in the country, but you can still fly internationally from Zagreb? Where's the logic? Ok, people can come home. Who wants to come to Zagreb, city which is shaking like crazy for last two days and the city which is hit by corona virus like other cities around the world? U can stay where you are and thats it. If you are a tourist which stuck somewhere, government should organize transport back to Croatia (like Republic of Serbia in coop with Air Serbia).

    This situation with regular flights from/to Zagreb is unbelievable for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People to come home
      Health and other crises workers
      Army to NATO Europe, workers in EU (Brussels)
      Cargo (EU help)
      Police, army etc on domestic routes

      Of course not 12 flights per day, but 6 (2 abroad, 4 domestic) should operate.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:29

      in the biggest crisis in 21st century (meanwhile with earthquakes in Zagreb), you talk about army, NATO and EU people? Really? U are not right. Actually, u are completely wrong.

      You can easily check NATO and EU info and you will see that they all work from home. Even Croatian EU representatives work from home. There's no demand.

      Cargo and rescue flights can be provided adhoc, not as a regular flights. Croats in another countries had weeks to come beck home if they wanted. Now they can stay in those countries, like we need to stay in our cities. Simple as that.

      Delete
    3. In this moment more people fly for NATO than before (army in crises), and there are people to fly for EU (especially experts). It is not true that NATO and EU work from home. EU maybe most of them, but NATO for sure not (operation joint venture staff are in headquarters). There are staff that was remove from NATO post to help after Zagreb earthquake and will go back to Brussels base in few days.

      European Union said it will give huge help to Zagreb. That help (cargo and staff) should be transfer somehow to Zagreb.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:16

    They should cancel all flights and only fly rescue flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:21

      +100

      Delete
    2. No! EU should proclame 5 hubs in European Union: Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid and Brussels (EU and NATO) and that urgent passengers can connect via that airports to Europe and out of it (most of intercontinental airlines still have flights to some of those airports + biggest national airlines still operate 50-60 planes, for example Lufthansa group fly 60 planes in this moment + flights to Frankfurt by United, Air Canada, Singapore, ANA, China Eastern, Thai, Vietnam, Qatar, TAP, Aegean, SAS, Croatia,Turkish, British, Finnair, Aer Lingus, airBaltic, Etihad...)

      Delete
    3. In Frankfurt today there are 83 flights and 54 train connections.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:04

      You are so active today proving that OU should be flying despite the fact that so many big airlines stopped it. Airlines much, much biger than ou and with much bigger market.

      It seems you know something they don't, or you are simply very, very wrong

      Delete
    5. And so many small airlines are still flying. So what is your point?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous06:25

      What small airlines in Europe are still flying? From what I know most European airlines have either grounded themselves or have considerably reduced their operations. Even KL announced their summer timetable and the list of European destinations is very short, this is up to mid-May. ZAG was not on the list meaning demand in Croatia is extremely soft right now. Then again KL did struggle there for a while.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous12:45

    LOL...so many negative comments...just one advice for all these ppl that are for some reason very annoyed that OU is still flying...check flightradar24 site..so many flights all around europe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:59

      I also don't understand the negative comments. For example, for me, I would much rather for Air Serbia to be flying a select number of routes (choose 5) so people can get back home. I have close family friends who are unfortunately stuck far away. They traveled there before the virus was even a major thing in China let alone Europe. Now they have no way of coming back, their visas are running out and we are trying to send them money.

      I do understand though that it's a bit easier for Croatia Airlines since it's in the EU so movement is not restricted in EU states.

      In all honesty I hope OU perseveres and that they don't close the airport. We will see.

      Delete
    2. True about flightradar24! Every time I check I'm expecting to see no planes anywhere but planes a everywhere.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous06:26

      Point is that as time goes by, more and more carriers are no longer flying. Two days ago it was Aegean, yesterday Ryanair... even mighty TK almost suspended all international flights.

      And today's topic is OU so it makes sense for people to write about it. smh

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:55

    I know its not directly related, but looking at the photo I actually like the "new" Croatia Airlines livery. Looks better with the white belly in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:59

      Agree. Looks more clean.

      Delete
    2. Prepelica13:15

      Fully agree, that blue belly was horrendous.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous13:53

    I think people are still flying. There is an exodus with many gastos massively returning to their home countries.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous16:20

    I wonder how many of these "bookings" are actually flight changes of previous bookings. I think some people have too optimistic of an attitude towards this epidemic and think they'll be able to go on their summer vacation after all, albeit with a slight delay. I hate to be pessimistic but I'm not betting on a best-case scenario

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous18:50

    What an amazing corporate citizen and I tip my cap to the Croatian goverment for keeping them flying, Hero’s at the service of their citizens.

    What amazes me is why is everyone worying about Croatia Airlines flying all of a sudden?

    It’s 100% owned by the Croatian Governement, and they will pay the costs.

    I fully believe Covid19 will SAVE Croatia Airlines, because EU will change their Laws regarding goverments funding Airlines (all non-private EU Airlines will need massive bailouts after this) and Croatia Airlines will receive an additional cash injection, saved by the bell!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:43

      Wasn't Air Serbia critisized here because they received help from GoS?
      Or the standards are drastically changed depending from the airline's name?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23:46

      There is a little difference to give financial help on normal business time, and on biggest global crises.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous06:28

      Yet OU received help in normal times as well, remember the €100 million before EU? Remember the €33 million some months ago? So where is the difference between JU and OU? Naturally besides the fact that Serbia gets a lot from JU while Croatia gets next to nothing from OU. Well, besides multiple daily flights to German hubs.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous20:59

    Ryanair completely cancelled flights ex Cork and Dublin to Zadar airport for 2020 season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:59

      You might want to read the news from the other day
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/03/ryanair-group-postpones-zadar-base.html

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:04

      I know that news, but FR was selling flights still until 22nd March when I got the confrimation from CEO DUB Airport that unfortunately all flights are cancelled from Ireland regardless that ZAD lost FR base, all the flights suppose to be operating for this season.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous21:31

    LHR- ZAG was completely full last Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous06:31

    Many on here are missing the big picture. Yes, OU will survive Corona, all state owned airlines will. However the market after will be extremely tough and I doubt OU will make further adjustments in order to remain competitive and relevant. No matter what amount they get from the government, it will keep them going for a while before we are back at them begging the government for more. Why did they burn through the €100 million so far during an extremely prosperous period for the aviation industry? If they couldn't make money then why is anyone expecting them to do so now? Let's be honest, within two years they'll be gone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:22

      ummmm, as much as you would love this, ain’t gonna happen....OU is vital to Croatia and will be saved at whatever the cost A+

      Delete

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