American mulls future Dubrovnik operations

NEWS FLASH


American Airlines has said the resumption of seasonal flights between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik is uncertain due to collapsing demand for international travel. The carrier’s Vice President for Network and Schedule Planning, Brian Znotins, said, “We anticipate that demand for long haul travel will be the most impacted. A flight such as the one from Philadelphia to Dubrovnik saw a huge increase in traffic in recent years, partially because it was a popular filming location for the HBO series Game of Thrones. Airlines ramped up flights to those types of destinations partially because traditional launching point airports in Europe and Asia were full. Until traffic recovers, international travellers will likely have to make a stop in London, Madrid, Rome or Milan before continuing on to Dubrovnik”. American Airlines has tentatively scheduled the resumption of it Philadelphia to Dubrovnik service for June 2021 with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, however, further adjustments this far ahead remain highly likely. American Airlines’ service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik proved to be extremely successful during its launch year in 2019. The carrier maintained three weekly services from June until late August and increased frequencies to four weekly during its last month of operation in September. It handled 17.782 passengers during its four-month service run, with an average cabin load factor of 83%.

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:57

    Who follows news from Croatian coast knows that the mayor of Dubrovnik is especially depressed during these days. I agree with him as they have the most to lose here. Lot's of people there also fear about many hotels going bankrupt if the season doesn't happen this year.

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    1. Anonymous11:55

      Well with the Americans losing their jobs en mass and American Airlines needing billions in dollars with the future uncertain I would say all lose out- it sais DBV ws extemely popular, which means AA employed people and made money that they now don´t.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:05

    Depressing.

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    1. Anonymous15:03

      Maybe some of you should look at the bright side. Dubrovnik would have been completely destroyed, in a way, by mass tourism. Maybe this is the opportunity to change that. No, it's not always good to have a city full of groups and travelers who paid 15€ to put pictures on Instagram and threw away dozens of beers bottles (on the ground of course).

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:00

      Dubrovnik charged €15 to take a picture there? How is that even possible?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:07

      Sorry, it wasn't clear. The flight costs 15€.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:47

      Oh, ok... makes sense now.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous11:11

    People in Croatia are being served with illusion about "saving summer season" with some numbers from thumbs... Mostly by politicians as new elections are on they way and they must fight for their jobs next 4 years.
    Now, if someone offered me to travel to Monaco for 10 days I don't think I would accept it. Hardly this summer.
    - Would you?
    COVID-19 is something that really is messing with our lives. I know few people whom had COVID-19, one of them younger person whom barely survive. When people say that COVID-19 is fake I do not confront them, but I do act like I have it, and like they have it. Until this settle up, or by at least September, I'm not drinking my espresso in local coffee bar.

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    1. Anonymous20:49

      On the other hand, there are many unlike you who can’t wait to get on with their normal lives following months of restrictions, and are dying for a beach somewhere, among other things. Since Croatia doesn’t require obligatory quarantine/self-isolation nor negative Cov test for the visitors, the obstacle is obligatory quarantine or expensive testing required by their home countries. Today’s decision by Slovenia to open its borders for the EU citizens and to abolish the obligatory quarantine already resulted in long queues of Slovenes waiting on Croatian borders. So, the people will be traveling again between the countries with such protocols sooner than later. Of course, there will always be those more concerned and afraid who would rather stay at home, and those frugal and unwilling to travel during the crisis. Indeed, many will be affected by the economic impact of the pandemic but that’s another story.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous11:18

    Recently the boeing CEO said that he sees a US Airline collapsing in 2020. Not that he is the ultimate expert in these matters, but if this were true, out of the big 4 in the US, due to its horrible debt management, AA is the most likely candidate to go bankrupt.

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    1. Anonymous11:39

      Don't they have debt close to four billion Dollars?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:06

      That's something everyone in the industry knows. AA's situation is similar to Norwegian, counting the days to throw in the towel.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:17

      Just that Norwegian secured funding and will live to see another day. American Airlines on the other hand was last one to enter Chapter 11 after 09.11 which meant they are in a much worse position today. I predict their collapse as imminent which might not be a bad thing as a few more airlines might pop out. The United States of American desperately needs more carriers to serve the market. Many markets, especially smaller regional airports, have been left with limited connectivity mostly to the major hubs. That's what Moxy is trying to exploit.

      Personally I've flown on AA a few times and they are trash.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:58

      AA will owe not 4 but likely 40 Billion US Dollars at the end of this year.
      On the other hand they have the lowest liquidity of the big 4, with only 11 Billion-out of which 10 were through the government bailout.




      Delete
  5. Anonymous11:39

    Korean Air cancelled now all flights from Zagreb ( and from ZRH and BUD) to Seoul, which should start from 1. September. Hopefully KE will resume the service next year.

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    1. Anonymous11:43

      It was reported last week - https://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/05/korean-air-cancels-zagreb-service.html

      But I'm sure they will be back in 2021.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:51

      It was not about BUD and ZRH.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:09

      Closure of BUD which is one of Europe's top tourist destination tells you how bad the situation is in South Korea. I don't expect demand to return in the next 5-6 years. Now ZAG needs to fight tooth and nail to preserve Emirates in order to preserve a prestigious link with Asia and Australia.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:57

      no chance for KE to come back to ZAG. they are even sending their korean managers from the europe back home to Korea. Korean is also in bad financial situation, since its privatised company, gouverment is not really interested to save their ass

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:10

      Could we see LO launch BUD ZAG now to feed their Korean network? I'm baffled that they are not sticking around as I'm sure there is some demand left even with Corona.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous17:06

      Obviously KE sees them.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:43

      @Anonymous 12:09

      Why only Emirates, aren't Qatar and Turkish prestigious links with Asia and Australia?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous18:48

      Qatar operates narrowbodies as well and they are not as prestigious as widebody ones. As for TK, they crash too often. I would not fly on them, ever.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous19:09

      LH only operates narrowbodies to ZAG, are they not prestigious? AF and BA had three widebody crashes in the last 15 years, is that too often for prestigious airlines flying to ZAG?

      Delete
  6. Anonymous12:05

    I think all international air traffic will suffer a great deal. Fraport expects 3 years of depression - minimum. And some very influential parties like the greens and leftist demand that „the new normal“ after the pandemic will be with less air traffic. Since many decisions here in Germany were taken out of dogmatic and political calculations (switching of atomic reactors, now even those with coal, laws against diesel cars) are not on economical of common sense reason, I expect that air traffic will be partially chocked! The state will soon control LH and you will see a lot negative interference.

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    1. Anonymous12:18

      Greens are all about talk. They were completely ignored in Austria and the same will happen in Germany. Both countries need tax revenue from airlines and they will not risk it. Especially not Austria whose economy is expected to shrink by 8% this year!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:38

      During and after the crisis governmnets will protect flag carriers over LCCs. Those decisions will mean some loss of passengers for national airlines and a much bigger loss for LCCs. Greta and "Planet of the humans" overconsumption movement will only add to that by being directed more at wasteful travel promoted by cheap LCC fares than necessary travel that will constitute core travel demand at flag carriers.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous12:24

    Yes, but new planes are much cleaner and more economical and people will still want to travel...even if it's for dumb reasons (Game of Thrones!!). It will take a few years to bounce back and yes, I don't think AA will be back in DBV for several years (if AA survives). After the war, it took 28 years for a US airline to come back!! (Pan Am stopped flying to exYu in 1991). People on the Dalmatian coast survived the war and the lack of tourism for many years...they will adjust again...and also realize that it's not a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket. You can't depend 90% on tourism, like Saudi Arabia and other oil producing states realize they need to diversify their economies too. There should be some European tourism in HR from July to October. It seems that European borders are expected to be open by early July. Of course, some European countries (like France) are encouraging their citizens to spend their vacations in their own country....but this has more to do with the economy rather than health issues.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous16:35

    I am also wondering what how Air Canada will service its destinations which Rouge was flying to. Air Canada Rouge is downsizing.They are retiring the B767. As far as I can see, they won't be flying then to their leisure destinations within Europe. Will Air Canada mainline takeover some destinations? Many cities are affected. Air fares will probably increase too.

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    1. Anonymous06:07

      Quite likely for cities like BCN, TXL and maybe ZAG. The former two would likely be on an A330 and the latter on a 788 because of less demand.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous17:26

    It is depressing but it is depressing everywhere and not only Croatia. If you read the news, you will see that the US is currently heading to a deep recession. More and more Americans are losing their jobs, Covid cases are not decreasing. I am pretty confident AA will resume and DBV will once again regain its regional position in the Balkans. 2020 will never ever be missed!!

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    1. Anonymous18:59

      Industry insiders are quite confident AA is the first one to go under in the US. Even if they eventually emerge from bankrupcy protection if will take years for them to regain stability and reach the level where they can reopen DBV. By that time GoT will be forgotten and another tourist hotspot around the world might be more attractive to tourists.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:10

      Croatia is not a destination that will be forgotten overnight. Plus, Americans love to explore new places and not just Western Europe. Some of them come to Croatia to refer to their ancestry.
      DBV initially began with fewer frequencies and was almost immediately increased meaning that there was huge demand.
      Yes, it will take AA time to recover but DBV will most likely be replaced by another US carrier such as DL or even UA.

      Delete

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