Croatia Airlines is preparing for the resumption of its wider international network with the carrier to downsize some operations as a result of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Although no firm date has been given as to when the airline plans to reintroduce more international routes, it is believed services will begin to gradually resume from June 1. Croatia Airlines currently maintains a daily service to Frankfurt and will restart some domestic flights from Monday. The carrier has shelved plans to launch new operations from Zagreb to Sofia and Podgorica this year. It is also expected to temporarily suspend its seasonal flights from Zagreb to Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo and Tel Aviv, although this is subject to change.
The Croatian Minister for Tourism, Gari Cappelli, has announced that Croatia Airlines will be involved in the creation of “air bridges” to certain European markets to bring foreign tourists to the country over the peak summer months. Talks are being held with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany over the matter. The German Federal Tourism Commissioner said that if the outbreak stayed under control, people might be able to take vacations abroad soon. Italy's Prime Minister noted that Italians would be able to go on holiday this summer as the pandemic seemed to be under control. However, French President Emmanuel Macron sounded a note of caution saying it was "too soon to say whether we can take holidays" - though it would become clear by the start of June.
Croatia Airlines previously said it had drafted three different plans for the wider resumption of its international network, depending on how Covid-19 progresses. “Croatia Airlines will be the first carrier to bring tourists to Croatia and enable the country’s connectivity to the world. We will start with domestic operations first. In terms of international flights, we currently have three active strategies, of which each has several sub-strategies, on how to resume services. Routes with healthy point-to-point demand and some transfer traffic will be prioritised”, the carrier’s Director for Network and Revenue Management, Krešimir Mlinar, said.
I'm a bit surprised by the lack of Scandinavia. Wouldn't tourists be expected from this market, even this year?
ReplyDeleteAren't these operated with CRJ1000? They probably cancelled the lease.
DeleteWhat about operations to SKP and SJJ?
ReplyDeleteThey will operate
DeleteI know but what at what frequency and equipment? Will there be changes?
DeleteExpect large cuts here, if the airport opens at all.
Deleteinstead of commenting here you could go to their page and check it out
DeleteOf course they can but asking here can be the beginning of a great and exciting discussion.
DeleteNot bad considering the situation.
ReplyDeleteThey will start international routes in June for sure, especially since LH announced it will be resuming a lot of routes in June, and OU does what LH does.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you. Whatever mother Lufthansa announce, Croatia Airlines follow a few days later.
DeleteYes, dear. Mama Lufti is the queen of Europe. FRA and MUC are the true hubs of Europe and the gateway to the continent...
DeleteWe have to listen to her.
Yes and Lufthansa will get 10 Billion good reasons from the German government
Deletealso, to resume flights !!!
Well it's still not confirmed they are getting. SPD wants total control over LH while CDU-CSU want to give in to LH's demands. Nice to see the German Socialist Party stand for the rights of the workers and against big capital.
DeleteSPD is just a shadow of its former self .
DeleteThat is because they are socialist in name only ...
Is the border between Slovenia and Croatia closed? Are Slovenians still able to use ZAG for flights?
ReplyDeleteThe border is not closed...but...
Deletebut... what?
DeleteSo can you cross the boarder for leisure?
Cant wait for more flights to resume.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI'm really interested as to what happens with OU in the future. I think a privatization to some major foreign airline is off the table for the time being. I read yesterday in the media that Purger suggested they either be given as a gift to Aegean or for pension funds to take over.
ReplyDeleteHaha gift to Aegean? And why would Aegean accept that gift?
DeleteWell that was my thinking too.
DeleteSeeing as they copy Lufthansa on everything, I think that is the only company who would be allowed to o buy them. The trouble is Lufthansa doesn't want to buy them.
DeleteWhy would they want to be privatized? The trend is currently the exact opposite.
DeleteI guess they might get €100 million like a few years ago when HR was entering the EU.
Delete"Croatia Airlines plans leaner summer network"
ReplyDeleteWhy is no information on the "leaner" given?
It is you just have to read. They are cutting routes.
DeleteNot such a big loss. As far as I remember these routes were relatively low frequency anyway.
ReplyDeleteIn 2019
DeleteHelsinki 3x pw
Oslo 3x pw
Stockholm 3x pw
Tel Aviv 3x pw
Wow that's like 12 frequencies completely cut, almost two daily rotations, almost a whole plane less. Let's see what they do.
DeleteThat is actually exactly 1 plane less. My guess is that they are not doing the CRJ1000 lease(s).
DeleteI thought they would drop Milan and St Petersburg too but it looks as if those two are going ahead.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is first round of routes will be resumed on June 1 - MUC, BRU, ZRH. VIE. And then in the second half of June they will launch the rest.
ReplyDeleteI think they can start more routes from 1st June. Not just those 4 + FRA.
DeleteI'm interested to see what they do on the coast. For now they haven't cancelled anything but it's early days still.
ReplyDeletePeovic je izjavio da sa ceskom i jos nekoliko zemalja pregovaraju o uspostavi zracnog koridora sa Bwk ...dal je moguce da je upravo croatia ta koja bi operirala te linije?
DeleteMost likely.
Delete"The Croatian Minister for Tourism, Gari Cappelli, has announced that Croatia Airlines will be involved in the creation of “air bridges” to certain European markets to bring foreign tourists to the country over the peak summer months. Talks are being held with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany over the matter. "
nowadays we see what is happening in BWK, just example of what can happen on everyday basis in the tourist season
DeleteThey need to hurry up as Greece already negotiate tourism with Italy and ferries are starting soon. Arrangements with Serbia and Bulgaria are in the final stages and their tourism minister said that Greece will have a summer season this year. Croatia needs to hurry up.
DeleteWell, italian Prime Minister didn't say anything about holidays yet. There is a sort of non binding recommendation to spend holidays in Italy in order to help the sector.
ReplyDeleteIt says
Delete"Italy's Prime Minister noted that Italians would be able to go on holiday this summer as the pandemic seemed to be under control."
As mentioned above Italy has already agreed with Greece to allow tourism this summer. Italians go in massive numbers to Greece, especially to their islands.
DeleteMeanwhile Latvia has injected €250 million into BT and increased their stake from 80% to 91%. Every country is fighting to save its own airline. We must do the same.
ReplyDeleteDon't be expecting an visitors from the UK☹️
ReplyDeletewww.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52594023
So? 14 day quarantine is obligatory in most countries but policies are changing where you can get tested beforehand to avoid it and in most countries it's not expensive to get tested at all. UK was one of the few countries in Europe with very little entry restrictions.
DeleteWhat is the situation like in HR? Do you go into quarantine once you come back?
DeleteCheapest test in Austria for example is 140 EUR per person. Are there cheaper ones? Everey person would need those tests twice when flying out and flying in! Minimum of 280 EUR on top of all other travel costs! Insane (for most)!
DeleteYes, in Serbia they will cost 55 euros.
DeleteI think in Serbia it's cheaper because they started making their own, I think in Nish. Austria imports them from abroad.
Delete"So? 14 day quarantine is obligatory in most countries but policies are changing where you can get tested beforehand to avoid it and in most countries it's not expensive to get tested at all."
ReplyDeleteDo you really think the average holidaymaker is going to put up with the hassle and expense of being tested at the beginning and end of a fortnight holiday?
Family of 4, just not worth the grief.
Until a credible alternative is in place, the summer 2020 season is already over.
Agree to much hassle,
Delete