Croatia Airlines has cancelled over 150 one-way flights this month, or 80% of its planned scheduled, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as travel restrictions which have reduced demand. Although the carrier has not dropped any routes operated in July and August, it has reduced frequencies to eighteen destinations from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, with some, such as London Heathrow, operating just once per week. New requirements imposed by the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Germany, and, as of tomorrow, Switzerland, for entry from Croatia or part of the country are having an impact on traffic flow as the summer travel period draws to a close.
Routes which have seen the largest number of cancellations this month, in addition to the Zagreb - London Heathrow service, include Zagreb - Munich, Zagreb - Rome (via Split and Dubrovnik), Split - Vienna and Dubrovnik - Athens. The majority of the most affected routes have been those from countries which have introduced entry restrictions for arrivals from Croatia. Earlier this week, the European Commission adopted a proposal to ensure that any measures taken by member states that restrict free movement due to the coronavirus pandemic are coordinated and communicated at the EU level, in order to reduce the negative impacts on the travel industry. The Commission’s proposal sets out four key areas where member states should work closer together, including common criteria, a common colour coded system, a common approach for travellers from high-risk areas and clear and timely information to the public.
Croatia Airlines expects for its passenger numbers to decline 60% in 2020. As a result, it will likely handle under one million travellers for the first time since 1999. During the first half of the year it shed 630.000 passengers on the same period last year. Croatia Airlines previously noted, “In case the crisis drags on and revenue levels reach 37% of last year, while border reopenings are delayed, which will result in lower demand at the start of 2021 and our schedule being reduced to significantly fewer routes, we could except a shortfall of 73 million euros”.
Unfortunate but coronavirus is having a big impact on everyone.
ReplyDeleteOuch
ReplyDeleteIs there much point operating some routes just once per week?
ReplyDeleteObviously for them there is.
DeleteIt's more symbolic. Plus it allows them to rebook passengers on that one flight rather than compensating them.
DeleteStrategic connection
DeleteThe LHR flights offer connectivity from/to US.
DeleteI'm surprised about LHR. Especially since British is suspending the Zagreb route, I would have thought OU would see this as an opportunity. Plus the "entry restriction" is self isolation upon arrival which no one checks and few people actually go through it.
ReplyDeleteI can assure you checks are being made on passengers returning from countries on the quarantine list.
DeleteHopefully the UK will reconsider its ludicrous system which is systematically killing the UK travel industry.
DeleteThese entry restrictions are really having a terrible impact on airlines. Hopefully this new EU system they are trying to adopt will bring some order.
ReplyDeleteThankfully the slot rules at Heathrow have been suspended.
ReplyDeleteThis winter is going to be very tough on airlines.
ReplyDeleteVery bleak in terms of flights and passenger numbers.
DeleteWhole EU entry ban system is awful. They need to understand that pandenic does not recognize the citizenship.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of flights cancelled in September. This will have a huge impact on their bottom line.
ReplyDeleteIt might be positive impact, as in not making so much loss.
DeleteSuch a shame
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate but considering the circumstances understandable.
DeleteExpected unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteAnd then people wonder why LH is not resuming ZAG-FRA.
ReplyDeleteYes,why if OU flies 21 pw this route!
DeleteExactly, better for OU to collect losses than LH.
DeleteAnd LH gets for small transfer price passengers for connecting flights from FRA.
DeleteWell done OU!
This will be a very sad year for Croatian aviation but I was hoping OU would profit from reduced competition. Doesn't seem like it though.
ReplyDeleteOU will profit the most from government aid.
Delete^ All flag carriers will get it in enormous amounts so it is not going to be any advantage for OU
DeleteIn the end it's always the taxpayers that will save OU. Now especially because they have very little assets left.
DeleteSaying all carriers will get aid so OU should as well is wrong. Almost all airlines that got aid had strings attached. What conditions will OU get? What changes will they have to make? It's just throwing good money after bad money.
DeleteKako su svi pametni na ovoj stranici....ok ekipa hajde prvo provjerite tko je jedan od najvećih izvoznika u RH, pa onda provjerite koliko poreza i prireza CA uplacuje svake mjesec, pa koliko pdv-eja placa, i koliko svoje plave zaposleni u CA potrose u RH, a onda na drugu stranu stavite pomoć koju dobiva od RH pa onda možemo pricati...i samo zamislite koliko bih tih prireza i poreza i svega plaćao neki LCC
Delete@ Anonymous 11:34, koliki porez plaća CA na gorivo?
DeleteLast Anon, I can answer your question. CA pays exactly €0 in taxes to the Croatian government. It also doesn't take part in country's exports or anything.
DeleteNow, if you were referring to OU then it's a different story. Hilarious how you attack others for not being experts and then you don't know airline codes on an AVIATION blog. lol
Aviation is largely untaxed. Fuel, tickets, etc.
DeleteI can't believe someone with so little knowledge about aviation came here to teach other people how OU is "productive".
DeleteHe probably works for OU or the government.
DeleteOU is IATA code, CTN is ICAO code, company name is Croatia Airlines, or short CA, taxes,bills and everything else is paid by Croatia Airlines.....
Delete@ Anonymous 11:34, you are also justifying other airlines from the region, they are all saying the same thing.
DeleteIf you want to shorten Croatia Airlines then it's C.A. otherwise CA is Air China.
Deletewhat taxes exactly? for international flights jet fuel is not taxed, the company has permanent losses, so no corproate income tax, VAT is in its nature a zero sum game for companies (incoming-and outgoind VAT cancel eachother in the accounting period), airplane tickets are not taxed, etc.
Deletethe only taxes they pay are the ones for employees' wages.
This winter season is going to be a disaster for airlines.
ReplyDeleteIt will certainly be a winter like no other.
DeleteGood decision. Better to cancel the flights than fly empty.
ReplyDeleteBetter to cancel the flights and ask for taxpayers money...
DeleteHow genius!
The losses must be huge.
ReplyDeleteyes for all airlines at the moment...
Delete73 million is huge!
DeleteThey did not say they will loose 73 million they said that they may loose if the situation continues.
DeleteNew virus numbers are reaching peaks in France and some other countries in Europe. Kids are back to school, colder weather will force people inside, flu season will start. Things will get much worse before it gets better. They will need much more than 73 million. That number will be increased in smaller steps so that public doesn't get angry at hundreds of millions that will be needed to save the airline over the next two years.
DeleteIt's really sad it has come to this. Let's hope this dark period for the aviation industry passes as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit surprised they are reducing London by so much. From 6 to 1 flight per week. Especially considering they kept this route going for so long when corona hit and most airlines suspended all flights.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why are not showing any flights to Barcelona (had been cancelled last months) but there are tickets for buy in October... I must travel by the time and I'm afraid on 1rst of October they would cancel all... I guess its a way for keep earning by our bookings that won't take place because will be cancel...
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt they will resume seasonal Barcelona flights in October just to run it for three weeks. They just haven't removed the flights yet and pocket revenue from people that buy them.
DeleteGood luck OU. Hopefully they will manage to resume most of their flights.
ReplyDeleteThis is bad
ReplyDeleteUntil a vaccine is found, there is reduction of infection rates and the countries start lifting entry band, there will be no recovery in aviation.
ReplyDeleteReally a lot of flights cancelled if you look at their bookin system. Pretty much at least one cancellation on all routes.
ReplyDeleteWell summer is almost over. Now Croatia has to rely on its own local demand which I don't think is that high. Hence, so many flights are cancelled.
ReplyDeleteJust today Wizz Air annonced its first two domestic flights in Italy. I wish they would also operate
ReplyDeleteZAG-DBV
ZAG-SPU
ZAG-PUY
OSI-ZAG
OSI-SPU
Are you serious? Any of these routes with 180 seats?
DeleteIt could work in summer. They made stranger routes work. Are you telling me SKP TKU has more demand that ZAG DBV?
DeleteZAG-DBV and ZAG SPU were often operated by 144 and 174 seaters.
DeleteMost of those 5 routes are easily doable by car or a bus, unlike SKP-TKU.
DeleteLess choice with regards to mode of transport = more demand = higher prices = more chance of the airline making profit.
@Anon 23:09: And what was OU's cummulative profit for let's say, the past 10 years?
You still ddn't answer the question, is there really more demand on SKP TKU than on these? Also just because OU is losing money doesn't mean every route it operates is in the red.
DeleteProbably not, but I doubt Wizz Air would fly it if they were losing money.
DeleteYou are right about the route profitability, but we can make a logical conclusion that most routes Wizz Air flies are profitable (since they make profit in the end) and most routes OU flies aren't (since they typically make loss, especially if you look cummulative loss).