Croatia Airlines cancels over a hundred flights


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”.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Unfortunate but coronavirus is having a big impact on everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    Ouch

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Is there much point operating some routes just once per week?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Obviously for them there is.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:40

      It's more symbolic. Plus it allows them to rebook passengers on that one flight rather than compensating them.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:38

      Strategic connection

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:57

      The LHR flights offer connectivity from/to US.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:09

    I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:32

      I can assure you checks are being made on passengers returning from countries on the quarantine list.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:58

      Hopefully the UK will reconsider its ludicrous system which is systematically killing the UK travel industry.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:10

    These entry restrictions are really having a terrible impact on airlines. Hopefully this new EU system they are trying to adopt will bring some order.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:23

    Thankfully the slot rules at Heathrow have been suspended.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:23

    This winter is going to be very tough on airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:02

      Very bleak in terms of flights and passenger numbers.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:26

    Whole EU entry ban system is awful. They need to understand that pandenic does not recognize the citizenship.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:46

    That's a lot of flights cancelled in September. This will have a huge impact on their bottom line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:11

      It might be positive impact, as in not making so much loss.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:47

    Such a shame

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      Unfortunate but considering the circumstances understandable.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:48

    Expected unfortunately.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:49

    And then people wonder why LH is not resuming ZAG-FRA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:44

      Yes,why if OU flies 21 pw this route!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:54

      Exactly, better for OU to collect losses than LH.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:32

      And LH gets for small transfer price passengers for connecting flights from FRA.

      Well done OU!

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:50

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      OU will profit the most from government aid.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      ^ All flag carriers will get it in enormous amounts so it is not going to be any advantage for OU

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:54

      In the end it's always the taxpayers that will save OU. Now especially because they have very little assets left.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:59

      Saying 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.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:34

      Kako 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
    6. Anonymous12:08

      @ Anonymous 11:34, koliki porez plaća CA na gorivo?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:10

      Last 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.

      Now, 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

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:19

      Aviation is largely untaxed. Fuel, tickets, etc.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:40

      I can't believe someone with so little knowledge about aviation came here to teach other people how OU is "productive".

      Delete
    10. Anonymous13:56

      He probably works for OU or the government.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous14:37

      OU 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
    12. Anonymous17:05

      @ Anonymous 11:34, you are also justifying other airlines from the region, they are all saying the same thing.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous18:45

      If you want to shorten Croatia Airlines then it's C.A. otherwise CA is Air China.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous21:42

      what 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.

      the only taxes they pay are the ones for employees' wages.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:59

    This winter season is going to be a disaster for airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:19

      It will certainly be a winter like no other.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:19

    Good decision. Better to cancel the flights than fly empty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:46

      Better to cancel the flights and ask for taxpayers money...
      How genius!

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:21

    The losses must be huge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      yes for all airlines at the moment...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:49

      73 million is huge!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:18

      They did not say they will loose 73 million they said that they may loose if the situation continues.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:27

      New 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.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:44

    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
  18. Anonymous11:14

    I'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.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:19

    I 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...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:59

      Highly 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.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous16:58

    Good luck OU. Hopefully they will manage to resume most of their flights.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous16:59

    This is bad

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous17:18

    Until a vaccine is found, there is reduction of infection rates and the countries start lifting entry band, there will be no recovery in aviation.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous17:57

    Really a lot of flights cancelled if you look at their bookin system. Pretty much at least one cancellation on all routes.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous18:00

    Well 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.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous18:46

    Just today Wizz Air annonced its first two domestic flights in Italy. I wish they would also operate

    ZAG-DBV
    ZAG-SPU
    ZAG-PUY
    OSI-ZAG
    OSI-SPU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:34

      Are you serious? Any of these routes with 180 seats?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:12

      It could work in summer. They made stranger routes work. Are you telling me SKP TKU has more demand that ZAG DBV?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous23:09

      ZAG-DBV and ZAG SPU were often operated by 144 and 174 seaters.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23:29

      Most of those 5 routes are easily doable by car or a bus, unlike SKP-TKU.

      Less 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?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous07:54

      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.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:11

      Probably not, but I doubt Wizz Air would fly it if they were losing money.

      You 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).

      Delete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.