Portuguese national carrier TAP will introduce flights between Lisbon and Zagreb next summer season, marking its return to the Croatian capital following a five-year hiatus. Services will run three times per week, each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday starting March 28. Flights are currently scheduled to run on a seasonal summer basis but may be extended into the winter should there be sufficient demand. Operations will be maintained with the Airbus A319 aircraft, which has the capacity to seat 144 passengers. “TAP takes advantage of seasonal expansion opportunities to plan and strengthen its network, taking into account its strategy between Europe and the Americas, as well as Africa”, the airline said. Besides Zagreb, it is adding Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Djerba and Oujda to its route network next summer.
TAP last operated flights to Zagreb in March 2016. Following, the route's termination, the Portuguese carrier initially codeshared on Croatia Airlines’ service between Zurich and Zagreb but later added its codes onto its Star Alliance partner’s new nonstop service between the Croatian and Portuguese cities, which was launched in the summer of 2016. Croatia Airlines itself has still not scheduled its seasonal flights between the two capitals for next year. TAP first introduced services to Zagreb in 2004 and in its final years maintained year-round operations, with winter flights running via Bologna. Tickets for TAP’s new Zagreb services for next year are on sale now.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic Zagreb Airport was not linked to Lisbon this year. The airport handled 719.358 passengers during the January - August period, representing a decrease of 68.9%. The number of aircraft movements for the same period stood at 14.795, down 50.9%. Despite a number of carriers temporarily suspending their operations to the Croatian capital this year, Ukraine’s Windrose Airlines plans to commence services between Kiev and Zagreb this October, with TAP becoming the second carrier to announce new flights to the city so far this year. Further details for the upcoming Lisbon - Zagreb service can be found here.
Certainly a very nice and upper level addition to the airport. Didn't see that one coming. Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeletePrestigious airline for prestigious airport like ZAG
DeleteTAP prestigious? Seriously? You should fly more.
DeleteBy the logic of this blog, this comment should be considered as a hate comment. By yeah TAP is not prestigeous but its still a legacy carrier.
DeleteSo are Belavia and Montenegro.
DeleteSo what? Same as TAP deep in financial problems.
Well legacy big as TAP can offer larger amount of connenctions so its very usefull to have more airlines like this at ZAG.
DeleteFantastic news!
ReplyDeleteGood news but given the ongoing pandemic it's unwise to plan this long ahead. Just yesterday OS' CEO stated that advance bookings are not good and that situation is not that good. Seems like the situation will be much worse before it gets better.
ReplyDeleteNice addition.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see how if Croatia Airlines brings back the route next year.
ReplyDelete*to see if
DeleteWelcome back :)
ReplyDeleteI knew they would come back sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteI really liked them. Good to see them back.
DeleteNice. Are the flights timed to offer good connections to South America?
ReplyDeleteTAP wasn't really a cheap option for South American connection back in the day. At first yes it was one of the few options for many travelers, but then Paris, Frankfurt and London became cheaper alternatives.
DeleteDidn't know that. We will see this time around.
DeleteFinally some good news!
ReplyDeleteHope they extend it to winter.
ReplyDeleteLast time around they flew via Bologna which was interesting.
DeleteIn winter I mean.
DeleteDid they have local traffic rights for Bologna-Zagreb?
DeleteOf course they did. They are an EU carrier.
DeleteWonder if there was any local traffic.
DeleteDoubt it, if there were this route would have stayed like that. Yields would be great.
DeleteYes, they did, even before Croatia entered to EU , Bologna to Zagreb part worked as a separate flight.
DeleteWhen did TAP started flying to ZAG for the first time?
DeleteIt says in the article.
DeleteThanks. My bad
DeleteGood schedule for a short citybreak.
ReplyDeleteYou actually need more than just a weekend to visit Lisbon, there are many places to visit, eh? 5 days is perfect!
DeleteI meant for people to Portugal to come to Zagreb :)
DeleteReally hope it works out
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, this is just the beginning
ReplyDeleteI think we might have a case of TAP replacing OU.
ReplyDeleteAlso thinks so as two airlines will be too much
DeleteBad news for OU
DeleteI find it interesting that TAP does not fly anywhere to the Croatian coast during the summer
ReplyDeleteThey used to. To Dubrovnik many years ago.
DeleteThey already have their coast.
DeleteSo does Greece, but this is regarding linking tourist hotspots (ex. Dubrovnik, Mykonos).
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteFantastic, market is probably ready to go back to growing once again. Looking forward to seeing who is next!
ReplyDeleteHope so
DeleteNice
ReplyDeleteThe more airlines the better.
ReplyDeleteBad news for OU, this route actually performed well for them. Now I don't see them returning with such fierce competition that offers a much better product.
ReplyDeleteExactly, they will have to reduce even limited flying network.
DeleteWhat is "much better product" on this route, they both fly with A319/A320, even OU has better legroom in their aircraft. This is not long haul route where you can say things like that.
DeleteI flew once on OU from LIS to ZAG but it was operated by Trade Air's Fokker. It took over 3 hours. �� Interesting times!
ReplyDeleteThe first two years of LIS service OU used to lease the F100s. But I think they later operated with A319.
DeleteAre ZAG to LIS flights timed w TAP flights to Africa?
ReplyDeleteNot really but they are to South America
DeleteIf they have cheap prices for Madeira and Azores like now from Budapest & Vienna it will be great to fly from Zagreb ������
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is a good development. At least it's not a suspension. Great news.
ReplyDeleteA big win for Zagreb .
ReplyDeleteWould have expected them to fly to Belgrade, especially when you consider that Lissabon and Belgrade airports have the same owners .
They realised they can't compete against Wizz Air on this route which will fly year round. Here they are merely replacing Croatia Airlines on a seasonal basis.
DeleteSome good news for a change.
ReplyDelete