Croatia Airlines further reduces operations amid coronacrisis

Croatia Airlines has been forced to significantly reduce frequencies across its network with many European countries renewing entry restrictions, crushing travel demand. During the first half of the month, the carrier will be operating the majority of its international network with frequencies ranging from one to three flights per week, with a few exceptions. Services planned to operate just once per week include those from Zagreb to Rome (via Dubrovnik), Paris, Sarajevo and Skopje. Flights from the Croatian capital to London Heathrow and Munich will be maintained twice per week, Brussels three weekly, Zurich four times per week and Frankfurt 22 times per week. As previously reported, operations between Zagreb and Dublin have been cancelled, while the planned resumption of its Barcelona route has been pushed back until next summer season. Furthermore, the airline has suspended its flights from Zagreb to Vienna until October 22.

The airline will continue to maintain nonstop flights from Split to several international destinations including Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Rome and Vienna, with frequencies ranging between one and three weekly services. Frankfurt and Munich are the exception as they will run four and seven times per week respectively. The carrier will also maintain operations from Dubrovnik to Frankfurt and Rome once per week, as well as a one weekly flight from Rijeka to the Bavarian capital. Croatia Airlines will continue to run an extensive domestic network throughout the month with high-frequency routes including Zagreb - Split, Zagreb - Dubrovnik and Zagreb - Zadar.

Percentage of cancelled Croatia Airlines flights on weekly basis

Commenting on its operations, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said, “We’ve had an unusual summer, and, by all accounts, autumn too will be challenging. Our company has suffered the fate of the aviation industry as a whole, but also shares the common hope we’ll soon return to regular, everyday flights, the way they were before the coronavirus outbreak”. However, the carrier is certain it will weather the ongoing crisis. The company noted, “Croatia Airlines is a carrier in its prime. Having recently had its 31st birthday, we’re experienced enough for what lies ahead, aware enough of the demands that the present moment places before us, mindful enough of our responsibility towards passengers and the more than 1.000 employees and members of their families”.

Photo by Alan Grubelić