Croatia Airlines will be utilising its Dash 8 Q400 turboprops on the majority of its international flights during the upcoming 2020/2021 winter season, which begins on October 25, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to crush demand for air travel. Based on preliminary plans, the Croatian carrier will deploy the 76-seat aircraft on flights from Zagreb to Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Sarajevo and Zurich. The airline will continue to operate its jet-engine Airbus A320 family fleet on services to London, Skopje and Paris, although flights to the French capital will on occasion see the Q400 based on current schedules. From Split, the carrier will utilise the turboprops on services to Munich and Rome, while flights to Frankfurt will continue to see the deployment of the Airbus fleet.
Croatia Airlines has six Q400s in its fleet, which have come as a useful asset during the ongoing period of reduced demand. Speaking at this week’s Aviation Arena Seminar, Croatia Airlines’ Chief Pilot, Davor Mišić, said, “As we continue to reduce costs, we have decreased capacity on many routes by deploying our Dash fleet. This winter, we will utilise the Dash aircraft much more than in previous years compared to the Airbuses”. He added, “The existing capacity we have is far too much under the current circumstances. Even during the first half of next year we expect to be using the Dashes more than before”.
The Croatian Chamber of Economy now estimates Croatia Airlines will register a 52.5 million euro net loss this year, while it predicts losses during the first half of 2021 will amount to 25 million euros. “As soon as the new restrictive measures were imposed across Europe in recent weeks, we saw a significant decline in demand. Compared to last year, we plan to operate around 50% of our flights this winter, which is around twenty to thirty flights per day, including both domestic and international services. Revenue from these flights will be insufficient for our future operations. The national carrier, along with all airports in the country, anticipates a financial injection from the state. We hope to be able to find a satisfactory model for it”, Mr Mišić noted.
52 million is an utter disaster. So much money for uhljebi.
ReplyDeleteAnd you really think other airlines will do better financially....
DeleteSome will do better, some will do worse. Depends on how efficient they are.
DeleteWhy with the a320 to Skopje?
DeleteNo. flights has been reduced. This way they can pick up more passengers without flying several times per week.
DeleteThe no. was supposed to be an abbreviation for number.
DeleteHow long will the flight to Brussels and Amsterdam take on the Q400?
ReplyDeleteAround 02.45
DeleteBRU 2.20 AMS around 2.30
DeleteInteresting that Skopje will be on the A319/A320.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the destination where they get most transfers from.
DeleteYes, but how many weekly flights will there be?
DeleteDid they cancel Vienna for the winter 2020 /2021 season?
ReplyDeleteNo, that was Austrian Airlines
DeleteOU has currently suspended Vienna, but it resumes in 2 weeks
Delete"Austrian Airlines will discontinue flights between Vienna and Zagreb from mid-October, as a result of reduced demand. The airline will operate its last service between the two cities on October 16. Croatia Airlines, which has temporarily suspended its flights to the Austrian capital, will then take over the route when it resumes operations on October 22."
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/10/austrian-airlines-to-suspend-zagreb.html
So basically they are taking over an unprofitable market from LH Group.
DeleteIf it's unprofitable for OS does not mean it's unprofitable for OU.
DeleteOU has lower production costs. you cant compare two airlines just like that
Delete+1 last anon
DeleteOnly difference is that OS is profitable OU isn't. If OS is cutting it means there is no money to be made.
DeleteWhat happens with TGD and SOF next year? They still don't seem to be appearing for bookings.
ReplyDeleteNo one knows what next summer is going to look like so it makes sense that planned new routes are not put in the system.
DeleteNothing, they won't launch. The question is what of the existing routes will survive until next summer. For example, I think we can safe say that Mostar will not come back.
DeleteOMO faces zero competition and worth resuming flights. TGD needs a bit of competition with YM and SOF will be connected to the Croatian Riviera.
DeleteO&D to TGD is tiny and they can't compete with JU-YM for transfers.
DeleteDoubt we will see any new routes being launched by OU. It's a matter of seeing which suspended routes will come back and which not.
Delete@9.24 OMO is not resuming because OMO no longer has the money to pay OU for the flights. Even subsidised there were barely any passengers on this route, especially since the management didn't bother to schedule the flights so they would connect to key routes.
Deletewow this is depressing.
ReplyDeleteLOL, every day same comment, waiting for 'ouch' guy
DeleteWell it is. All of the news recently.
DeleteIt makes sense. Fewer seats, fewer costs.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Besides it's the perfect turboprop for the job! :)
DeleteGenerally I am very critical about OU and there are some 100 or more reasons where they deserve criticism completely, but this time, in this situation, I must admit this is smart and justified decision and I fully agree with previous posters
DeleteAgree with comments above. Sensible move.
DeleteAny idea will they continue to operate daily Amsterdam?
ReplyDeleteIn the first week of winter it is only 4 weekly. They don't seem to have updates their schedule for the rest of winter season.
Delete^ They will update their winter schedule on a month by month basis. November will be updated in a week or so but expect the same schedule and equipment as in the first week of the winter season.
DeleteIt's interesting, it seems OU has only filed changes for the first week of the winter season but I assume they will be extended throughout the winter.
ReplyDeleteLike I wrote above, they will update their winter schedule on a month by month basis. November will be updated in a week or so but expect the same schedule and equipment as in the first week of the winter season.
Delete...or further cut
DeleteSmart move in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAirlines are looking at all way to cut costs. Unfortunately, the decline in demand justifies them operating Q400s on most international flights.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they could think of leasing more Q400s in the future over Airbuses.
ReplyDeleteOS is getting rid of them no?
DeleteYes in a few years. But with corona, who knows.
DeleteThey were supposed to. But who knows now...
Delete100 seater jets that they have been talking about acquiring for 10 years now would have come in handy in this situation.
ReplyDeleteWe can say...winter is coming
ReplyDeleteand we can also say...Ouch
DeleteI love those innovative "winter is coming" and "ouch" comments... zzzzzz
DeleteSmart decision
ReplyDeletethats why the pax nr of ZAG is a bit low for the amount of flights offered. i was wondering
ReplyDeleteOU should keep their dashes dont be fooled with what OS did (or planned to do)
OU is definitely keeping their Dashes. Only 2 years ago they extended the financial lease and probably eventually it will be owned by OU.
DeleteThey should have gone ahead with the lease of the Austrian Q400s as they planned for this summer. Much more valuable than the A319 they leased.
ReplyDeleteThey only got the A319 because they could not terminate the lease. It was too late.
DeleteGood ol' turboprops.
ReplyDeleteNot so old... they are younger than most of OU's Airbus fleet ;)
DeleteNot only "most of", they are younger than all of A'buses
DeleteIt is good that they will have the freedom to switch around planes based on demand.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing " good" about this situation.
DeleteI meant in the current circumstances.
DeleteWhat is the most cost effective turboprop? Is the Q400 a better performer than the ATR?
ReplyDeleteThey each perform best for their respective missions. However, Q400 is more versatile and can do more tasks... Low visibility in the fall /winter is a huge bonus... Remember JUs ATRs last winter..... Not just their, any ATR operator had same issues..
DeleteDon't forget the mucht higher speed of Q comparing to ATR
DeleteOf course.
DeleteIt is difficult to compare. Each plane has its own advanages and disadvanatages.
DeleteFor example ATR is much more economical than Q400...
Yes, that's what I said each is best suited for its mission. However, Q400 can achieve multiple roles where ATR falls behind.
DeleteThe white (new) OU livery looks much better on the Q400.
ReplyDeleteIt looks better on the Airbuses too.
Delete+1
DeleteI've got to say I think it is a smart decision to do.
ReplyDeleteRemember that most of OU's Airbuses are contracted on power bu the hour agreements, meaning the lease is not paid if they are on the ground.
ReplyDeleteTrue. But you still have to pay for maintaining them while they are on the ground.
DeleteThe projected loss is immense although the situation is the same at all airlines.
ReplyDeleteA bit offtopic, does anyone know did they reduce salaries to pilots and cabin crew?
ReplyDeleteYes, they have
DeleteI think 30% cut for crew. Not sure for pilots.
DeleteIt was 15%
DeleteI have a feeling many airlines won't recover from Corona. Lufthansa is getting ready to ask for another bailout even though they got €9 billion.
ReplyDeleteInteresting approach.
ReplyDeleteWhat else could they do?
DeleteThey could think of combining some routes together as a triangle maybe? If there is not enough demand for individual routes.
ReplyDeleteCombining routes is the worst. Hope it does not happen.
DeleteIt's the easiest way to kill of any remaining demand for your flights.
DeleteIt is a real shame that Bajić is running this company, waiting for money from state to arrive and literally doing nothing. His only decision in last few years is to make no decision at all. His incompetence is during Corona visible more then ever, only decision he made was to fire staff that don't have full time contract (saving less then 500 000 kuna) and to leave them without any income while pilots are receiving 20+ thousands for sitting at home and laughing out of company CEO.
ReplyDeleteIt is a time for upper and middle management change in all parts of company.
Plenković, it is time for a change...
The change you talk about should have happened 25 years ago. Bajic is just continuation of Katicic, Misetic and Kucko incompetence, nepotism and corruption on all levels. And asking Plenkovic to get rid of their uhljebi, I can only say LOL
DeleteWith 540 new cases yesterday in Croatia I don't see restrictions being eased anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteNo one said they would...
DeleteMakes sense. Not the most comfortable ride, but will get you where you need to be.
ReplyDeleteI just flew BEG-VIE on Q400. It is significantly noisier than jets, but we need to adjust the expectations with times. There just is no demand for big jets, LHR-FRA had 40 people on A320 the other day. 50 people on VIE-LHR A319 leg.
Not sure about their jet fleet, I wonder if they can re-negotiate the lease. Is it fixed based on time, or variable based on number of flights/hours ?
What about your flight from BEG? How many passengers?
Deletei couldn't count as I sat in the front, but glanced and it looked like ~75%
DeleteRational
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate to see that some key routes will be operated by turboprops :(
ReplyDeleteIt may be unfortunate but it's better than flying empty planes.
DeleteIn November just 12 international routes from Zagreb by OU.
ReplyDeleteThey don't operate much more during winter in normal times either.
DeleteTheir avarage load factor should improve.
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe lower prices can "repair" damage caused by pandemic?
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Delete