Lufthansa’s decision to temporarily withdraw from Zagreb Airport from December 1 until the end of the 2020/2021 winter season in late March will result in an overall decline in frequencies from Croatia’s busiest airport this December when compared to the current month of November, which is traditionally one of the slowest of the year, however, both Croatia Airlines and most foreign carriers will boost operations, thus increasing overall capacity. Based on existing schedules, a total of 510 one-way flights are planned out of Zagreb next month, down from 522 in November. Some 53.310 seats will be on offer departing the Croatian capital, up from 49.222.
KLM will continue to maintain its position as the busiest foreign carrier at Zagreb Airport, followed by Eurowings and Air France. The German low cost airline will be adding additional flights from Stuttgart to Zagreb around the Christmas and New Year period and put an additional 300 seats on the market. Also making up for Lufthansa’s absence will be the return of British Airways, which plans to restore operations to Zagreb on December 17. Qatar Airways will be operating more flights as it plans to restore a second weekly frequency from Doha, while Ukraine’s Windrose Airlines will be launching a third weekly flight between Kiev and the Croatian capital on December 1.
The only airline that will offer less capacity ou of Zagreb next month when compared to November will be Turkish Airlines. Both frequencies and capacity may change as carriers continue adjust their operations based on market conditions as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Zagreb Airport estimates it will handle around one million passengers this year, down from 3.4 million in 2019.
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| Zagreb Airport network, December |
It’s great to see Windrose doing well and increasing flights. I’m surprised no one launched this route before.
ReplyDeleteYes, it worked out surprisingly well
DeleteIf a route was initially launched twice weekly in winter and then increased by 1 more frequency proves that there is quite a demand because that happened precisely during the pandemic. I personally think that Windrose might increase it to 4 or 5 weekly in summer. Kyiv is a huge city and a big market having more and more flights to the rest of the world this more Ukrainian begin travelling.
DeleteAgree, shame the route didn't launch earlier. (precovid)
DeleteIf it can work like this in winter in the middle of a pandemic, imagine summer in normal times.
DeleteI am still surprised this market was missed by OU.
DeleteIt is east of Zagreb, which seems to be a big no go area for OU managers.
Delete@9.51 It says more about the company than anything else. There are a few other gems out there like Kiev that could work really well and give them more transfer traffic as well but OU doesn't seem interested. 100 flights to FRA and MUC is the only goal.
DeleteWindrose's operations are really the only positive news in this dark winter.
Delete721 seats per month in the times when Ukrainians cannot fly to the UE, because of covid restrictions, and people here write as if it was to surpass in popularity former ZAG-MUC.
DeleteUkrainians can leave and enter Ukraine despite lockdowns.
DeleteOU can really take advantage and consider other Ukrainian cities such as LWO or ODS. There might be other hidden gem destinations. There is definitely some market between Ukraine and Croatia and viceversa.
DeleteNow they can, although there were times when they could not leave/enter Ukraine.
DeleteBut where to go, if most of the UE is closed for them (only essential travel)? Hence places like ZAG, but lets see the proportions - it's only 721 seats. In non-covid times, it would mean close to nothing.
Well Wednesday's flight from KBP had 97% load factor to ZAG.
DeleteLviv - Zagreb during the summer schedule would work perfectly!
DeleteLviv - somewhere on the Croatian coast (during the summer season) would work even better!
ZAG should definitely look more eastwards for some new destinations. I think quite a few would "surprisingly" work.
DeleteKBP-ZAG is doing well now only because of circumstances. If there was demand before covid then PS would have launched it.
DeleteKBP-ZAG was the busiest unserved route from Ukraine to Europe before covid. PS did say they planned to introduce Zagreb. The issue is probably the expensive airport and costs.
DeleteI would definitely include SOF to the list with KBP. OU was unlucky with Covid and was due to launch the route this summer. I remember OU had a very convenient schedule for transfer flights to the coast.
DeleteLets recall how JP was quite successful with this route when it was launched.
Agree with last anon. I think Sofia and Bucharest can work well.
DeleteI don't think BA will be back before March 2021. The situation in the UK is rapidly deteriorating and it's not looking good.
ReplyDeleteI think so too.
DeleteFrequencies and capacity is one thing, the other is how many passengers we will see.
ReplyDeleteLH Group showed how vulnerable they were as this crisis has deeply affected them. I don't see them recovering any time soon, especially not OS which has to fight with W6 and FR in VIE. I don't mind it as they were always so arrogant and ferocious.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWill be interesting to see what becomes of their presence in ex-YU. Naturally our region is relatively poor so it's rarely a priority for any airline (except local ones and Wizz Air).
DeleteThis could be a good opportunity for Air Serbia, LOT and AF-KL to take away some passengers from LH Group airlines.
Wizz has only TWO routes in VIE at the moment ...
DeleteI think they have three: PMI, DTM and ATH.
DeleteThey will be back once demand grows.
must correct myself: they have only one and its Teneriffe. the second one was PRN but its suspended temporarily
DeleteAt least BA comes back
ReplyDeleteLet’s wait and see if it even happens.
DeleteWill ZAG handle a million passengers this year?
ReplyDeleteNo chance.
DeleteHow many were handled Jan-Oct?
Delete840.610
DeleteI expect around 30.000 to 35.000 in November.
DeleteI think a million can just be reached.
DeleteImpossible
DeleteAny idea how many pax are there in November so far?
DeleteMy guess is 40,000 or under.
DeleteI mean this is my estimate for the whole of November.
DeleteAirline industry is devastated worldwide. It's really doubtful that we'll see the 2019 numbers ever again.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat. Unfortunately, many airline experts predict full recovery by 2024. Also, don't forget that the Max is now cleared to fly in America. I am not sure how the faith of the people to return flying will be recovered that fast. Quite an unpleasant period for the aviation.
DeleteWell EASA still has to give the green light before it can fly in the EU, this especially impacts some airlines like Turkish Airlines, flydubai and Ryanair.
DeleteEASA's MAX certification is couple of days, or at best a week or two away.
DeleteThere is not much they can do really.
ReplyDeleteThe operator could offer some incentives.
DeleteThere is no point offering incentives now. The situation needs to stabilise first.
DeleteWhy lower capacity by TK? Smaller aircraft?
ReplyDeleteSmaller aircraft on some days.
DeleteTo me the biggest shocker is QR. From 14 weekly to 1 or 2 flights per week.
ReplyDeleteThey were carrying mostly tourists and perhaps long haul business travellers. No demand for either at the moment.
DeleteStill it's a huge drop. Let's wait and see if FZ comes back at all.
DeleteYou meant the winter FZ flights?
DeleteYes, they are supposed to fly from 27.12 until summer.
DeleteDoubt we'll see them back. Very little O&D demand and there are almost no transfers right now.
DeleteWho? Qatar or Flydubai?
DeleteI think he meant FZ
DeleteI believe the December/January flights will go ahead as planned. We will see.
DeleteI wonder if they will replace EK during the summer. At the moment no flights are scheduled for the summer.
DeleteWith Australia being closed off one has to wonder who they would carry around Christmas.
DeleteToday for example is not all that bad. 24 flights.
ReplyDeletecrazy. how did they manage to have only 555k in Oct with such a numer of flights
DeleteLow loads
DeleteAlso remember more than half of those 24 flights are domestic. And they are probably empty at the moment.
DeleteGood that capacity will be replaced but I doubt passenger numbers will.
ReplyDeletePax numbers will hopefully be a bit better in December than November.
DeleteI hope LH returns in the summer.
ReplyDeleteIt will for sure.
DeleteBut it depends with what kind of frequnecies.
DeleteDamn corona
ReplyDeleteGood on KLM for keeping up with flights (and obviously having good demand)
ReplyDeleteSeems a lot of people are using AMS to transfer.
DeleteGood on KL for reacting quickly and using the situation to their advantage, at least on this market.
DeleteGood luck ZAG!
ReplyDeleteIs there any indication when Aeroflot may come back?
ReplyDeleteThey have suspended ZAG until next summer.
Deletehope these flights actually do happen.
ReplyDeleteIt's uncertain. We will see.
DeleteThe range of destinations next month is actually not that bad.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't exactly say it's great. Many key markets are not being served.
DeleteHas Austrian cancelled its flights to ZAG for December? I know they were supposed to come back late next month for a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThey are still planned to come back at 18.12. At least according to their website
DeleteHow long will they fly for?
DeleteThere is all the information here
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/10/austrian-airlines-to-suspend-zagreb.html
After the ZAG suspension they announced another round of suspended destinations. I think they won't bring any of them back before summer. The situation at OS is disastrous.
DeleteWell they are still selling the flights.
DeleteI hope they will manage to attract more airlines in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe hope now is to retain as many airlines as possible.
DeleteWell ZAG secured new route by TAP for next summer.
DeleteAnd Tunisair from Monastir.
DeleteTunsiair is a seasonal charter that was supposed to launch last summer. I don't think the airport had anything to do with it.
Deletelooking at the photo, the terminal would look perfect from the outside if the air bridges were made of glass.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteOne of the biggest mistakes in my opinion.
DeleteJU only 16 flights to ZAG in December? Jesus thats very bad management. Should be at least 14pw in order to catch all possible transfers and to be reliable carrier.
ReplyDeleteAre you aware of what's going on in the world right now?
Deletepurger has no shame
DeleteBad management of ZAG because they did not attract JU to fly there more often?
DeleteHe was talking about JU's management. The comment is pure stupidity anyway. They fly 12 pw when there isn't a deadly virus going around.
DeleteMany airlines have deserted ZAG for a reason, flights were empty as there are barely any passengers. JU is carrying the bare minimum.
DeleteSo KL is the only foreign airline that will have daily flights...
ReplyDelete