TAP eyes local traffic on new Zagreb route


TAP Air Portugal, which plans to resume flights between Lisbon and Zagreb on March 28, 2021 following a five-year hiatus, expects to handle local leisure traffic on the route. The carrier will run the service three times per week on a seasonal summer basis. The Portuguese airline said the flights are tourism-focused, with leisure demand expected to return faster than business in times of the coronavirus pandemic. During its last year of operations on the route, TAP’s passenger structure consisted of approximately 73% local traffic and 27% transfer traffic, primarily to South America. Back then, flights were operated on a year-round basis, with a four weekly non-stop service between June and September, and typically three weekly via Bologna in the other eight months of the year. 

TAP has 13.392 one-way seats on sale between Lisbon and Zagreb during the summer of 2021 on a total of 93 flights. It is still unclear whether Croatia Airlines will resume its seasonal service between the two cities next year, which didn’t operate in 2020 due to Covid-19. TAP codeshares on the route, similar to the way Croatia Airlines placed its codes and flight numbers on its Portuguese counterpart’s operations up until their suspension in 2016. Both are Star Alliance members. So far, Croatia Airlines has not scheduled its Lisbon flights for next year. “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. 

Despite a number of carriers temporarily suspending their operations to the Croatian capital this year, Ukraine’s Windrose Airlines commenced services between Kiev and Zagreb last month, with TAP becoming the first carrier to announce new flights to the city since the onset of the pandemic. Based on existing flight schedules for next summer season, which are highly likely to change, TAP will tie with Korean Air in market share based on frequency at Zagreb Airport, ahead of Vueling but behind Brussels Airlines.

Carriers by projected frequency at Zagreb Airport, summer 2021


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:37

    I wonder if TAP will give this route a try for the whole year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      It is obviously difficult to fill in winter. OU operated (operates) it seasonally and even before TAP used to fly it via Bologna.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      Perhaps TAP Express could take over the route in winter.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:15

      What difference would that make?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:17

      They operate smaller capacity planes.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:50

      Could an ATR72 make it from Lisbon to Zagreb?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:58

      Yes if it flies empty.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:39

    Interesting stats.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:39

    Good to see JU at 1.9% and being ahead of some much larger players. I think it shows that Balkan passengers have gotten used to transferring in BEG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      +100

      Delete
    2. jugo10:33

      qiuet the opposite actually. the biggest exyu airline having less then 2% traffic in the second biggest exyu city and airport in its core market speaks volume. they should aim for 5%

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:58

      Seems like JU is more focused on LJU. I guess Zagreb and Belgrade are too close to each other so many people take the road. It's a shame SJJ is so expensive as O&D demand is huge.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:39

      These are just frequncies not capacity!!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:46

      So? Why are you so triggered by JU

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:03

      How im triggered by JU you genious? Explain?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:25

      The amount of exclamation marks gave you away

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:34

      That doesnt mean im triggered. Guy said JU should do better in ZAG so i said these are numbers of frequencies not capacity. Why are you so triggered with my comment, i dont understand at all.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:58

      I travel for work from ZAG to ATH a few times per year and JU is almost always my choice. OS has good connections but they are too expensive, never under €350.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous13:25

      Does Aegean codeshare on VIE-ZAG with OS and OU?

      Delete
    11. JATBEGMEL15:29

      I dont think JU can increase ZAG frequencies without either cutting a destination or frequencies to a destination, adding more ATR's or upgrading an existing ATR route to the A319. This going by pre-Covid schedules. After dropping it to 10 pw, they did increase ZAG to 11 pw last summer. Perhaps a midday roatation is needed, and have one of the ATR rotations like SJJ, TIA or SKP go over to the A319.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous17:06

      to anon 10:58.

      What would be the point to take a car from ZAG to BEG to fly from BEG onwards? Its much easier to transfer in BEG than drive + I expect a ticket would be cheaper if you fly indirect via BEG than you fly direct from BEG.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous21:58

      Sorry I meant that most who go to Belgrade don't fly but rather go by road.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:40

    Doubt Croatia Airlines will resume this route, especially with this sort of competition.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:42

    A very nice addition for Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:46

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:01

    I really liked them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:05

    Hope demand picks up by next summer and the flights work out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous10:13

    TAP wasn't a cheap option for South American connections, at first it was one of the few options for many travellers, but then Paris, Frankfurt and London became cheaper alternatives. So I’m not surprised they are going after tourists primarily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:19

      668€ RT from ZAG-GIG is quite a reasonable price:

      ZAG Zagreb GIG Rio De Janeiro - Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim
      14 abr. a 22 abr.
      1 Passageiro
      1 Adulto


      Voo de PartidaAlterar
      14 abr.
      12:50 ZAG Zagreb 15:15 LIS Lisboa
      4h26m
      TP0893Informação acerca do voo
      Tempo de ligação prolongado : 7h55m
      23:10 LIS Lisboa 05:05 GIG Rio De Janeiro (GIG)
      8h54m
      TP0075Informação acerca do voo
      Condições
      Voo de RegressoAlterar
      22 abr.
      15:55 GIG Rio De Janeiro (GIG) 05:35 LIS Lisboa
      10h41m
      TP0074Informação acerca do voo
      Tempo de ligação : 2h25m
      08:00 LIS Lisboa 12:05 ZAG Zagreb
      2h04m
      TP0892Informação acerca do voo
      Condições
      Preço e Taxas Detalhados
      A sua reserva ficará sujeita às regras e taxas do país onde inicia a sua viagem.

      Todos os preços aqui indicados estão em Euro EUR
      Custos de transporte aéreo 594,00
      Taxas, sobretaxas e outros encargos: 84,02
      Passageiros x 1
      Preço Total 678,02
      Miles & Go Promo 200 Milhas -10,00
      Preço total para todos os passageiros

      Don't forget that TP also now is expanding a lot in North America thanks to their A321-LRs that can easily fly to JFK, BOS, ORD, etc.
      TP is actually competing with MAD in South America but still, MAD remains the European master connecting almost all Latin American capitals and secondary cities. For example, pre-covid there were like up to 5 daily flights to EZE annd MEX!
      If LIS did not have slot issues and a bigger airport it would definitely become one of Europe's leading hubs.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:56

      They are good prices now. I meant they were quite expensive a couple of years ago when they were flying to ZAG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:28

      Latin Americans adore the Balkans and this can be a new opportunity for Croatia to be now discovered by latinos. Most do not need a visa to enter EU so it should be no problem.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:22

      Croatia has already about 150.000 torist from South America per year, but the biggest problem in these markets are quite poor population, income inequality (not so large middle class) and crashing economies. Not so much people can aford trips to destinations like Croatia.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:47

      150,000?! Wow! That's quite impressive! It depends on which part of Latin America though. Chile and to some extent Argentina and Uruguay have some "wealthier" tourists. Also don't forget about the Croat diaspora in both Chile and Brazil - around 100,000.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:47

      Brazil, Argentina and Chile are majority in these "about" 150.000, tourists from Uruguay are almost non-existent. When we are talking about diaspora in these countries you have them about 500.000 but you should not consider them as a demand. These people are just ancestors of people who left Croatia 150 years ago or after WWll so they have no conection with Croatia anymore. They dont know anyone, most of them dont know even a language... they are not in the same category as diaspora in Germany which usually every holiday goes in Croatia. Even i have some ancestors in Argentina, but they have nothing to do here so they dont come here as my relatives who went in Germany 5 years ago.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous22:30

      Latin America might remain a market but according to the 2019 stats, it is Europe that counts more than ever. There were many Slovenes and Poles visiting Croatia in 2019:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Croatia

      But as you can see, Americans have almost doubled but no country in Latin America, but lets wait and see.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:16

    Another airline that ditched onboard service in favour of BoB.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:11

      I think it's the norm on all European carriers now.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:01

      Nope, there are still major carriers that offer free drinks and snacks: AF, AZ, KL, LH, LX, OS, TK, LO...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:25

      BA during this crisis, A3, RO, OU, YM, JU, B2, UIA.... there are still plenty of them offering free food on board. Some offer hot meals like TK, A3, RO, some offer snack boxes like OU, KL while some offer one snack and drinks like JU and OY.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:16

    Good move for TAP

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10:47

    It is disappointing OU will leave this route

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:59

      It’s still not 100%

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:09

      It probably won’t resume because OU used wet leased equipment on these flights and it is likely they won’t wet lease any planes next year.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:20

      OU used leased equipment sometimes on LIS route but it was mostly with A319. On other side they used only wet leased equipment on HEL, OSL and ARN routes.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:37

      I see, thanks for the clarification.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:50

      Seems OU leased CRJ for next summer. Some flights from ZAG to CPH are operated by Air Nostrum CRJ1000. Source: croatiaairlines.com

      Delete
  13. Anonymous13:08

    ZAG does seem to be a Star Alliance airport - OU,LH,OS,TP, LO,TK.
    It also seems that ZAG is targeting more legacy carriers and richer markets such as South Korea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:37

      You are truly successful if you have a mix of legacies and low costs to enable all types of passengers to fly from your airport. That's what all other major airports in the world do.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous16:35

    I wonder where does that leave Croatia Airlines? Will they keep flying to Lisbon next summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:35

      Like the article says, it is unclear. So far they have not scheduled flights for next year.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous16:35

    Why did they suspend Zagreb in the first place? And how did Croatia Airlines do on this service?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:37

      They were forced to restructure and cancelled many routes.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous16:36

    Did TAP have fifth freedom rights between Bologna and Zagreb. Were there any passengers on this sector?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:37

      Of course they did. Both cities/countries are EU members. Not sure about the loads though.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:51

      Is TP doing better in ZAG than it used to in BEG? I think the route lasted for a couple of months, right? What is the traffic type?

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2014/12/tap-portugal-to-suspend-belgrade-flights.html

      According to the article: " It comes as a result of poor loads"

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:35

      ^ I don't understand what you are trying to argue?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:19

      No argue at all. I am just asking if ZAG has more demand. After all 3 weekly service is quite good. I just have the feeling that ZAG has most demand compared to the other ex-Yu capitals.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous22:48

      If that was the case, it would also have the most passengers. While there may be 3 weekly fights to Lisbon in summer it lacks a number of key routes like not a single year round route to Scandinavia, no nonstop flights to Rome , no year round flights to cities like Prague and Milan...

      Delete
  17. Anonymous16:38

    Wish them better luck this time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:15

    Nice!

    ReplyDelete

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