Flydubai will substitute Emirates’ summer operations between Dubai and Zagreb next summer season. Emirates has confirmed it is terminating the seasonal service, after it was suspended this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and shelved for 2021. The airline has closed its sales office in the Croatian capital and dismissed local staff. Flydubai plans to commence three weekly flights to Zagreb on February 3, increasing to four weekly from the start of the summer season on March 28 and growing to daily from June 1. Changes at this early stage remain likely. Flydubai initially planned to restore services to the Croatian capital at the end of this month. Emirates will codeshare on its partner’s flights. 

Flydubai will maintain the service with its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will likely be upgraded to the 737 MAX once the type receives regulatory approval to return to the skies. Despite Flydubai’s return, capacity between Zagreb and Dubai will be significantly reduced compared to 2019. During the summer of last year, Emirates offered a total of 137.510 seats between the two cities on 380 flights (return flight included). Services were maintained with the three-class Boeing 777 aircraft. On the other hand, next summer will see Flydubai reduce overall capacity between the two cities by 58.2%. It will offer 57.420 seats on 330 flights. 

At this early stage, Flydubai also plans to resume its seasonal summer service to Dubrovnik starting May 13, 2021, running until August 27. Entry into Dubai is permitted with a negative coronavirus test taken up to 96 hours prior to departure. Under current regulations, Croatian nationals must also take another (free of charge) covid test upon landing at Dubai Airport. Based on existing plans, Flydubai also plans to serve Belgrade, Sarajevo and Tivat next summer season. It currently flies to just Belgrade and Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia. Capacity on flights to Belgrade will grow 37.1% in summer 2021 compared to 2019 levels, decline 5% on the Sarajevo service and increase 3.7% on the Tivat route.