Pragusa.One to start Dubrovnik to New York, LA service in June


Long haul premium economy start-up carrier Pragusa.One has announced it will inaugurate seasonal flights from Dubrovnik to New York’s Newark Liberty Airport and Los Angeles from June. Three weekly operations to the Big Apple will commence on June 21, running each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with a wet-leased Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The LA service will be inaugurated a day later, on June 22, and will be maintained three times per week, each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, with an Airbus A340 jet. Flights will be operated until the end of the 2021 summer season in late October. The company said it will offer a total of 15.700 seats between Dubrovnik and New York, and a further 14.700 seats between the Croatian coastal city and Los Angeles.

Ticket sales for the new routes will commence on May 21. Commenting on the new flights, Pragusa.One’s Managing Director, Krešimir Budinski, said, “We worked hard since summer 2020 to create this unique product for avid travellers that are ready and steady to fly abroad. Point-to-point flight operations bundled with a full travel package and premium in-flight service are key success factors for the ultimate travel experience in the future. The US market represents one of the focus markets for Pragusa.One”. Pragusa.One is a UK-based travel company established in August 2020. It is now offering seven and fourteen day full travel packages between Dubrovnik and the United States.


Mr Budinski previously said the company would start off as a tour operator, by selling tour packages to Dubrovnik and Prague, while offering point-to-point flights through a wet-lease arrangement with a partner. “We are going to start as a travel agency but in the next three years we will make the transition towards becoming an airline, since AOC [Air Operator’s Certificate] certification will take some time. In Croatia, we are going to apply for an AOC which will take ten to twelve months. Until then, we will operate with our partner on a full charter basis. We will convert the wet-lease into a dry-lease by 2024”, Mr Budinski said. He added, “We are in advanced talks with Airbus to get brand new A350s in a single class all premium economy configuration by 2024. We decided to launch an all premium economy airline because there is a team of aviation and travel professionals behind Pragusa.One who have studied how airlines used this configuration in the past. We saw an opportunity, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, to offer point-to-point flights for premium passengers, which is why the A350s will have an all economy layout”.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Bravo DBV!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      Bravo? This is a scam, just look who is behind it. Ticket sale starts on 21.05, flights a month later and with planes that are nowhere to be seen. Yes, Bravo DBV indeed.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:14

      Sorry why would they need aircraft in Dubrovnik to be "seen" almost two months before the flights start?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:22

      The plane doesn't have to be seen in Dubrvnik, it can be seen pretty much anywhere in the world being prepared for delivery to this revolutionary business concept.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:29

      It has no need to be prepared 50 days in advance. This is a wet lease.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    I don't see who is going to choose Pragusa over United from Newark...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      Many people. This is full package, not only flight. And this is only direct flight from LA.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:04

      Travel Agencies.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:48

      Last week group of luxury travel agents were in Dubrovnik. I think they could see use from an airline like this.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:51

      I think they would rather go with United.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    Anyone know which airline they are going to wet lease the planes from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      My guess is on Hi-Fly.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:07

      My thought too. They have the A330-200 and the A340-300 in the fleet.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      So does that mean they will refurbish the planes? HiFy has a horrible cabin, really outdated.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:30

      I doubt it. Although we are just speculating about HiFly at this point.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    OMG King's Landing Airlines is finally happening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:02

      It happened like multiple times.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    Interesting choice of the A340. I assume the lease rate is low nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      But will its be an A340-500?

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    2. Anonymous09:06

      I highly doubt it will be A340-500, seats number from NewYork is bigger than from LA

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    3. Anonymous09:07

      A340-300 more likely.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    Good luck

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    If these start it will be a really big deal for Dubrovnik. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:21

      Let's just hope it all doesn't turn into a scam.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:12

    I think they actually might find a suitable niche with these package tours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:38

      The concept itself isn't bad.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:02

      But is it legal? You all remember the start-up airline / tour operator who was going to launch Chicago - Zagreb - Belgrade a few years back. They sold tickets, had a plane and were prevented from departing on their inaugural flight. Charter rules in Europe are very different to those in the US.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:14

    I would be careful booking with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:23

      Wouldn't rush to book with them that's for sure.

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    2. Anonymous09:34

      To me it looks like they are serious and this is no joke

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    3. Anonymous21:22

      Really hope so.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:16

    I don't know what to think of it but I hope it works, for Dubrovnik's sake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      The question is, will it work long-term?

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:18

    This doesn't sound bad actually.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:18

    Makes sense to start US-Dubrovnik. The market on this route is open.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:22

    Looking forward to this becoming a reality.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:22

    Let's see if it takes off. It is very ambitious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      Same guy (9:18, 9:22) talking to himself. Funny.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:03

      Yeah, label everyone who thinks thinks this is fishy a "hater".

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:25

    Shows once again DBV has a much bigger potential for long-haul flights than Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      On a seasonal basis though.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:04

      As long as the aircraft is wetleased and the maintenance is not their job, I'm fine haha.

      Delete
    3. Correct. It had, have, and will have. Not only seasonal, in contrary during winter season far east routes were success. From S. Korea, Japan... Then they open new airport at Zagreb and the flights were diverted from Seoul to Zagreb. Not fer.

      Delete
    4. Not correct. Wrong. I am not saying DBV has no long-haul potential, on the contrary, that potential is significant. But let me just remind you of scheduled long-haul services operated from ZAG starting 1970's, till today :

      New York - Pan American, 4 weekly
      New York - JAT- 3 weekly
      Montreal-Toronto - JAT - 3 weekly
      Toronto - Air Canada - 3 weekly
      Chicago - JAT - 2 weekly
      Cleveland-Detroit - JAT - 1 weekly
      Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian - 2 weekly
      Toronto - Skyservice - 1 weekly
      Toronto - Sky Greece - 1 weekly
      Toronto - Transat - 3 weekly
      Toronto - Air Canada Rouge - 4 weekly
      Dubai (and on to Asia) - Emirates - daily
      Dubai (and on to Asia) - Fly dubai - daily
      Doha (and on to Asia) - double daily
      Korean Air - Seoul - 3 weekly

      Just shows that ZAG has at least equal, or bigger long-haul potential than DBV, which has not been realised primarily because of "flag carrier", or more precisely "management", actually party aparatchiks, who, in favour of LH, and for appropriate financial compensation, ruined all chances of ZAG to become long-haul hub of Southeastern Europe, in synergy with the national carrier.




      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:28

    lol, I´d be scared to take a long haul flight with a Balkan startup airline.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:34

    Could be a big development for Dubrovnik if this gets off the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:37

    Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:38

    This would be fantastic. But somehow I doubt it will materialize in the end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:59

      Why? It's not that far away

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:02

      That's exactly why.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:05

      Might not be legal.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous09:41

    Vaccinations will be a major element in getting us travelling again. Huge pent-up demand. Hope this works.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous09:41

    So some time in the future we will have the 9A registration on widebodies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:59

      That's the plan

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:31

      That will be a nice sight. Fingers crossed.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous09:47

    The planes will be in all premium economy set up?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:49

    Why not wet-lease A350s from the beginning?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      Is anyone even offering A350s for wet lease?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:58

      Cost and lack of A350 for wet-lease on the market.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous09:59

    Waste of money. Not gonna work

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      Why do you think it won't work?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:28

      ^ Are you serious? They are starting ticket sales just a month before the flights start. United has been selling tickets to Dubrovnik for 2 weeks already and flights don't start till July. And this is United, one of America's best known brand names.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous10:02

    Is this a charter or a regular flight aka you can buy just the ticket for the flight?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:26

      It seems you will be able to buy just the ticket too. They have on their website "avid travelers" to express their interest for these flights.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous10:02

    It is too early but Croatia seems to be the winner of this summer season!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:05

      Way too early to make that sort of assumption especially because it does not seem UK tourists will be coming in big number. The amount of new routes and flights from the UK to Greece is quite high. For the beginning at least it seems Brits traveling to Croatia will have to quarantine on return.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:23

      Now that Russians are making a comeback to Egypt and with ties with Turkey being problematic, I think Turkey will aggressively work on attracting foreign visitors. It's still too early to predict what will happen with Croatia but they seem to be behind other markets like Spain or Greece in early bookings and flights scheduling.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:27

      Croatia is also profiting from Turkey being closed to Russians. Croatia is the only EU country where Russian tourists are welcome at the moment, which is being reflected by the amount of new flights to the coast.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:56

      Yes, Croatia quietly decided to let in vaccinated people with vaccines that haven't been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous10:07

    This is fantastic for Dubrovnik but I'm worried about the fact that the US has put Croatia on its "Do not travel" level 4 advisory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      All ex-Yu countries are on level 4.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:09

      Meanwhile Angola is level 3 (reconsider travel) and Rwanda level 2 (exercise increased caution) wtf?? I wouldn't like to be in either country if I got Covid and had to be treated there.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:24

      Interestingly that even if Serbia is on Level 4 JU is boosting JFK. This gives me hope that Pragusa will indeed do fine and even thrive.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:30

      Majority of the countries in the world are on the do not travel list. It has no impact really. It's just an advisory. No special rules apply.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:05

      Over 80% of the world is lvl 4.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:57

      Makes sense.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous10:10

    this could only work with 787-8 and not other jets. Others(A340s and A350s) are simply too big for such a destination competing directly with United.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I hope this project will be more successful than "Air Ticket Arena"app, previous project by Mr.Budinski. Can't remember any PE only longhaul company ever was successful, as a charter company or as a part of package tour travel agency. Good luck to them, hope market will give them a chance. Will Pragusa be partner in Air Ticket Arena? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous10:38

    I mean I knew DBV is a worldwide tourist destination but didn't know it is that capable of having so many long-haul flights! That'd be EWR (operated by 2 carriers), LAX, PHL....crazy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:48

      Keep it up Dubrovnik :)

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:38

    How long will this last?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:31

      We will have to wait and see. Hope for the best.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous10:48

    Wonder what the fares will be like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:30

      From what I've heard ticket will be 4500 HRK (for the ticket)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:31

      This will be to New York I assume?

      Delete
  33. Anonymous11:11

    Well done, Croatia!

    ReplyDelete
  34. JU520 BEGLAX12:30

    Be careful with buying tickets there. No one knows them, they hve no record and will they reprotect u on other carriers if they dont fly??
    UA is operating EWRDBV, ev DL will come and hopefully next year AA will be back. Besides that, there are enough other carriers operating with a stop in EUR to DBV.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous15:31

    Did they get all the paperwork needed for those flights? DoT? Airports?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:57

      They don't need much paperwork if it is being operated by an airline that already has DoT approval, which is likely the case.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous20:45

    Doubt this will ever happen.
    Eastern was supposed to fly ORD-SJJ, but no flights for sale anymore https://iflyea.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:56

      What does this have to do with Eastern and how is it relevant to these flights?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous06:05

      Same region.
      New flight announced weeks ago and appears nothing will become of it.
      People should be cautious with this new airline.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous21:22

    Have they engaged with US tour operators?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:25

      On their website they are asking "travel agencies" to express interest for the flights

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:27

      Speaking of, they should really give that site an upgrade.
      https://www.pragusa.one/

      Delete
  38. Anonymous21:22

    Ticket sales on May 21, for June 22 operations?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:30

      Due to covid many people are choosing to travel last minute so 1 month in advance is ok.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:57

      Is one month OK for a brand new airline no one has heard of before?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous06:06

      Probably not.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous21:30

    Exciting times for DBV.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Balkan baby06:13

    Unfortunately I do not see this a working. To many factors working against them.

    Corona still in full swing.
    Unknown & new airline.
    Late start to selling tickets.
    Little advertising.
    Unstable summer predictions for travel rules and regulations.

    All in all too many factors will kill this before it gets off the ground.
    By late May will announce delay to kick off date.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Kresimir is clearly known for being involved in multiple scams and this will be one too.

    FYI:
    https://zamaaero.com/10/03/2021/analize/pragusa-megavizionarstvo-ili-scam/
    and
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSHC4TTttgM

    ReplyDelete
  42. Woyko23:36

    any updates?

    needle moved from 99% scam to 100% scam?

    ReplyDelete

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