Air Canada will commence operations between Toronto and Zagreb starting June 2, 2022. The carrier will replace its leisure operator Air Canada Rouge on the route, which no longer has wide-body aircraft in its fleet. The service will operate three times per week, departing Canada’s largest city each Monday, Thursday and Saturday, while its return is scheduled for the following day. The flights will be maintained by the 297-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which features 32 seats in business (signature) class, 24 in premium economy and the remaining 241 in the standard economy cabin. The Canadian carrier is in the process of retrofitting its A330s with new seats, mirroring those on its Dreamliner fleet.
Air Canada will compete directly against Air Transat on the route, which will resume its seasonal Zagreb service on May 29, 2022 with the 332-seat A330-200 jet. Canada’s national carrier was to acquire its leisure rival, but the deal fell through this April after the European Commission refused to give its approval, citing competition concerns. There have been no flights between Toronto and Zagreb since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with the last scheduled service between the two cities operating in October 2019.
 |
| Air Canada retrofitted A330-300 business class cabin |
 |
| Air Canada retrofitted A330-300 economy class cabin |
The Croatia - Canada market is large, comprising of a mix of leisure passengers, as well as those visiting friends and family. The flights have been successful for both Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat. In 2019 they jointly handled 65.486 passengers, a 14.6% increase on the year before. That same year, the number of indirect passengers flying between Croatia and Canada stood at 71.254. Despite there being seasonal nonstop flights between Zagreb and Toronto, the route also had the largest number of indirect passengers, based on OAG data. It was followed by Split - Toronto. In 2019, Air Transat planned to operate the route once per week between June and September, however, cancelled the service a few months prior to its launch due to “commercial reasons”. An A330-200 jet was to be deployed on the route.
Indirect traffic on Croatia - Canada citypairs in 2019
Further details for Air Canada’s 2022 flights to Zagreb can be found here.
Fantastic news!
ReplyDeleteExpected. Korean Air also back in ZAG with flights already on sale for next year.
DeleteKorean Air never suspended sales in the first place.
DeleteI do wonder if Emirates will also return next year or perhaps they'll wait till 2023?
Deletethe current line up of returning airlines is good, all the airlines that have stopped flights due to covid are returning to Zagreb, also Canada might become popular destination for Croatian visitors as well, with Croatian pays almost @€1000 NET, Canada shouldn't be too expensive of a destination for most Croats. In 2019 Croatia was visited by 194000 Canadian visitors, 2020 would have been even better, alas covid, none the less 2024/2025 if all goes well could see Record year for Canadian visitors to Croatia. 200 000 Canadians in Croatia in 2025 is a real possibility.
Amazing news for consumers. Zagreb will benefit from flights to Toronto next year with many connections throughout Canada as well as the USA and the Caribbean. Canadian consumers will also benefit Croatia Airlines´ network both within Croatia and the region. Good to see Air Canada back in ZAG. Welcome!
ReplyDeleteI think it's too early to rely on OU next summer.
DeleteUnited will sonn announce ZAG flights.
DeleteWe've been hearing that for a while.
Delete^ Well it seems it will become a reality this time
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/04/united-eyes-second-destination-in.html
@An.13.01
DeleteWe've been hearing that for a while with very good reason : Traffic between Canada and Croatia is 70.000 and traffic between US and Croatia is 350.000. If you think is normal to have direct connection for 70.000, and not to have for 350.000 (with exception of recent DBV service), fine. But I think it's not normal, and I am sure either EWR/JFK or ORD will start from/to ZAG very soon
OU is here to stay. It is a National carrier that has a completely inapt management, backed by an incompetent government. Still, it has its market share and a relatively decent fleet and as the National carrier will be jept afloat. You think to much.
DeletePeople said ZAG is too expensive for lowcosters. They were right. Then things changed overnight.
DeletePeople say OU us here to stay. They are right, but things can change overnight.
wow
ReplyDeletethis was the plan for this year as well but AC canceled all flights so June 2022. is far away to be sure that this would actually happen.
ReplyDeleteNo it wasn't the plan for this year because AC never scheduled flights for this year to ZAG.
DeleteThere, there!
Deleteif you work at the airport than you know that A330-300 was announced to the airport authority back in January 2021 ;)
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteThis will hurt Air Transat quite a bit since AC is a much better choice.
ReplyDeleteTrue. It offers connections, Star Alliance miles, will be more appealing to business travelers
DeleteThey carry completely different type of passengers and they are more expensive.
DeleteRemember that Air Transat sells packaged holidays. So when a family buts a holiday package to Croatia they will fly with Air Transat.
DeleteAir Transat can compete on price since they use 332-seat A330-200 jets.
DeleteDemand is there for both carriers.
DeleteThat's something we don't know at the moment...
DeleteIndirectly I think it will have more of an impact on Lufthansa.
Delete@9.10 well two airlines have been operating this route for years. So yes, there obviously is demand and space for two airlines.
DeleteBoth will be fine. If nothing this will benefit Transat since Air Canada carries completely different passengers compared to Air Canada Rouge.
DeleteGreat job AC
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they make it year-round with some dead periods like November or February? I am sure there is a market in March, December, April and May.
ReplyDeleteAC will be keeping YYZ and YUL flights to ATH year round starting this winter season with reduced frequencies.
DeleteHopefully in the future the same thing will happen to the ZAG flight.
Welcome back, Air Canada
ReplyDeleteCongrats to ZAG
ReplyDeleteHopefully Croatia Airlines will start codesharing on these flights.
ReplyDeleteOU would not recognize an opportunity if it hit it on its head.
DeleteOU has been codesharing with AC for more than 10 years now. FRA, LHR, CDG, ZRH, VIE and all coastal cities. OU has codes on many transatlantic AC flights ex the above.
DeleteBravo!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Split-Toronto and Zagreb-Montreal are busier than Dubrovnik-Toronto!
ReplyDeleteThat business class looks great
ReplyDeleteif only OU had better connections and network, it could feed the rest of YU easily.
ReplyDeleteIf they had a better network and structure for their flights, they would be operating it themselves.
Delete+1000 @JATBEGMEL. OU is such a disappointment and missed opportunities World Champion. They could have operated not only YYZ, but at least NYC and ORD as well. Maybe even more. But....
DeleteI am excited that we are getting a new airline but I must say it would be better if it were a different destination since we already have Toronto. But anyway good news.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the maple leaf back in Zagreb!
ReplyDeleteLittle by little but the positive news regarding ZAG keep coming. This is just the start for AC in ZAG. They can always add more flights, and extend to yearly flights in the future if the route does well.
ReplyDeleteNow we need to wait for a US airline to also launch ZAG, plus there is a very good chance EK will also come back.
DeleteAnon 09:31
Delete+1
I think AC's scheduling is generally better than Air Transat's on this route.
ReplyDeleteLovely. Great way to end the working week.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I see Air Transat changing either from Montreal or a different CAN city to ZAG or they add from Toronto to SPU or DBV too
ReplyDeleteGood news. They offer much more connections in Canada than Air Transat.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think that Sky Greece Airlines was the first to show all these companies that there is demand for these flights :D
ReplyDeleteWell the first to show there is demand was JAT and indeed Air Canada decades ago :)
DeleteAnd there was Canadian Skyservice in between
DeleteWill be interesting to see how the LH group will respond to this.
ReplyDeleteHow can they respond? They already have alot of flights to many Croatian airports, from both FRA and MUC. Only if they send own A330 in ZAG and introduce ZAG-YYZ lol
DeleteThey have a joint venture with Air Canada. Don't think they see each other as rivals.
DeleteWill OTP also be served by Air Canada? It was also a Rouge destination.
ReplyDeleteYes, Air Canada confirmed a return to Bucharest from Montreal and Toronto. So far in Eastern Europe, Zagreb and Bucharest are the only destinations Air Canada has hopped over on from Rouge.
DeleteRouge was a disaster in every aspect in terms of service and product. This is a fantastic upgrade. Good luck!
ReplyDelete+1 good riddance. Welcome Air Canada mainline.
DeleteIf any other airline in the area is wondering if it is early to start flights to Canada, this is your answer.
ReplyDeleteZAG-YYZ isnt a new route. Besides, frequencies are still down from 2019 and for JU, alot can happen in 12 months.
DeleteFrequencies are down for both JU and AC. A lot can happen in 12 months for both JU and AC, yet AC is committed to relaunching. That other airline is not committed. That's the main difference.
DeleteThe other airline never operated the flights so I fail to see your point.
DeleteI flew direct on JU DC-10 from BEG to YYZ. Direct but not nonstop.
DeleteI believe, for JU, the JFK frequencies are down for the odd cargo rotation that cant be done with a 6 pw schedule to JFK.
DeleteAC on the other hand has additional long haul capacity to use. The pandemic has set back alot of the competition, and created opportunities for those with additional capacity to go into markets they probably wouldn't, as we have seen in DBV.
JU doesn't have additional long haul capacity to throw around. Adding another long haul route for JU involves investments, recruitment, training, leasing ac - pretty much money they don't have. Watch the comments section the moment JU releases its financial report.
You are right, it does take all of that to start a new service. JU needed investments, recruitment, training and leasing aircraft in 2016 to start JFK, and are now celebrating it and reportedly enjoying some profit. If they are motivated and committed to celebrate success of BEG-YYZ five years from now, they have no other choice but to do it again. It should be easier as they have experience and lease rates are lower. Key here is motivated and committed. I doubt JU leaders have a compensation plan that would pay out generous bonus only after 5 years of successful YYZ service. Without it, they might not have incentive to launch new service or even plan on being around 5 years from now.
DeleteAC is a great opportunity for OU to boost its loss making regional flights. I hope OU got its act together
ReplyDeleteHope is last to die, I guess. They still haven't reacted on the FR base in ZAG other than complain. Not to mention JP's bankruptcy.
DeleteCould winter work for Air Canada on this route? Twice per week maybe?
ReplyDeleteWould be nice. Shame neither them or Transat want to try year-round. It could work.
DeleteI'm sure AC will.
DeleteCongratulations Air Canada on new flights to ZAG. I’m confident these will become all year round sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteBravo Zagreb and congratulations. I think quite some widebodies are to be seen in ZAG in the next years. Well deserved. Croatia invested big in tourism and infrastructure, now is pay back time!
ReplyDeleteDemand is there. It's a shame it's not OU widebodies.
DeleteI've been saying that for ages, but uhljebs and apartchiks spit on me for that while singing "Danke Deutschland, danke we pay to feed you on expense of our tax payers
DeleteTočnije ti pljuješ po svima tko se ne slaže stobom. Iako bi rađe da OU jednom zauvijek propadne i da više joj ne dajemo milijune ja sam za tebe uhljeb na aparatima. 7
Delete@pozdrav iz Rijeke
DeleteThats EU of today, small nations serve the big ones and the big nations, mainly Germany is giving the directions.
I was long time a supporter of the EU and still would, if the set-up would be much better, smarter. Labour market with contigents only, two currencies and full democratic decisions with pluralism. So if there is a vote among the 27 members, if 14 vote for it, than it is thru. Small nations need more power again and not dictate of Germany, France or Italy. More decentralism as the centralism in BRU is killing the EU, also with all the lobbyism and corruption there.
OU widebody could work, 787-8/9s to Asia, YYZ, EWR, ORD. Maybe 3-4 aircrafts. Would also be good for neighbouring SLO, at least that part being in a radius of 100 km close to ZAG
@An.13.54
DeleteCini se da ni aparati vise ne pomazu. Potrebna je dodatna specijalisticka terapija. Toliko za gospodina koji tako fantasticno zastupa principe svoje Partije koja radi na unistenju Hrvatske i za to optuzuje druge koji o tome govore. A sa "ti"se mozete obracati onima sa kojima ste donedavno cuvali ovce prije nego Vam je Partija omogucila da iz opanaka uskocite u cipele.
@JU520 BEGLAX
DeleteAbsolutely agree with you - EU as it is, is far away from being perfect. But I can't agree small countries just listen the dictate of the bigger. And even if it is like that, I think the way to go is in further reforms within EU, less buerocracy, less consensual and more plane majority vote in decision making, further joint authorities and so on. So I still think that smaller, or poorer, or "ex-eastern" countries can see much more benefits with EU membership, rather than staying out. In my opinion, it's much more about the countries themselves - if their leaders are corrupt and rotten - the results will be worse, and that"s precisely what is happening in Croatia. It is not EU which limited Croatia Airlines from growing, it is not EU which made Adria disappear, it is local crooks and mafiosos who give advantage to their own pockets instead of public interest, and general public which tolerates it
plain, not plane
DeleteWhat you both write is clearly wrong.
DeleteIf there were majority voting in the EU, Croatia would mean absolutely nothing. Smaller countries may mean something only as part of the larger block like EU and only if there is full consensus required within such block for important decisions. For example Cyprus or Greece may influence EU policy towards Turkey only because the block needs their approval for other things. Otherwise they would simply be outvoted and that is it. And in bilateral relations with Turkey they are simply too weak to gain anything, so they try to levarage their block membership (EU membership) to get a better footing towards Turkey. And that is just one example.
Just look at how many Croats do you have among decision makers (beaurocreates in Brussels) compared to Germany, France and other bigger countries (pro rata).
Anonymous17:55
DeleteThey are not wrong. What are you saying just show that you dont understand what EU is and how politics works within EU. Just because some Greek "empty suite" is sitting as beaurocrat that deos enot mean that Greece or Cyprus have any REAL power to influence their foreign policy. Policy in EU is decided behind the closed doors. FULL STOP.
What "Pozdrav" was talking is policy on Local level. And that means policy can be having independent people with integrity on local level and NOT some YES man that for every problem look at Brussel for an awnser.
Pozdrav iz rijeke ponovo pljuje po ostalima jer se ne slažu s njime dok u isto vrijeme ih proziva "partijom". Koji okismoron!
DeleteHas anyone checked their fares to the the US? Are they competitive from ZAG to say Lufthansa?
ReplyDeleteSensible start. Rouge was 4 times per week, Air Canada is 3.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteDidn't see that coming. As usual, ZAG is once again looking into prestigious additions. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou should really give the 'prestigious' adjective a rest. Ryanair is becoming Zagreb's biggest airline.
DeleteNice to see this route was performing well pre-Covid and has evolved so much over the years. Good work.
ReplyDeleteTrue. From Sky Service charters to Air Canada and Transat summer service :)
DeleteHope we see Korean and Emirates come back too.
ReplyDeleteKorean likely, EK doubt before 2023.
DeleteWhat a luck for Air Serbia!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Toronto will next year get Air Canada and Air Serbia ..
DeleteOU – or the people that are in leadership, simply do not care. Their job positions are not dependent on merits. AC is mediocre product. Croatia tourist product has very very strong appeal in North America. Its way above Spain, Portugal. On par with Greece. OU would without much effort fill up North American leisure market and that would be their bread & butter operations. And then would build on top of that regional network for transfers.
ReplyDeleteIt is not lost all but the change has to happen very soon. There is opportunity to with future EU realignment capture North America – South East Europe/ Eastern Europe. This is my view as who has grow up in Serbia and lived for 30 years in NA.
Croatia business has to overcome that business inferiority complex. They just have to get kick in the butt and get likes of Rimac in Airline business. They can do it with right people. And they have.
- Croatia tourist product has very very strong appeal in North America. Its way above Spain, Portugal.
DeleteWhy don't you compare number of seasonal routes and seats that were offered in 2019 between Canada/USA and Spain, Portugal and Croatia? Spain and Portugal are way ahead of Croatia. If the appeal was as strong as you claim, it would be the other way around.
I can't believe he compared Croatia with Spain and Portugal, who have it 10 times more turista. Much closer to NA. Much better name recognition. Plus Portuguse diaspora much much bigger then is Croatian.
DeleteSorry guys that you misunderstood context of my post. I will try another way. The debate is this:
DeleteShould and could Croatia Airlines have successful and profitable North America – Croatia routes?
United, Delta, Air Canada are confident that they can do it. So why should Croatia Airlines leave money on the table? I am sure now that my position is clear. But you have to have people with vision, discipline, with ba..s
I am not debating and comparing the numbers between Portugal, Spain and Croatia. My emphasis is on strong appeal of certain Croatian destinations is on higher-end segment of North American vacationers.
Appeal is based on perception. But who cares of perceptions because you do not debate perceptions. Certain destinations like Dubrovnik, Istria, Hvar have perception and appeal of Mykonos, Tuscany…I personally agree with that perceptions.
Also, since Spain/Portugal are mentioned please guys check who got the first post Covid recovery funds and for what purpose. Von der Leyen was in Spain & Portugal few days ago. The Tourist segment of Economy model of these two countries is not sustainable and will get ugly in very near future. Croatia has to anticipate future and not to look into past with their tourist segment of economy.
"The Tourist segment of Economy model of these two countries is not sustainable and will get ugly in very near future."
DeleteExpand on this.
And how is tourist market in Croatia any different than in Spain and Portugal?
All three have high end and low end mass tourism.
Cheers mate.
Anon 4:47, There is no money left on the table. Other carriers took it. OU has to fight FR at home base, they cant start long haul now. Its too late.
Delete“Expand on this.”
DeleteIn essence US$ as reserve currency has run of the steam and fosil fuels are running of the steam. Consequently, Petrodollar arrangement in global financial system is also on the last leg where Oil sold on world market in US$ is returned back into US stock market. That’s the essence of all friction that you can see in political sphere. Countries on periphery of economic food chain would experience the most turbulence. It is just accidental that these countries in Europe have also large segment of their economy in Tourism: Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy.
“And how is tourist market in Croatia any different than in Spain and Portugal?”
The difference now is only in degrees. Qualitatively there is no difference. But due to geographical location of Croatia in Europe in comparison to Spain/Portugal, Croatia could experience less negative effects to a degree and transition faster to a new model.
A bit hard to understand you but appreciate your reply.
DeleteCheers mate.
Can't wait. Well done on ZAG managing to keep this connecting and getting the upgrade.
ReplyDeleteAC used to fly to Zagreb with the A310 the last time they were around :)
ReplyDeleteAir Canada never flew to ZAG on A310. It was Pan Am which had flown to ZAG nonstop from JFK with A310, Air Canada used to fly with either B767 or L1015 Tristar
DeleteSleek looking cabin
ReplyDelete