Zagreb Airport has said it aims to become an important regional hub once Ryanair establishes all of its 25 destinations from the Croatian capital by the end of the year, in addition to its existing flight offer. “In the near future Zagreb will be connected with the largest number of destinations in its history”, the member of Zagreb Airport’s management board, David Gabelica, said. He added, “This will not only increase the number of passengers at Zagreb Airport significantly, but also directly contribute to our target of positioning ourselves as the most important regional hub in our region and a new city break destination for European travellers”.
Ryanair is today introducing a new service from Zagreb to Sofia and plans to have sixty departures per week during the 2021/2022 winter season. In addition to the budget carrier’s expansion, Zagreb Airport also secured flights by Nordwind Airlines from Moscow earlier this year, as well as services from Dusseldorf and Prague by Eurowings, which are set to launch in the coming months. As of net year, the airport will welcome Air Canada from Toronto, as well as an additional new Eurowings service from Berlin. Furthermore, 2022 should mark the return of Air Transat and Korean Air to the Croatian capital, while another Korean carrier, T’way Air, is also expected to inaugurate flights to Zagreb.
Commenting on its performance, the airport’s spokeswoman, said, “If we were to compare with 2019, which was our record year in all segments, then the numbers are still not there yet, however, if we look at June of this year, we ended up with 100.000 passengers, and expect to handle between 140.000 and 150.000 in July. This year, Zagreb will be connected with 42 international destinations and six domestic ones. As a result, on some days we will have between ninety and 100 aircraft movements. I believe this is the largest number of destinations we have had in a single season in Zagreb Airport’s history”.
I am sorry but they are beyond disillusioned. Sure they got FR but they are catching up with the rest of the region. They are celebrating the launch of an LCC base which is something a lot of airports got years ago. Welcome to 2010 ZAG.
ReplyDeleteYes, but not many airports got presence of all other airlines that are operating in ZAG.
DeleteIts too early to talk about regional hub, Zagreb has positioned itself well for good growth in future, no doubt it'll become a major player in the region in not to distant future, but stories of regional hub is bit premature, Vienna is a regional hub, Munich is a regional hub, unless that man is referring to to ex-Yu. In that case that isn't going to work either, too much fragmentation regionally. Could Zagreb become busiest airport in ex-Yu, that is a possibility but won't happen over night if it does happen, right now Covid variant D is still a massive issue and not sure opening up fast is ideal in current situation, pandemic is a real threat to all.
DeleteIn my opinion, Zagreb only needs to improve one more peace of the puzzle (although there is not much they can do about it) and that is to have a strong national airline. If OU was to expand, offer good connections via ZAG, the airport would have everything. Strong LCC, strong national airline, long haul flights by a couple of renowned airlines, domestic network. What more could one need.
DeleteIs there any indication that OU might launch some new routes? Or respond in any way shape or form to Ryan?
DeleteDream baby dream, Skopje Airport on steroids without Croatia Airlines!
Delete@Anonymous14:35
DeleteIf you didn't notice we're still in pandemic and 4th wave is about to start, any traffic figures in 2020/2021 are irrelevant even 2022 might be irrelevant depends on how pandemic progresses. Once things go back to normal and everyone opens up you'll see real market value of various destinations. Zagreb by far is most popular travel destination in ex-Yu and with arrival of Ryan air that will be only reinforced.
To early to make any predictions or projections, clearly situation is quite fluid and with pandemic things will continue to be uncertain, if things go back to normal in 2023, pandemic is truly behind us, we can then start to talk about some return to normalcy and return of traffic and growth, till then we can only hope.
Anonymous13:15
DeleteWith Croatia Airlines gone, Zagreb is on mercy of foreign airlines that doesn't care about any Croatian or Zagreb interests except it's own profit margin. So much about Croatian interests and pride.
@Anonymous16:06
DeleteCroatian Airlines is a massive scam to many Croats ,they see it as an embarrassment, not a pride. As to foreign airlines, Croatia is in the EU now, has been for nearly a decade, Croatian or EU airlines are all the same, they're treated the same and have same rights. I'd love to see Lufthansa, Auistrian, Iberia, AF, KLM or whome ever set up a shop in Zagreb and replace Croatian Airlines, in fact I hope it happens, but as long as Croatian Airlines a HDZ political project is still here, there's little chance of that happening.
I would like to know what the region exactly entails? A lot of executives in the Balkans throw it around all the time but I don't get if it refers to Balkans, ex-Yu?
ReplyDeletein ex-Yu, "region" usually means ex-Yu and ex-Yu only.
DeleteIn order to become a hub, Croatia Airlines needs to grow in the Balkans. Year round flights to Athens, Pristina, flights to Tirana, Sofia, Podgorica, Tivat....
ReplyDeleteAnd more year long flights overall.
DeleteI might be wrong but OU seems to have reduced FRA. On LH.com there are two or three daily operated by OU. I thought they had five.
DeleteThere were never 5 daily FRA-ZAG by OU. It was 3 daily OU and 2 daily LH, as is the situation now that you referred. However there were, and I believe there still are 5 daily OU to FRA from Croatia on OU, with daily from SPU and from DBV
DeleteBoth SOF and TGD are now year-round destinations and bookable on FR's website or app.
DeleteYes but they will operate 2 times per week.
DeleteIt's a start :) better two than none.
DeleteIt's a genuine goal that most airports in the world strive to achieve.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I don´t understand anyone commenting on this.
DeleteCredit for attracting new airlines.
ReplyDeleteHow can Ryanair contribute to any airport becoming a hub? "Airline hubs or hub airports are used by one or more airlines to concentrate passenger traffic and flight operations at a given airport. They serve as transfer (or stop-over) points to get passengers to their final destination. It is part of the hub-and-spoke system"
ReplyDeleteEspecially since FR/W6 fly from most airports around them so it's not like they have to go to Zag to fly with them
DeleteAnon@9.07 - thank you for educating the spokesman for the airport who himself has no idea what it means to be a "hub" airport. LCC's are P2P - they do not connect traffic or provide transfers. They may grow ZAG into a humungus base, but a hub ? Nah ....
DeleteThey might want to have someone who knows a thing or two more about airport operations before they have him speak to the media
Actually it wasn't the spokesman that said it but a member of the airport's board.
DeleteWell, he was speaking on behalf of the airport - which in this instance, makes him the "spokesman". But your point only makes it worse - the fact that a member of the Board does not know the nuances of the airport business or infact, the difference between what impact an LCC and a legacy carrier have on an airport, says everything .... My suggestion is that they don;t ever have him speak to the media again
DeleteIf passenger arrives on Ryanair and continues travel on Croatia with a single ticket and without rechecking baggage - it's a hub. If many connections exists and a lot of passengers use it - it's a large hub. If not - it's just a busy airport.
DeleteThere is no possibility, not even in the wildest dream, to travel on single ticket and hold baggage checked to final destination on FR and OU. FR does not offer connections and single ticket even on all of its own flights, and for other airlines you can just dream about. So, once again, no, FR arrival will not make ZAG a hub no matter how much you or me want and wish for it
DeleteSingle ticket on FR-OU flight??? Thats something new...
DeleteBUD, OTP and soon SOF are far ahead of any ex-Yu airport and they do not claim to be "hubs" for any region.
ReplyDeleteBecause those airports isnt a hub for their regions?
DeleteAnd not to forget that their traffic is almost 100% O&D. If they were hubs those numbers would be multiplied by 2. That is why the passengers numbers of the hub airports are overrated.
Deleteevery ex-yu capital claims its a hub
ReplyDeleteI don't see a problem with the statement. It is logical that they will aim to become a hub if the concession runs till the 2040s.
DeleteGreat years ahead of Zagreb
ReplyDeletezagreb needs more routes in Eastern Europe
ReplyDeleteZagreb needs more routes all sides and all directions.
DeleteAchieving this goal depends squarely on Croatia Airlines and its development, not Ryan.
ReplyDeleteOU should have tried to promote ZAG as a transfer point and use its position to shuttle passengers from the region to western Europe, especially since they are a Star Alliance airline. Now it is too late. Ryan is purposely launching cities in the region to prevent Croatia Airlines from doing the same.
DeleteI don't know if this can be a successful strategy. People from the region already have nonstop flights to western Europe. You can get transfers from the region if you fly to somewhere where others don't.
DeleteOU gets good feed from Skopje flight to Heathrow even though there are flights from Skopje to London. So it does not mean that people won't fly if there is a direct route. It's about price as well.
DeleteI highly doubt Croatia Airlines flights to London are cheaper than Wizz Air's.
DeleteActually it's not about price in this case. Most using OU's Heathrow flights from the region continued on with United to the US which is codeshared by OU.
DeleteOU could've easily created a major hub in ZAG 10-15 years ago by connecting the wider Balkans with the European/Mediterranean region, similar to what JU or LO have done. In fact, the geographical position of ZAG made it perfect as a transfer stop between ex-YU and Western Europe.
DeleteThey had the advantage of a potential lower cost base vs. their EU rivals, they weren't yet as bound by the EU state funding rules, and LCCs were virtually absent from the region. In fact, OU could've done every single thing JU has done, but 10 years earlier, including launching long-haul flights.
Instead, they chose to become a LH Group puppet, joined the Star Alliance where they bring very little value instead of e.g. OneWorld which is desperately absent from the region, annihilated their cost base advantage by overbloating their workforce, and got a series of clueless politically-appointed executives.
OU and HDZ only have themselves to blame for the vultures that are circling over OU today.
Vlad ma man, +1000000000. Sign under every single word.
DeleteSeems that ZAG is on the right track but it should work on reducing seasonality and getting more airlines to fly year round.
ReplyDeleteZAG seems to be on the right track finally, that one I agree, but without synergy with OU, or the company which would take over potential functions of OU, they cannot do much to become hub. They can grow passengers numbers but not hub function. And to expect OU to do anything it had chances to do for 30 years, and especially last decade, and had missed every single chance and opportunity, is unreal.
DeleteRyanair is a really welcome addition to the airport. 25 new routes in a single year is huge, especially one like this. All but one destination are new and unserved which is also excellent.
ReplyDeleteAn info on how many passengers on the inaugural flight from/to Sofia?
ReplyDeleteGreat news. Good to see they ae planning for the future.
ReplyDeleteYou do not become a hub with 40 low cost routes. You need legacy carriers that can provide good connections. In order for Zagreb to become a hub, Croatia Airlines needs to expand and add a lot of new routes.
ReplyDeleteAgree. If it were OU launching these 25 new routes, then we could talk about regional hub status.
DeleteI really don't care about his hub mania. I'm happy we finally have LCC fares.
ReplyDeleteYou can become a regional hub when you have regional flights. 2 weekly Sofia and Podgorica won't cut it.
ReplyDeleteThe airport that is a true hub will never have its mouth full with this "oh look at me I'm a hub" mumbo jumbo crap. Because true hub is a hub it doesn't need introduction and hub bells, when you see a true hub you know its a hub. IST is a hub. FRA is a hub. BEG is close to be regional hub but its not a hub as IST is.
ReplyDeleteNeither ZAG nor BEG are hubs and are unlikely to become so in the near future. ZAG should keep focusing on developing a growing European network and be careful about allowing too much LCC traffic just yet. They can leave the large Adriatic seasonal traffic to LCCs. ZAG should work on getting some direct flights from East Asia (maybe even S.E. Asia), the market definitely exists (and this market heavily uses QR and TK to travel to Croatia).
Delete^ Is there a chance of JAL returning to Zagreb? They used to fly there a couple of years ago during the summer with charters.
DeleteThere was initiative by ex-president Mesic for scheduled service to Japan. There were even some official talks about it. With all tourists visiting Croatia and Slovenia the market definitely is there. Only Croatian export of fresh tuna fish to Japan, with current numbers, can fill cargo capacity of two weekly year round flights. The service is in my opinion highly likely to happen within the next two or three years, but would it be ZAG, DBV, LJU, as a destination, would it be JAL, ANA, or some third company as a carrier, remains open. And of course, providing covid scam drama is once over.
DeleteWhy is Mesic lobbying for it? Not that I'm complaining just wondering is there any connection between him and Japan. Would be nice to see those flights indeed.
DeleteI don't know his ties with Japan, but I know he was doing the same for Qatar and Kazakhstan flights. Qatar was obviously bingo, I expect other two to come to realisation as well.
DeleteGood to hear. Thanks. Hope he is successful with Japan too.
DeleteBEG is "close" to become regional hub? Close?
DeletePlease check again timetable for BEG and tell me that JU's 4 waves are not "hub and spoke"?
They leave to 6 destinations around midnight and return to BEG in a time for morning wave! If that is not HUB I do not know what it is!
How many P2P BEG has on JU flights to Krasnodar? Almost 0!
All, almost all are hub and spoke! And BEG is not a "regional hub"?
From all regional miseries, BEG is the only one that is slightly trying to play with "big boys". Yes, their hub is tiny, but it is there, it exists and it will just grow in the future
Technically speaking there is no hub in CEE + Balkans. Only true one is WAW - connected to various continents + transfer flights to the whole of Europe.
ReplyDeleteThere are two hubs in CEE: WAW and VIE. There is one more airport where another hub could be build if there is legacy hub&spoke carrier: BUD. All other airports in the Region might only become so called focus cities. They are just to small to sustain 3 daily services to min 50-60 European destinations + daily to the most important American and Asian cities operated by home legacy carrier of size minimum same as LOT or Austrian.
DeleteATH not in the Balkans?
DeleteLol, regional hub, riiiight….
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be quite a year in 2022 seeing the effects of Ryanair on traffic.
ReplyDeleteThere are still a few airline I could see flying to ZAG. TAROM would be a nice addition.
ReplyDeleteTAROM is worse than OU ! if it is flights from Romania that you want, then you need Blue Air ....
DeleteFinnair would be a nice addition, especially since OU has stopped flying to Helsinki and they could get some transfers from Asia (once Covid calms down).
DeleteVery good news for Zagreb
ReplyDeleteWith Ryan here they will have a very good selection of airlines and destinations.
ReplyDeletethey will have to think of a new expansion soon.
DeleteExpansion is planned when airport reached 5 million capacity per year. That will take some time.
DeleteWhat is planned when they reach 5 million in terms of expansion?
DeleteWhich one is the next phase?
DeleteWe will see if they are successful or not in their ambition.
ReplyDeleteI don't see ZAG becoming a regional hub anytime soon but it is great news that the airport will have the most destinations ever. Credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Ryanair will have more routes/destinations then Croatia Airlines.
DeleteWhen you barely open any new routes in the last 10 years and the one you open are all seasonal, what do you expect?
DeleteLooking at the comments section, it is certain that ZAG is on the right track ;)
ReplyDeleteI think the comments are very civil. I remember 2-3 years ago when another airport in the region said they want to be a regional hub what the comments section looked like.
DeleteHow many passengers could Zagreb Airport have this year?
ReplyDeleteMy guess 1.9 million
DeleteI think that is a bit optimistic.
DeleteWaiting for the July result first, then it will easier to make a guesstimate
Delete147.000 ZAG in July
DeleteA hub in the Balkans is not the same as a hub in say the US or Western Europe. Zagreb always was a hub for Croatian Airlines and now it will be for Ryan Air. While that is good news for tourists and locals and brings welcome reduced air fares due to the arrival of Ryan, it is highly unlikely that Zagreb will become a busy airport with a million passengers a month.
ReplyDeleteYou dont know ahat a hub is.
DeleteIf Croatia Airlines responds to FR with an expansion I could see Zagreb becoming a very good hub with connecting flights, low cost flights and long haul flights.
ReplyDeleteYes, the airport has real potential to boom if Croatia Airlines got its act together.
Deletewow so many new routes to Zagreb, and not just by Ryanair. Great news.
ReplyDeleteWell it is already hub for Slovenian passengers.
ReplyDeleteWasn't SKP aiming to become a regional hub before Corona?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/08/macedonian-airports-with-regional-hub.html
Well everyone can dream :D
DeleteSeems like everyone wants to be a regional hub
DeleteThere is only one hub in ex-yu and it is BEG.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
DeleteDoes anyone in ZAG know what was the LF on today's first FR flight to SOF was? It was operated by an A320. Nothing on ZAG Facebook's profile so far.
ReplyDeleteI checked few days ago prices for that flight and they were pretty low.
DeleteSo, I would say the plane was far from being full.
While this management has finally broken the OU state protectionism and even that was probably made possible only due to covid, ZAG simply does not function according to the hub model. Only if the OU responds properly which it will have to if it is to survive, that could become the case.
ReplyDeleteThus far the only airport in ex yu that's been operating as a hub, has been BEG and even they have a hard time becoming a regional hub due to other ex yu destinations being well connected to proper European hubs.