Croatia Airlines is considering expanding its flight offering on the Macedonian market following this week’s talks with the operator of the country’s airports TAV Macedonia, as well as the Macedonian Chamber for Tourism, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and the Croatian National Tourist Board. The carrier’s CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said, “If there is interest from Macedonian tour operators and partners, we are ready to expand our cooperation onto routes other than Zagreb and Skopje, like perhaps Ohrid and Split”. Mr Bajić also noted that talks with Slovenian authorities could result in better connectivity between Skopje and Ljubljana as well.
TAV Macedonia’s Marketing and Revenue Manager, as well as the President of the Macedonian Chamber of Tourism, Vladimir Gramatikov, noted that talks with their Croatian counterparts began several months ago with the aim of improving connectivity between the two countries. “Road connectivity is not satisfactory, which is why new airline routes would be a big step forward. I believe flights between Ohrid and Split would be of interest to tourists, so they could visit both countries within a few days in one go”. Based on OAG data, over 3.000 passengers flew indirectly between Skopje and Split in the pre-pandemic 2019. The route was briefly served by Croatia Airlines in 2015 but was ultimately cancelled.
Croatia Airlines had a strong presence in Skopje up until the coronavirus pandemic and was the dominant carrier from the former Yugoslavia serving the Macedonian market. Contributing to its high passenger count and growth was capacity, a consistent product and Star Alliance membership. The carrier handled 74.590 passengers between Zagreb and Skopje in 2019, operating a total of 996 flights (both directions included). It deployed all aircraft types in its fleet on the route, including the Airbus A319 and A320, the Dash 8 turboprop and the Mitsubishi CRJ1000 jet, which it was wet-leasing at the time.
Zagreb - Skopje - Zagreb passenger performance
The Croatian carrier sees a notable number of transfer traffic on the route, primarily to and from destinations such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels and Zurich. Its Star Alliance membership also provides benefits for passengers connecting through Zagreb onto Germany for long haul flights. It is the Star Alliance membership that also saw a number of travellers migrate from Adria to Croatia Airlines following the Slovenian carrier’s collapse in late 2019. Passenger volumes decreased significantly in 2020 due to the pandemic, as well as Skopje Airport’s subsequent closure for commercial traffic and an entry ban into the European Union for the majority of Macedonian nationals. The airline was later forced to temporarily suspend operations to the Macedonian capital in the winter of 2020/2021 due to low demand, however, it remained a popular choice for transfer passengers once operations were restored this spring. The carrier currently plans on operating between two and three weekly flights between the two capital cities for the majority of the winter season, which begins on October 31, with all aircraft types in its fleet to be deployed.
Seasonal Split-Ohrid sounds reasonable
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI think the only plane that could make it work is a regional one like Q400.
DeleteSeens like OU is trying to play a bigger role in the region.
ReplyDeleteThey announced a few months back that they will focus on regional connectivity in order to offer better connections via Zagreb. And although I think OU lost many opportunities, this is their best way to remain in the game with Ryanair taking away so many P2P pax from them in Zagreb.
DeleteIf Ryanair takes away so many P2P pax, what will OU have left to offer other transfer passengers?
DeleteGood connections
DeleteTo where, what will be left?
DeleteKroatovanje.
ReplyDeleteThey held several talks with Slovenes and nothing happened.
They made the same statement about Podgorica and Montenegro and what happened? Nothing.
Then they turned around and made same statements following meetings with Albanians regarding Tirana flights. *drum rolls* nothing happened in the end.
OU is all about talking about making plans but never actually going through with them. Luckily their time is running out as FR tightens the noose around their neck. I honestly don't know how they will survive the winter.
typical Balkan economy, so much blah blah. Negotiations are not to be conducted in public. when the plan is official and signed, it is announced to the public. everything else is pointless and seen a thousand times. Like iz did Ryanair in Zagreb
DeleteExactly plus it's tragic that they are saying how they plan an expansion, they are negotiating and then they say that these plans will happen if there is interest. Like seriously? You have been flying to SKP for years and you don't know if there is room for expansions? Aren't they in touch with people there?
DeleteAll this sounds extremely chaotic. Like a ship without a captain.
Baš tako, strašno i već viđeno. Next Ryanair Route Zagreb Skopje ;-)
DeleteGreat news for both sides
ReplyDeleteFR will announce a new round of destinations, watch them add SKP.
ReplyDeleteThey should absolutely do this and then completely box them off by flying to the same destinations as OU just to speed up their demise. Otherwise, it is just painful reading these announcements every few days about what they will/shall/might do, when they had so many years and so much govt money to do something ...
DeleteFR, pls just get it over and done with !
Doubt it.
Deleteunfortunately not because they only get incentives for unserved routes. I'd love FR to start SKP
DeleteThere was an OHD-LJU line back in the late 90's and early 00' by Adria and that was I guess the only opportunity for real connecting to other destination.But I'm not sure if OU will handle the same type of services or price.Adria was also flying Dubrovnik - Ohrid too in YU times, with Dutch tourists mostly I think - and with packages for both towns..
ReplyDeleteSeems like Macedonians are suggesting the latter only from Split with packages to both cities.
DeleteTragic, they are not doing themselves any favours with such statements. We have to wait and see what happens in the future.
ReplyDeleteSo far FR has not affected them on any route, not even FCO. They might not be that easy to beat actually
Why all the negativity from commentators?
ReplyDeleteBecause they're being realistic. Since when did this market suddenly become important. Do you think FR could've missed SKP or OHD?
DeleteI wouldn't say it wasn't an important market for them. As you can see, their passenger numbers have been improving year after year, by respectable amounts, so they were obviously doing something right. Probably now that Ryanair is in the picture in Zagreb they are looking to strengthen what they can. They did say they would focus more on the region anyway.
DeleteI don't see Ryanair starting a route like that. They were chased out of Skopje because of deals made between the government and Wizz Air (same as what Tuzla did) and we saw then that Ryanair said that as "punishment" they wouldn't fly to Tuzla for at least 3 years. So I don't think they are in a hurry to start Skopje.
Ryanair underestimated SKP big time. Wizz has 5 aircrafts there now can you imagine
DeleteSPU-OHD was cancelled in the past because Croatia Airlines sold tickets for over 300 euros! No wonder they managed just two flights.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember which year these operated?
Delete2015
DeleteYes, that was a big fail unfortunately but didn't need to be. It was OU's fault.
DeleteToo expensive and they put tickets on sale late. It was actually cheaper to fly to SPU from SKP via ZAG on OU as well.
Deletethat was SPU - SKP not OHD. they got a free overnght at Skopje airpor. it was a late night/early morming flight with crazy fares as someone previously wrote
DeleteZAG-SKP-LJU-SKP-ZAG would be prefect. With Dash 8
ReplyDeleteYes, hope it happens.
DeleteThis is a route Wizz Air could actually do well with, even with the A320. Don't know why they haven't started it.
DeleteWhy doesn't Wizz star Ohrid-Split seasonal?
ReplyDeleteThey would first need to get subsidies for it.
DeleteA320 too big for this route.
DeleteAs far as I'm aware, Wizz only opens year-round routes from Macedonia because that is part of the tender agreement for new routes.
DeleteWell they could try and open something without getting money for it after 10 years of operating at Skopje.
Deletewell they just did last week ( if you have missed it or are only trolling) and not for the first time
DeleteOU finally waking up.
ReplyDeleteToo little too late.
DeleteNice to see consistent passenger growth on OU's SKP route. How did they achieve that?
ReplyDeleteIt says in the article:
Delete"Contributing to its high passenger count and growth was capacity, a consistent product and Star Alliance membership. The Croatian carrier sees a notable number of transfer traffic on the route, primarily to and from destinations such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels and Zurich. Its Star Alliance membership also provides benefits for passengers connecting through Zagreb onto Germany for long haul flights. It is the Star Alliance membership that also saw a number of travellers migrate from Adria to Croatia Airlines following the Slovenian carrier’s collapse in late 2019."
in 2018 they started 12-13 weekly flights , (with competitive fares ) which made booking connection flights possible (i mean with acceptable transfer times)
Deletein the same time number of croatian tourist in MK increased for 40%
Could make sense. ZG-Sk and splt - ohrid could work well. Smart way to test at least and see loads.
ReplyDeleteIt seems OU is just waking up from a deep sleep but it is still in the phase of opening its eyes and doing nothing concrete, just thinking about what it is supposed to do.
ReplyDeleteBut that's the thing they are not really waking up. They said they will do something about this if there is interest. In other words they will launch flights if others make sure sales work and passengers book flights. In other words beyond scheduling flights, OU won't do anything.
DeleteA few years Croatia Airlines wanted to open a base in Skopje.
ReplyDeleteit took 20 years and so for OU to realize that with double daily flighta to SKP they would have better results on this route
ReplyDeletenice plan but we need action
ReplyDeleteSeriously pathetic....it's like putting your finger in the dam...... however in this particular scenario...the dam is Ryanair and your books have been in the red for over a decade. Seriously stop the financial hemmorhage and admit your ineptitude and failure. Croatian taxpayers deserve better for once.
ReplyDeletePanic is settling in. Perhaps they should explore ACMI model.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, Trade Air is doing much better than Croatia Airlines.
Please don't mention Trade Air and Croatia Airlines in the same sentance.... Trade Air is such a well run and managed company, that to even use the 2 in the same sentance is offensive to the team at Trade Air.
DeleteThey are proof as to what aviation talent there is in the private sector in Croatia. These guys are the true pride of Croatian aviation.
The only thing OU "eyes" is bankruptcy and liquidation.... Wizz will tear a new one into them if they come even remotely close to N. Macedonia. End of story.
ReplyDelete