Ryanair to base two more jets in Zagreb next summer


Low cost carrier Ryanair has revealed new expansion plans for its Zagreb base with the airline planning to station a further two aircraft, for a total of five, in the Croatian capital during the summer of 2022. Talks are currently underway with the airport's management over the matter. The company’s group CEO, Michael O'Leary, made the announcement at a press conference in the Croatian capital today, adding the airline is fuelling Zagreb’s recovery in the tourism sector. The carrier currently has two Lauda Europe A320 aircraft stationed in the city, with some routes still operated by out-of-base aircraft. From December 1, Ryanair will add a third jet in Zagreb. The low cost airline has moved quickly to expand from the Croatian capital since launching operations to the city in June. It will have 24 routes and 124 weekly movements to and from Zagreb by the end of the year.

The additional jet will result in new routes being added, however, Mr O’Leary did not wish to outline which ones they could be. “We are not focusing on routes covered by Croatia Airlines but those that are not served from Zagreb. The airport should be handling 3.5 million passengers next year, six million in 2023 and over seven million travellers in 2024. We plan on carrying over ten million passengers in cooperation with Zagreb Airport over the next five to six years”, Mr O’Leary said. For the most part, Ryanair has introduced busy unserved routes out of the Croatian capital, as well as airports which serve regions with a high volume of indirect traffic from Zagreb. However, it has not shied away from adding longer rotations, such as Dublin and Malta, or destinations relying primarily on leisure traffic, such as Malaga and Paphos. Ryanair bases that remain unserved from Zagreb but have a high volume of indirect traffic include Porto, Riga (base opening October 31), Vilnius, Bologna, Krakow and Stockholm (base opening October 31), all of which could be potentially added to its network as it targets eventually having up to ten jets stationed in the Croatian capital.

Mr O’Leary criticised Croatia Airlines’ slow development out of Zagreb. While he conceded that the national carrier provides good connections out of the capital, he noted that these were not enough to satisfy existing demand. The airline group’s chief noted, “In the next six months, Ryanair will have added 24 routes out of Zagreb, while Croatia Airlines has introduced three in the past three years and been the beneficiary of twelve million euros in state aid. We, on the other hand, receive no subsidies from the government. Croatia Airlines is a distinguished carrier but it has lost touch with the development of air travel in Croatia, particularly from Zagreb. We do not see them as a competitor because even on the routes we both operate on, we fly to different airports. Ryanair will change travel habits in Zagreb and encourage locals to travel more by air”.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    I think all of those routes could work

    " Ryanair bases that remain unserved from Zagreb but have a high volume of indirect traffic include Manchester, Porto, Riga (base opening October 31), Vilnius, Bologna, Krakow and Stockholm (base opening October 31)"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:23

      I think out of those we may see Manchester, Porto, Riga, Krakow and Stockholm. Plus Berlin.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      Manchester is starting from December, it was already announced in the last expansion!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:53

      So that's what 4 - 5 planes stationed @Zagreb base ? 5x4x7= 140 flights per week, x 52 = 7280 x ~120 pax = ~870 000/1.75 million pax by Ryan Air alone potentially in 2023. OU at its best year's performance had 1.61 million pax out of Zagreb. By 2025 if things go back to normal, Copvid is dealt with across the globe, Zagreb could potentially hit 5 million pax.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:57

      So that makes what 4-5 Aicraft stationed in Zagreb base? 5 aicraft = 5x4x7= 140 flights per week, x 120 pax x 52= ~870 000 pax per year x 2 =~1.75 million per year, that would be phenomenal growth if achived in 2023. Covid will still play havoc in 2022 so I can't see things going back to normal till 2023.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    I really wonder what Croatia Airlines will do next summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:53

      Let's hope they survive the winter.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:56

      Unfortunately, in the middle of the pandemic, I'm not sure OU has the strength to compete against Ryanair in any way.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:59

      Pandemic or no pandemic, they wouldn't have the strength to compete.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:04

      It's their own fault. They literally had no competition from LCCs in Zagreb for years (Eurowings is their stepmother's child so I don't include them). They have been sleeping this entire time. Offering Rome via Dubrovnik/Split for almost 30 years, very slow in opening new routes and those that have opened are all seasonal. Little to no reaction to Adria going bankrupt. They just do nothing and wait for government support when it becomes tough.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:06

      Ryanair has entered other markets with weak national carriers and all have survived. I think the same will be the case here.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Congratulations to Zagreb. The speed at which FR has been expanding is incredible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:53

      True, I don't think any airline has added so many routes in such a small time from any other ex-Yu city.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous04:31

      Congratulations? Hardly. Flights on a poor quality airline to inconvenient secondary airports. What Croatia needs is a strong alliance carrier with worldwide connections. Zagreb hardly benefits from hoards of low class tourists coming into town for drunken weekends.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:09

      Really? Am I low class for flying with Ryanair? If nothing, it adds convenience and affordability to a wider population and being the one who loves to fly without breaking the bank I think that's a great thing we have Ryr! And I don't think they're poor quality, just no perks, which I don't need anyway. I need a reliable carrier who will get me from A to B in time. And so far the punctuality of Ryr in ZAG is pretty good.

      Delete
    4. Of course Ryanair is poor quality airline, they don't use butter for maintenance purposes like "strong alliance carriers with worldwide connections", or translated to normal language, insignificant minor servant feeder with outdated fleet and ridiculously tiny network, full of crime, corruption, nepotism, ignorance, incompetence and political influence

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Can't wait to here what O'Leary will announce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      Nothing. Like they have done nothing since Ryanair came.

      Delete
    2. And this was exactly what happened. Tresla se brda, rodio se O’Leary.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:06

    I'm most interested to see if they will add another regional route and which one could it be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      If they do, I think it will be Bucharest.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      Or maybe Budapest. It hasn't been served since QR started flying nonstop from Doha.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:13

      Isn't BUD really close for a B737 flight?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:13

      Or A320 if it is Lauda

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:21

      What equipment did Malev use on the route before it went bankrupt?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:34

      By the end they operated 2, 3 daily flights using that E120 from some private operator. Before that they sent the F70 and then Q400.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:00

      Thanks

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:00

      How are their routes like Podgorica and Sofia performing?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:02

      Sofia is operating once per week in November.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:17

      It's for operational reasons, they're switching from Sofia based aircraft to Zagreb based. It's back to 2 weekly when the third airbus arrives.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:31

      inaugural flight SOF-ZAG in Auguat had only 57%LF (less in other direction) according the guy from simple flying who was on board

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:53

      09:34 Back in 2003 I flew ZAG - BUD on MA operated by Carpatair E120.

      Delete
    13. Carpatair E120? Carpatair never had E120 in fleet. They had Saab 2000 ("Concordino"), ATR, Fokker 70/100 and 737. Also as far as I remember, Carpatair never flew for MA on BUD-ZAG. Very short period of time, in the beginning of the service, E120 was used but BAS (Budapest Air Service) equipment, switched soon after to MA Q400 /CRJ/F70 types

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:10

    Poor OU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      They have no one else to blame but themselves.

      Delete
    2. True that, their prices have skyrocketed... a one-way ticket from SKP-ZAG is like $100 usd! Hopefully in the coming years FR can open a base in SKP or OHD...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:52

      One would think they would do the opposite and reduce fares.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:54

      They have reduced them on competing routes on competing days.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:14

    I would love to see more of those exotic routes launched :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      The most exotic routes they could add are Amman and Marrakesh.

      Delete
    3. Can you do Marrakesh from Zagreb with a B737 non-stop? I think it is too far.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:37

      Without a problem. It's just a 3 and a half hour flight.

      Delete
    5. Is it only 3.5h? I doubt that.

      Delete
    6. Yes, it's 3,5, maximum 4 hours with very strong head winds

      Delete
    7. Btw Transavia operates 737 - 800 nonstop AMS to Sal, Caboverde, about 6 hours. ZAG to Marakesh is almost double shorter

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:24

      Beirut maybe?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:27

      FR doesn't fly there

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:23

    It should be a good day for people in Croatia and close neighbors.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:40

    Could O'Leary announce more than just new routes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      Like what?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:44

      Establishing Air Croatia :D

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:52

      Why would they do that?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:05

      It is possible that he doesn't announce anything and just promotes the Zagreb base and operations from Zadar.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:12

      The conference is set in a hotel in the city and not at the airport. I think it's not just about Zagreb and that there will be more announcements about their expansion in Croatia. They are coming back to Rijeka and some new routes to Zadar could be announced.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:33

      I doubt O'Leary himself is coming just to promote existing network.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:40

      Well, we will know soon enough.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:04

    ZAG management has obviously turned their back on OU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      They gave them five years to do something.

      Delete
    2. And before that they had 25 years to do something as well. And all they did was kissing LH ass. Whatever comes now, comes fully deserved

      Delete
    3. Tav is the best in my opinion...

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:10

    I remember when some here were saying that ZAG does not need ultra LCCs and that the general travel public will never fly these airlines from Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      Ja Ja and also the villages that Wizz is flying from other exyu airports :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:01

      What I find unfortunate is that several major LCCs used to fly to Zagreb but not anymore. Hope they come back.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:03

      I don't think they'll be needed with Ryanair around.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:04

      True. Ryanair beat them to it.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:20

    Have they opened routes on which they directly compete with OU? I know they get incentives for unserved routes and Ryan being Ryan this is what they are after.

    (you can see i root for a SKP connection :D :D but i think its not happening)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      The only one they are directly competing on so far is Dublin. And London to some extend but it is a different airport.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:54

      The incentives are for airports not cities so they can fly to STN and CIA but not to LHR and FCO for example.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:26

    Nice to see them coming back to Rijeka.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And let's hope they at least reintroduce FRA /HHN, STN, and NYO/ARN, which they had before. Although Spain, France, Ukraine and Poland (with 3 weekly LO exception) are missing big time from/to RJK . More UK as well, CIA/FCO too, list could be with at least 10 cities

      Delete
  14. Anonymous11:02

    I don't see OU surviving until summer 2022.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:38

      It will survive thanks to the government. But even the government now seems to be in urgency to offload them. Hence, trying to renew talks with Aegean.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous11:03

    Do you think that they will launch SKP or OHD flights? Is there demand for O&D traffic?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:19

      its not a question of demand but more about not getting incentives (in the case of SKP). As long as there are unserved airports left we will have to wait. unfortunately. exyu wrote about 75k pax between ZAG and SKP of which probably half might be transfers but stil huge.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous11:49

    How does O'Leary get to Zagreb? Does he take a regular Ryanair flight?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:57

      Ryanair has 1 B737-700 in special configuration that is used by Ryanair management.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:58

      EI-SEV is its registration.

      Delete
    3. even this one is leased :D

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:16

      Planespotters dot net don't mention it being leased.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous12:30

    MOL just announced the Winter 21/22 Schedule for Poland in Warsaw and is now on its Way to Zagreb with one of Ryanair's Learjet (M-ABGV).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:35

      Did he announce anything new?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:52

      No. All new Routes mentioned in the Press Release have already been announced in the past weeks/months.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:54

      I don't think they will announce anything new for Croatia today either. Although it's nice to see them coming back to Rijeka.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:00

      An 12:54, so why is he coming to Zagreb? To get sam strukli?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14:22

      Seems like it

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:57

      He announced 4th base aircraft, although we could mostly predict that.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:16

      Yeah but now we know they will start the routes that were not operated before so no ARN, BER, and such.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous15:17

      From where did you get that they won't launch ARN and BER in the future?

      Delete
  18. Anonymous14:57

    He is not wrong about Croatia Airlines

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous15:08

    5 aircraft... RIP OU.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous15:13

    This will be the nail in the coffin for OU.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous15:13

    wow so 5 more planes. That means possible 16 new routes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:18

      Well that makes forty as they have announced in the first place.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous15:14

    I hope ZAG will reopen the old terminal as the LCC terminal in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:16

      I doubt it since they let RYR use the new terminal. Plus the old terminal is in pretty bad shape inside now. They would have to invest a lot of money. And if there is something we have learned from ZAG management since the new terminal was completed is that they do not wish to invest much in facilities.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:42

      Maybe OU could move there...

      Delete
    3. Old terminal was generally refurbished one year before new one was opened. I doubt it's in such a bad shape. It probably needs some cosmetics, but it suits perfectly to FR ops. And maybe it will not be used yet, with 4 or 5 planes, but if FR really grows to 10 units in ZAG, and if covid scam drama ever allows us to get back to normal and incresse the legacies volume on the new terminal, I still believe old one will be used by FR in couple of years

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:26

      "covid scam drama" Always through in some of your political views. Tell that to the millions dead.

      Delete
    5. Yes, millions dead. Otherwise people normally don't die, they live forever. Guy gets hit by bus, killed by bus, in the mortuary they test him positive for covid and announce died of covid. Or last year, last winter season, ZERO flu cases in Croatia, official data, and thousands of "covid". Give me a break, please, I am vaccinated because I have to travel for work, I am not denying virus exists, but everything around it is scam and is drama. It is no politics, it is using your head for making conclusions instead using your ears only for listening to New World Order PR. Sorry if it bothers you but it is my opinion and I have every right to go with it publicly

      Delete
    6. Anonymous17:56

      But not on an a aviation forum, no one cares.

      Delete
    7. Well, if someone takes out of the post where I comment aviation, 3 words spoken by the way, then he or she obviously cares.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous19:27

      You have mentioned it many times in passing. you know it is inappropriate and yet you persist.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous15:44

    We plan on carrying over ten million passengers in cooperation with Zagreb Airport over the next five to six years”, Mr O’Leary said

    They will need a lot more than just 5 planes for that. Ryan will have to run domestic routes, add many new routes and compete with Croatia Airlines on busy existing routes to get to 10M. It also means end of OU in 5-6 years or less.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:11

      Ryan will become the new national airline of Croatia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:14

      They always use such words about their plans. Quite few of them actually happen.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:02

      Now that I am informed by statistic on Ryanair plans failure rate, I can rest assured OU will have a bright future. Order A220, kick back and relax. Ryanair might fail to get to 10 million. If they get to just 7 million that would count as Ryanair failure, right?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:02

      10 million pax.... How many planes would they need to cover that?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous20:04

      He means 10 million total in 5-6 years. Not 10 million per year.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous15:49

    Is LJU still unfazed by Ryanair's expansion in ZAG? :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous17:38

    If OU gets their hands on the a220s they really need to focus on newer routes and cost, I'm sure they will survive winter no problem

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:05

      A different plane type won't change the chronic problems at OU, starting with their management.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:17

      And paying a ton of money in leases every month won't help either.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:16

      Game Over OU! Next AirSebia…

      Delete
  26. It would be nice if wizzair launches a base in LJU to compete with ryanair

    ReplyDelete
  27. Slavonija14:45

    And continue to ignore London to Osijek, despite every plane being completely full when they used to run that route. Full of HR, SRB & H passengers.

    ReplyDelete
  28. RYR “math”: “We’re investing 500 mil EUR in our operation in ZAG” means that they’re gonna base 5 aircraft worth 100 mil EUR each. You all know 1. Each airplane costs far less than 100 mil; 2. In reality they are investing ZERO EUR. The truth is that Lauda pilots working on sub-par contracts are driving this operation because they’re the cheapest of all 5 AOCs within the RYR group.

    ReplyDelete
  29. RYR “math”: “We’re investing 500 mil EUR in our operation in ZAG” means that they’re gonna base 5 aircraft worth 100 mil EUR each. You all know 1. Each airplane costs far less than 100 mil; 2. In reality they are investing ZERO EUR. The truth is that Lauda pilots working on sub-par contracts are driving this operation because they’re the cheapest of all 5 AOCs within the RYR group.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.