Watchdog clears Zagreb Airport of Ryanair favouritism


The Croatian Competition Agency has found, following a thorough investigation, that Zagreb Airport did not distort the market or put Ryanair in a privileged position compared to other carriers through its incentive program which resulted in the low cost airline basing three aircraft in the city and launching 24 routes. The growth incentive model, introduced at the end of last year, encourages airlines to commence unserved routes, however, Croatia Airlines has argued it was not offered similar conditions when it was adding new destinations to its Zagreb network prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Competition Agency concluded, “The determined discount system used by Zagreb Airport in this model of the incentive scheme has a standardised threshold that applies equally to all interested airlines and as such does not result in the unequal position of airlines, since the discount mechanism is not flexible and is not applied to carriers on an individual basis”.

Zagreb Airport previously noted, “The traffic growth incentive model is designed to reduce the cannibalisation of existing routes (and airlines operating on these routes), while providing maximum market flexibility and ensuring increased traffic in Zagreb. Zagreb Airport is subject to strict regulations defined by the European Commission and the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency. All incentive programs implemented by the incentive model are transparent and non-discriminatory and can be used by all airlines under equal conditions”. Ryanair Group CEO, Michael O'Leary, said, “We are not focusing on routes covered by Croatia Airlines but those that are not served from Zagreb. We plan on carrying over ten million passengers in cooperation with Zagreb Airport over the next five to six years. 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 has three aircraft based in the Croatian capital and its winter destination network is double that of Croatia Airlines, although it still operates significantly fewer flights and offers less capacity.

On the other hand, Croatia Airlines believes it is not being treated equally by its main hub. It previously said, “Competing with a significant number of large carriers has been the reality of the market since Croatia Airlines’ foundation and there is nothing problematic in that regard. However, it is unacceptable that the national carrier is financing the arrival of new carriers on the market”. The company noted that were it offered the same conditions as the low cost giant, its fees at Zagreb Airport would have been reduced by 17.8 million euros in 2019, which would have seen the airline post a profit instead of a loss that year. It added, “We appreciate Zagreb Airport’s efforts in securing new flights, however, this should only be done on the basis of impartiality and the same terms should be offered to all companies without favouritism. At the same time, we expect for Zagreb Airport to meet the needs of Croatia Airlines in the same way and that conditions will be harmonised with those offered to Ryanair, taking into account the number of routes we operate, and passengers carried. Failure to secure the same incentives for Croatia Airlines, or even greater discounts, seriously endangers equal conditions for all and purposely causes damage to the national carrier, which is majority owned by the Republic of Croatia”.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    It's completely ludicrous what Croatia Airlines was implying. They can't calculate incentives retroactively for routes launched years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Especially since they still haven't resumed any of those routes launched in the last 5 years.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:16

      And they can get incentives too if they actually launched some new routes.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:26

      Interestingly, Croatia Airlines couldn't benefit these incentives even if Zagreb Airport accepts to apply it retroactively, and even to the existing routes. There is no single year Croatia Airlines managed to grow more than 150.000 passengers (arrival and departure) since the airport is under the concession, which is the main criteria for the incentives.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:28

      If that is one of the criteria that it definitely is geared towards LCCs.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:57

      Well the whole point was to attract an LCC. There is no other way for them to come other than through hefty discounts.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    I really see no issue in the incentive program. Croatia Airlines just can't deal with the extra competition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      Well at least they didn't suspend ten routes over the next month just months after launching them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:38

      They did. And not on period for 2 weeks but forever. Tel Aviv, Lisbon, Prague, Milan, Helsinki, Bucharest, Oslo, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg.

      Delete
    3. And before that, long ago, they also suspended Moscow, Istanbul, Madrid, Budapest, Bratislava, Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Manchester, Tirana. Most of these are lucrative, profitable, good load and good yield services, but hey, how else LH would be fed.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:43

      At least BCN is coming back

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/12/croatia-airlines-to-restore-barcelona.html

      Delete
    5. BCN might be back, but not for long, for sure. After OU reopening BCN, FR will go for either Girona or Reus in the next round,and probably make them withdraw. In my opinion it would be wiser if they went for MAD, where there is single airport and no incentives for FR, and with IB having much more expensive tickets than FR. But BCG probably knows better...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    Why didn't the airport launch these discounts earlier?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      Because their revenue was good, which is obviously not the case anymore because of corona.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    I don't understand that OU didn't see this coming. I mean in general, it must have known that some LCC would sooner or later start flights or base a plane.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    I would hope this incentive program results in attracting more new airlines and not just Ryanair. Has any new airline announced flights to ZAG other than the Russian vaccine flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:49

      I think EW did but terminated the plans due to weak bookings. I think Berlin was one of them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:59

      Finnair is a new arrival.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:08

    Now we await to see how EU commission will rule on Ryanair complaint about state aid to OU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:51

      The one negative side for Croatia Airlines is that if it gets any more aid, Ryanair will be quick to reports them to the EU, as they have been doing with many airlines recently.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    Still waiting for traffic to boom with Ryanair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      FR will be flying to almost 40 destinations in the summer from ZAG!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:26

      Traffic boom will be felt next year.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:48

      Google "Covid-19 pandemic"

      Delete

    4. Yesterday 5.958 new cases.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:09

    What I find unfortunate is that both easy jet and Wizz Air used to fly to Zagreb but not anymore. Hope they come back with these incentives.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:10

    I wonder at what cost Ryanair came. Not just for Croatia Airlines but for the airport too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:12

    Laudamotion (ie Ryanair) wanted to open a base in Zagreb 2 years ago. Croatia Airlines lobbied and blocked them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:13

    Croatia Airlines really should start working on a market response to Ryanair. Even though 6 months have already passed since FR launched flights to Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      Too early to respond

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:56

      Didn't they first say they would adapt to market conditions?

      Delete
    3. Don't worry, BCG is preparing strategy LOL

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:13

    Seems like a smart programme.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:14

    Well great news for Zagreb. Who cares what OU thinks.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:14

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This time I agree. Some 20 years late, but better late than never

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:15

    Well Croatia Airlines is right. Why should Ryanair get better terms than Croatia Airlines which has been flying from there for over 25 years and even flew during the pandemic when many airlines grounded all their planes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      OU has same terms if it launched new routes. But you can't apply this policy to routes in the past. Then every airline flying to Zagreb could ask for them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      Ryanair got better terms only for opening new routes this year.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:21

      They can open new routes and get incentives for them, just like FR did.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:21

      So you consider Sandefjord and Charleroi new routes?

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:21

    Every time some LCC comes to Zagreb they launch exactly the same campaign. Glad the competition agency stepped in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      Yes I remember they did the same when easyJet launched flights. Lucky for them they left.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:31

      In fact it was Croatia Airlines which triggered this investigation by publicly blaming a private company doing illegal business. I wonder if the airport brought this issue to the court.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:25

    I love how in the end they mention they are owned by the government :D just to remind ZAG who they are messing with.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:26

    Cry me a river Croatia Airlines

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:34

    And what exactly are they going to do if ZAG does not give them the same conditions, which I doubt they will? Nothing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:43

      Oh their majority owner can do plenty. There is a reason they mentioned them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:47

      They can't do anything after this investigation by the competition agency.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous09:43

    I believe that major airports like ZAG should support their national airlines and give them more favorable terms and conditions than to foreign/low cost carriers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      Why?

      Delete
    2. So they could do next to nothing for years to come.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:47

    I'm glad Zagreb finally has a proactive management that has identified clearly what they have to do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:20

      I wonder would they have gone down this path was there no corona.

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    2. Anonymous16:56

      Probably not

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:57

      ZAIC finally applied pressure on OU management, which was a logical and expected move.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:16

      Is this the work of the French or tactics changes when TAV took on a greater role?

      Delete
  22. Anonymous09:55

    Croatia Airlines will not fail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:56

      Well they failed with their attempt to accuse the airport of playing favorites.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous09:55

    Basically OU is crying and screaming but on the other hand willing to do nothing for Zag.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      They only provide them with over 50% of passengers.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous09:57

    As far as I can see, ZAG has published its incentive program on its web page and Croatia Airlines is free to apply for it too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:59

    In my opinion, if Wizz opens a base in Zagreb, it will not be so difficult. For example, Sofia has Wizz (34 destinations), Ryanair (38), Bulgaria Air (25), that's a lot, but FB is still alive!
    OU has a good network in my opinion!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous10:00

    Why do they complain?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:01

      Because it is easier to complain, than to actually do something.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous10:01

    Time to quit complaining. I don't know a EU airline that has been so well protected at their main base for so long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:43

      Many have

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:00

      Such as?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:49

      Why OU didn't make the most of it of having little LCC competition at its main base up until now is a good question.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous10:07

    In my opinion, if Wizz opens a base in Zagreb, it will not be so difficult. For example, Sofia has Wizz (34 destinations), Ryanair (38), Bulgaria Air (25), that's a lot, but FB is still alive!
    OU has a good network in my opinion!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:43

      But can Wizz find the destinations that are not served?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:09

      ^ Yes, in my opinion there is enough demand as in Sofia.
      In general, Sofia and Zagreb do not differ much in terms of traffic.
      Wizz can fly the routes of FR, OU.
      Zagreb have big potential! As SOF,BEG,OTP!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:15

      You're still lacking: MAD, BCN, PMI, CTA, EDI, LIS, WAW, OTP, CLJ and of course the domestic market. So, yes. There is room for Wizzair.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:20

      I didn't mean to say there is no demand, I just wasn't sure if there are destinations they can launch to meet incentive model. But I agree with your list of routes in general. In any case would be good if they came.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous12:42

    You snooze you loose

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous12:46

    Good now we can move on and Croatia Airlines really needs to focus on competing against FR.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous13:00

    LCCs are a fact of life now in every part of the world, and their contribution cannot be underestimated. Time for OU to get used to that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:17

      Well I guess OU has launched around 8 new routes since 2016 and they didn't receive the same treatment as FR in terms of discounts.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous13:26

    Usually, Michael O'Leary is a smart dude. When he projects up to 10 million Ryanair passengers during the upcoming 10 years, I don't think he's joking. Look at sleepy Bratislava and how they grew there. Also Charleroi is a very good example or the 2nd Warsaw Airport - Modlin.
    OU like every other airline will need restructuring its fares, fleet and focus on deploying bigger aircraft on competitive and busier routes. They can continue feeding Lufthansa, but they also should consider O&D traffic, charters to warmer destinations in winter and also why not basing an aircraft in LJU. They just need to move on and act faster because once those big LCC boys arrive, they get really aggressive and hungry for passengers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:19

      Agree 100% I just think that OU should have started this restructuring 6 months ago because they are wasting precious time.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous14:18

    It was kind of clear that they were not playing favourites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:52

      Well it's questionable when the incentive model states you have do add 150.000+ passengers per year. They are well aware OU can't do that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:04

      But doesn't ZAG have some discounts for airlines based on the overall volume of traffic and passengers they handle each year? Considering OU is the largest they would probably get some discounts. Most airport do it this way.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous16:52

    Croatia Airlines isn't actually making an issue that Ryanair will be flying from Zagreb. What they have an issue with is that it is getting much better terms at the airport than they are and Croatia Airlines is by far the biggest airline in Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous16:53

    OU should have started some new regional routes like Podgorica, Tirana and Pristina.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:50

      OU is not competitive to capture the post covid market.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous16:55

    Good luck to OU, FR and ZAG. I'm certain all three can coexist and function besides each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:53

      OU has a big battle on its hands.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous17:05

    Surprise surprise

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous17:17

    Tough. You can't apply discounts retroactively. Market conditions change. The world today is not the same it was between 2016 and 2019.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous17:52

    This is ridiculous. You bring a new airline to the airport and now the other airline which has been receiving millions over the years wants more money.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous17:59

    What do you people think should be OU's strategy now to try and compete against Ryanair? Do you think FR really poses that much of a threat to them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:07

      My first suggestion would be to replace the management.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:08

      In my opinion they should have focused on connecting the region with western Europe long ago. This would be a good source of passengers and helped them be less affected by Ryanair's arrival.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:08

      Also, why not launch something like Croatia Airlines Holidays, offering holiday packs to Croatia on Western European markets and organizing charters so you can better compete on the coast.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:27

      They should have established a base in LJU with one Q400. Could have been successful. There is still time.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous00:20

      Too close to ZAG...

      Delete
  41. Anonymous00:21

    Glad ZAG did not give in to OU's pressure.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous00:21

    I can only imagine what will happen if Wizz Air comes to ZAG.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous00:24

    Hope all issues are now resolved.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous00:50

    Let's see how things turn out. I wish Ryanair good luck but despite all focus being on OU, I don't think Ryan will have it easy on some routes either.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I was flying several times with Ryanair - not here in the ex-Yu space, but there was not a single flight where there was no problem and harsh words exchanged between the passengers and the crew (either at the airport or in a plane). I'd like to find an initiative to ban the Ryanair which is a liberal issue not carrying either about the crew or passengers - just sitting there for making money with the least of expenses.

    ReplyDelete

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