Asian markets hold big potential for Zagreb Airport


Zagreb Airport saw strong demand for flights from Asian markets prior to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in Korean Air and Emirates introducing operations to the Croatian capital over the past few years, while Air Asia X was to start charters from Bangkok during the summer of 2020. However, the global health emergency halted this development, and the ongoing boarder closures and strict entry requirements across the continent have made it difficult to attract any new airlines from the region. Once virus-related measures are eased, Zagreb Airport has the potential to become the regional hub for Asian connectivity.

Global air travel data provider OAG indicates that passenger flow to and from the Far East dominated among Zagreb Airport’s top unserved destinations in Asia prior to the pandemic. Tokyo saw the most indirect passengers, in excess of 20.000 per year, followed by Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Destinations in India also performed well. Plans were set in motion for Zagreb to secure flights from some of these hubs. Croatia and Japan were negotiating an Air Service Agreement in 2019 which is a precondition for the establishment of nonstop flights. At the time, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “A tentative framework has been reached until the conclusion of an Air Services Agreement between the two countries. Considering the possibility and forecasts, there is sufficient air traffic demand for scheduled air services between Japan and the Republic of Croatia in the future".

Busiest unserved Asian destinations to/from Zagreb in 2019


Croatia has become a popular tourist destination for Singaporean travellers who hold one of the world’s most powerful passports. In addition to healthy point-to-point demand, a number of passengers transfer via Singapore to reach Croatia. This prompted initial contact between Zagreb Airport and potential carriers in the city-state prior to the pandemic. Middle Eastern airlines have dominated in the transfer of passengers between the two cities. Emirates (during the summer) and its partner Flydubai (over the winter) carried the most travellers between Zagreb and Singapore. They were closely followed by Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. LOT Polish Airlines, which launched flights from Warsaw to Singapore in 2018, also proved a popular choice with some of the cheapest fares on the market.

The Croatian Ministry for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure has led efforts for the introduction of flights between Croatia and China. Initial negotiations on establishing the route began in 2018. "We are attempting to reach an agreement over nonstop flights between Zagreb, Beijing and Shanghai. Croatia has been recognised by Chinese tourists as an interesting new destination in Europe", Croatia's Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, said just prior to the pandemic. Despite growing demand, Croatia Airlines currently has no codeshare agreement in place with any Chinese carrier, nor does it have a codeshare partnership with other airlines on flights to China. Beijing Capital Airlines, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, was to introduce services between Beijing and the Croatian capital over the 2017 summer season, however, the planned operations were later cancelled. Initially, the carrier filed for a permit for a two weekly service with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

There has also been a surge in interest for flights from India to Zagreb, illustrated by indirect traffic flows from Delhi and Mumbai. Emirates' service between Dubai and Zagreb generated strong interest on the Indian travel market, in line with targets set out by both the airline and the Croatian Ministry for Tourism to produce more passengers from the Indian subcontinent to Croatia. Essa Ahmed, who served as Emirates' Vice President for India and Nepal up until the Covid pandemic, said, "Interest among Indians for our service to Zagreb was very strong. Tourism motivated by TV or movies has really exploded in India in recent years. Filming locations in Dubrovnik featured in popular TV series like "Game of Thrones", has seen a huge jump in tourist interest. These shows are inspiring the new breed of travellers to capture the striking landscapes that they view on shows on a daily basis and become a part of the fantasy tale that they love".


Korean low cost carrier T’way Air has confirmed it plans to launch operations between Seoul and Zagreb as the airline prepares to take delivery of its first wide-body aircraft, the Airbus A330-300, later this month. The company noted that, once Covid-related circumstances permit, it will commence flights from the South Korean capital to Zagreb, Singapore and Sydney. The budget airline is due to take delivery of a further two A330s this year. It aims to become South Korea’s second largest airline following the planned merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. T’Way has received all necessary permits from the Korean Ministry for Land, Infrastructure and Transport to launch up to four weekly commercial flights between Seoul and Croatia. The General Manager of Zagreb Airport, Huseyin Bahadir Bedir, has said he believes long haul operations from Zagreb will be fully restored between 2022 and 2025.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:52

    I hope they look into attracting airlines from Asia and that their focus hasn't been completely turned to Ryanair.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:53

    I'm surprised by the demand there is from Japan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      There used to be charter flights from Japan to Zagreb.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07

      Yes and Ljubljana too. Meaning there is healthy demand for both markets and a real opportunity for ZAG.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:10

      There were charters to Dubrovnik too. From several Japanese cities.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:15

      Yes ZAG, LJU and DBV had flights. Although the ones to ZAG stoped a few years ago.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:54

    On top of all of that one should include the demand for Slovenia, which can be served by Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      90% of the Slovenian demand is already served via airport in neighbouring countries. Soon it will be 99%..

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:10

      Everyone so against slovenian aviation and dreaming about colapse of LJU ... oh well. Whatever floats your boat, if that makes you happy.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:29

      Anon 11:10 well Fraport fanboy, reality often hurts.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:12

      I don't think anyone is against it, it's just that people are disappointed. The aviation industry in Slovenia died with Adria.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:59

    Will things become easier or harder when it comes to attracting tourists from Asia once Croatia becomes part of Schengen?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:00

    Well Malaysia Airlines did used to fly to Zagreb :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:05

      Can anyone shed light who used these flights?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      I mean I ask since they were operated during the 90s

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    3. Anonymous10:12

      They operate via VIE?

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    4. Anonymous10:18

      Operated I mean

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    5. Anonymous10:19

      Yes

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    6. Anonymous10:22

      What equipment did they use?

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    7. Answers : Equipment was B777-200. They operated twice weekly. They wanted service to be nonstop to ZAG but were refused by croatian authorities in order to protect senior partner they feed. Logic being if one stop required, it will be FRA, for many if not all. LF on the service was excellent, regularly it was more passengers boarding in ZAG than in VIE. Structure of passengers - mostly croatian people from Australia and NZ, some seamen, businessmen, small numbers, and very very few tourists.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:45

      Very interesting. Thank you for the info.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:47

      Shame it was obstructed. I would have done everything to keep it.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous11:48

      Didn't OU codeshare on this route? Or was it Austrian?

      Delete
    11. Anonymous11:58

      Without any suprises, that route failed. These were times of huge ecenomic growth in Malaysia so they were pumping millions into the carrier so they could make KLIA an important global hub. But sadly most of their network collapsed due to bad managment and 2008. financial crisis.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:06

      Anon 11:48

      It was OU which codeshared with MH on ZAG-VIE segment of ZAG-VIE-KUL.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous14:11

      There is a photo of MH B777 at ZAG in the vintage section.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous14:13

      ^ here
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/p/vintage-photos-2015.html

      Delete
    15. @An.12.06
      Of course they codeshared only on ZAG-VIE. Anything behind Mutti's hubs is no no no. Forbidden. And Mutti's hubs must be fed, at cost of life if necessary. And for peanuts, of course, making losses on feeding routes, including the busiest to FRA. Danke Deutschland! Zivijo ADEZE!!!

      Delete
  6. Anonymous10:01

    Interesting about Singapore. Seasonal Scoot flights would be ideal. They would get feed from Australia and southeast Asia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:24

      I think they might have had talks with ZAG.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:02

    Pity the Bangkok charters never happened.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:05

      Because of corona

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    2. Anonymous11:47

      It will happen once things normalise.

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    3. Another missed opportunity for OU

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:07

      Definitely, 2nd biggest only to not taking AFs and KLs A380s.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:15

      Agreed. I was also expecting OU to be 77X launch customer but that failed only due to corrupt and inadequate OU management.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:07

      You may joke but I agree it's a missed opportunity. If Korean can make flights work why ​wouldn't Croatia Airlines be able to, to Japan, Singapore, US ...

      Delete
    7. Sending big regards, with smile, to uhljebs and HDZ aparatchiks. Whatever you say and now matter how much funny you try to be or how much you spit on me and on all other people in Croatia who speak truth about your criminal organization, you cannot change the fact your Party destroyed and emptied the country and everything in the country. Croatia Airlines is just one of your "success" stories. Cheers!

      Delete
    8. now = no, in the second sentence

      Delete
    9. Anonymous18:07

      I think you are way too focused on your politcs which makes you completely irrational. Not everything is about mutti LH and corrupted OU, uhljebs....there are more univwesal commercial realities as well....get a grip, man :)

      Delete
    10. Commercial reality (in normal times) is 3 daily flights to DOH and DXB, nonstop flights to Seoul, additional flights announced to Seoul, charters announced from Bangkok, negotiations going on for China and Singapore, conclusions on numbers enough for flights to Japan and enourmosly increased demand from India. All written in the article. Commercial reality are two daily Turkish and daily Aeroflot full with transfer passengers. Commercial reality is Finnair starting ZAG to feed its Far Eastern destinations. Commercial reality are transfers backtracking to MUC and FRA to fly not only North American but Far Eastern long haul as well, because that"s only what OU offers. Commercial reality is almost million passengers from Asia, Australia and NZ. Politics and its baby OU don't participate in that Commercial reality, and you, changing the theses and twisting facts should better continue eating your sandwich because you are the one who doesn't see comercial reality.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous19:38

      For gods sake stop being so much arrogant and rude towards people who do not agree with your proposals and dreams.

      Commercial reality is, everything what you mentioned doesnt mean not starting long haul and investing millions to make intercontinental hub is a missed opportunity for OU. Biggest OUs problem is bad corrupted managment which isnt making profit and definitly isnt not starting long haul. There are many succesful airlines without long haul and which are operating on the markets with more potential that Croatia's. Example: Aegean which doesnt even have plans for long haul.

      Delete
    12. Yeah, right, I am the rude one who told you to be irrational, and I am the arrogant one giving advices to you to get a grip. Aegean cannot be compared with OU at all because Aegean has strategy, has business plan and has capable people. OU has none of it except obligation to feed despite heavy losses on feeding. And I don't accept your Aegean example for long-haul. First, because they can't make shortest North America, the main market, in 24 hours, and which OU can. Also compare numbers of for example Korean tourists in Croatia and Greece. Every market has its specific features and if something is applicable for Greece doesn't mean automatically can be applied to Croatia. The problem of OU is POLITICS which prevents it from growing, which is the base for eventual start of long haul as well. But no, you are not accusing politics for the disastrous situation in OU (and entire country as well), but accusing me for speaking politics is the reason for such disaster. Wow! Bravo!

      Delete
    13. Anonymous21:26

      @Anon 19:18: Thank you!

      Arrogant and rude people don't notice that they are like that, because they know everything better. But how did I come up with the idea of ​​expecting more objectivity and fewer emotions in the Balkans?

      Delete
    14. Hahahaha! Anonymous Uhljeb koji u nedostatku argumenata zahvaljuje samom sebi. A jos ne zna ni procitat kad je ostavio komentar. Neprocjenjivo! I samo jos ovo : tipicni Adezeovski nacin gdje formom i kao pozivanjem na finocu prikrivaju sadrzaj a sadrzaj je teski lopovluk i balkanska pokvarenost. I sad adio za danas, nemam namjeru se vise natezat s botovima

      Delete
    15. Anonymous22:25

      "Yeah, right, I am the rude one "
      Naravno da jesi. A pogotovo si ekstremno arogntan prema apsolutno svakom tko se ne slaže s tvojim idejama ma što god one bile. Kako ti ide sa ovim urlikanjem prema ljudima na ovom portalu koji se ne slažu s tobom za koju godinu ćeš se derati na ljude koji smatraju da kupnja svih A380 na svijetu nije dobra ideja.

      Znaš na što ti mene podsjećaš. Podsjećaš me baš na nekog tko je učio one HDZeovske doktrine devedesetih kao ono ako se ne slažeš sa
      s nama neprijatelj si države i svega hrvatskog. Tako ti tu daješ govore ako se ne slažemo s tobom onda smo uhljebi, Adezeovci, Mišetići, Sanaderi, lopovi koji su pokrali državu itd. Jesi ti onda možda bio u partiji pa te onda izbacili?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous22:33

      "First, because they can't make shortest North America, the main market, in 24 hours, and which OU can." And? How can United do it? Why are you then proposing for OU to fly to Singapore, Japan and Thailand if you cannot do rotation in 24 hours towards there.

      "Also compare numbers of for example Korean tourists in Croatia and Greece." So whats your point in this?

      "But no, you are not accusing politics for the disastrous situation in OU (and entire country as well)" Yes, i am accusing politics for basicly making OU a disaster.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous12:12

    Very informative. Hope Korean flights are restored first and then we see additional new routes in Asia.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:08

      They will come back. If not them, T'way will start flights.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous14:09

    I think there will be huge pent up demand when Asia reopens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:14

      Agree! Just imagine the boom from China. They have been unable top travel outside their borders for over 2 years.

      Delete

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