Croatia Airlines considers return to former markets


Croatia Airlines is studying the potential resumption of flights from Zagreb to several markets it discontinued as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which are yet to be restored. The carrier is primarily looking at destinations in the region for the coming summer season. Croatia Airlines suspended services to Barcelona, Bucharest, Helsinki, Lisbon, Milan, Mostar, Oslo, Prague, St Petersburg, Stockholm and Tel Aviv, and shelved plans to launch operations to Sofia and Podgorica. So far, the Croatian carrier has only announced its return to Barcelona. Initially the airline was to resume flights in late March but has now pushed back its return to Spain’s second largest city to June.

Several foreign carriers have used Croatia Airlines’ absence to launch flights to Zagreb, which were previously operated by the flag carrier. TAP Air Portugal introduced seasonal services from Lisbon last summer, which will resume at the end of next month with an extra weekly rotation for a total of four weekly flights. Finnair will launch seasonal operations between Helsinki and the Croatian capital from May 1, with up to three weekly services to run through to September. Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossiya Airlines now operate between St Petersburg and Zagreb, while Ryanair has taken over Croatia Airlines’ planned services to Podgorica and Sofia.

Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, recently said the carrier will adapt its summer network based on demand, with the company to remain flexible with its schedule. “Traffic will continue to be contingent on external factors, beyond the company’s control, such as restrictions, bans and other measures, which directly impact on people’s ability to travel both domestically and internationally. Accordingly, we will focus on flexible planning of our network. Our goal is to achieve optimal load factors with average fares in existing conditions of reduced capacity. Therefore, in 2022 our focus will be on greater rationalisation of costs and the implementation of the company’s defined post-Covid strategy”, Mr Bajić said.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    It would be smart to resume flights to Scandinavian markets which have all now ended any sort of Covid restrictions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      Why resume Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo when you can fly 100 times a day to Frankfurt.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:09

      Yes no testing required anymore to enter Sweden and Finland. I believe Norway too is introducing the same rule.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:29

      The only company that can respond to opening of Scandinavia is JU. OU? Forget! You do not "consider returning to former markets". You "resume flights".
      Which OU does not do anymore (or it did not do it at all ever!).
      It is sad. Really sad. Such a great potential wasted on feeding mutti.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    The only route I see them potentially resuming is Bucharest and that is about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      Why Bucharest?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:02

      It is close, cheap and carries the least risk.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:21

      I'm surprised TAROM has not considered ZAG.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    Airlines are slowly taking over all their routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      Well if you don't want to do anything the market takes care of itself.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:03

      Like in Slovenia...

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    I really do hope they introduce something new or at least resume some routes. Having 19 routes from ZAG in summer half of which are domestic would be embarrassing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      Unfortunately, I would not be surprised if instead they drop Dublin. Ryanair is really going hard against them on this route, which is not cheap to operate considering its duration.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:05

    And apparently there are rumors OU will end Brac because it didn't apply for it in the PSO tender.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:52

      Wouldn't be surprised. But at least they should look into a new route to deploy that plane elsewhere.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:09

      their plane will arrive at the island of brac airport brac empty, and from it they will operate several charter flights, for now they have agreed linz, graz, bratislava and kosice, and there is a possibility of Swiss Bern in September ...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:12

      totally stupid that they gave up the safe money they were getting for PSO flights to the island of Brac

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:05

    They have the planes, I don't understand why they are not resuming more routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:52

      It all starts with the management.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07

      Agree with last comments. The airline needs a radical change in management. If something isn't working - fix it.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:05

    I bet for Mostar, due to being a political route without any commercial sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      Only if they get subsidies. And it seems OMO is going to give subsidies to other airlines this year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      Mostar city didn't mention them in their plans so I don't see them coming back. They might operate some charters from Mostar though.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:06

    OU is best in considering...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      +1

      Delete
    2. Even better in cancelling, withdrawing and shrinking

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:07

    It would have been more logical if this airline had done anything to repel Ryanair. Instead only now are they considering whether to resume a couple of routes they suspended 2 years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:53

      And they most likely won't resume anything...

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:08

    We probably won't see expansion until new aircraft start arriving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      And when will that happen?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:32

      There isn't any money for new Aircraft.

      Delete
    3. @An.09.08
      You are obviously one of the very few believing in their BS PR. New planes are not solution of the problem. New planes, more precisely the cost of the new planes, is quite opposite, another new problem. New planes have absolutely nothing to do with their network, as half of their fleet is mostly on the ground. Their problems are lack of development strategy, devotion on feeding LH at any cost, political influence, crime, corruption, nepotism, incompetence, incapability and lack of any interest to change anything. It will all remain the same even with new planes, if they arrive at all.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:08

    The thing they should be working most on is their network. They should have been quick if they wanted to open new routes to prevent Ryanair from further expanding. With them launching Bratislava soon, they will be attacking Vienna route as well. At the end of the day, OU will only be left with transfer passengers which they can not survive on alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      Agree. They should have gone harder and earlier - like so many other airlines did.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:31

      They have basically given up without putting up a fight.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:35

      True. In their first season of competing against FR in Zagreb they did more of the same as they have done the past decade

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:09

    And what happened with the Osijek adventure? Flights last a month to Munich and that is it?!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      Nothing, as with most OU ventures.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:12

      An example of brilliant network planning.. What was the point of that whole thing and how much money did they lose because of it?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:16

      I think they got some funds for those flights. They were planning to sign a 3 year contract if they worked out. Seems like they haven't.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:11

    Isn't it a bit late with the route planning? It's almost mid February.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Not for OU standard. Even before covid they would announce new routes for summer at the end of February because they usually don't begin until June. But I highly doubt we will see anything new from them this year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      Better late than never. But it seems we are heading to never.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:14

    Is that Dubrovnik or Split airport in the photo?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:02

      Dubrovnik

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07

      Thanks. I really like the refreshment Croatia Airlines did with the livery. Looks nice in the sun.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:14

    It's far too early to react!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Forever and always.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:16

    Not surprising Ryanair launched Podgorica and Sofia. They just wanted to prevent Croatia Airlines from doing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      And then they claim their objective isn't to destroy Croatia Airlines ;)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      Croatia Airlines is destroying itself at galloping pace so Ryanair need not do much in that regard.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:16

      Ou could have started Thessaloniki as well, but Ryanair came along.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:17

    Why did they delay Barcelona? They are just giving Vueling a better head start.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:18

    I would understand them being passive in Zagreb if they were increasing the coast but I don't see any major changes to their coastal network either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      The only change is that they are terminating Split-Prague after just one season and replacing it with Split-Athens after that was suspended because of Covid.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:18

    They should focus as much as possible on charter flights. That's where the money is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      In the last few years they have been increasing their charter operations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      Far too poor for the national airline of a big tourism magnet like Croatia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      Does Aegean Airlines operate a lot of charters?

      Delete
    4. You really dare comparing Adeze Airlines to Aegean?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:38

      Aegean operates a lot of scheduled flights.
      It seems OU combined Aegean and Trade Air business models: no charters and no scheduled flights.

      Delete
    6. Hahaha, you just made my day ☺

      Delete
  20. Anonymous09:21

    They should have launched flights to Moscow and profited from the current vaccination tourism. They should also look into some markets they previously served and I don't mean the ones just before Covid. I mean routes from the early 2000s like Istanbul and Tirana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:23

      OU tries to avoid competing against anyone because it is highly likely they won't succeed. So Moscow and Istanbul are out of the question. As for Tirana, they have been thinking about launching it for years. But like someone said, all OU does is think and does nothing about it. Eventually, someone like Ryanair will start flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      Eastern Europe is not on OU's radar.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:21

    More of the same from OU.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous09:23

    All I can say is thank god Zagreb Airport turned to Ryanair.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:25

    I find it crazy that Ryanair's network will be double the size of Croatia Airlines

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:26

    Restoring just 1 route from those suspended 2 years ago... terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:26

    Blah, blah, blah... With them it's always considering, analysing, evaluating, estimating, BCG, outstanding government approval, not yet the right time... etc.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous09:26

    Wonder if they are seeing an impact on the routes they are (indirectly) competing against FR. Did ticket prices go down?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      I really don't see who would choose to fly to Rome on a prop via Split instead of nonstop on a B737.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      +1 last anon

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:34

      I would rather fly on a prop then a 737 Max anyday!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:36

      Doesn't Ryanair use the A320 to Rome?

      Delete
  27. Anonymous09:28

    They will face fierce competition with FR on several routes, especially since Ryanair is increasing frequencies on most competing flights.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous09:30

    Seems like they really got value out of the BCG engagement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BCG was not there to get any value. It was there to take percentage of the paid money

      Delete
  29. Anonymous09:30

    They are not competitive to capture the post covid market.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      This strategy will lead them nowhere.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous09:31

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Prepelica09:34

    Emphasis on "considers" :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous09:37

    Just recently they were talking about how they will launch new markets and basically nothing. They won't have a single new route from Zagreb for 2 years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      Just PR on their side.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:45

      Didn't they plan to expand in southeast europe and offer connections via Zagreb so they can compete against Ryanair?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:46

      They did. In the end their only two routes in SEE outside of Croatia are Skopje and Sarajevo.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous09:42

    This airline makes me so angry. They could be doing so much more. Instead they do nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous09:47

    Many missed opportunities. Even in 2020 and 2021.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:49

      Yes, this is unfortunate. I am sure some opportunities presented themselves as a result of Covid. Some unserved route became more popular. But OU is in deep sleep.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      I was hoping this situation with Ryanair would wake up the management and that they would seize some opportunities as they have left many slip but nothing came of it of course.

      Delete
  35. Anonymous10:08

    They should explore new market opportunities.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:24

      Easier said than done

      Delete
  36. Anonymous11:54

    Why not some new destination in Russia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:02

      Because they have plenty of destinations on the west side

      Delete
    2. Plenty? 15? Are you for real?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:52

      Is there any bilateral, or Croatia, being EU member, has some other protocol for establishing flights to Russia, or Turkey?
      It is not easy to compete with TK or SU either, but those markets are so huge there must be some space for OU.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:23

      EU has agreements with both Russia and Turkey that apply to all member states. Croatia Airlines can start flights without any issue if it wanted to.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous22:23

    They need to consider waking up

    ReplyDelete
  38. Overpriced, and very limited airline. Zagreb-Split (40 min flight) costs the same as Zagreb-Istanbul? There is a need for low cost airline in Croatia, to service domestic flights, as well as the popular destinations in EU. Make it easier for people to travel..due to the monopoly situation, this will be difficult to happen and remains a political decision on government level. Very sad!

    ReplyDelete

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