Croatia Airlines plans coastal network expansion in 2023


Croatia Airlines plans to expand its network from the country’s coast during the 2023 summer season after launching a number of new routes from Split this year. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, the carrier said, “This summer season, Croatia Airlines launched new routes from Split to Amsterdam, Bucharest, Dublin, Milan, and Stockholm. All these new routes achieved expected results. However, the company sees room for improvement and innovative steps in strategic positioning”. It added, “The company is also planning new routes from Croatia’s other coastal airports in the summer of 2023, but this plan still depends on different factors, both internal and external, and will definitely not be ready for publication before the end of the Slot Conference [in Melbourne] in November. It should also be emphasised that Croatia Airlines is the only carrier serving all (eight) Croatian airports”.

Apart from introducing new routes from Split this summer, the carrier based an Airbus A319 and a Dash 8 aircraft in Croatia’s second largest city, enabling it to increase frequencies to a number of destinations. In addition to Zagreb and Split, Croatia Airlines also maintained six international routes from Dubrovnik this summer, as well as one each from Rijeka and Osijek. “We have tried to tailor our flight network to our passengers’ needs and in support of Croatia’s tourism”, the airline previously noted. It further added that it has seen a swifter recovery in demand from the coronavirus pandemic among tourists rather than business travellers.

The airline’s greater focus on Croatia’s coast has coincided with the opening of Ryanair’s base in Zagreb and its launch of over twenty new routes from the city. However, the Croatian carrier said the two are not in relation to one another. “Croatia Airlines has faced strong competition since 2006, when the liberalisation of the Croatian market began. During the last sixteen years, all major legacy and low cost carriers have been present in Croatia, especially during the summer season, and Croatia Airlines has learned to deal with the competition, and, as a member of the Star Alliance, to cooperate with competitors”. It added, “Croatia Airlines provides passengers a high-quality legacy carrier service, offering flights to main European gateways and connecting flights to over 150 destinations around the world. The business relationship we have with Zagreb Airport, our home airport, reflects our traffic volume, and related commercial conditions”.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Seems they realized money is to be made on the coast in summer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    They are planning fleet expansion since 2005 so maybe new connections are due to in 2039

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    Does this mean no new routes from Zagreb next summer?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    Hopefully Dubrovnik gets new routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      They talk about airports other than Split so maybe Pula is an option too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      Which other routes could they introduce from DBV?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      International routes they currently fly from DBV during the summer:

      Athens, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Rome–Fiumicino, Tel Aviv, Venice, Zürich.

      I think there is room for them to start some Scandinavian routes and perhaps Vienna.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:43

      They should consider Dubrovnik-Skopje.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:35

      ^ They need to fly more lucrative routes

      Delete
  5. What is that green plane in the background of the photo?

    The tail looks like it is from a DC10 but the fuselage doesn't look like it's from that aircraft. Look more like a 747 fuselage.

    Also the wing mounted engines look further apart than on a DC10

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Google says that it's a firefighter training mock up at LHR

      https://i.redd.it/3disvw4hsor81.jpg

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    This is quite critical, which many could overview: "All these new routes achieved expected results."

    In PR context, achieving expected results is not a good thing, especially when no one knows the expectation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:36

      Maybe the benchmark of their forecasts was very high :D

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    In my opinion, their main focus should be Zagreb and trying to deal with Ryanair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      They obviously gave up on ZAG when they saw how much money they lost trying to fight FR. Also we have to see how much money they will lose this winter season.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      They have much more competition on the coast in summer than in Zagreb.

      Delete
    3. Presipanje iz supljeg u prazno, as always. Cut here, add there. With dozens of the biggest and most important companies on the coast which has bigger and newer aircraft, more frequencies, lower prices and better marketing, their results from the coast will be no diferrent as ZAG ones. They need to get rid of political influence, change management, fire excessive administrative working force, grow the fleet, grow the network, open long haul, and make ZAG real hub with propper waves, and offer in peak season flights to SPU and DBV every hour and at least three daily to other airports, to fit into the waves. But it will never happen and they will remain Uhljeb sanctuary, humiliated servant and pathetic feeder with BS PR pretending to be NASA






      ,

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:21

      there is not enough profit to be made in Zagreb. You can see that now with Ryanair, their prices and their announced growth plans. Zagreb will not become a HUB for the coasts either. The trend is clear, for years, people want more direct flights, especially beach tourists. If there's money to be made, it's on the coast. See Zadar. Why shouldn't this also be possible for Pula and Rijeka.

      Delete
    5. There is not enough profit in ZAG only. I agree. The same as in any other ex-yu airport. But combination of ZAG, Slovenia, coast, ex-yu, Balkans, tourism and diaspora could make enough profit. Similar to what JU is doing. Without coast and without tourism

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:17

      That could work and would be very good, but never with this Croatia and such managers

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:09

    I'm glad they are exploring new routes. This is best strategy they could have under current circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:26

      Of course just to add to my comment above that it is too late for this now considering another airline from the region has done exactly that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:09

      You really do not understand they are in same ligue as AA? On receiving end.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:11

    What about trying to restart discontinued flights from Zagreb like Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, Barcelona, Lisbon, Milan?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      I doubt we will see Lisbon come back since it has already been launched by TAP.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      Most have already been covered by Ryanair.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:22

    I think it comes down to the fact that Croatia Airlines realized it can make more money on the coast during the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:25

    This is good news and makes sense.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:29

    Well they should do something so they can compete. These plans are not so bad.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:33

    Just OU talking more about plans which rarely become reality.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:33

    Croatia Airlines' growth opportunities are becoming smaller and smaller, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      They had many years to prepare for serious competition and it was bound to happen at some point. They must have been aware of that.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:38

    Good luck OU.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:41

    Worth a shot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:21

      Not like there is much to loose at this point.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:42

    ZAG doesn't like this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:44

      They are most responsible for this.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:41

      I really wouldn't blame either FR or ZAG. It is their own doing.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:44

    I remember reading here a few months ago that they will focus on secondary cities and it seems to be the case. I don't think it's a bad strategy. But I wish they would put some sort of a fight from Zagreb too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:45

    So what is the long term strategy?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:45

    Is this is the BCG strategy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no BCG strategy. BCG was there to split money.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:46

    I wonder if this will come at the expense of Zagreb as did this year's summer expansion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:53

      It is shocking how passive they suddenly became in ZAG

      Delete
  22. Anonymous09:47

    Pula would be a good option for them and I think they will likely include it since they will fly Pula-Zurich this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:52

    What is Croatia Airlines' average passenger share in Split?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:53

    How about launching some new routes from Zagreb? Tthey could start MAD, WAW, IST, DUS, BER, SOF... There are many opportunities

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:53

    Moving to the coast. I expected this would happen and fully support it.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous09:54

    I still think it would have been much smarter to have focused on Ljubljana and opened a base there with 1 Q400.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      They will certainly make more money flying out of Split, especially in summer, than in winter,

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:33

      Launch LJU Barcelona please

      Delete
  27. Anonymous09:55

    Great news for OU and the coast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great news???? CA all but abandoned ZAD, PUY not even offering daily connex to ZAG. In the summer.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous10:00

    OU finally waking up.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous10:34

    They used to fly Split-Belgrade until 2019 but then stopped. Any plans to restore these?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:35

      Also until a few years ago Croatia Airlines used to fly to London from Split. Perhaps a route to consider restoring in the future?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:54

      But they still do fly from LHR and LGW

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:27

      True I didn't realise they resumed London from Split.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:48

      It wasn't flown for 2 years during Covid.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14:16

      They operated it in 2020. and 2021.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10:37

    For what?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous10:41

    In the end, the biggest winner will be the coast

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:41

    Is the coast more interesting to OU now because of competition by Ryanair in Zagreb or are they going to get money from local authorities to fly from the coast?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:08

      Because of pax. There are much more of them at coast during season.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23:59

      I really don't understand that the capital city can't generate more year round demand.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous11:07

    Zagreb is loosing its appeal as near-coast capital airport with so many direct Adriatic flights and no hub developed. There's nothing more Zagreb offers than Split, except couple of hours in traffic congestion if you want to reach a seaside.

    ReplyDelete
  34. notLufthansa11:13

    When I red the title, my initial thought was “great, they are buying speed boats” :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:37

      Don't give them ideas :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:53

      Well they introduced discounts this year on yachts when buying OU tickets so this would be the next step :D

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:04

      They did?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:11

      Yes

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/03/croatia-airlines-rolls-out-fly-sail.html

      Delete
    5. Anonymous17:13

      It's actually not bad. It's what sets you apart from LCCs

      Delete
  35. Anonymous13:03

    This is actually a good business model. Croatian coast is a gold mine and they should take a piece of that cake. It is criminal that the national carrier of Croatia is the airline that profits from that coast out of all carrier flying there. A shame for ZAG tho, as it will probably stagnate.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous13:28

    Competition from the coast is huge. I'm not sure how they expect to be competative.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous13:29

    Remember that demand from the coast in summer is huge too so there are more opportunities and the yields are much higher.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous13:29

    "Croatia Airlines provides passengers a high-quality legacy carrier service"

    Is this for real?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:07

      It is certainly better than FR.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous13:40

    From what I've heard DBV is a rather expensive airport and they are not very keen on incentives.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous13:51

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous14:49

    What is the purpose of this article?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:53

      Maybe to tell you that they plan on introducing new routes from the coast and that the announcement will be made after the slot conference. This Is an aviation site btw

      Delete
  42. Anonymous15:51

    Croatia Airlines is shifting focus to the coast to capture greater share of the tourist season. Air Montenegro wants to stretch the tourist season by a month in April and October. Air Serbia wants to introduce long haul routes that can help reduce seasonality.

    Seasonality in aviation has been around almost from day one. Those things have been tried by others and mostly didn't work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:13

      Of course.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:28

      Which routes could work from the other coastal airports with no or less competition? And which routes could be introduced from Split? East Germany ( LEJ or DRS), Istanbul,Cork, Lisbon, Bern….??

      Delete
  43. Anonymous18:29

    Which routes could work from the other coastal airports with no or less competition? And which routes could be introduced from Split? East Germany ( LEJ or DRS), Istanbul,Cork, Lisbon, Bern….??

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous20:06

    ZAG will regret losing Croatia Airlines' dynamic growth. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:20

      It generated around 40% of its traffic. So it is an important customer for ZAG,

      Delete
  45. Anonymous20:08

    I think it's the only option left for them - to focus on the coast because Ryanair is too strong in Zagreb now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:20

      Zagreb should now seek to find even more new airlines considering OU is giving up.

      Delete
  46. Anonymous00:19

    Can't wait to see the new destinations.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Anonymous22:02

    The Zagreb AirPort should be developed as intermodal hub, providing easy transfer to other modes of transport (rail/bus). With the brand new Highway system, and the planned investment in railways, the coast and the Many cities throughout the region should be easily accessable within 2-3 hours. That’s less than it would take to make a transfer flight.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous17:05

    If anyone is reading this from OU I’m begging you to bring back the LGW - DBV route or even go from LHR. WUK to DBV has been a disaster and I think DBV is seen as a luxury destination by many brits so they would be happy to pay a bit more in order to not fly on Wizz or EasyJet.

    ReplyDelete

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