Korean Air undecided over Zagreb return


Korean Air is yet to decide on whether it will resume operations to Zagreb next year. The carrier has added the seasonal summer flights into the Global Distribution System but has not opened them for sale, a practice it has often utilised over the past three years since it last operated between Seoul and the Croatian capital. Under its provisional timetable, services are planned to run three times per week, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with the 218-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft. However, the Korean airline has told EX-YU Aviation News that it is in the process of finalising its 2023 summer timetable and that a decision on future flights to Croatia is yet be made.

The airline noted that it is rebuilding its network following the coronavirus pandemic. This winter, the carrier introduced a new two weekly service to nearby Budapest with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is now set to increase to three flights per week next month. Korean Air planned to operate four charters from Seoul to Zagreb on behalf of Hanjin Travel this year, on September 30, October 7, October 14 and October 21. However, the flights did not go ahead after insufficient demand. On the other hand, a private Korean company did charter Korean Air aircraft to shuttle its employees to Dubrovnik on four flights throughout November.

Korean Air launched year-round nonstop operations between Seoul and Zagreb in September 2018. Services were maintained with a triangle routing - Seoul - Zagreb - Zurich - Seoul - during the winter of 2018/19, while the flights were downgraded to seasonal in 2019. Summer capacity was to be increased in 2020 from the A330 to the B787 Dreamliner. However, the flights never materialised due to the outbreak of Covid-19. During 2019, Korean Air handled 43.123 passengers between the two cities. Korean low cost carrier T’Way Air has previously said its plans to launch services to Zagreb. This year it took delivery of three wide-body A330-200 jets, although services to the Croatian capital are yet to be scheduled.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    I hope they will have year round to Zagreb...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    With their BUD flights growing the chances of them coming back are getting slimmer. Hope they do though

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      If there is a demand, they will fly both. Before the covid they planned to both cities (3 weekly 787 to ZAG, 3 weekly A330 to BUD)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:07

      They can fly again like ICN-ZAG-ZRH-ICN

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:57

      "Korean Air planned to operate four charters from Seoul to Zagreb on behalf of Hanjin Travel this year, on September 30, October 7, October 14 and October 21. However, the flights did not go ahead after insufficient demand."

      If they couldn't fill four return flights, what are the odds that they can successfully operate the whole season?

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:05

    I noticed that Korean tour operators are selling packages to Croatia on Korean Air flights to Frankfurt. Then by bus to Zagreb. It also includes stop in Prague.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      Aren't there more interesting bus destinatons from Frankfurt than Zagreb? I mean that's great for Zagreb but those Koreans definitely don't follow usual tourism patterns.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:03

      It's a package for people who want to visit Croatia.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:06

    T'Way may replace them next summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:19

      The market is large enough for both to operate actually.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:08

      @Anon 11:19
      How yes no 😂

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    Bravo Hrvatska

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:09

    Croatian tourism board should be more active in securing a return of former markets after Covid.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    Another missed opportunity for Croatia Airines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:43

      Yes, they can send the invisible brand new A350 to Seoul.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:15

      They could lease an A330 for example. There are several long haul markets they could launch with the ease. It would be more profitable than buying A220s.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:49

      It's true. They could have been serving important long haul markets without depending on foreign airlines.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:08

      And do you think stepmother Lufthansa will allow it?

      Delete
    5. How dare you calling beloved Mutti stepmother? Danke Deutschland!!!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:17

      hahaha

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:05

    I was expecting long haul to recover a bit quicker than this in Zagreb. So far only.Transat is back. And since they shortened the season but added an extra weekly flight, they will have the same amount of flights as last year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:19

      Asia is still at the very early stages of recovery. I remember ZAG airport said that they expect full long haul recovery by 2025 and I see why now.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:22

      Yes, demand from Asia is still low. The number of flights by QR says it all really. That's a good indicator of where demand is at (compared to pre Covid). Next summer they will still have 50% less flights.

      Delete
    3. True. You couldn't miss Korean tourists wherever you move, throughout Croatia, before pLandemic. Now, they are almost non existent, just few few few, here and there, definitely not enough for the service to be reintroduced

      Delete
  9. Anonymous11:18

    Wouldn't it make more sense for Korean to fly to Dubrovnik? Just wondering, I don't know the structure of the tourists but I know they all go to DBV. What do people think?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous11:20

    40,000+ pax for seasonal flights isn't bad at all

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:06

      Good result but the real question is what the yields were like.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous11:23

    Korean will definitely come back at some point to Zagreb. Especially after their planned merger with Asiana.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous11:24

    Fingers crossed they resume flights next year.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:36

    Hope they come back sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:04

      If they don't come in summer 2023, which is looking unlikely, then I'm not sure we will see them back at all.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous11:38

    To which destinations in Europe does Korean fly to?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:48

      Barcelona, Paris, Frankfurt, Budapest, Amsterdam, Prague, Istanbul and London.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:03

      Not bad all things considered.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:05

      And Frankfurt too.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous11:45

    Seems like BUD offered them better commercial terms than ZAG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:49

      BUD will kill off chances of Korean resuming ZAG.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:27

      Not (only?) better commercial terms. Soth Korea was the biggest foreign investor in Hungary in the last 2-3 years, so there is a huge business traffic.
      There was 1 weekly LOT BUD-ICN flight during Covid.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:05

      Interesting. Had no idea relations between Hungary and Korea were so strong.

      Delete
    4. That's what I talk about all the time. Industry, and business in general in Croatia, destroyed. Old technologies production closed, new technologies production not introduced. Tourism set as main industry, seasonal, not competitive enough, and vulnerable, what is seen in pLandemic situation and consequences still felt. Transportation market handed over to foreigners, especially aviation. Those are brilliant results of Kradeze, and we should all hail Bravo Hrvatska, and not allowed to call bots those hailing Bravo Hrvatska even when the news they Bravo are actually negative.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous20:17

      @ 14:39

      I agree. Croatia, with its geostrategic position, and not to mention good roads, has far more potential than is currently being utilised.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous11:50

    Any pics of KE in Dubrovnik?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:54

      https://scontent.fbeg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/313374317_5530897963689458_9080833960806839877_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=AzVUOFGrYGAAX9adwBB&_nc_ht=scontent.fbeg1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCJJJK7xdUzA_b_ZHfe8NhICxeL1XONLw3GClRuTYTpXg&oe=6385FF5E

      https://scontent.fbeg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/313404890_5530897947022793_6881369939916434103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=Jq0HbQD2nVsAX_Algeh&_nc_ht=scontent.fbeg1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBHHGfvTABNNr3mYfpIB-BcIlqJK84G5bb5svAFDiaQqw&oe=63860433

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:59

      Thanks. They flew with B777?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:03

      Yes

      Delete
  17. Anonymous14:00

    We need Korean and Emirates back

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous14:11

    Pity. Before Covid there was a lot of potential for flights from Japan, China, Singapore and Thailand along with Korea.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous17:49

    Korean Air better fly to Belgrade and codeshare on Air Serbia flights .
    That way Koreans could get anywhere in SE Europe easily .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:37

      Koreans can already get to anywhere in SE Europe easily through the major European hubs. Besides, JU doesn't even fly to the Croatian coast in winter.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:03

      @Anon 17:49
      +1
      Exactly!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous23:51

      Anon 17:49

      Flights from Seoul to Zagreb were made for tourists who go to Croatia, not for transfer passengers to SE Europe.

      Delete

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