TAP Air Portugal has confirmed it is discontinuing its seasonal service between Lisbon and Zagreb with the carrier terminating sales between the two cities. Passengers who booked tickets with the carrier for the route in the coming months have received e-mail notifications of their cancellations and offered alternative flights with other airlines. TAP maintained operations between the Portuguese and Croatian capitals three times per week, with the service being restored last year following a five-year hiatus. The carrier used a mix of Airbus A320-family aircraft and Embraer E190 on the route. As a result of the termination, at this point, there will be no flights between Zagreb and Portugal this summer, despite solid two-way passenger traffic with both Lisbon and Porto.
Prior to 2022, TAP last operated flights to Zagreb in March 2016. Following, the route's termination, the Portuguese carrier initially codeshared on Croatia Airlines’ service between Zurich and Zagreb but later added its codes onto its Star Alliance partner’s new seasonal nonstop service between the Croatian and Portuguese cities, which was launched in the summer of 2016. Although the service was to resume in the summer of 2020, the flights never materialised as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Croatia Airlines has not resumed the service since and has no plans to do so. TAP first introduced services to Zagreb in 2004 and in its final years maintained year-round operations, with winter flights running via Bologna.
TAP is the latest in a string of high-profile carriers to reduce their operations to the Croatian capital. Recently, Air France cancelled its planned second daily service between Paris and Zagreb, which was to be maintained during the peak summer months from July until September. Lufthansa has delayed the introduction of its second daily service from Munich to Zagreb, which was initially planned to commence on March 26. Flights have been pushed back until July. Finally, British Airways has more than halved its planned operations between London Heathrow and Zagreb this summer, with the airline to run six weekly rotations between the two cities instead of the initially scheduled double daily flights. Zagreb Airport will hike its fees for airlines from the start of the 2023 summer season, however, there is no evidence the reduction in operations by select airlines is in relation to that decision.
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I'm finding it hard to believe that all these reductions/cancellations aren't related to the fee increase.
ReplyDeleteTAP faces major operational problems with prolonged strikes by all stuff.
DeleteDid they cancel any other route this summer?
DeleteNot that I am aware of, they did announce large increases.
DeleteThese cancellations are consequences of FR expansion in ZAG and that the fees will be increased just for "regular" airlines. If fees will be increased just for 1€ also for FR, it would immediately left ZAG. I think that ZAG fall in FR's trap, it has bigger volume of passenger, but it has lower margins and "regular" airlines are leaving ZAG. Maybe it's here chance for nearby LJU to catch something.
DeleteWell AF will have more flights to LJU than to ZAG in summer.
DeleteThis would be a good route for Ryanair, at least to Porto. Don't they have a base there?
ReplyDeleteYeah, they have 12 aircraft based in OPO and ~55 routes. I've been waiting for OPO-ZAG for so long now!
DeleteWaiting for Croatia Airlines to react. Oh wait...
ReplyDeleteIt’s too early…
DeleteWell, either you are Frankfurt am Main Airport, or you are Frankfurt Hahn Airport. I believe that is the case here. Zagreb is becoming LCC terminal.
ReplyDeleteLisbon is quite slot restricted. They probably decided to use these slots for more profitable route.
ReplyDeleteYes, right after price increase.
DeleteWell yes, it is likely that profitability would be further impacted by the fee increase.
DeleteW6 got slots for LIS-BEG and it is expected soon JU to announce this route.
DeleteI wonder how they did not have a problem with slots.
My opinion is that TAP operated not very successfully in Zagreb and that airport tax price increasing just speeded up TAP's decision to leave ZAG.
Well read what JU CEO said a few days ago, it was published here. That they haven't announced the route yet because it is to a SLOT CONSTRICTED airport.
DeleteKey word being: yet.
DeleteIt means that they will announce it but they are just waiting for the confirmation of the slots they requested. In other words they will get their slots in the end.
W6 also did not secure slots from BEG?
DeleteI wonder what you will say after JU announces BEG-LIS.
Slots are problem in LIS but they are not reason for cancelling TAP in ZAG.
I didn't say slots were the reason. Read what I wrote. I said that because of slot restrictions they probably decided to use those slots on a more profitable route. Jesus
DeleteI don't know where this slot restriction rhetoric came from. There are many new routes in LIS this year. Even Air Albania secured charters this summer. Most likely TP were not performing well in ZAG unfortunately. It is also a more trickier destination as it can be considered more seasonal than year-round.
DeleteThe most favorable hours at LIS are slot restricted. This is very well known and there is a big debate in Portugal about building a whole new airport for Lisbon. It is not a conspiracy.
DeleteWizz Air has a solid presence in LIS. They don't need to request BEG-LIS slots from the airport, they can just reshuffle the ones they have and get it over with like that.
DeleteJU is a new operator in LIS and they need to apply from scratch. That is why it is taking longer than expected.
Since when is JU a new operator at LIS?
DeleteThey will be once they announce it, it's almost certain they will launch LIS.
DeleteI guess loads were good but yields were trash. It also didn't help that a lot of flights were downgraded to Embraer. I can't imagine it was very economical on such a long flight.
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda crazy to think that there are not going to be any Lisbon flights in the area between VCE, VIE, BUD and BEG.
What is left in that area? Ljubljana?
DeleteWell there are surely close to 10 million people if not more in that area (between the airports). They are going to be switching to these airports when flying to Lisbon.
DeleteThis is a big loss for Zagreb as they lost this race in their catchment area. Now people from Zagreb can either go to VCE or BEG or pay €500 to fly with no luggage on the premium LCC Lufthansa.
Rumour has it that one of the two remaining new routes that Air Serbia will announce for the upcoming season will be Lisbon. If that's the case, the news of TP pulling out of ZAG would be great news for JU.
DeleteJU already does well in ZAG and this winter they had more flights than in summer. If/when they announce LIS, hopefully it will be scheduled in such a way that they offer connections from ZAG and the rest of the Balkan peninsula.
DeleteBy the way, BEG-LCA sees a lot of transfer from ZAG despite there being FR which operates on ZAG-PFO. Even if TP stayed on this route they might have had some passengers on this route (JU).
What were the loads like last year?
ReplyDeleteObviously not satisfactory enough to continue the route. Or the loads were fine but the flights were not making money.
DeleteA lot of flights if not most last summer were operated by the Embraer. So there were not more than 120 passengers on this 3.5 hour flight. With no premium demand yields must have been scary.
DeleteIt is not most. According to flightradar around 50% of flights were on Embraer. the other 50% were on A319 and A320.
DeleteSo no flights between Croatia and Portugal?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately no
DeleteSurprising
DeleteYeah, it's a shame. I did OPO-ZAG like 8 times last year and it's annoying. Most were OPO-AMS-ZAG with KLM and OPO-MAD-ZAG with Iberia.
DeleteDid these flights operate peak summer or from the start of summer?
ReplyDeleteFrom late March, start of summer
DeleteSo whole of summer. Thanks.
DeleteI don't get that in the past they were able to operate this route for 10+ years and even via Bologna on winter months.
ReplyDeleteTimes and costs have changed. Doesn't help that TAP it's constantly in some sort of crisis.
DeleteTrue. It's strange. I flew twice ZAG to LIS and back few years ago. All four flights planes were packed, once it was even A321. And now we have one more reason to hail Bravo Hrvatska, Bravo OU, and Bravo Kradeze, all three creating such amazing environment for growth and development of our civil aviation
DeleteMaybe now FR will introduce OPO-ZAG, they can get subsidies since it was not served before.
DeleteYeah, it's a shame since Lisbon is gorgeous and LIS can also be used as a cheaper alternative for some transfers to Americas.
DeleteDoes anybody know what the offer is like from ZAG to Spain?
I only remember reading about Malaga doing fine since FR introduced it. What about Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Mallorca?
Sad news. They had great connections to South America and amazingly cheap deals in business class to US east coast.
ReplyDeleteThanks to their A321LRs. It is much cheaper compared to A330.
DeleteVery true. All of these special fares are on A321LR operated flights.
DeleteExactly. And the product is really cool. Watched many videos and people seem to be happy even with the wrong misconception of it being a narrowbody for a long-haul flight. Yet again, LIS has a very good geographical location. Close to both Americas.
Delete"All of these special fares are on A321LR operated flights."
DeleteNot true. I bought a return ticket MXP-SFO in J for €1600 (ten months in advance, but still). Black Friday also saw some very good prices to the West Coast.
More reductions are likely to take place especially in Western Europe. Germany is entering recession, UK economy is not doing great at all. Michael O'Leary is expecting more bankruptcies. Wizzair are continuing with their route cuts. LOT and OS stagnating. Romanian regional airports losing many routes and now Turkey travel might also be affected. AF have cut frequencies to various roots, Amsterdam imposing flight reductions. High unemployment rates in US and people leaving Canada. Aviation in 2023 won't look as promising as it appears. Obviously, some countries might benefit but in Europe in general I doubt it. February and March are very tough months as well. Interesting times ahead....it will be a harsh winter.
ReplyDeleteThis route termination is unrelated to February or March or winter. FYI US just reported its loswest umemployment rate since 1969.
DeleteThe US will be fine, their inflation reduction act is aimed at stealing European manufacturing by providing them with massive subsidies if they move their production to the US. Many in Germany have already said that they are ready for the move.
DeleteGermany will be especially affected this year as their manufacturing sector keeps on under-performing. Since Ex-YU economy is tied to Germany we are also expected to feel it here.
I agree with Anon 09.17, I think this year won't be as successful as many thought it will be. Asia, The Middle East and the Americas will do ok. Europe not so much. Aviation will be the first to be hit.
Anonymous09:17
DeleteYup. But for me looks to me like planned shut down of type of economy that was built since 1945. And it is natural that it starts with Europe because it has been spending the most for long time. It will be a lot of screaming and tantrums but is just cycles.
True. The maladies keep on hitting us. Just as we were coming out on the other side of the covid pandemic, Russia invaded Ukraine...and the war is dragging on. The hikes in energy prices are effecting everything else, aviation sector especially.
DeleteGermany has barley avoided recession thus far but things aren't looking too good for further growth.
Sweden and The UK are in recession already.
There's another thing too; the airspace over Russia being closed off, will further affect direct routes between Europe and Far East, including Asia Pacific. For example: Virgin is terminating its flights from London to Hong Kong indefinitely. They should've been resumed this March. The main issue is the added hour - hour and a half, due to having to avoid the Russian airspace.
TAP leaving ZAG and AF & BA heavily reducing frequencies to ZAG are direct consequencies of Ryanair deal with MZLZ.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that MZLZ can't work with 5 EUR tax (so little they charge FR) and 28% of all ZAG flights are with Ryanair.
They tried to make it up by increasing the prices to legacy carriers and we see the result.
It is interesting that we heard no news that taxes have been increased to FR too. We all know that FR would leave immediately ZAG if they only dared slightly to increase taxes to Ryanair.
Therefore legacy carriers are leaving ZAG or heavily reduce frequencies.
Of course they haven't increased fees for Ryanair. I think they did a 3 year deal if I'm not mistaken.
DeleteThey are doing to switch it to ljubljana. With the fee hike, border gone, and new subsidies it's a no brainer
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that after the price hike at ZAG, Ljubljana's fees are just marginally less.
DeleteThey are 50% cheaper once you count in the new subsidies
DeleteCroatia Airlines sleeping as usual.
ReplyDeleteThey clearly said that they are not in a position to be dealing with zagrev airport. And frankly who would be? Wet do they have to pay 4x the price per passenger compared to fr?
DeleteWhen you say they have to pay 4x the price per pax compared to FR, maybe you should take into consideration that they didn't have to do it for over 25 years, or maybe to consider we all paid for their mistakes hundreds of millions of euros, or maybe that they too could have paid 4x less if opened new services and used subsidies and incentives offered by ZAG? Ha?
DeleteTo me it seems as if ZAG management lost its focus during covid. For years they stayed away from LCCs only to completely change their attitude and overdo it with Ryanair.
ReplyDeleteAs if Ryanair wasn't enough, they further distorted the market by increasing their fees. I am almost certain all carriers felt FR's arrival.
ZAG management threw a bucket full of fuel on a raging fire which is resulting in all these reductions. Now they are going to be stuck with an even stronger and more dominant FR while those who were supposed to be their counterweight will start pulling out or reducing their presence in ZAG.
The way I see it, ZAG should have made a deal with FR but for them to slowly start expanding at the airport. There was no need to start with a three A320 base at the airport. Start with 5 new routes and take it from there. Let the market evolve naturally and at its own pace.
We all know that Ryanair will have more flights this summer than they did last year. If I remember correctly last year their marketshare was around 30%. This year this could come close to 40%. In my opinion having 40% of your traffic come from FR is risky business and it makes you vulnerable.
What happens if they start blackmailing ZAG? Who will the airport run to? OU which they forced to focus on SPU? AF which is unhappy with ZAG and is reducing flights? BA which couldn't care less about our region? easyJet which has its own problems? Wizz Air which is unreliable and is the same as Ryanair?
The more time passes the more it seems like ZAG is putting itself in a dangerous position and that their negotiating position is becoming weaker with each passing month.
The stronger FR gets, the more leverage they will have.
What will ZAG management do? I don't know and it makes me wonder if they know themselves.
Good point, Nemjee! Bravo!
DeleteExactly my thoughts too, Nemjee.
DeleteThis is called analysis.
DeleteExcellent, Nemjee.
"The way I see it, ZAG should have made a deal with FR but for them to slowly start expanding at the airport. There was no need to start with a three A320 base at the airport. Start with 5 new routes and take it from there. Let the market evolve naturally and at its own pace."
DeleteYou are obviously unfamiliar with the FR model. They do this all the time to quickly increase their market share because their strongest virtue is the number of aircraft. They have A LOT of them. Plus, it is still way too early to judge them in ZAG as the market needs to mature. They did absolutely the same thing in SOF in 2016 with 3 planes and today they now serve 40 destinations and expect around 130 weekly departures.
ZAG just needs a bit more of time, imo. Plus, it was already mentioned they are considering growing more in ZAG:
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/12/ryanair-eyes-zagreb-expansion.html
And now especially with Eurozone and Schengen, it will be beneficial for ZAG. It needs more P2P traffic to more EU destinations.
Ryanair will expand to the extent to which the airport allows them to. Do you honestly think they would have turned down ZAG's massive discounts in order to launch PFO, MAN, DUB etc.
DeleteThey would have done it without a problem. ZAG offered them a base because they thought FR would create new demand without taking any passengers away from existing carriers. Now we can see how miscalculated this move was.
I don't think we should compare market dynamics in SOF and ZAG. After all, there is a reason why Sofia is twice the size of Zagreb.
"ZAG management threw a bucket full of fuel on a raging fire which is resulting in all these reductions." 😂
DeleteA very bad metaphor, indeed.
@Nemjee The MZLZ did the best it could given the circumstances, and ZAG added 1 million pax on 2021. largely due to FR, currently lagging behind the record pre-covid 2019. by only 300k passengers.
DeleteQuantity is a quality in itself.
Saying the management thought bringing in an LCC carrier wouldn't affect numbers on other airlines, is so absurd it doesn't even warrant a response.
Thing is, the incentives were and still are offered to anyone establishing new routes.
Also, the dynamics between ZAG and SOF are quite comparable, Sofia isn't twice the size of Zagreb but 1/3 larger, with catchment areas being very similar.
Additionally, ZAG has gained a major boost by Croatia entering Schengen and eurozone.
The problem specific for ZAG, isn't the airport management, it's the inert national airline.
Very small city.
ReplyDeletedefinitely! Limited with Lcc companies
DeleteSo what?
DeleteI really liked them. Sad to see them go.
ReplyDeleteToo many airlines have cut ZAG in a short time. I hope it ends with TP.
ReplyDeleteHm… We have to wait Finnair.
DeleteFinnair has already confirmed it is coming back.
DeleteTAP has also already confirmed coming back…
DeleteIt's obvious that Air France is shifting its focus away from ZAG to LJU. These are the seats offered in the first week of June:
ReplyDeleteCDG-ZAG: 1.400 seats
CDG-LJU: 2.000 seats
Slovenian gov also said they are looking for more capacity in paris, so you can expect 3rd daily around 4-5 pm being added
DeleteBy the way, the first week of June they cancelled their Tuesday flight but it's there before and after. AF in ZAG that is.
Deleteto Portugal via Germany.
ReplyDeleteOr Serbia in the future.
DeleteUnfortunately, this is a price to be paid for having Ryanair's expansion.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI will miss you TAP Air Portugal.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is Finnair will be next; maybe even Austrian
ReplyDeleteFinnair has already confirmed its flights to Zagreb for this summer and has extended its operating season.
DeleteWhy would you expect Austrian to discontinue ZAG of all airlines?!?
DeleteI don't think OS will discontinue flights but they can reduce them so that OU operates them at a loss.
DeleteFinnair confirmed lju for last year, and it didn't happen.
DeleteWith OS they could reduce it from 2x daily to 1x daily, especially as 30min flight with e95 is not economical compared to dash 8s they used
OU has the Q400 which is perfect for this route. Don't know what will happen when the A220 arrives.
DeleteShame about TAP. Always nice to see variety in ZAG.
ReplyDeleteShame about ZAG and not TAP.
DeleteShame about both ZAG and TAP, and OU the most
DeleteAnyone remember what was the schedule for this route? Did it offer good connections?
ReplyDeleteCompared to this year, definitely better
DeleteLIS-ZAG
DeleteDeparture time: 08.00
Arrival time: 12.05
ZAG-LIS
Departure time: 12.50
Arrival time: 15.15
Wed, Fri, Sun
This is a shame for the North American diaspora - routes to ZAG through LIS were much cheaper than going through FRA or MUC on LH, or AMS on KL. The couple times I took this flight, it felt like LIS-ZAG was 40% North Americans visiting Croatia, 40% Croatians on their way home from visiting family in North America, and maybe 20% tourists from Portugal/Spain. Flights always seemed full or near capacity though.
ReplyDeleteYou mention all groups of passengers except Croats travelling abroad. Another proof that the country just isn't an emitting market.
DeletePlease learn to read : "40 percent Croatians on their way home from visiting family in North America". But if someone has a need to be right so badly, it's peanuts for him to serve obvious lie as a fact and twist witness written testimony
DeletePity to loose a legacy carrier, especially since they don't have a large presence in this region.
ReplyDeleteTaps ceo has said any underperforming routes would be cut, so this plus the rate increase at ZAG must have sealed the deal to pull out.
ReplyDeleteDo you think TP and JU will code share on the BEG-LIS route and/or potentially ZAG-BEG-LIS?
I travel at least 6 times per year to Split. Makes me so sad that Portugal has no direct flights to Croatia. And even if there was any it would be way too expensive. I’m hoping for YEARS for Ryanair to start a LIS-SPU or LIS-ZAG but it seems like it will never happen….
ReplyDeleteA bit tired of constantly needing to wait 5/6 hours+ for connection flights.