NEWS FLASH
Zagreb Airport saw its busiest March by handling 264.740 passengers, an increase of 13.6% on the pre-pandemic 2019, when it set its previous record. The number of aircraft movements stood at 3.528, up 5.1%. During the first quarter of the year, the airport welcomed 694.956 travellers through its doors, an increase of 14.8% on four years ago, or an additional 89.627 passengers.
Interesting that growth in March slowed down compared to February. Is it because of Easter?
ReplyDeleteEaster was in April in 2019 and 2022.
DeleteI think, growth slow down is because of LH strike
DeleteDespite very few new routes, Zagreb is doing well, 10-12% growth this year quite likely, perhaps even higher growth if tourist return to Zagreb, before covid Zagreb had 1.7 million visitors, in 2022, only 1.08 million of foreign visitors, perhaps this year, 1.25 million foreign visitors is possible.
Deletehttps://www.htz.hr/sites/default/files/2023-01/Informacija%20o%20statistickim%20pokazateljima%20-%20prosinac%202022.pdf
S. Korean, US, Canadian, Australian and Chinese visitors played important role in intercontinental visitor noumbers, next year, 1.5 million visitors is possible if this year proves a success with Asia and other major emitting markets fully open. In 2019, 250 000 Ozzies, 250 000, 200 000 Canuck, 750 000 Yank, 180 000 Japanize, 400 000 Chinese and 400 000 S. Korean visitors visited Croatia, these figures for 2022 are less than halved. In case of S. Koreans, they’re barely at 30%, Chinese at 40% and only Americans recovered a bit to around 55%.
I expect, Zagreb will handle at least 3.5 million pax this year, could be more 3.7 million, in 2024, 4,2 million is quite likely.
Don't forget that this year OU is putting much focus on SPU so they are not going to be pushing growth in zag
Delete@Anonymous16:08
DeleteI don't expect OU to increase on its dismal performance, other carriers are doing most of the growing at Zagreb.
OU will come to some sort of improved growth in 2025, when first 6 A220s are delivered, OU will continue to hold 5 A319/320 aircraft which can be used in summer season to bring tourist to Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik. OU has ordered 15 A220s, for a reason. However, leasing 15 A220 @€3 million per aircraft per year, ain’t cheap. But it is cheaper than buying 15 brand new A220 300s, which would set OU back by €750 million.
Leasing strategy is best way to go, sure Airline has less in terms of tangible assets, but OU has considerable assets valued at €175 million, Airline can always increase these with re-capitalization. Once airline has clear footing with leased aircraft, they can expand the fleet and routes, they’re not burden by a bad debt and move to expand network, like air Baltic, eventually if really is needed airline can buy brand new A321 XLR for intercontinental flights, 3 of these would cost OU around €210 million in 2020 prices, and then do direct flights to NYC, Toronto, Chicago (Illinois/Michigan/Ohio/Iowa) which is close to very large Croatian diaspora, and bring more Yanks to Croatia. If arrangements can be made with an US based airline, direct flights to San Francisco/Bay Area would be ideal, there are over 250 000 Croats in the Bay area, 2nd largest in US behind Pittsburgh/Pen State concentration where around 300 000 Croats live, 1/2/3rd gen. Around 1.5 million Croats in US, 1-3gen, many are coming to visit Croatia, in fact reason for so many Yank visitors, 700 000+ in 2019, 320 000 in 2022, is large Croatian diaspora in US. One of my best m8s is Croatian from Bay area.
Anyways, OU strategy of leasing is best way ahead, Air Baltic is proving that a very small countries can have a stable and successful airline, adding the fact that Croatia has massive tourism industry that will probably double in size by 2030, pending no major crisis, such as wars, another pandemic or worst global economic recession, things look good for OU, they can’t compete with Ryan air, no one can, so you do best you can, figure out how to be competitive.
So 30 years OU did absolutely nothing to grow and develop in networking and profitability, just feeding LH for peanuts and sucking and wasting public money, and now miracle will happen with A220. Hau jes nou, or yeah right
DeleteHow's A220 good plane for such number of tourists?
Delete@Anonymous20:54 It is not, OU will need to keep A320/A319 for that purpose, although doping Cat D works on A320 is quite expensive, $4-5 million, selling existing aircraft isn't financially feasible as they're too old, 20-22 years. Best strategy is to use A220-300 to cover tourist bit, A220 in OU service will be configured for 140 seats if I remember correctly, this is with 32inch pitch, OU could go with 30inch pitch and put in 150 seats or 160 with 28inch pitch, if there’s really high demand. Alternative, long term lease 10 year old A320 for €1.5-2 million per year, OU could afford 3 such aircraft, use A320s for tourists, and A220 200 out of Zagreb for smaller destinations and A330 for major destinations, out of Split, Dubrovnik A200 300 for tourist…
DeleteI looked at your prognostication from 5-6 years ago and none came to fruition. Easy on the numbers, throwing them around doesn't make you smart.
DeleteI get what OU could do, just think people are worried about what OU will do.
DeleteOne anonymous to another anonymous: I looked at your prognostication from 5-6 years ago...hahaha!
DeleteMichael Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
DeleteHow very original.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteHau jes nou
DeleteI think these are very good results. Well done, ZAG.
ReplyDeleteThose are better results than the majority of European airports.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if you look at the % of growth vs. the super low base.
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