Croatia Airlines will add the first Airbus A220 aircraft into its fleet during the 2024 summer season. The first of the six A220s contracted through the Air Lease Corporation will arrive in Zagreb between April and late June of next year. “Activities related to the introduction of the A220 into the fleet are going to plan. At the moment, we can share that the delivery of the first A220 is expected in Q2 2024, according to current conditions. Public interest in the renewal of Croatia Airlines’ fleet is understandable and the company will inform the public about all the relevant developments in the coming period”, Croatia Airlines told EX-YU Aviation News.
Late last year, the Croatian carrier concluded a lease agreement for four 148-seat A220-300s and two 127-seat A220-100s. The airline plans to eventually replace its entire fleet with the A220s, with the lease of a further six jets of the same type earmarked for 2025 and 2026. The carrier also has the option of adding a further three units in 2027. The Air Lease Corporation noted, “These A220s destined for Croatia Airlines are expected to be delivered from our order book beginning in 2024 through 2025 and represent a significant modernisation shift for that airline as it moves away from operating older A319s and A320s. In this case, the A220 gives the carrier more capacity and efficiency, both on existing routes and added range to expand future routes as well”.
Croatia Airlines will update its branding with the arrival of the new Airbus jets with emphasis put on revamping the carrier’s logo. “The project is currently in the planning stages and once completed, the company will inform the public regarding all the relevant details", Croatia Airlines said. Travellers on board the carrier’s new A220s will also enjoy an enhanced hard product. With cabins featuring a two by three seat layout, each will have a USB A and USB C port, as well as smartphone and tablet holders. Furthermore, passengers flying on the jets will be able to enjoy broadband services on their Wi-Fi/WLAN enabled devices including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
I wonder on which route they will deploy the A220 first.
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be Frankfurt or Munich.
DeleteSurely they will first put it on some domestic routes for crew familiarisation.
DeleteHighly likely. First ZAG-SPU/DBV then FRA/MUC.
DeleteMost logical would be Munich and Bruxeless because they are very long, often full and currently operated with Dash
DeleteAlso seasonal flights to ATH would make sense.
DeleteHa, ha ha ha ha ha..
Delete"Public interest in the renewal of Croatia Airlines’ fleet is understandable..."
Of course it is - they payed for it...
And guess what, they already sense how it will turn out.. they will keep paying.
Bravo Croatia 🇭🇷
ReplyDeleteInitially they said it's coming in early 2024. Now it is Q2.
ReplyDeleteWhat for a drama
DeleteIt could be pushed back more if these issues with engines persist.
DeleteFast forward in February 2024 there will be an article "Croatia Airlines delays the A220 delivery", believe me
DeleteHope it helps turn things around
ReplyDeleteCompetent management, elimination of Uhljebs, elimination of political influence, reduction of excessive administration, reduction of corruption, growing network, regional and long haul, getting more market share, creating sinergy with main hub, working on ACMI leaseouts for winter, concluding much more codeshare agreements, improving marketing and sales, stopping acting primarily as LH feeder, are the actions which could turn things around. Getting leased aircraft instead of their own, the most expensive on the market in its category, which has huge issue with engines and half fleet grounded with most of the operators, can only turn the things around to much worse.
DeleteNormal order would be: analysis, reduction or elimination of nonfunctional things/positions, development strategy, then searching for suitable airframe(s), which would fulfill the said goals. OU “management” is doing it in opposite order….understandable, had they followed correct order, they would be forced to cancel almost all current managerial positions.
DeleteI don’t understand why you keep capitalizing uhljebs. They are not worthy.
DeleteI agree. The amount of money paid for their salaries is not the main issue. It's about something else, about the mindset. Stuck in 1950's. And as long as there is one uhljeb there "working" on the position non existent in any other airline, or any other airline of such a small size, OU will not be able to move forward.
DeletePozdrav always wants to boost productivity, wants optimization and all kinds of other dreadfull things. He is attacking our way of life.
Delete😃
DeleteŠminkanje babe
ReplyDeleteNazalost da. I baba je na umoru. Umrla jos nije, a kad ce ne znamo. A nije Djekna.
DeleteYeah, another one involving "baba"...
Delete"the A220 gives the carrier more capacity and efficiency, both on existing routes and added range to expand future routes as well"
ReplyDeleteReally hope they will expand with the new planes.
In all honesty I don't think they will. They are taking these planes primarily to lower their costs on existing routes which is why they are just doing fleet replecement and not actually growing past 12 planes.
Delete^ unfortunately this seems the most likely scenario.
DeleteThey are taking these planes because someone told them they shall do it
DeleteLogo update is needed and the arrival of new planes is a perfect timing
ReplyDeleteHope they son't screw it up. This one is well known. Always a tricky thing.
Delete*don't
DeleteThere will always be someoene who is unhappy with change.
DeleteNothing to worry about. They have Corporate Design Manager for such demanding and important tasks. I know she is so busy on Facebook, and it will be hard for her to find time for all those complicated and time consuming actions, but she will manage. If not on her own and by herself, then for sure with expertise, supervision and devotion of Jasmin, hero and genius, one of the best worldwide, this difficult task will be successfully performed, and warmly welcomed and applauded by vast majority of happy taxpayers
DeleteWhich engines are they going to use of these birds.
ReplyDeletePW1500
DeleteGet ready to park those aircrafts due to huge PW problems and no spares available....
ReplyDeleteIsn't there any other engine option for A220?
DeleteNo other option yet, however, there are rumours that Airbus might reveal the LEAP as a second option during the air show in Le Bourget this week.
DeleteThanks! Does this problem with the engines only affect some A220s? Since there are many still in the air
DeleteIt's a reliablity/longevity issue - the engines are developing problems much earlier than anticipated, and there's not enough new/refurbished engines in stock to keep the worldwide fleet in operation.
DeleteI see. Thank you for the explanation. I know Air Baltic said they can't find a slot to fix engines on 20 planes for the next 2 years.
DeleteThat's not so much engine problem that PW supply chain and MRO problem. And it is not isolated to A220, the same issue appears to E2 and PW equipped A320neos. OU A220s are coming with modified engines so no major problem is expected at the beginning of operations.
DeleteThere is, but not for them. They get to choose nothing.
DeleteBravo Croatia 🇭🇷
ReplyDeleteImagine lf Croatia have a long haul aircraft
ReplyDeleteSomething they should have done at least 10 years ago.
DeleteThey had potential to be twice bigger than JU. Really dissapointing that they didn't use any opportunity that was in front of them.
Deletetrue
DeleteIt’s not just having an opportunity but also having the vision of how to use that opportunity profitably. Which is surely lacking in this Balkan-mindset company.
DeleteActually they have more problems than potential. No way than can have long houl fleet. Sorry Pozdrav.
DeleteLong hOul, for sure they can't have 😃
DeleteAnd for their problems, probably some mAdikejsn exist 😃
DeleteIf they had had a LH aircraft then the lucrative and economically viable business with NETWORLD would not have been possible. That was a non starter...
DeleteCongratulations and good luck.
ReplyDeleteStill wondering how they will pay for these.
ReplyDeleteSame way everyone is paying for everything these days..... credit. Unfortunately for OU, credit is becoming less and less cheap by the month.
DeleteThe usual way... Taxpayer money.
DeleteCan't wait to see it in OU colors.
ReplyDeleteStill don't understand how they will fill these planes on routes like Mostar or most routes in winter.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to have a 100% load factor on these planes to turn a profit.
DeleteThey definately will need a few 50 seat aircraft to handle those smaller routes. Can’t imagine they would be that expensive
DeleteThis is an ideal aircraft for small and medium sized markets with high seasonality in traffic flows.
ReplyDeleteD vilidž iz burning, baba iz kombing her
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteWhere will they do the crew training?
ReplyDeletePresumably crew training for the type should begin this year?
DeleteA220 is a very comfortable plane to fly on from my experience.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Loved all my flights on the A220.
DeleteYes. Pilots will need new type rating.
Delete@9.47
DeleteAir Baltic talked to them about it but I don't know if they made a deal.
Love this plane
Delete"...the A220 gives the carrier more capacity and efficiency..."
ReplyDeleteBecause that is what Croatia is lacking - more capacity on flights that are less than 60% occupied? Also, efficiency? Current fleet (own airplanes, higher fuel cost, higher maintenance cost) is more expensive than new fleet (paying lease, lower fuel and maintenance cost, at least at first)? Have they bothered checking the numbers? If yes, would they mind sharing them?
Completely agree. Them taking these planes, in my opinion, is so bizarre. Then again many things with OU are.
DeleteThey did not check the numbers. And this order is not result of any study, analysis or plan for any improvement on the business field. This is political decision, carried out by OU, branch of Kradeze Party, which will help AP getting his armchair in Brussels, and which will get some comission and provision, some "pocket money" for few selected individuals within the convicted Crime Organization. Neither is single type operating model suitable for flag carrier of croatian market nor is A220 best choice, on the contrary it's the most expensive, with the most issues. And for this criminal act, as well as similar acts before, someone should be convicted, and jailed
DeleteI'm really hoping Croatia Airlines sorts out its staffing issues by the time these planes arrive. They are causing flight cancellations this summer. And they really need to improve their business class product. Getting a box instead of a meal on a 2 hour flight is kind of unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteKilling people is illegal.
DeleteI'm all for fleet modernization but I think this is the worst way they could have gone about it. Yes, the A220s are shiny and new and great for PR (mind you OU's PR marketing team is terrible) but I really don't understand how a near bankrupt airline is going to utilize these planes that don't fit at all into their current network and key performance indicators. Good luck anyway.
ReplyDeleteThis is primarily for marketing and PR of the Prime Minister.
DeleteNoooooouuuu, he would never....
DeleteHopefully Croatia Technic will get permit to maintain A220s.
ReplyDeleteThey will
DeleteHere is the cabin on Cyprus Airways' new A220s. The cabin looks sleek. Interesting that they have a proper business class product
ReplyDeletehttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/FxyXsP3XoAAqcwx.jpg
Looks very nice!
DeleteNot sure about the carpets though.
DeleteYes, the carpets look like a Russian chose the color and pattern. :D
DeleteWill OU have a proper business class?
DeleteObviously not. Especially with the config they mentioned in the article.
DeleteHey, Pozdrav iz Rijeke. I'm wondering, did Croatia Airlines ever have proper dedicated business class cabin? At least in the beginning? Thought you might know.
DeleteHey, yes I know. There were never bigger and fewer business seats, but since the arrival of 737's, there was always business class, separated from economy with movable divider, with bigger luggage allowance, priority boarding, hot meals and overall better inflight service, and later, with middle seat blocked for better comfort
DeleteThank you! Those 737s came from Lufthansa right?
DeleteYes. And it is the same story happening today again, when they phased out 737's which were their OWN, bought from LH, perfectly maintened, in excellent condition, flying all over EU for another 10 years, in order to replace them with leased, too big, too expensive, new techology requiring training A320F. It was direct Tudjman 's order, which I could even understand, because he bok was trying to "buy" quicker EU way. But for the country, not for himself. Today it's AP decision and order, but not for the company or the country but all for himself and his benefits
DeleteOn the headrest is Air Senegal written!?!
DeleteThose 737's were old fashioned and worn out at the end, not to mention the inefficient engines. The A320's have served OU well for the last 20 odd years
DeleteThose 737's were not old fashioned. They were newer A series, perfectly maintained, and the same type /series/version flew for 10 more years after OU phased it out, in Germany, Italy, Ireland, UK, Norway, Greece, Slovakia.... And I just wonder if you, in case you don't have enough money to pay your bills, or buy food, which equals losses OU makes, if you would selll the car you own, and it's still registered and serves to take you from A to B, would you sell that car (for peanuts) and take on lease the most expensive BMW, to take you from A to B? You probably won't. I won't for sure. And that is precisely what OU is doing now with A220. And A320 is good plane, and I agree it served OU well. But it came 10 years too early, when it was too expensive, and post-war market not big enough for it. Which brings us to the main OU issue, and that is OU not being primarily an airline, but primarily playground for politicians, at least to some extent honourable before, and corrupt and rotten to the bone today
DeleteFantastic news
ReplyDeleteDepends for whom. The taxpayer or the company.
DeleteThis order will make them go bust within 2 years.
ReplyDeleteI wish if it were not like that , but unfortunately I have to agree. Even with Kradeze staying behind them, I believe A220 burden will be too big and too heavy
DeleteWe will make aoc in croatia and call one plain pozdrav from kvarner.
Delete"Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat said the airline does not think it is smart to make any decisions on regional jets at the moment considering the Pratt & Whitney engine issues affecting both the Airbus A220s and Embraer E2s. RwandAir Ltd's Yvonne Manzi Makolo said she was considering E2s but was concerned about cost implications and "pervasive engine issues" when going with the A220s."
ReplyDeleteCom'n 10.12, what Turkish guy knows? Jasmin knows....
DeleteCurrent status of delivered A220. Ratio of grounded and operating
ReplyDeletehttps://media.licdn.com/dms/image/D4E22AQFp8bQU1CsJjg/feedshare-shrink_1280/0/1686896766485?e=1689811200&v=beta&t=XirEYtuVzn_pANS7AuJBKLJkaLVOJvQYHVTi0UiZVi0
Thanks for this! Good overview
DeleteThey are going to have a huge increase in capacity on routes served by the Q400s.
ReplyDeleteI still think they should keep the Q400 in their fleet.
ReplyDeleteSingle type fleet has many positives
DeleteI'm just wondering what they will do with these planes in winter when they have trouble filling Dash 8s on some key routes.
DeleteThey'll lose even more money- nothing new here
Deletethey have trouble filling Dash 8s on some key routes. That is not KEY routes.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteSo what happened with their order that they made with Airbus? All of these are leases.
ReplyDeleteDo they own the current A320 and will they make some money from desposing them?
ReplyDeleteThey own some, not all.
DeleteHope it works for them.
ReplyDeleteBut with all the problems that the A220 is having is not a good sign. Half of the Air Baltic fleet is grounded and they won't have a slot and parts to service the engines until 2024.
And it's very unclear why they have to wait until they get the A220 to grow the routes, they can just dry lease new planes to try this, there's no need to renew the whole fleet for this. They could even wet lease planes for the summer season to introduce new routes to see how they perform and see demand.
Can only wonder of Croatia airlines will have a bad ending course of this.
"Slav.Man11:09
DeleteCan only wonder of Croatia airlines will have a bad ending course of this."
Why???
They're leasing these aircraft, even with lease to own, costs are dramatically lower than outright ownership. If they negotiated well and got a good deal on these 12-15 aircraft then they should be ok. I presume they’ve agreed payment of around €30-37 million per year for 12 aircraft, which is a lot less then if they purchased same aircraft which would cost the airline around €500-570 million and repayments of around €50-57 million per year for 12 aircraft. They’ve literally cut their costs by €20 million per year and if they can secure 70% load factor overall, they’ll be doing really well.
If airline agreed lease to own, then costs are slightly higher, around €40-42 million for 12 aircraft, but even with that deal they come out with a large margin. Leasing is best option for a small airline that wants to expand. Look at Air Baltic, 50 A220 in service or on Order, it’s a fine example what can be done if you have a smart management at the helm of an airline. Sadly, OU does not, but I remain hopeful for the airline, not so much for its management.
Croatia airlines already ownes most of its fleet.
DeleteSo they're getting rid of planes they own to then pay and lease planes they don't own.
Planes they have to spend money on to re-train their crew and pilots, planes that have the highest leasing costs.
Not all lease prices are the same. the A220 Is amongst the most expensive on the market. Plus all the engine issues that come with it.
The A220 is also more expensive to insure and has higher maintenance costs
If they wanted to grow and expand the actual plane to lease would be more a320 that would be much cheaper for them.
As for Air Baltic half of their fleet is parked because of engine issues so they're wet leasing planes. And their fleet will not be fully operational for next 2 years at current rate.
@
Delete"Slav.Man12:47
Croatia airlines already ownes most of its fleet."
https://www.croatiaairlines.com/resources/dokumenti/korporativno-upravljanje/godisnja-izvjesca/godisnje-izvjesce-2022.pdf
When you're doing a bulk lease you get a discount, normally between 10-20% for entire fleet. The fact Croatia got option for up to 15 aircraft, we're talking at least 20% discount. A220 leasing cost are around $270 000 individually, but in bulk lease costs are discounted for noumber of aircraft that are leased. Averaging around 3.24 million per aircraft and if OU excelsis rights to all 15 aircraft that would be around $48.6 million, apply discount – 10% = $43.7 million, roughly $3 million per aircraft for fleet of 15. Out of airline’s total turnover of €265 million in 2019, airline paid around €119 in million repayments for existing aircraft and leases of additional aircraft, these costs cease to be the issue with the retirement of Q400 fleet and airline now having only lease payments to deal with. In 2022, these costs were cut down, but still high at €69 million.
Overall cost for the airline will be around €25 million lower than if it bought the aircraft outright. Owning an aircraft that depreciates every year isn’t best business strategy. Maintaining aircraft that is over 20 years old is also expensive. The fact Croatian Airlines owns 7 aircraft that are 20 years old, shows you why it is smarter to lease, owning something and not being able to dispose off for new and more efficient replacement, makes things difficult for an airline. Also, Croatia can still use retired Aircraft on add hock basis in tourism.
There is no provision in ownership
Delete"Anonymous13:29
DeleteThere is no provision in ownership"
Insurance ???
Maybe they start flying out of ljubljana
ReplyDeletethey need more aircraft for that, if they exercise all 15 aircraft, perhaps. Zagreb already acts as a 2nd airport for Slovenian travellers, 20% of all users at the airport are Slovenian travellers, this is data for 2022, in 2023 it might be even higher.
DeleteI came just for Pozdrav comments. Guy never fails when OU is a topic. Fantastic!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks bro 😃
DeleteI give to Pozdrav consistency and educational character here. It seems that OU has wasted a historic chance for a Sun-drenched, coast-pearl country to establish dominant Balkan airline with long-haul connections and as a big brother to other ex-YU carriers. It seems to me Germans in 1992 said for Independence we want this, this and this, and I guess OU as a feeder was in the package. I get that. Funny thing is they turned OU into crony communist/socialist firm similar to JAT from YU which they hated so much. It seems that HDZ via LH rules OU, holes will be filled with taxpayers and that is it. I dont think it will go bust as it has huge nationalistic significance so this will go on. If JU continues with its own path it will be a big brother OU was supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteSign under every single word. And thanks! 😃
Deletecroatia airlines is still well managed if you compare it with Hrvrske željeznice ;-) This is the true playground of the ruling party
DeleteYou can't compare airline and railway company. You can compare OU and JU for example, or BT, or A3, and HŽ can be compared with Slovenian, Hungarian or any other railways. I fully agree Kradeze destroyed both OU and HŽ, and much more, but I would rather stick to aviation comparisons on this aviation blog.
DeleteI didn't want to compare anything, just underline their point of view on corruption in Croatian state-owned companies
Delete*your
DeleteOk, on that one we fully agree
Delete
DeleteI somewhat disagree . I just think after Tudjmans death Croatian Yugo-nostalgic's cemented themselves into power because that is where they want to be and just have no desire to see a successful Croatia in the sense of one which can stand on its own feet because they preferred the old system of a Croatia being part of Yugoslavia, just maybe more independent.
They don't believe in the long-term success of the country as an independent nation so they do not engage in any type of investment to support this. Perfect example is when the current president (when he was premier) said "Rimac should move to Germany where cars are made, Croatians don't make cars" or what we see with all state run institutions like Croatia Airlines.
They seem to think Croatians are only good for serving foreign tourist 6 months of the year and not much else.
If Croatia didn't have the sporting success (especially but not just football) which keeps some of the Croatian spirit going, I have no idea where the nation would be now.
Agree with general situation you described, but disagree on participants. I think that your "Croatian Yugo-nostalgic's" should be swaped for "Members of Interest Organization" (which is led, but by no means limited to Kradeze only, and include all those who have personal interest from situation like this, as for example the President you mentioned, the most important ethno businessman, various zetoncici, Ustavni sud......) In one word, Mafia, which took over in Croatia, which resulted in Croatia becoming travesty of the democracy and open market, not real democracy and real open market. And such results are actually turning normal citizens who still remember Yugoslavia, from patriotic to Yugo-nostalgic, because when people see what is happening around them (with OU for example as we are on the aviation blog), they start realizing what we had before was way better. Nothing wrong with Croatian spirit, we only need to get rid of people who are destroying that spirit, our economy and our lives.
DeleteIMO they should leave dash-8s in their fleet and operate PSO and subisdised flights in the region, Mostar, Ljubljana, Skopje, even Italy and Hungary are all offering some kind of money
ReplyDeleteThe planes are secondary, the most important thing is the business plan, program and vision which they don't have at OU and I seriously doubt they'll get it once the new aircraft arrive.
ReplyDeleteThe one positive side of note is a continuous momentum of gathering a critical mass of public outrage, which has only started happening this year with OU's catastrophic performance causing chaos at the airports all over the country.
The flight delays have continued, as have cancellations. All due to absurd reasons such as one crew member missing and the entire company not being able to find a replacement, or a single plane being temporarily out causing a long term knock on effect, big enough for the main media, not just fringe aviation portals, finally picking it up.