Croatia Airlines to wet-lease additional jet amid maintenance delays


Croatia Airlines has concluded a wet-lease agreement for an Airbus A319 aircraft with the Croatian-registered Fly Air41 Airways, a subsidiary of Germany’s SundAir. It comes as a result of protracted maintenance on three of its own aircraft, most of which have now been out of service for over two months. This has resulted in the Croatian carrier cancelling select flights over past two weeks, as services ramp up with the onset of the summer season. The incoming A319 jet is expected to enter into service on behalf of Croatia Airlines towards the end of next week. The airline resumes a number of its seasonal summer flights during the first week of May.

Croatia Airlines is already wet-leasing a Trade Air A320 aircraft for the summer. The jet is currently operating the majority of its flights out of Zagreb but will be based in Split during the peak of the summer season. The three Croatia Airlines aircraft that have been out of service due to maintenance delays include an A319 registered 9A-CTL, an A320 registered 9A-CTK, and a Dash 8 Q400 registered 9A-CQC, although the latter has been grounded for just over a month. A wet-lease is a leasing arrangement whereby the lessor provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance and insurance to another airline.

Croatia’s flag carrier is set to commence its fleet renewal program in two months with the arrival of the first of fifteen A220 aircraft. Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, recently said, “The first of fifteen new A220 aircraft will join Croatia Airlines’ fleet in June 2024, followed by the second by the end of 2024. After the planned delivery in 2024, we expect the arrival of the next six aircraft in 2025, four more in 2026, and the last three in 2027. All aircraft will be financed through an operating lease”. The Croatian carrier will become a single-type operator of the A220 jets. Last year it sold the remaining five A320-family aircraft that were in its ownership but inked a sale-and-leaseback agreement until the new A220 aircraft arrive.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:00

    Weren't they supposed to wet lease 2 A320 this summer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:02

      No, 1 A320 from Trade Air

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:13

      "The Croatian carrier is also eyeing a second A320 wet-lease for the 2024 summer season."

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/12/croatia-airlines-to-wet-lease-aircraft.html?m=1

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      This is obviously unrelated. They did know in December that 3 of their planes would break down.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:17

      * did not

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:19

      It's the fact that even if all of their aircraft were in flying state, they would be down one aircraft

      Delete
    6. Anonymous13:34

      Croatia is nominally a Star Alliance member. It's unbelievable that Star Alliance passengers are flown in airplanes of dubious airlines.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:34

      Those airlines are not IATA members

      Delete
    8. Anonymous19:59

      So what?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:08

      Fly41 is IATA member

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    They have cancelled quite a few flights in the last few weeks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:28

      Not true. There was a handful only.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      And the difference btw handful and quite a few is...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Does Fly 41 have Croatian crew?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    Good thing Croatia ACMI airlines can step in

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:16

      Now they should lease one ETF B737-800 and they have taken planes from all of Croatia's ACMIs :D

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:23

      That would've been quite funny yeah. At least they're putting Croatian in the airline name

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:42

      Because they are Croatian.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:00

      First and foremost because they had availability and spare aircraft on hand.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    The A220s can't come soon enough

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bravo Hrvatska, Bravo OU!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:08

    But don't they do maintenance inhouse?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      Yes, but if you haven't heard there are huge supply chain issues.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      There is not enough staff

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:00

      ^ in maintenance?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:08

    That's why they have been cancelling Mostar. Missing a Q400

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:39

      OMO on Apr 04 was canceled due to staff and not aircraft shortage. There were 3 Q400 seating in ZAG that night.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:54

      So they have staff shortage too?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:12

      I don’t know how is in general. That night this was OU official statement. The flight was cancelled less than 4 hours before schedule departure.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:29

      They haven't been cancelling Mostar. Mostar was cancelled just once in all of 2024.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:32

      Twice actually.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:01

      Ok twice but original commentator was exaggerating.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:24

      PUY and ZAD were canceled twice

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    It's crazy that their first A220 arrives in just over a month and they still haven't said when exactly it is arriving, ravealed the product, scheduled it on any flight....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:25

      That's because it won't.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:23

      Hahaha exactly

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:13

    Not good to have 3 planes AOG in summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:01

      Yes, that turned out to be very badly planned and thought out.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:21

    I'm positive that the arrival of A220 is going to be delayed.
    We are 2 months away from the delivery and we are yet to see the aircraft come out of production line (if brand new), or being assigned (if used). Usually you at least see the tail in the color of the carrier, but this time nothing has come out as of now. Not to mention the airline not promoting the new interior, WIFI or the aircraft AT ALL. Maybe they'll get them in the later part of the summer but I can't see it happening anytime soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      Agree. Although don't hold high hopes for Croatia Airlines PR even when the planes arrive. Their biggest 'achievement' was to take two models 5 years ago, put them in non-Croatia Airlines uniforms and use them on all promo materials for the past five years,

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:15

      It’s really a pity. Some other airlines used this as a company and upgraded product promotion in social media, e.g. Cyprus Airways last year. And it costs practically nothing.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:17

      Even just a hype with redesigned logo could fill their social media for a month :)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:04

      Rafale couldn't have either, yet, here they are!

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:27

    Yesterday our flight to Munich was delayed because they didn't have aircraft available... That's what they told us at least.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:30

      That is true, and they sent an A319 instead.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:01

      What was originally scheduled? Q400?

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:27

    And peak summer hasn't even started yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:02

      That is why they are wet leasing an aircraft. To avoid disruption during peak summer.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:31

    Don't they have a backup aircraft?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      How can one back up make up for 3?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:02

      They had one which is now fully operational.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:34

    Hope they can overcome the issues.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:34

    Why wet lease when they have the crew that would fly a grounded 319?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:38

      Finding A320 family aircraft for dry lease in April 2024 is literally impossible.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:03

      ^ exactly. People don't get how bad the situation is on the market.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:50

    Well that A319 they retired late last year would come in handy now

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:51

    So now they pay wet lease plus their own plans they sold plus A220 payments...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:16

      Indeed

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:03

      I'm very interested to see their financial report for Q1.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:09

      It should be published next time.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:52

    Good to see at least that they are helping local Croatian carriers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      +1 makes most sense

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:15

      That's certainly one way to spin it

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:31

      It's not a spin, it is a fact

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:30

      It's a spin. Huge spin.

      Delete
    5. Slav.Man11:52

      well depends how you view Fly Air41 Airways, most likely they have Croatian staff, but it is owned by the Germans so the profits go back to Berlin.

      Really Missing @Pozdrav at times likes this

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:51

      Pozdrav went to Analitičars website.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous19:19

      Suits him

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:02

    time for more ACMI airlines in the region. They are boviously needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:03

      Airlines don't choose ACMi carriers based on country. Price is usually king.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:02

    When does the financial lease for the Dash 8s end?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:13

      Two at the end of this year, the rest until the end of next year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:13

      Unless they get extended of course

      Delete
  22. Anonymous10:10

    Well it's good that they are taking proactive measures to minimize disruptions

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:14

    Any idea when those aircraft will return to service?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:07

      Doesn't look like anytime soon if they are wet leasing a plane to replace them.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous10:21

    At least something is happening at Croatia Airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous10:39

    Do they offer business class on the wet lease planes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:40

      Yes

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:02

      because OU business class catering consists of a box with crackers. No ovens and other equipment needed in the galley..

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:30

      hahaha, hilarious!

      Delete
  26. Anonymous11:15

    Any idea how long this aircraft will be with OU?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:31

      Contract is currently until July.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:35

      Sorry, meant June.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:39

      Thank you

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:03

      I guess until A220 arrives

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:54

      We'll wait for that one

      Delete
  27. Anonymous11:47

    All ex-yu flag carrier now wet-leasing big time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:50

      The era of the wet leases

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:13

      Passengers can expected mixed cabin, service, staff and livery at all three flag carriers. If you complain about varied experience at one airline, same complaint applies to the other two.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:07

      True

      Delete
  28. Anonymous14:22

    Actually no need for worry. HDZ won, so CTN lives for sure next 4 years

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:40

      HDZ won but they don't have the majority which means that the parlament has still not been elected

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:45

      Was Kucko SDP candidate for CEO?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:33

      Kucko was Milanović's childhood friend. He was a baggage handler for OU and when Milanovic became primminister, he appointed him as CEO.

      Crazy story but very true!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:06

      Nuts

      Delete
    5. Anonymous20:09

      Wasn't he representative of Croatia Airlines for Benelux region before he became CEO?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous20:16

      Yes, one of his employees there accused him of mobbing.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous20:06

    Good they at least acted quickly.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous21:52

    Do you know what Design Service Goal is on A320? Aircraft “grounded” are reaching it, and their extension was not planned initially. And that is bad company management, for which Mišetić before and now Bajić and government who put him as a CEO is responsible. CTI which left the fleet had only a handful of cycles until the limit.CTN lacks long term planning of fleet. Not worse than ASL, but they are criminaly bad at it. And I write it as a former employee.

    ReplyDelete

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