Low cost carrier Ryanair has filed a preliminary schedule for the introduction of flights between Zagreb and Palermo next summer season. Based on the tentative plans, the service will launch on March 30 and operate three time per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with its 180-seat Lauda Europe Arbus A320 aircraft. If the plans materialise, it will become the first time the two cities have been linked with a scheduled air service. Ryanair may still opt not to go ahead with its service plans with tickets yet to be put on sale. The preliminary schedule can be found here.
Italy has proven a successful market for Ryanair from Zagreb with the airline serving Rome Fiumicino, Bergamo, Naples and Pisa from the Croatian capital, with the latter having launched this summer. Naples is maintained only during the summer months. Milan Bergamo is one of Ryanair’s busiest roues from its Zagreb base, with close to 70.000 passengers flying between the two cities last year. Furthermore, the budget airline has had notable success with its leisure-oriented destinations from the Croatian capital. Based on its existing plans, Ryanair also intends on serving Memmingen over the coming summer, which was not operated over the 2024 summer season, but served during the winter.
Next year, Ryanair will enter the fourth year of the five-year Growth Incentive Model it has benefited from so far at Zagreb Airport. To maintain its incentives, the airline must add at least 75.000 departing passengers during the year, with the potential for further discounts if it surpasses 150.000 additional departing passengers per year. This provides Ryanair with a strong incentive to increase its traffic out of the Croatian capital each year. At this point, based on the number of available capacity, Italy will be Ryanair’s largest market out of Zagreb next summer, followed by Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France and Malta.
Sicily has a lot of potential outside of summer as well, as its warm climate makes it an attractive destination throughout spring and autumn. Maybe they'll extend it to year round
ReplyDeleteDon’t mention Sicily and potential in same sentence. Maybe if you go to 5star hotel. Balkan coast is cleaner, cheaper and people are more friendly.
DeleteWhat a stupid comment. Croatia is crazy expensive.
DeleteCroatia is only expensive because more and more tourists come every year. The reality is that most people from Zagreb cannot afford to go to the Adriatic coast, and it's great that they now have the option to fly to Cyprus, Spain or Italy with Ryanair where holidays can be a bit cheaper.
DeleteBut it's definitely true that the Croatian coast is much nicer than any sea you get in Sicily. And all beaches are privatised so you can literally only swim in 5* resorts. @10:10 was completely right.
DeleteValue for money is definitely better on Croatian coast
DeleteIt’s always good to have options.
DeleteI was always puzzled when I had tourists from Naples from example, but hey, people want to try something new.
We need more flights to Spain! Beautiful, public beaches, much nicer than Croatia and half the price.
DeleteIf you think Spanish beaches are nicer than Croatian beaches then you have definitely not visited either. There is a reason Croatia is more expensive than Spain.
DeleteNot true that all beaches are privatised. Yes, if you go to the main city beach of Palermo you won't have a lot of free spots, but if you explore some others you would be surprised.
DeleteAnd what is more or less beautiful is very personal. I would always choose Sicily over anywhere in Croatia because I find it nicer, wormer, more inspiring, more enriching etc. So, those kind of arguments are pointless.
By that logic, Anon 12.19, Spain has several times more tourists than Croatia, it says a lot which country is more beautiful and which beaches are better.
DeleteIf you ask me, Spain is no.1, Croatia comes somewhere on position 7, certainly after, Spain, Greece, South France, Cyprus, Turkey and Italy (Sicily and Sardinia - not necessarily I'm this order. Albania I haven't seen yet, so I skip it for that reason only. And this is only if we consider North Mediterranean coast.
Egypt is no.1 by far, comparing prices, beauty, temperature, service. Croatia is unreasonable expensive, even for Germans. Cold and overpriced, no thanks...
DeleteCroatians are renting their own homes (who lives near the coast) during their vacation, go to other country, pay for travel, accommodation, food, fun and they still have money left.
Delete1057, either that, or you are crazy broke?
DeleteIt looks like Croatia has attracted really rich people as tourists who are willing to pay more than in other countries. Not bad....for those making extra profit.
DeleteAnon 10:10 sicily is beautiful and people very friendly, bought a house there with my siblings! A coastal city 40 minutes from Palermo! So happy JU flies both palermo and catania
DeleteYes - Croatian coast is cleaner and more beautiful - especially Vodice beach. Or Barbat.
Delete12:19: Been to both Croatia and Spain, the coast is different, but I would never say Croatia is more beautiful than Spain. I like both, but due to prices, I will always rather choose Spain.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteExcellent news
ReplyDeleteIn other news Ryanair plans to base a third 737 in DBV next year and add new destinations. Instead of two 737-8 there will be three 737-800 next year.
DeleteGood choice of destination and kind of expected considering the routes they have been choosing from ZAG lately.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be going big on Italy and Spain. And Croatia Airlines must be shocked that these routes have succeeded. I doubt Bajić knows that Malaga exists.
DeleteBecause you claim that you are rich. You do not bother with Spain, and Italy.
DeleteNice. Will there be more new routes?
ReplyDeleteMost likely
DeleteNice! Although that 5.50 Sunday departure does not look too appealing.
ReplyDeleteFor a 20 euro fare, people will get up at whatever time.
DeleteMost Ryanair departures in Zagreb start at 5.45. Three aircraft leave before 6am every day. It's only the fourth one that usually leaves a bit later.
Delete@9.12 personally think it's better that the past midnight arrival time into Zagreb on the other two days.
DeleteSo Italy is their no. 1 market from Zagreb, yet Croatia Airlines fly only one route to Italy from Zagreb (Rome) and it is via Split!
ReplyDeleteNo Croatia Airlines has a good yields, that is the reason why they are flying into Rome from Zag via Split. They are smart!
DeletePisa must have performed well for them since it has become a yearround route.
ReplyDeleteEverybody wants to visit beautiful Tuscany!
DeleteI think it's a totally random move. Pisa is not doing that well as a route and I don't understand why they picked it to go year-round.
DeleteYeah, Ryan is known for picking the destinations randomly. Totally random airline with random profits...
DeleteBut it's true. They only picked Pisa because it's a short rotation. Malaga brings in much more money but it's a 7-hour rotation
DeleteRyanair has done more for reducing Croatia's seasonality than national airline which just talks about how they are going to do it but never do.
DeletePisa is Tuscany most important airport due that all LCC are flight to and from there. And it is nor random choice it is 30min by train from one most visited cities in Italy-Florence, but also Rome, Siena are not too far round trip…
Delete11:03 …. LOL….good to know you know all reasons of decision so next I am gonna ask you
DeleteYou don't have to ask me because clearly you've made up your mind already.
DeleteDoes this mean they will have an extra plane based in Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteHow many do they have now?
DeleteThey don't need an extra one yet. They have 4 aircraft and there is enough ex-base shuffling around to make new routes work without a fifth aircraft.
DeleteAnother fantastic route from Ryanair! Italy has become such a popular destination from Zagreb
ReplyDeleteTraffic growth between ZAG and Italy is impresive.
DeleteFingers crossed for Zagreb-Palermo flights
ReplyDeleteWhen did they schedule the new Zagreb routes for this summer?
DeleteI just checked. exyuaviation.com published the list of new routes on 30 November. Ryanair put them on sale a few days later.
DeleteBecause they based a fourth aircraft. Those kinds of touts get announced further in advance.
DeleteInteresting that Ryanair's incentives depend on boosting departing passengers! Makes sense why they are adding so many routes. Let's see what additional destinations might pop up next summer
ReplyDeleteThat is a clever strategy for ZAG.
DeleteWell it has worked so far. Had they not brought Ryanair, figures would still be below Covid levels because Croatia Airlines is still 10% behind 2019 levels (which is crazy).
DeleteAnyone know when tickets might go on sale? This could be perfect for a summer getaway
ReplyDeleteZagreb’s network is expanding fast thanks to Ryanair
ReplyDeleteSo will Italy be the international market with the most destination from Zagreb overall?
ReplyDeleteIt sure has the potential to overtake Germany.
DeleteIn Germany there is Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Weeze, Hahn and Memmingen. There also used to be Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Dortmund.
DeleteIn Italy there is Bergamo, Pisa, Naples, Rome, Palermo. There used to be Malpensa, Brindisi and Bologna.
So Germany is far ahead.
Ok makes sense but still impressive considering Ryanair pretty much developed Zagreb's whole Italy network in 3 yeara.
DeleteBefore Covid there was Malpensa and Fiumicino via Split/Dubrovnik with Croatia Airlines. Ryanair really made a big difference.
DeleteThis will be FR's 5th route from ZAG to Italy. Just shows how much potential has been wasted by OU.
DeleteThat is great news for Franjo Tudman airport!
ReplyDeleteIt could have 4.3 million pax by year end!
DeleteA 25% increase in traffic since the pre pandemic record. That is a terrific performance for a mature market.
I'm pretty sure it will reach 4.3 million. If passenger growth follows projected capacity growth it should be there.
DeleteA smart move by Ryanair tapping into Sicily’s growing popularity. This could be a huge hit for weekend travelers. Let’s hope they confirm the route soon.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
DeleteAgree. Quite a few routes they started like that became really popular with locals from Zagreb. They really did open up new markets for the population.
DeleteAmazing, amazing! Can't wait to fly it. Please do Porto next
ReplyDeleteI think Porto would have potential. Or Lisbon
DeleteWould love to see Croatia Airlines follow Ryanair’s example and add more routes like this.
ReplyDeleteBy the time they start to, Ryanair will have taken up all the route. And OU has already proven it can't compete against FR. All routes where they do, their passenger numbers have collapsed - London, Brussels, Paris...
DeleteTrue unfortunately.
DeleteHoping to see ticket prices soon
ReplyDeleteIt's FR. It's not going to be expensive. At least the basic fares without anything extra.
DeleteLovely, bravo!
ReplyDeleteI wish than Sjj became the zagreb's airport of this days in the futur
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGood to see there will be new routes next year too.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there will be some new ones from Dubrovnik too.
DeleteIt was published here that DBV CEO said they are negotiating new routes for next year.
DeleteIs FR giving up on ZAD? It looks like it. No new routes, no year round destinations, most routes starting in June.... is there still a base in ZAD?
DeleteWhat? Zadar had the best year ever this year. Next year they are still waiting for the final agreement from the tourist board for April-May flights.
DeleteWish it was OU opening routes like this
ReplyDeleteThey keep promising a revolution wiht the A220s.
DeleteThey are in raljama zivota. Gnjeci ih RA samo tako.
DeleteIt's FR.
DeleteA route like this is something I have come to expect from Ryanair :D
ReplyDeleteYes, recent new routes have all be leisure
Delete* been
DeleteThis one is not such a short flight. 2 hrs.
ReplyDeleteNow we got all parts of Italy covered.
ReplyDeleteExcept Sardinia.
DeleteI read somewhere that OU intends to launch ZAG-PRG next summer.
ReplyDeletegroundbreaing. They served it before covid. I guess this is part of their massive changes with the A220 that will magically solve all their problems.
DeleteThey launched Split-Prague this year
Delete^ they launched Split-Prague in 2021.
DeleteAnd Dubrovnik-Prague in 2023.
DeleteZAD Prague has been running for years....
DeleteThat's Ryanair not Croatia Airlines
DeleteWhat else could FR introduce next year?
ReplyDeleteOr will this be it - PMO and FMM?
DeleteIf they don't base another plane than I assume that will be it. But lets wait and see if this materialises.
DeleteIt depends. They operate several routes with planes from other bases.
DeleteSome of their routes are so random. I'm certain thwre are more in demand destinations from Zagreb than PMO.
ReplyDeleteA new route is a new route. I don't see an issue.
DeleteI didn't say it was an issue. But several of their Italian routes have already failed from ZAG and been discontinued. I think there are several other major European capitals to which ZAG needs flights.
DeleteWhich several? Only Brindisi. All others are continuing either seasonally or year-round.
DeleteHow many rotations per plane per day does Ryanair have from Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteToday thy had 15. OU had 26 in comparison.
DeleteYou didn't understand the question.
DeleteThey have between 3 and 4. Dublin, Paphos and Malaga rotations decrease the daily total to 3 if they are operated.
The Dalmatian coast has basically doubled in price in 3 years since COVID. Greed and madness. I work in hospitality and have many apartments and houses in my portfolio. 2024 was successful, however 60% of my life long return guests have stated that they not be returning next year. Long life friends and guests stated openly that Turkey/ Spain Portugal and Italy are between 50% and 30% cheaper!
ReplyDeleteWe reap what we sow..... Stupidity.