Croatia Airlines has tentatively scheduled the launch of its first flights using the Airbus A220-100 aircraft. The carrier is set to take delivery of two A220-100s, which will complement its thirteen larger A220-300s currently being introduced to the fleet. According to the airline’s preliminary schedule, the 127-seat A220-100 will initially operate exclusively on flights between Zagreb and Brussels starting October 26, 2025. The jet is expected to be deployed on this route twice daily through the end of the year. The A220-100 is the smallest in Airbus' commercial aircraft product line. Its fuselage is slightly shorter than the one of the A220-300 and it has been specifically designed to serve the 100-135 seat market.
Croatia Airlines currently boasts a fleet of two A220-300s.Its third A220 jet, which has already received its serial number, is due to arrive in March and by December a further five aircraft will be delivered. As a result, Croatia Airlines will have a total of eight new aircraft by the end of 2025. Four additional units will be added in 2026 and three more in 2027. All the aircraft are being produced at the A220 Mirabel production facility near Montreal in Canada. Croatia Airlines has secured the jets through a financial lease, with the frames owned by aircraft leasing companies.
During the ongoing first quarter of the year, Croatia Airlines’ two A220-300s are being deployed on a total of ten routes. These include, from Zagreb to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Frankfurt, Split and Skopje, as well as from Split to Rome and Frankfurt. During Q1 2025, Croatia Airlines has scheduled its two A220-300s on a total of 811 movements. Of those, some 50% or 406 movements will be either to or from Frankfurt, followed by the Zagreb - Brussels - Zagreb and Zagreb - Dubrovnik - Zagreb routes.
I guess it makes sense to use it on BRU route where they sometimes use Dash.
ReplyDeleteAnd twice daily is ideal for business travellers.
DeleteSadly even the Dash was too big for the route on the couple of times i took this flight. LF less than 40 percent...
DeleteSo what's the idea then of putting the A220-100 on the route?
DeleteThat new passengers will magically appear without changing anything other than the type of plane.
DeleteAnon@9:42, no but better user experience and lower tarifs (more capacity, lower operational cost) will!
DeleteSo far it is not looking like they are pulling in more passengers as they have fewer passengers than they did in 2019.
DeleteRyanair growth at ZAG doesn't rely on better user experience for passengers to magically appear.
DeleteThis is the best aircraft in the industry that will make of Croatia Airlines one of the best airline in former Yugoslavia. Lowest CASK, best user experience and best management in the industry. OU is the European benchmark!
DeleteDo you really think that passengers decide where they will fly based on the type of plane? Otherwise, the OU user experience is not significantly better than that of using Ryanair.
Delete@9.37
DeleteThat’s a fair point, but the A220-100 offers lower operating costs, which might make the route more sustainable, even with lower load factors.
@anonymous 12.46
DeleteProbably not in most cases, but better comfort and reliability can influence frequent travelers, especially business passengers.
Are OU's A220 business class seats exactly the same as economy class seats?
DeleteYes
DeleteIs there a difference in range between the -100 and -300 series?
ReplyDeleteIt's very similar and OU doesn't operate any routes that're too far for either of em
DeleteThere is a possibility they may launch some further away routes now that they have the option.
DeleteThe A220’s range opens up new possibilities, and expansion into Eastern and Southern Europe could be next.
DeleteThe range is similar, but the -100 is designed for shorter routes and smaller markets
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteWould love to see the A220s on some more routes.
ReplyDeleteWhen they get more of them, they will be put on more routes. They currently have only two.
DeleteHappy to see Croatia Airlines expanding its A220 fleet!
ReplyDeleteI hope they’ll use the A220-100 on more regional routes
ReplyDeleteThey won't, They will retire their own Q400s and then wet-lease more expensive planes from Lufthansa approved partners.
Delete???
Delete^ I don't know what is not to understand? Croatia Airlines has publicly said they will replace Dash 8 Q400s with wet-leased turboprop planes that will be used on regional routes.
Delete???? About what Lufthansa planes are you talking about?
DeleteThe wet lease partner will be an airline that is already working with Lufthansa group. As you will see soon.
DeleteSo it will not be Lufthansa? So you want to say you were lying?
DeleteI said Lufthansa approved partners. But that would require you to read before you leapt into the defence of OU.
DeleteThere is no such a thing like "Lufthansa approved partner".
Delete^ good thing you know everything. On paper it is also uneheard of that the CEO of an 'indipendent' airline sits on the board of Lufthansa City Line at the same time. But it happened with Croatia Airlines and its CEO. Mind you, you probably denied that too and cheered for corruption.
DeleteSo what means "Lufthansa approved partner"?
DeleteThat poor guy suffers from LDS. Lufthansa Derangement Syndrome.
Delete@17:58 It means they will lease planes from supplier approved by LH.Capishi?
DeleteWhich is that "supplier approved by LH" and who are those suppliers approved by AF? Or BA? Or LO? Or FR? Or W6?
DeleteAnon 21:14
DeleteAnd how they "approve it"?
It’s impressive how quickly they’re building up their fleet.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNot just impressive, it's spectacular how you manage to build up the fleet to 15 shirt haul units, after 30 years of existence, on the market which has over million passengers from distance markets, and where minimum of 40 units could be utilized. Impressive, spectacular, breathtaking, and especially when financed by others, by public money
DeletePublic money is for public spending.
DeleteQuotes from those two links:
Delete“The acquisition of new aircraft was a strategic decision made by the Croatian government and the management of Croatia Airlines because the carrier fulfills a very important strategic role, which isn’t purely commercial"
"The existence of Croatia's national carrier will never be brought into question and the government will always support its flag carrier. This will continue in the future".
Nice!
ReplyDelete50% of A220 flights going through Frankfurt? Why am I not surprised...
ReplyDeleteWell it is their busies route.
Delete^busiest
DeleteSo, why nit A320? Not busy enough?
DeleteWell how many times per day do they fly from all Croatian airports combined to FRA (and MUC)? If they had just up to 2 rotations daily then A320 would be perfect
DeleteGreat to see fleet growth, but will Croatia Airlines add more destinations?
ReplyDeleteThey have said multiple times they will add up to 8 new routes this year.
Delete4 to Vrankvurt and 4 to Minken , from Zadar Rijeka,Osijek,Brač
DeleteIt's almost mid January, they should really announce at least the first new route
DeleteI hope they consider adding seasonal routes to tourist destinations with these planes. Perfect size for leisure travel
DeleteHopefully they will start doing something with their network soon. This winter is a total disappointment.
DeleteThey should open routes to a bit wider region..Now they have bigger plane as well...I would also racon 1 long haul route to Seoul would be good hit..
DeleteAh Seoul is a good idea with the A220, sure, why not Honolulu and Papeete.
DeleteMy tips : Bandar seri Begawan and Cochabamba (believe or not, Croatia had consulate in Cochabamba, so you see, I speak purely commercial 🙂)
DeleteAmazing new plane , I saw it in Skopje couple days ago :D
ReplyDeleteThe -100 or -300?
DeleteThe 100 , it was also here in September,Octomber and November , only not see in December ...
DeleteWhich airline?
Delete@9.30 I hope you have read the article and realize that Croatia Airlines won't take delivery of the A220-100 until October.
DeleteThey could've seen Swiss A221
DeleteNo it was Croatian A220 probably the 300 , the first they recieves , there was also article here that Skopje will be the only airport in Ex yu to see the new plane , and yes it was here. Swiss is not flying to SKP the other A220 we saw was Air baltic
DeleteThis shows Croatia Airlines is serious about modernizing. The A220-100 should make shorter routes much more efficient.
ReplyDeleteIt’s exciting to see the fleet grow, but I wonder how the financial lease deals will impact ticket prices in the long run.
ReplyDeleteIt’s exciting to see the fleet grow, but I wonder how the much lower fuel costs, lower CASK and lower maintenance costs will impact ticket prices in the long run.
DeleteAlso the lower landing fees compared with the A320 series.
The A220s have lower landing fees?
DeleteYes cause they are a lot lighter than the A320 series aircraft.
DeleteThe E-jets have even lower fees.
Actually in it's class the E Jets are a lot more expensive to operate compared to for ex. CRJ9/1000 as they are a lot heavier resulting in + landing fees.
DeleteI hope this expansion leads to more direct flights instead of just focusing on connecting through Frankfurt.
ReplyDeleteSome of these mega European hubs are really becoming annoying to connect through with multiple security checks. They really need to move away from the feeder model as passengers just can't be bothered anymore.
DeleteThe A220 is a fantastic aircraft - comfortable and efficient.
ReplyDelete+ 1
DeleteThis is a good start, but Croatia Airlines needs to add more connections to eastern Europe—markets like Bucharest and Sofia are underserved.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Sofia served by Ryanair?
DeleteIt's not by Croatia Airlines
DeleteAgreed. Eastern Europe offers plenty of growth potential, and hopefully, we’ll see these routes added as the fleet expands.
DeleteWith the A220s coming in fast, when are the older aircraft going to be phased out?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/11/croatia-airlines-to-phase-out-first.html
DeleteThank you!
DeleteThey also recently said they will keep some of the Airbus aircraft in the fleet longer. Will be good to see them used for charters.
DeleteCan someone explain to me what was the rationale of taking 2 A220-100s. Why not just make the entire order -300s?
ReplyDeleteMaybe because not all routes are the same?
DeleteIt gives the airline flexibility in fleet planning and matching demand with the right aircraft for a specific route.
Delete@11.01 yes I understand that but I don't think 2 A220-100s will make much of a difference.
DeleteThe -100 provides flexibility for smaller markets and lower-demand routes.
DeleteMali Losinj can't handle the -300 :D
DeleteMaybe it was just timing, getting them into the fleet sooner? Or do the 100s and 300s run off the same production line?
DeleteExcellent news
ReplyDeleteAny idea what the third A220 will be called or what is the serial number?
ReplyDeleteI guess they will continue with city names: Rijeka, Osijek and so on
DeleteI'm guessing Dubrovnik is next?
DeleteHow many of the frames will they operate by the peak summer? 4 or more?
ReplyDeleteI believe 4
DeleteI still think they should've transitioned to E jets beacause of their differen seat range, but I'm happy to see the beautiful A220 jet in the region. Eventhough we all know that they are walking towards becoming a Lufthansa company
ReplyDelete1. Embraer E2 is really unpopular
Delete2. No they are not.
cmon, the whole point of tying them up with a220 is to make them so debt heavy that Lufthansa takes them over for pennies.
DeleteWhy would Lufty want OU when OU is doing everything for them for free.
DeleteI have a feeling 2-3 A220s may become capacity providers for LH in 2-3 years time.
ReplyDeleteYep, sad but true. Just take a look at Air Baltic and how many planes they'll operate for LHG members.
DeleteAir Baltic have 50 on order and 50 operational. Maybe too much capacity for them at this time. OU will only ever have 15
DeleteWhen do OU usually do the new routes announcement?
ReplyDeleteUsually in February
DeleteI recently flew OU's A220-300 (named _Zagreb) on the flight Zagreb - Skopje. It was about 70% full, the seats were extremely comfortable and spacious, there are USB/C chargers but the Wifi did not work (I didn't need it, it's a short flight, but checked it just out of curiosity). The plane is truly beautiful and having been seated next to the engine one could tell the P&W engines are noticeably quieter than the A320's CFMs. The crew seemed quite proud (the captain mentioned it's their newest plane etc.). Hopefully this deal works out well for Croatia and times come when investing in equipment/ safety/ work culture are on the price again. Cf. I was very disappointed with the Swiss incident in Graz and what seems like improper oxygen equipment onboard. Poor cabin crew who work in such conditions.
Delete