Zagreb Airport anticipates handling over 4.7 million passengers this year with a growth rate of some 10% following a record 2024, during which it welcomed over four million travellers for the first time and boasted a record number of routes. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, Croatia’s busiest airport said, “Zagreb Airport set a new record in 2024, handling 4.3 million passengers. In 2025, passenger traffic is expected to grow by approximately 10%. The airport maintains strong year-round traffic, with last summer’s schedule connecting Zagreb to 66 destinations and the winter schedule to 48. While this year’s summer schedule is still being finalised, an increase in destinations is anticipated. One confirmed addition is Ryanair’s new Zagreb - Palermo route, set to launch at the start of the 2025 summer season with three weekly flights. Tickets are already available for purchase”.
During 2024, Zagreb Airport added 592.969 passengers on the previous year, resulting in growth of 15.9%. The start to 2025 will also deliver growth, with scheduled seat capacity up 7.4% for a total of 1.19 million seats. “Our close cooperation with partner airlines has positioned Zagreb Airport as one of the fastest-recovering in the European Union post-pandemic”, it said. The airport anticipates an additional surge in traffic this January as Zagreb hosts the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship. The event has already brought in several charter flights carrying fans and teams, including Icelandair’s unique Boeing 757 featuring a livery depicting the largest glacier in Europe.
As previously reported, Zagreb Airport is expanding its facilities in order to accommodate the growth in traffic. “We continuously work on enhancing our services, and by the start of the summer schedule, we will introduce fifteen new check-in counters. Additionally, we are expanding the baggage sorting area, upgrading X-ray machines, and extending commercial and food and beverage facilities at the non-Schengen zone. A museum zone within the terminal will also be opened soon”, the airport said. It concluded, “Zagreb’s strong winter traffic further reinforces its key role for developing continental tourism, making it a crucial entry point for visitors exploring the region throughout the year”.
At the same time OU market share drops in Croatia.
ReplyDeleteOU is still due to announce new routes from ZAG for this summer.
DeleteThe airport does not seem so confident it will happen.
Delete^ "While this year’s summer schedule is still being finalised, an increase in destinations is anticipated."
DeleteEven if OU announce new routes it does not mean their market share won't drop as other carriers announce much more destinations.
DeleteOU is useless. Even if/when they announce new routes it will be low frequency and seasonal. Thank god the airport no longer relies on them for growth.
DeleteAnd the new routes will be made possible by removing frequencies on existing routes.
DeleteYes that is usually the OU way.
DeleteWait and see, Jasmin is an aviation professional and he will show you that you are not right. Croatia Airlines growth is unstoppable, every new aircraft delivery means additional growth at ZAG. Croatia Airlines has already transformed, it is unstoppable!
Delete@10.51
DeleteGood morning Jasmine! Wow, already finished with your first coffee for today? Even blind people can see it's you writing every day this same comment about being aviation professional. But even people who are not in aviation are aware that you are uhljeb, aparatchik, and obedient executor of orders given by your political and Mafia bosses. Have a nice day and enjoy your next coffee.
To add on expansion plans, currently gates 26, 27 and 28 are used for non Schengen arrivals and departures, this section will expand, plan is to add 3 wide body gates, 28 will be doubled in size, 29 and 30 will be added in expansion plans, all for wide body operations, 31 and 32 will be for single isle operations. So when expansion is completed sometimes in late 2027, non Schengen section will have 4 single isle gates, and 3 wide body gates which can serve 2 single isle flights. In all airport will be able to handle 10 non Schengen flights instantaneously, the Schengen section will also see limited expansion and 4 new gates will be added, for total of 9 Air bridges and 2 remote stands. This will also complete phase 2, Phase 3 will see expansion of terminal for Schengen flights, but these are longer term plans, beyond 2035.
DeleteSo in 2026 they will have to start terminal expansion because they will reach the 5 million threshold that requires them to start work.
ReplyDeleteThere have been talks to re-open the old terminal for LCC.
DeleteAh true I forgot about that. That will be a convenient way for them to avoid expanding the terminal.
DeleteAnd it also coincides when the existing Ryanair deal expires.
DeleteWhat exactly happens when existing Ryanair deal expires? Will be Ryanair forced to pay full passenger fee instead of existing 5€?
Delete@09:47
DeleteHaha, how yes no.
@9.47
DeleteOU has said that the airport will reopen the old terminal for Ryanair then and give them special rates because they are using the old terminal and not the main one.
9:47 - yes. They might try to blackmail ZAG into a new deal, though
DeleteIf they get a dedicated terminal with lower fees, why would they blackmail anyone?
Deletelast anon, literally! some people go and brag over Ryan so much, and on the other hand it gave ZAG so much! We want more lines!!
DeleteAnyone know where the museum will be located that they mention?
ReplyDeleteWould be nice if it is aviation related.
DeleteI'm also interested where in the terminal it will be.
DeleteExpected growth is less than 300k. Last year it was almost 600k. It means growth is expected to slow down.
ReplyDeleteWell there is just one new FR route.
Delete@09:06
DeleteExpected growth is 10% of 4.3 million. That is 430.000 more.
I hope your anger didn't make you forget basic math.
Still under 600.000
DeleteZagreb had 4.316.619 passengers last year. It needs to add 384 thousand to reach airport's stated goal of over 4.7 million. Last year it added 592.969 travellers. Basic math says Airport's own goal is adding 200+ thousand passengers less than last year.
DeleteThe airports goal is 10% YoY growth. Meanwhile BEG is hoping for a 4% increase.
DeleteI think you are directing your anger at the wrong airport.
^ Actually nowhere did BEG said what they are hoping for.
DeleteZagreb expected 10% growth would be 432 thousand passengers. It had growth of 592 thousand passengers last year. That's still growth of 160.000 passengers less than growth ZAG had in 2024. Expected growth is slowing down.
DeleteI think growth will exceed 10%. We are looking at 4.8 million most likely.
DeleteYou can look at 5.8 million if you want, but airport said 4.7
DeleteBased on current seats available for 2025, airport will handle over 4.8 million, will it hit 5.0 million remains to be seen. I think 2025, growth will be similar to 2024, but conservative 10% is a safe bet. Even with 10% airport is looking at 4.77 million.
DeleteAirport predicts slowing growth. You can't handle it.
DeleteWow, your deductive skills are unparalleled. If only your math were so sharp.
DeleteThe difference between 700k+ and 300k+ is 400k.
Furthermore, if the expected growth is around 10% we get to a number of around 430k.
That means the expected growth is above 400k, not bellow 300k, Sherlock.
Should keep in mind that they always give a conservative estimate.
ReplyDeleteGiven Zagreb Airport’s recent strong growth and new route additions, the actual 2025 numbers could very well exceed projections, particularly if demand remains strong and additional airlines or frequencies are introduced.
DeleteCongratulations Zagreb. Very good strategy with FR considering OU has no intention of doing anything.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure FR is a good strategy. They have very strong blackmail potential and actually they can request almost anything in Croatia. And they will get it. It is never good.
DeleteThey can request almost anything because they bring millions of tourists to the country and they allow Croats to travel affordably all over Europe.
DeleteIs it good for Croatia that they can request almost anything? I don't think so.
DeleteJust have a look on Germany and how many bases they closed there as soon as their requests have not been met. The latest news is that they closed the base in BLL.
Good luck with FR.
Zagreb Airport has done well to leverage Ryanair's expansion, bringing in more routes and increasing connectivity. While it would be great to see Croatia Airlines take a more proactive approach, the added competition benefits passengers with more choices and often lower fares. Hopefully, this growth encourages OU to step up and expand its own network as well
DeleteGreat to see Zagreb Airport growing so fast! Hopefully, more airlines will add new routes. Would love to see direct flights to the US soon.
ReplyDeletewe need more long-haul options
Delete@9.22 or Asia
DeleteCan’t wait to see more wide-body aircraft at the airport
DeleteI think your waiting will be quite long.
DeleteWhy? It already has two airlines flying widebodies. It used to have even more just a few years ago.
DeleteBecause ZAG can't sustain to have at least one year round widebody destination.
DeleteAlso the growth is mainly driven by FR and their destination map has nothing to do with widebody network.
Let's not forget there is a very good reason Emirates, Korean, Air Canada etc do not return to ZAG.
@10.23
DeleteOnly until few years ago, Belgrade didn't have a single long-haul route, seasonal or year-round, and not just for a year or two, but for long, long years. Does it mean that Belgrade couldn't sustain one single year-round wide body destination? Of course not. It is the same situation with ZAG, and before putting labels on anyone or anything, you should first understand the things you talk about, which you obviously don't, and put such labels with very good reason and purpose. Just for the end, Air Canada, Emirates, Korean Air, Malaysian did fly to ZAG, and their return is not only possible, but highly likely to happen. And, if Zagreb had flag carrier which is not shameful feeder but real airline, ZAG could have had minimum 4 year-round wide body long-haul services so far. So, please, less spitting, more arguments.
And just btw, few years ago when ZAG didn't have LCC services, same labels were put : ZAG cannot sustain it, there is no demand and so on. Now, we see the labels were not correct. It is the same with this one.
DeleteMind you Belgrade has had long haul-flights for 9 years so it is almost a decade and not only "few years ago".
DeleteBelgrade was suffering at the beginning with JFK, because they could not fill the planes out. Domestic demand was poor and JU network had not been developed enough for transfer flights. Exactly the same situation as you have it in ZAG now, but your national pride forbids you to recognize it.
I would like to see EK, KE, AC etc back in Zagreb, but except wishful thinking there are not other reliabale sources to prove your theory. And also I hope Swiss, Brussels, TAP, Finnair, Vueling...will also return as all of them left ZAG in last 5-6 years.
Before FR opened a base in ZAG you called yourselves "prestige airport" 🤣
I was speaking about the period before 9 years ago, and that period was very very long, minimum 10 years, maybe even longer. And you know it very well, but you are "catching the straw" with technicalities. Few years ago or 9 years ago make no diferrence concerning the context I talk about.
DeleteWhat I am talking about has nothing to do with "national pride'. I don't talk national, I talk about million and a half tourists to Croatia annually from USA, Canada, China, Korea, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand and many more distant markets.
And, if you ask me, I would prefer to have OU flying long-haul than Emirates or Air Canada to come back. Anyhow, above mentioned numbers are guarantee that either of two options will happen, maybe even both. That is not my wishful thinking. Unlike your wishful thinking (maybe even related with your national "pride") for it not to happen.
Laughter is the best medicine, and we received a lot of it today.
DeleteAgreed. No arguments, no facts, let's lough
DeleteTrain ot tram connection to the city is still missing. Any idea when one of these might happen?
ReplyDeleteCurrent bus+taxi options are decent enough for the amount of passengers it serves. Tram would take a very long time to reach the airport and a functioning rail link is just a fever dream anywhere in Croatia
DeleteAre there any official plans in regards to train/tram? I remember reading it somewhere a long time ago but I know city government has changed since. Personally I find the Pleaso Prevoz bus great when I am in Zagreb.
Delete* Pleso, sorry
DeleteThere are no plans for it.
DeleteThe are plans to build a high speed train from GK to the Airport
DeleteThe numbers look good, but how much of this growth is due to Ryanair?
ReplyDeleteA lot of it is thanks to Ryan but it is also good we have seen other new carriers like Pegasus and T 'way.
DeleteWould love to see Emirates return!
DeletePerhaps now that they are getting A350s and soon B787s it might happen.
DeleteThe reason Ryanair was brought to the airport was so it could surpass pre Covid numbers. Management new Croatia Airlines would take years to recover.
DeleteGreat news!
ReplyDeleteZagreb is becoming a great hub for tourists visiting Croatia. More connections to the U.S. and Asia would make it even better.
ReplyDeleteIt had the potential to be a regional Star Alliance hub. But OU's incompetent management ruined any chance of that.
Delete+1 last anon. Unfortunately OU is unable to create a proper wave, let alone anything else. But I am glad the airport realized who they are working with and looked towards other partners to secure growth.
DeleteAgree. A lack of strategic expansion and investment from OU has limited that opportunity. Meanwhile other carriers have stepped in to fill the gaps. Hopefully, future leadership at OU (if we ever see one) will recognize the need for growth and take steps to strengthen Zagreb’s position in the region. There’s still potential, but it will require a more ambitious and proactive approach.
DeleteThey should work on attracting more cargo flights too. An airport this size should have better cargo operations to support the economy.
ReplyDeleteThis goes for most of the top airports in ex-Yu.
DeleteWhy are all the airports in the region so passive towards cargo traffic development?
DeleteNot all airports. Ljubljana made efforts for years to improve cargo capabilites. Belgrade announced new DHL cargo project at the airport. Air Serbia grew cargo 25% in 2024.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see growth
ReplyDeleteI think Zagreb needs stronger Middle East connections. I think flights to Saudi could wok for example. At least seasonally.
ReplyDeleteEtihad would be a nice addition, considering they are in expansion mode.
DeleteWho on earth is going to fly from Zagreb to Riyadh or Jeddah?
DeleteThose that transit to any other destination.
DeletePassengers? Cargo?
DeleteI remember, just recently : who on earth is going to fly from Zagreb to Paphos, Malaga, Malta...
DeleteWould be great to have seasonal flights as someone who lives in Riyadh
DeleteThis is great news, but will Croatia Airlines finally wake up and expand? We can’t rely on Ryanair for everything
ReplyDeleteOU will ask for more money from Government.
Delete@10.17 it has been 3 years since Ryanair opened a base and OU has not bothered to expand.
DeleteWhy should they? Fat pay checks. Bonuses. ID tickets. Company cars and phones (ok, danas just for higher ranked Buzin uhljebs). Huuuuuge amount of free time to gossip, drink coffee and do your personal stuff, on work days. Off days weekends, bank holidays, summer holidays, winter skiing, summer sailing and similar. Give me one good reason why should they bother with anything
DeleteFantastic to see Zagreb Airport growing year after year!
ReplyDeleteMore destinations and better facilities is exactly what we need. ZAG is making all the right moves.
ReplyDeleteYaranair ubi Croatiu šakama ....
ReplyDeleteNije kume Yaranair ubio Croatiju nego jarani, kumovi, netijaci, uhljebi i nesposobnjakovići ostavljeni od političke Mafije
Deletepostavljeni
DeleteZagreb is really becoming a serious player in regional aviation. Exciting times ahead
ReplyDeleteReally? It has always been second in ex-Yu and around 110th in Europe. It hasn't changed much actually.
DeleteIt might soon become 3rd in ex Yu.
DeleteNo chance PRN will overtake it.
Delete^ I think there is a big chance. If an LCC opens a base in PRN it will overtake ZAG.
DeleteFirst they need to fix the plumbing and roofing - so it does not leak, on the existing terminal .....
ReplyDeleteDoes it really leak?
DeleteI think the guy is not from ex-yu and he mixed up Zagreb with Belgrade 🙂
DeleteThe roof at ZAG does leak. We have an enviable collection of buckets in many colors :)
DeleteSo we have so many common things all around Balkans 🙂
DeleteThere are very long waits for luggage delivery lately. They need to hire more staff. I waited 48 minutes for my bag 2 weeks ago from the moment I arrived at the coveyor belt.
ReplyDeleteBecause traffic has risen a lot in the last few years.
DeleteFantastic news. Well done Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I was expecting more than one route for this year. Maybe Croatia Airlines will add some.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the text you will notice they say that summer network is not finalized.
DeleteSummer timetable starts next month. They didn't publish any of the eight announced new routes for 2025.
DeleteWhere is the fire? What's the rush? Take it easy, slow down, Jasmin needs to finish sipping his coffee, new routes will be considered later this year. Or the next. Maybe.
Delete