The phase-out of Croatia Airlines’ Dash 8 Q400 fleet is proceeding as planned, with the turboprops set to gradually exit the fleet by 2027. The carrier has also adjusted certain routes initially scheduled to be operated by its new Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Earlier this year, two Q400s were retired as part of the airline’s transition to a single-type fleet. However, both have now returned to Zagreb. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the airline denied certain reports claiming it is reintroducing the two aircraft into service. “Information that Croatia Airlines is taking back two Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, which are no longer involved in flight operations, is incorrect. Two Q400 aircraft (registered 9A-CQA and 9A-CQB) are going through the process of technical maintenance in order to bring them back to the lessor in a so-called redelivery condition, which is in accordance with the lease agreement”, the carrier said.
Croatia Airlines plans to select a wet-lease capacity provider for turboprop planes by the end of the year, with the aircraft expected to enter service on behalf of the Croatian carrier in 2026. The airline previously confirmed it would wet-lease turboprops for regional routes to replace its existing Dash 8s, with another two of four due to leave the fleet next year. “What we plan to do next is find a partner for 2026 that will operate on our behalf on shorter routes through a wet-lease arrangement. That will involve the partner airline’s crew and aircraft. Austrian Airlines currently has the same agreement with Braathens. These aircraft will be used on shorter routes such as Sarajevo, Vienna, and Osijek”, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, previously said.
The Croatian carrier has also adjusted its A220-300 deployment on select routes this summer. New services from Zagreb to Hamburg, Bucharest, Milan and Prague, scheduled to launch in July and initially planned for the A220s, will now also feature A320-family aircraft too. As a result, the Milan route will be operated almost exclusively by the A319, while Prague and Hamburg will see a mix of both. Bucharest will remain primarily operated by the A220, although the A319 has been scheduled on select dates. Meanwhile, flights to Madrid, also launching this July, are still planned to be operated exclusively by the A220. Croatia Airlines is set to take delivery of its third A220 soon and expects to have a fleet of fifteen of the same type by 2027. During July, August and September, the A220s are currently scheduled on 33% of all Croatia Airlines flights.
Why did they add A319 on new routes? Does this mean 4th A220 may arrive later than planned?
ReplyDeleteThe 3rd one is already 2 months late
DeleteAll of them are late. The third was supposed to come in March.
DeleteAnother summer, another reshuffle.
DeleteThe equipment being late is a problem for OU, caused by the manufacturer. So, refrain from bitching.
DeleteFleet changes are complicated and never perfect. The A220s will eventually take over. Patience is key here.
DeleteCouldn't agree more with last anon. People need to calm down.
DeleteDid I read this right... Did they return the Dashes to the lessor and the lessor denied them in the current state so they have now returned back to Zagreb for additional maintenance? If so.... Ah we are used to it
ReplyDeletePretty much
DeleteHow much did the little trip to Canada cost OU?
DeleteThis is madness. Couldn't they do additional maintenance in Canada?
DeleteIt's their modus operandi. You forgot they sent empty 320 to Doha to bring back left luggage?
DeleteAt the end, flying half empty scheduled flights with the worst LF in Europe costs more than "just" a single trip to Canada and back. But, when you are not an airline but a political entity run by uhljebs and aparatchiks and when your goal is not to have your own decent network but to feed others and not to earn money but to fill the accounts of selected "chosen" individuals, those are the results. PIR
Forgot about that Doha flight lol
DeleteRemind us what that Doha flight was about
DeleteDuring world cup
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/12/croatia-airlines-sends-a319-to-doha-to.html
Let’s not jump to conclusions. There could be technical paperwork or component discrepancies. It doesn’t necessarily mean OU failed outright.
DeleteWhat’s a uhljebs and aparatchiks?
DeleteThe first Q400 (9A-CQB) that was phased out went through maintenance in Canada and returned to ZAG until leasing/sale agreement is completed.
Delete@13.14 people appointed to high positions due to party membership.
DeleteSo by next summer there will be just 2 Q400s. Time to find replacements.
ReplyDeleteYes, and the last two should leave in 2027 apparently.
DeleteHey, sorry, I feel like I am still so confused lol! Are they just leasing these turboprops in 2026 until all A220s eventually arrive? or? I know the laod factors are low but I'd love to fly on the new a220-100s from ZAD-ZAG, ZRH-ZAG etc :)
ReplyDeleteNo, it will be long term wet lease. The genious management thinks they will eventually be able to use A220s on these routes and end the wet leases.
DeleteThe A220 is a versatile aircraft. It can cover thinner routes and mid-range destinations
DeletePhase out/phase in
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteMore like botched delivery to lessor. If the Q400s were returned properly in the first place, they wouldn’t be back in Zagreb.
DeleteWhy not keep a few Q400s for short regional hops? Seems like a good aircraft for certain routes.
ReplyDeleteWith OU you never know considering they keep making some costly mistakes. But maybe on this one the Q400s had D check soon and its cheaper to just wet lease planes.
DeleteSo we’re replacing old turboprops with wet-leased turboprops? Doesn’t sound like a proper long-term solution.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense in Buzin.
DeleteNot that I'm defending the management, but Austrian Airlines did exactly the same. They retired Dashes which left a big gap in their fleet. So then they contracted Braathens and are now wet leasing ATR72s.
DeleteSingle type fleet won't happen before 2029
ReplyDeleteSwitching to a single-type fleet is good in theory, but only if the route structure supports it. Not sure the A220 is ideal for everything.
ReplyDeleteWell it is ideal for everything that's logical and profitable. It is not ideal for routes which are nonsense no matter what equipment is flying.
DeleteIt’s great to see the A220 making up a third of flights already. Once deliveries are complete, the network will look much sharper.
ReplyDeleteWeren't some people saying how plane is underutilized. Judging by this figure I wouldn't say so.
DeleteFirst they retire them, then one comes back from Canada, and now it’s just 'redelivery maintenance'?
ReplyDeleteAdd it to the list why they are going to have another big loss this year.
DeleteThese Q400s returning for maintenance was obviously unplanned. Why on earth would they fly to Canada and then bring them back to do maintenance to return to previous state.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a big screw up
DeleteUnbelievable
Deleteembarrassing more like it
DeleteThat was the initial plan of OU. To retire the Q400s before they need maintenance so that they save money. It will be another big loss this year.
DeleteYou can't avoid returning a plane to original state unless lessor specifically asks not to. So I don't know what OU was trying to do.
DeleteThe Q400 had a long journey back
ReplyDeleteSt. Thomas - Goose Bay - Nuuk - Reykjavik - Glasgow - Zagreb
I'm guessing they could only fly for 2 and a half hour max with Dashes range so makes sense.
DeleteYes
DeleteThe Q400s didn’t return because of some routine maintenance plan. They came back because OU didn’t meet redelivery standards. That’s a failure, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteOU’s management continues to make a mess of the fleet transition. First inconsistent A220 deployments, now rejected aircraft returns. What’s next?
ReplyDeleteOU does not have management. They have appointed aparatchiks executing orders from Središnjica (Kradezea) in order to propperly and efficiently feed Deutsche Lufthansa Gmbh, along with deep filling pockets for selected individuals. The results are more then evident
DeleteAnyone know who does these flights of returning to the lessor (and now returning do Zagreb). Does OU have to do it with their pilots or lessor provides crew?
ReplyDeleteThe process can vary depending on the terms of the lease agreement. In many cases, the airline is responsible for ferrying the aircraft to the designated redelivery location, often using its own pilots. However, if the aircraft is no longer on the airline’s active operating certificate the lessor or a third-party ferry company may provide the crew.
DeleteThis is the kind of messy logistics that creates extra costs. Ferry flights, additional maintenance, lease penalties. All of it avoidable.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBetter planning upfront could have saved time and money
DeleteIt’s not unusual for aircraft to come back for redelivery adjustments. That’s often part of the process, especially with older turboprops
ReplyDeleteFirst time I hear about it.
DeleteTrying to normalise the abnormal.
DeleteAircraft lease returns are complex and very detailed. Even top tier airlines sometimes have to rework things before final acceptance.
Delete^ are you for real?
Delete^ Are you? What he said is the reality in aviation leasing.
DeleteNo it really isn't.
DeleteYes it exactly is.
DeleteFlying the aircraft all the way back to Zagreb suggests more than routine adjustments. That’s not standard practice unless something significant was missed.
DeleteI hope someone got fired for the return of Dash from Canada. That cost them a lot of money, the plane made like 5 stops.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't hold my breath
DeleteProbably got a promotion
DeleteMost likely.
DeleteIt was definitely an expensive mistake, but it’s more likely a process failure than one person’s faul
DeleteThere will be more changes to A220 schedule. Planes are delayed.
ReplyDeleteSpeechless
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't understand. How do you muck up returning the plane in its original state?
ReplyDeleteIt often comes down to overlooked technical details or missing documentation. Returning a plane isn’t as simple as handing over keys. Still, this one does seem unusually sloppy.
Deletelol and another site claimed how they are going to put the Q400s back into service.
ReplyDeletethat's what happens when you fail to check rumours.
DeleteHas a decision been made if the upcoming prop wet leases will be Dashes or ATRs?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe even Saabs...
DeleteWhat happened to Austrian's Dash fleet?
Delete"Or maybe even Saabs..."
DeleteHighly doubt it. Very few have them anymore.
I think it will be the ATRs. I guess we will find out soon.
DeleteDoes anyone know of a wet lease provider with available prop capacity? I really don't.
DeleteI'm not sure even OU knows at this point.
DeleteWell, technically SkyAlps is an option once they unground their fleet. They were also negotiating with Lufthansa which goes in OUs favor
DeleteCompletely forgot about Sky Alps.
DeleteAlthough I'm not so sure Skyalps will be able to get past the problems they have with their fleet.
Delete15 A220 is a relatively large high-capacity fleet for the current market OU serves. In the long run I see them wet leasing turboprops at additional cost to cover their short distance/low traffic routes and subleasing a number of A220 to LH for peanuts (similar to what LH does with AirBaltic). Not ideal strategy for OU needs, but LH will certainly be happy.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteTypical OU
ReplyDeleteOU's entire ‘single-type fleet’ narrative falls apart when you end up wet-leasing props
ReplyDeletePhasing out the Q400s is the right move long-term
DeleteExactly @anon 20:18. Calling it a single-type fleet while relying on wetleased turboprops undermines the whole strategy.
DeleteNo, it doesn't. You have no idea what's wet lease.
DeleteNice to see the A220 finally ramping up operations this summer.
ReplyDeleteYes running 33% of flights with A220s by late summer is decent progress. But this back and forth with aircraft assignments means there is operational uncertainty.
DeleteIs SKP the only Ex-yu airport seeing the new A220 very often ? I am seeing this plane alot in Macedonia. Even in March and now April even more..
ReplyDeleteYes. But keep in mind they only serve 2 ex-Yu markets (if you exclude domestic) - Bosnia and Macedonia. And in Bosnia I think there will have a couple of flights to Sarajevo with A220 this summer. Mostar can't handle A220.
DeleteThe A220 is clearly the future!
ReplyDeleteCan’t wait to fly on it from Zagreb to Madrid
Delete23.17
DeleteYou mean on Intergalactic flights? Because you speak as of a Spaceship about an average aircraft which has engine problems, corrosion problems, operational problems (weight on longer flights), stability problems (on disembarkation), and price problems (overpriced concerning all of the listed problems, and there are more), which is grounded in some companies, subject to inspections ordered by FAA in some other companies, and with some companies getting rid of it
"some companies"
DeleteAir France? Nope.
Qantas? Nope.
Korean? Nope.
Delta? Nope.
Swiss? Nope.
Jet Blue? Nope.
Air Canada? Nope.
ITA? Nope.
Who then doesn't want to have it anymore? Oh yes, very relevant, profitable and successful airlines Air Senegal and Egypt air.
Lies lies and lies. Classic Pozdrav lies.
DeleteOU is neither profitable nor successful.
DeleteExactly. And trying tu place OU in the same category with Air France, Qantas, Korean, Delta, Swiss or ITA shows total lack of basic knowledge of civil aviation. Btw which one of the above listed is single type operator? So, typical either Buzin uhljeb or Kradeze bot, with their classic "attack is the best defence" strategy, lying that others are lying, in order to advocate crime, corruption and incompetence. PIR
DeleteI'm not putting OU in same category, I'm pointing how some of the most successful airlines in the world see potential in A220 while you and Air Senegal don't.
DeleteBtw you have huge problem with your ego.
Ego has nothing to do with the facts. You are twisting and manipulating in order do defend undefendable. When you lack arguments you go personal. A220 as single type fleet is entirely political decision, is totally detached from reality, and IS NOT the aircraft which will do any better for OU. On the contrary, it will make things worst and losses bigger. Everyone knows it and you know it as well. It has nothing to do with my ego, it has to do with you being politically and/or financialy motivated and instructed to defend crime, corruption and incompetence.
DeleteThere are no fact in your statements about A220. Especially that airlines are trying to get rid of them.
DeleteYes, you have ego problem because anyone who tries to point that you are even slightly wrong gets accused for crime.
Swiss A220 grounded, leasing others, paying fat money
DeleteDelta and Jetblue A220, checks for corrosion ordered by FAA
Egypt Air, Star Alliance, got rid of A220
Korean Air, in process of phasing out A220
All above listed companies, UNLIKE OU, profitable
NONE of above listed companies, UNLIKE OU, is or plans to be single type operator
Once again you lie, you manipulate and you twist facts. It has nothing to do with my ego. It has to do with you lying and by all means trying to find excuses for crime, corruption and incompetence in Croatia Airlines and political order executed by aparatchiks and backed up by corruptive BCG deal to have A220 as single type fleet. And if needed, I will write it for thousand more times or until European Prosecutor Office in Zagreb reacts.
Tika-tak. Tika-tak
Your point being? All airplane types which have PW1000G engines have problems with groundings. And let's not start to talk about problems Dreamliners have.
DeleteHahahaha man you are insane.
You expect European Prosecutor Office will react to some anonymous comments on aviation blogs? Sure man. Write them about BCG corrupt deal and devil's carriage A220 if you actually care.
DeleteInsane is only the one who doesn't see what's going on in OU for decades or defending such treason and such crime. And my point are definitely not only engines. My point is political corruptive decision on single type fleet. Once again you are twisting what I wrote. And once again you go personal so please decide is it my ego or my insanity. Because it can't be both.. Tika-tak. Tika-tak.
DeleteMan, no one is defending none of listed entities. Chill a little bit.
Delete