Dubrovnik Airport’s efforts to extend its season beyond the summer are gaining momentum, with Austrian Airlines becoming the latest carrier to prolong its operations into part of the winter. Despite the recent setback of Turkish Airlines downgrading its year-round operations between Istanbul and the coastal city to summer seasonal, fellow Star Alliance member Austrian Airlines plans to maintain operations in both November and December. Following the start of the 2025/26 winter season on October 26, Austrian will operate two weekly flights between Vienna and Dubrovnik, utilising its 120-seat Embraer E195 aircraft. Services will conclude on December 27, after which they will resume on March 29, 2026.
Austrian Airlines will compete directly against Ryanair, which maintains flights between Vienna and Dubrovnik throughout the year. The opening of the budget carrier’s base in the coastal city last year was contingent on the airport management’s requirement for year-round operations. “We are delighted by Ryanair’s impact, especially in the pre-season and the post-season period. During our negotiations with Ryanair, we emphasised the importance of winter flights, and we successfully secured three routes - London, Vienna, and Brussels - each operating twice per week. If these prove successful, we plan to expand services next winter”, Dubrovnik Airport’s CEO, Viktor Ṧober, said last year.
Recently, Lufthansa’s leisure subsidiary Discover Airlines announced the upgrade of its seasonal flights between Frankfurt and Dubrovnik to year-round operations. During the upcoming 2025/26 winter season, Discover Airlines plans to serve the coastal city three times per week. Other airlines that will operate into Dubrovnik over the winter, or at least one portion of the season, include Croatia Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, while Iberia, easyJet, Aer Lingus and British Airways have extended their services into November. At this stage, further changes remain possible.
Bravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteBravo Dubrovnik!
DeleteSame thing.
DeleteGood to see
ReplyDeleteSo outside of Croatia, we have Frankfurt, Warsaw, London and Charleroi?
ReplyDeleteAnd Madrid and Manchester
DeleteAnd Vueling to Barcelona also
DeleteAnd Aer Lingus Irish to Dublin
DeleteCan all these offset TK loss? Good news btw
ReplyDeleteeasyJet also does Manchester and London for some parts of the winter
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGreat to see Dubrovnik finally making progress on becoming a year-round destination,
ReplyDeleteSmall steps but in the right direction.
DeleteHope more airlines follow.
ReplyDeleteare hotels and restaurants ready to support tourists in the off-season too?
ReplyDeleteAgree. Winter flights help but they must be part of a broader strategy that includes hotels, attractions and local businesses staying open.
DeleteMost Croatians in tourist industry take time off between October and June.
Delete@anon 15:12 - in Dubrovnik time off is from November to April.
Delete15.12
DeleteIt's actually mid-November when season ends until mid-February or beginning March when preparations for Easter and next season begin. It takes a lot more than just put the key into keylock and open the doors.
Really? Ask someone in Italy or Spain where they know how working in tourism is.
DeleteIt’s a good start, but maintaining momentum through January and February is the issue.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn’t Croatia Airlines doing more to support Dubrovnik in the winter?
ReplyDeleteWhy isn’t Air Serbia doing more to support Nis in the winter?
DeleteAir Serbia flies to 5 destinations from Nis in winter (more than Croatia Airlines from Dubrovnik and not a lot less than Croatia Airlines from Zagreb in winter). In summer it is 7. But you answered my question anyway. With people like you, they don't need to do anything other than produce loases as they do. You would still cheer for them.
DeletePeople in Dubrovnik ask the same thing anon @10.14
Delete10.14
DeleteCroatia Airlines is not an airline. It is political entity full of uhljebs, full of crime, corruption and incompetence. Their main purpose is filling aircraft and pockets of LHG. They are not interested at all in taking advantage of potentials of croatian market. Their results clearly show it. Your question is totally justified but the response is unfortunately as just explained.
12:40, you again? Bljuv
DeleteNice although it would be mroe valuable if it were another destinations since FR already flies Vienna year round.
ReplyDeleteIs there any incentive program to stimulate airlines to fly to DBV in winter?
ReplyDeleteMost airports in the world have it, so I assume DBV does too.
DeleteYes, there is.
DeleteMeanwhile Split....
ReplyDeleteIm happy that both are growing but Split has year round flights to FRA, MUC, FCO, ZRH, AMS and CPH and LHR for 2 months as well as Eurowings
DeleteAre you sure for SPU-CPH in November? I could not find it on OU page.
DeleteNovember and December on Saturdays
DeleteHow many Croatians can afford to spend a week in Denmark or UK with these flights?
DeleteFR in wintet is the game changer. I guess it showed some routes can work even in November and December.
ReplyDelete*winter
DeleteDubrovnik used to have way more winter flights than it does now.
DeleteNot so sure about being game changer, this year's winter numbers by FR were far from great.
DeleteWhat is Dubrovnik like for New Year's eve? Worth a visit?
ReplyDeleteThe concerts are usually great. Zdravko Čolić last year I think
DeleteFor New Year's Eve and the days before it it's great, but from 1st of January until April it is the definition of depression.
DeleteFor Jan 1, depression as a result of hangover, sure yes. Not so sure about all other dates 🙂
Deleteonly if you want to visit museums and city walls then it worth coming, 3-4 days. Other things are way below minimum value
DeleteAdriatic coast offers nothing in winter, better off going to Italy or Spain for a sophisticated winter holiday.
Delete