Croatian ACMI specialist ETF Airways has announced its will add ATR72-600 aircraft to it fleet next year. It comes as flag carrier Croatia Airlines is seeking a long-term wet-lease partner to provide turboprop capacity to the airline. ETF’s CEO, Stjepan Bedić, said, “We are so proud to reach a stage where we can add one more type to our fleet. We were curious about the ATR72 for a while and finally we decided to go ahead and give it a try. We plan to add "Galileo" in Q1 2026”. The aircraft in question is currently eight years old and will be delivered in March.
ETF Airways, which boasts three Boeing 737-800 aircraft, all of which will be wet-leased to Argentine low cost carrier Flybondi over the coming winter, is considering adding a second ATR to its fleet by 2027. “We currently have strong demand for ACMI leases involving turboprop aircraft. We believe this is a good niche given current market trends, as competition for leasing Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft is quite strong. Our long-term plan is to add another aircraft of the same type by 2027”, Mr Bedić said. A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby the lessor provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) to another airline.
The development comes as Croatia Airlines itself is seeking a wet-lease partner for turboprop capacity for next year. The carrier 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. It comes as the carrier transitions to an all A220 fleet by 2027.
Great to see ETF Airways expanding into turboprops!
ReplyDeleteThe turboprop ACMI niche is definitely underserved right now. With so many airlines phasing out older Dash 8s and ATR42s, ETF’s timing could be perfect.
DeleteSuch a professional decision by Croatia Airlines management. Proud on you!
DeleteInteresting timing given Croatia Airlines is actively looking for a wet-lease partner for 2026. Wouldn’t be surprised if ETF ends up operating some of their shorter routes.
ReplyDeleteIt would make sense to get a local airlines to do the wet lease.
DeleteGreat catch. As if this is not the main point of the article.
Deletewould be nice.
DeleteCurious to see if ETF gets that deal. Would be a good national synergy.
DeleteThat is excellent! ATRs are by far the most successful passenger propeller aircraft and ETF will be a good and efficient partner to OU.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see them in Franjo Tudman Airport.
Yes, it seems perfect.
DeleteYesterday in the trip report comments, people were writing how the ATR is the worst plane. Now it is suddenly perfect.
Delete@09:06
DeleteYou do realize then different commenters can have different opinions, right?
🤣🤣
Delete@Anon 09:06 yes, atr is noisier than dash, and less comfortable. But people are talking about business suitability, and atr in that sense is perfect for short lines with not ao many passangers - what croatia needs. It is not the same to sit 45mins to sarajevo or skopje or pula or zadar or pristuna or belgrade, but it is a pain to sit in it to cph or brussels.
DeleteThe Q400 is more fun to fly on and faster then an ATR.
DeleteIt makes no difference on a route like Zagreb-Sarajevo.
DeleteThe market spoke loud and clear that the ATR is the overall better aircraft.
DeleteDefinitely! Dash is a long gone, while ATR is the only one turboprop you can order now
DeleteAgree on last couple of comments regarding ATR. JU was/is cleaver enough to acquire a fleet of ATRs for its regional network just on time.
Delete@Anonymous 11:25
DeleteWhat do you mean just on time?
ATRs are available for sale normally. In fact they now produce more of them every year than ever.
Let's just hope it doesn't end up like their plans to add B777s.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to that?
DeleteThese plans are related with client. Maybe company like Pragusa. This idea is not of ETF.
DeleteNo, ETF said they planned to get B777s.
DeleteIt wasn't a plan, it was a potential idea they were exploring. It was leaked to the public by a guy who wants to be seen to hold exclusives and to be first to publish news.
DeleteExactly! That was the idea that a guy from Zagreb came up with.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteI thought Trade Air would lease turboprops and become OU's wet lease partner. Seems I wasn't too far off :D
ReplyDeleteBoth can and then compete for each route OU wants to offer up for wet leasing.
DeleteYes sure. One will just blindly commit millions to leasing turboprops, hiring crew etc and then seeing if they can win a route by OU. Not going to happen.
DeleteI'm certain Trade Air will acquire some Turbo props and operate them for Croatia Airlines.
Delete@09:21
DeleteNobody is "blindly commiting millions to leasing turboprops, hiring crew etc" without certainty that they will have a contract for them to use. That is not how business work.
Looks good in their livery.
ReplyDeleteSo much for OU's 'single type fleet'....
ReplyDeleteIf ETF can do a long-term partnership with Croatia Airlines it would be a fantastic source of income for them.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
DeleteHas ETF ever wet leased planes to OU?
ReplyDeleteThey have wet leased their 737-800. Although all were short term when OU had fleet issues.
DeleteThey wet-leased to Croatia Airlines as many times as they wet leased to Air Serbia I think. Not many.
DeleteNever.
DeleteConsidering ETF CEO is resharing posts by OU about their flash sale on social media, it looks like a deal is already done.
ReplyDeleteSaw what happened to Braathens and Air Baltic?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Air Baltic and how is it related to this?
DeleteAir Baltic is on a growth spree again, what do you mean?
DeleteGrowth spree? Air Baltic is on its hind legs basically.
Delete^ You need to inform yourself better.
DeleteMaybe PSO one day 😁
ReplyDeleteThose ATR comments from yesterday trip report will now come in handy to describe OU experience on Sarajevo Zagreb route
ReplyDeleteAnyone know from where the ATR is coming?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Avianca
DeleteETF has been doing a solid job with their 737s. The Flybondi deal shows they’re serious about the ACMI market. Adding ATRs could really diversify their portfolio.
ReplyDeleteLove that the first ATR will be named Galileo! ETF seems to have a nice tradition with aircraft names. Looking forward to seeing it in Croatian skies next year.
ReplyDeleteETF Airways seems to be quietly building itself into a mini regional powerhouse.
ReplyDeleteThere goes Bajuć single type mantra throuhg the window! Lol! At least he admited being wrong.
ReplyDeleteOU will be single type, it was always the plan to get other ACMI providers to do the turboprop flying.
DeleteSeems like a reasonable plan.
I'm still puzzled how's long term wet lease better than dry lease but I see that's not just OU thing...
DeleteAnon 11.05 is trying to convince you that cooking 5x per week and ordering from Glovo 2x per week is better for your finances than cooking 7x per week.
DeleteIt isn't. It's just more convenient. But definitely more expensive as well.
^ JU has showed that its not. It has been leasing mainline capacity year round for years now.
DeleteSo do LX and LH from Air Baltic.
Finally some good news and good moves concerning OU.
ReplyDelete