Croatia Airlines will reduce frequencies on select routes over the next two months as it deploys larger aircraft, aiming to improve average load factors. The changes will affect services to Skopje, Sarajevo and Brussels. Flights between Zagreb and the Macedonian capital have been cut from eleven to five weekly in January, with the reduced schedule set to remain in place throughout February and March, compared to six and eleven weekly services respectively last year. Adjustments on other routes will be more limited. Operations to Sarajevo will be reduced to eleven weekly flights in both February and March, down from the initially planned fourteen and thirteen weekly rotations, and below last year’s levels.
Croatia Airlines will also reduce frequencies on its Zagreb - Brussels service, however, this will only impact the month of February where flights will run ten instead of eleven times per week. Despite these reductions, the carrier will still offer an average of an additional 5.000 seats per month in February and March compared to last year.
During the first quarter of 2025, Croatia Airlines exclusively deployed the 76-seat Dash 8 Q400 on its Sarajevo services. This year, however, the route sees a significantly higher proportion of larger aircraft, with fourteen flights operated by the Airbus A220 and 29 by the A319 during the first quarter, with the remaining services maintained by the Dash 8. As a result, despite operating fewer flights, total capacity between the two capitals is up 10.8% year-on-year. A similar upgauging trend is evident on services to Brussels. In the first quarter of 2025, the airline operated 53 flights with the Dash 8, one with the A319, and the remainder with the A220. This year, all flights are scheduled with the A220, except for five services operated by the A319. On flights to Skopje, the first quarter of last year comprised of 72 Dash 8 rotations, 34 operated by the A220 and nine by the A319. In contrast, this year’s first quarter schedule includes 72 flights with the A220 and a single service operated by the A320, with none on the Dash 8.
Croatia Airlines has introduced a number of measures aimed at improving load factors, particularly in light of the deployment of higher-capacity aircraft to replace its Dash 8 fleet. These initiatives have included flash sales, the introduction of a stopover program, a flying-with-pets option and the “Time to Think” choice on its website. In 2025, the airline’s average cabin load factor during the first quarter stood at 59.9%, down 8.7 points compared to the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019. Load factors improved in the second quarter to 63.5% and averaged 65.9% during the peak third quarter, although this still remained 7.7 points below 2019 levels. Results for the fourth quarter, as well as the full-year 2025 outcome, are expected by the end of February. Throughout the year, Croatia Airlines’ domestic services continued to outperform its international routes in terms of average load factors. The global airline passenger load factor for 2025 reached about 84%, a record high for the industry.
What a surprise
ReplyDeleteSo far fleet replacement going extremely well. They have received a huge bailout because they were on the brink of bankruptcy last month and now they are cutting frequencies. Even though Bajic said how they have 20 routes on the list they will launch as soon as these planes arrive, this summer they are starting a grand total of two routes, both are seasonal and both are from the coast.
DeleteWhen does Bajic's term end?
DeleteSpring 2027
DeleteHahahahahha his term ends when he feels like it im sure HDZ wont care If he stays on a while longer let’s be Real guys as much as I love OU their management is incompetent
DeleteWhy are provocative comments allowed?
DeleteYou are provoked by someone saying the management is incompetent?
DeleteCroatia Airlines management is the best management in aviation industry, new aircraft type, new routes, necessary cuts and airline increase of capital. Talk to Bajic and management as much bad as you want but they made huge changes in short period of time. And yes, even if Croatia Airlines OU goes bankrupt, new Croatia Airlines like Air Malta will emerge so no need for worrying Croatia Airlines employees that they will lose their jobs. Simply said, Plenkovic government is biggest problem for Croatia Airlines and they will pay to fix it. Sorry Croatian taxpayers!
Delete"In 2025, the airline’s average cabin load factor during the first quarter stood at 59.9%. The global airline passenger load factor for 2025 reached about 84%, a record high for the industry.”"
DeleteYou are right... best management in the world.
Expected story.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t see it coming
DeleteYou are one of the rare ones.
DeleteThe airline is definitely missing smaller aircraft. When are they going to wet lease tubroprops?
ReplyDeleteShould be this year.
DeleteI can only imagine what the LF will be for Q1 2026. My guess is under 50%.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm very interested to see it. Hope for the best though.
DeleteWho could have predicted that replacing 76 seaters with 144 seaters would result in this?
ReplyDeleteLogical?
DeleteThey are 149 seaters
DeleteWizz route LJU-SKP is really making it difficult for them.
ReplyDeleteAfter this, there is no question wizz will go daily soon. Maybe even double daily on some days in summer
DeleteReally routing for this route i see
DeleteRyanair said Wizz will go bankrupt soon
DeleteRyanair will outlive us all. Especially Wizzair
DeleteInteresting that domestic loads are better than international even though they operate some of those PSO routes with few passengers.
ReplyDeleteThey don't. That's Trade Air.
Delete^You are telling me that Pula-Zadar has great numbers?
DeleteIn the summer it's sold out most days of the week. Remember that the flight is not Pula-Zadar but Zagreb-Pula-Zadar-Zagreb and Zadar passengers fill up most of the aircraft.
DeleteIn the winter it's mostly empty but then so are Zagreb-Sarajevo and Rijeka-Munich and Osijek-Munich so they probably have the same load factors.
What is the load?
DeleteExcepted during slower months but made worse by aircraft change.
ReplyDeleteCutting frequencies but adding seats sounds logical on paper, but it only works if demand actually matches the bigger aircraft, which in this case it does not.
ReplyDeleteDemand will now FALL because it becomes more difficult to do an itinerary you want.
DeleteOf course. This route is in danger. Luckily, the summer is comming. And if they lease those ATRs it will live through next winter. Otherwise...
DeleteAs mentioned many times, fleet renewal alone won’t fix structural demand issues.
ReplyDeleteOU has issue with its offer, not with the demand. They are only flying (LH) hubs and PSO, that way they cover some 15% of the market demand. January and February demand is not the problem, those months are worst across the continent. The problem is they don't have irresistible offer not even in the peak season (65% LF).
DeleteOU lacks strategy.
DeleteIf they want to just be a LHG and serve domestic main routes ZAG SPU and ZAG DBV around 8 A220 are enough and forget the rest.
If they wish to be a regional airline with a proper hub ...the best for them would be to purchase JU....
Global load factor at 84% really puts Croatia Airlines’ numbers into perspective. The gap is huge.
ReplyDeleteMust admit I'm surprised how high the global LF is.
Delete65.9% Loadfactor in Q3 and this to one of the top holiday locations in Europe
ReplyDeleteI dont get this. During Q3, loads should be at 95%
Croatia is not a top holiday destination in Europe.
DeleteI agree. Even Austria, with no sea, has more tourists per year than Croatia. If you take out the diaspora, which floods the coast each year, Croatia is still very much a developing destination.
Delete@09:44 per capita Croatia has more visitors than Austria my friend. @09:29 not sure what you regard it as then?
DeleteI regard it as a not-top destination. If you do, then you are letting nationalism blind your logic. Did you ever look at any statistics? And by the way I am Croatian. Next question?
DeleteIm not Croatian, but do you want more tourists than Austria? Seriously? Sounds like hell to me
DeleteHow do you define top destination?
DeleteHahaha good question. What is a top destination? Mass tourism?
DeleteReplacing Dash 8s with A220s is great for comfort, but the airline clearly underestimated how hard it would be to fill them year round.
ReplyDeleteIf comfort was what all that this clueless management was going for, they should have replaced Dash aircraft with A350s.
DeleteThe real test will be summer. If loads don’t improve significantly then, something is seriously wrong.
ReplyDeleteA lot is seriously wrong.
DeleteWhat they need to do is calculate what the break even point at 80% LF is and lower the prices.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you from my perspective, I am from Slovenia and the people I know only fly with Ryanair from Trst, Zagreb, Venice and Vienna. You can lower the prices to Paris CDG to 30€ but people will still buy the ticket to Beauvaiss with FR. I am just speaking from experience. People just dont consider other choices than Ryanair. It is just how it is. Dont know for Croats though.
DeleteIts like when we first go McDonalds, eating maccas was cool. Flying Ryanair in our region is also considered a hip thing to do lol
DeleteIt is sad but it is how it is here. People fly to EU destinations ONLY with Ryanair. Never heard of anyone go with Air France, Austrian airlines, Croatia airlines, even Vueling or Transavia, let alone Eurowings from Graz ...
DeleteYou guys are talking like the price difference is max 50. But its not. No one will fly with LCC instead of legacy if the prices are similar. But also no one will pay for 1-2hr flight 150-250 + more per ticket. Eurowings from Graz ? Have you seen the prices ?
DeleteIt's the same in Croatia. I know so many people who plan their trips based on where Ryanair is flying. If you count the carry-on luggage then the difference is not more than 50-100€ for a return ticket. I can't understand why I should spend so much money on a destination which maybe isn't my first choice. Just because I save 50-100€ for the flight???
DeleteWTF? 100 euros is almost 10% of the average income in the country. And you think it's nothing?
DeleteIt is nothing if you fly to Beuvais, have to pay for seats and baggage, and then transfer 130 km to Paris. You also lose a whole day, which is also valuable. But still, everyone I know flew from ZAG to Beauvais, no one from LJU to ORY. As far as I can see, people go to Ryanair site, check nearby airport and then decide where to go according to prices. I wish all the luck to Croatia airlines, I have flown with them a few times and I liked it.
DeleteThat was my point. People don't put all costs (accommodation, taxi/train/bus, level of prices in the destination...), time spent to reach final destination and which destination they really want to visit on paper. Sorry, I just can't understand why I should base my decision on the price of the flight ticket only.
DeleteBecause people consider other costs will be similar wherever you go, at least in Europe, so the only cost difference is the price of ticket. And that difference is even bigger when you don't have leisure options other than those offered by Ryanair. Where people from Zagreb can go nonstop this February if they need a bit of a leisure or a citybreak, to Frankfurt?
DeleteAlso, if millions people who fly with LCC get it, and you don't get, then it's about you. But that's not even important, the important is that you and other people can fly the way you think it's best for you.
DeleteI fly also LCC, but I don't push it to some limits. As example for alternative is requested: in April I booked a flight to Athens with Aegean. 130€ for a return ticket from Zagreb. The return flight on 27.04. was canceled recently. Maybe low demand. I assume that most people don't even check Athens as an option as it's not Ryanair.
DeleteThey are also cutting Mostar but just for 2 weeks it seems. Could be extended.
ReplyDeleteOMO flights are recently also constantly cancelled.
DeleteNone of the flights was cancelled. Typical lie and easy to be proved by opening fightradar.
DeleteDid YOU open it? There were cancellations.
DeleteLast cancellation was on Sunday.
DeleteMUC - RJK in Feb 140E in eco
ReplyDeleteIs that an ok price or?
DeleteFlying an A220 at 60% load factor is not efficiency
ReplyDeleteI am surprised by how huge the SKP cut it. Why?
ReplyDeleteNo demand
DeleteThe irony is that the Dash 8 was perfect for these markets, but it was marketed as a problem instead of a solution.
ReplyDeleteThe A220 is a great aircraft but it won’t fix weak point-to-point demand on its own.
DeleteDreamliner is also a great aircraft. Many great aircrafts today...
DeleteBingo 12.51!!! A220 and Dreamliner, together with turboprop, altogether with some 30 units, and minimum doubled network, could be the right way for OU. But will not happen because of Mafia that surrendered the market to foreigners, for their personal benefits. That's why Bajić is CEO, that's why Butković is minister
DeleteUpgauging only works if you also grow demand. So far, that part seems to be missing.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAll these “initiatives” sound nice, but pricing is still not competitive most of the time.
ReplyDeleteOne step forward, two steps back.
ReplyDeleteThey have been having a lot more promo sales than before. Even during last summer they had promos in the middle of summer which is a good indication of what a disaster the season was for them. And even with that they had a abysmal load factor.
ReplyDeleteHow come they were performing so much better in 2019?
ReplyDeleteNo Ryanair in Zagreb. It hurt them more than people realize.
DeleteThey have done nothing to compete against them. Now it's too late.
Delete1. No Ryanair in Zagreb.
Delete2. No Ryanair in Dubrovnik.
3. No Ryanair in Sarajevo.
4. Border controls to Italy, Slovenia, Hungary so people were reluctant to use TRS, VCE, LJU, BUD.
5. Better aircraft - they were leasing CRJs.
Valid points
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeletelol
DeleteHahahahaha Hahahahaha Hahahahaha Hahahahaha Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
DeleteEvery year it’s “transition”, “restructuring” or “fleet renewal”. When do results actually show up?
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteThey contribute to national pride, which is priceless.
DeleteNational shame is very expensive though.
DeleteSo they lose less money parking the planes and paying their lease than them actually flying.
ReplyDeleteCovid was their best year recently
DeleteTrue
DeleteSkopje now have Frankfurt before didnt , also now here is Paris orly which is option for transfering through Europe , before all those people were using Zagreb as tranafer ppint to Frankfurt,Amsterdam,Paris , plus here is Wizz Ljubljana route performing amazing ,all this in count brings those bad LF which was not case before on Croatian flights to Zagreb
ReplyDeleteIs there any other company in the world that ups its load factor with PSO routes? There are two scenarios: these are fake PSO routes or international network is so destroyed that even PSO is performing better. Could be the combination of both.
ReplyDeleteBizarre.
ReplyDeleteWhat is?
Delete