El Al’s leisure brand Sun d’Or will introduce new flights from Tel Aviv to both Zagreb and Dubrovnik during the upcoming summer season. The move forms part of a broader network expansion by the Israeli group, which will see the launch of nine new routes in total - three by El Al itself and six by Sun d’Or. The Zagreb service also represents the first new route to be secured by the Croatian capital’s airport this year. Flights between Tel Aviv and Zagreb will commence on May 24 and operate twice per week. Services to Dubrovnik will begin a day later, on May 25, and will likewise run twice weekly. Tickets are now available for purchase through El Al’s website. Further flight details for the Zagreb service can be found here, while additional information for Dubrovnik is available here.
El Al and Sun d’Or have served Zagreb intermittently over the past fifteen years, most recently maintaining operations until October 2023. Similarly, Croatia Airlines has operated flights to Tel Aviv on and off over the years, most recently running charter services. Within the former Yugoslavia, Sun d’Or currently serves Belgrade, Podgorica and Tivat. The leisure carrier operates a fleet of five Boeing 737-800 aircraft, three of which are wet-leased from Lithuania’s KlasJet. All aircraft feature a single-class, all-economy configuration with 189 seats. The brand’s fare bundles include both options with and without checked baggage.
Tel Aviv becomes the first new scheduled service for Zagreb Airport in 2026, with the Croatian capital previously standing as the only capital city airport in the former Yugoslavia without a new route announced for the upcoming summer season. However, as previously reported, the airport still anticipates overall growth, primarily driven by frequency increases across its existing network. Based on the latest schedule revision, during the peak summer months of June, July and August, Zagreb Airport is expected to record average capacity growth of 4.4%, equating to an additional 81.000 seats. The largest increase in capacity will be delivered by Croatia Airlines, followed by Ryanair, Lufthansa and Sun d’Or, which will contribute to growth with its newly introduced Tel Aviv service.
Finally something new
ReplyDelete+1 :-D
DeleteThis is old. Just revived after few years
DeleteIsrael is a strong outbound leisure market and Croatia is very popular there. Dubrovnik especially should do well with this schedule.
ReplyDeleteMy guess: Dubrovnik flights will be near full in July/August, Zagreb around 70–75% .
DeleteBoth routes will be filled by tour operators.
DeleteI wonder if it will be seasonal or year round, to Zagreb. They fly BEG and TIV year round.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't sound like a growth at all. When OU is leading it...
ReplyDeleteKind of a downgrade since El Al mainline used to fly to Zagreb once a upon a time.
ReplyDeleteTrue :(
DeleteSundor used to fly to Zagreb in last 15 years not El Al
DeleteNope. Sun d'or flew in 2023. Before that El Al used to fly this route with its own equipment and flight was marketed by El Al, not Sun d'or.
DeleteBtw ZAG was the only airport in ex-yu with flights to Tel Aviv, served by ELAL (not Sun d or), during yugo times
DeleteThese flights are still sold by El Al, just not operated
Delete"just".
Delete@10:58 That must have been short lived, as there were no diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and Israel 1967-1987.
DeleteYou are wrong in last 15 years Sundor was flying to Zagreb not El Al.El Al gave them machines and since 2023 Sundor is leasing by themselves. They have now and use to have LY code but it was always Sundor I lnpw this because I work for El Al.
DeleteSeems like most flights will be with KlasJet metal.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense considering 3 of 5 aircraft in their fleet are KlasJet
DeleteBeing the only capital in the region without a new summer route announcement wasn’t a great look. At least that’s now resolved.
ReplyDeleteGood addition for city-break traffic in both directions.
ReplyDeleteIs Israel considered a city-break destination by many Croats?
DeleteLOL obviously not
Delete+1
DeleteIsrael is one of the most expensive countries in the World.
DeleteIt's not that expensive. You'll find restaurants a bit pricey, especially beer and spirits, but there are options and food is great. The rest is affordable for a city break (transportation, museums, stores...) plus you have beaches in the city center and Jerusalem on an hour ride... It's really worth it. However I don't know the details now regarding security and general atmosphere.
DeleteFor Croats Israel is mainly a pilgrim country.
DeleteThere is also a great beach at the extreme south of the country.
DeleteThat great beach in the south is Eilat. Which is some 5 km away from Aqaba. Which is 2-3 times cheaper, and much more charming, with equally clean and warm sea, and diving, scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, swimming and you name it offers
DeleteWould be nice to see them in LJU
ReplyDeleteConsidering the political relations between Israel and Slovenia, don't expect new flights.
Delete+1
Delete@anon 09:23
DeleteConsidering political relations between Israel and Serbia, there are quit a lot new. Military cargo, dough -;)
Yes. Slovenia making excellent choices again, as usual. Not at all hypocritical. Ah, if I didn’t know my fellow Slovenians that well…
DeleteBravo Slovenija for making bravo political stand.
DeleteInteresting that OU isn’t re-entering the Tel Aviv market with scheduled services.
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense. But then again, it's OU.
DeleteNot even JU has re-entered the TLV market.
DeleteNor Ryanair
DeleteBut they had huge operations from Israel 'before'. Thats what is meant.
DeleteNot a game changer but definitely a positive signal
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteZAG is a sleeping giant which is finally waking up!
DeleteLOL
DeleteIt is not waking up and will not wake up until OU is shameful feeder and country run by traiters and Mafia
DeleteCroatia is increasingly popular among Israeli travellers looking for alternatives to Greece.
ReplyDeleteGreece and Cyprus are PACKED with Israelis.
DeleteI even saw an advertisement in Hebrew at Athens Airport for property in Greece.
DeleteAthens airport needs an extra terminal for all those Israel flights..
Delete189 seat 737 :O
ReplyDeleteSardine box
DeleteStandard nowadays so i wouldnt be to prissy about that.
DeleteIsn't the standard 180 on 737?
DeleteNot on Ryanair who dominate the european 737 market
DeleteWhat are the fares like?
ReplyDeleteCheck their website
DeleteMaybe you can check it for him/her? Maybe they are in no position to do it now.
Delete^ Why don't you do it?
Delete300 euros for a return flight. Not great considering how bad the flight times are. Lufthansa or Austrian are better options.
DeleteDubrovnik keeps adding routes
ReplyDelete10 new routes in the summer so far
DeleteGreat news
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteI love this new Sun d'or livery and branding.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Very fresh
DeleteTwo weekly flights… let’s not pretend this is some breakthrough. Nice addition, but modest.
ReplyDeleteNew route is a new route
DeleteIsraeli carriers are rebuilding their European footprint
ReplyDelete4.4% capacity growth is decent but still below some neighbouring markets. Zagreb growth remains conservative.
ReplyDeleteAt least Zagreb isn’t losing routes this year. Stability itself is a win.
Deletesteady incremental network development.
DeleteGrowth lead by OU isn't a show of stability now is it
DeleteAt least we'll be able to see how's their growth in capacity translated into growth in pax.
DeleteGood move reconnecting with Israel.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIf successful, Split could easily be next. Israeli demand for the Adriatic coast is proven.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't SPU have some flights to TLV?
DeleteNo scheduled flights between Split and Tel Aviv this summer.
DeleteThanks for the info. Wasn't sure
DeleteWould love to see similar Middle Eastern growth beyond Israel with Gulf carriers increasing presence.
ReplyDeleteAgree. With QR decreasing, a better alternative is needed. And Flydubai ain't it.
DeleteBut who?
DeleteNobody new is going to enter the Croatia-Mid east market anytime soon.
DeleteLast month an airline called Air Haifa started flying from Haifa to Sofia on an ATR72!! Could the ATR make it to BEG or ZAG from there?
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteAnd what kind of an operation would that be even if it could?
DeleteWell they fly to Sofia with an At72.
DeleteWhich sounds very bizarre
DeleteYay finally a new route for ZAG.
ReplyDelete4.4% growth would be ok if OU wasn't the reasons for it. Do we know what the growth is without OU?
ReplyDelete+2.2%. Around 25.000 additional seats.
DeleteSeems like this same aircraft will be operating TLV-ZAG-TLV-DBV-TLV.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteOne weekly flight... Great.
ReplyDeleteIt's two weekly
DeleteActually it's 4 weekly flights- two to Dubrovnik and two to Zagreb. But some people don't even bother to read the text, they just spit and spill put poison, especially in topics on Croatia
DeleteZAG needs more new routes for this year.
ReplyDeleteMonth and a half until summer timetable. Three months until peak season. It would be nice, but I highly doubt
DeleteYes, not looking likely
DeleteWell at least something
ReplyDelete