Air China is planning to introduce flights between Beijing and Zagreb, establishing the first-ever scheduled air service between the two cities. According to the “Croatian Aviation” portal, the service is expected to operate via Bucharest, with the airline to be granted fifth-freedom traffic rights between the Romanian and Croatian capitals, allowing it to sell tickets solely for that sector as well. The route has recently been vacated by Croatia Airlines, which discontinued its seasonal Zagreb - Bucharest service. Air China plans to deploy its Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which seats between 237 and 283 passengers, depending on configuration.
As EX-YU Aviation News recently reported, the Croatian government and national tourism board have been holding discussions with Air China, alongside several other Chinese carriers, regarding the launch of direct air services between the two countries. Commenting on the talks, Croatia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, said recently, “The Chinese airlines that met with Croatian officials all expressed strong interest in opening direct flights, and both sides agreed to continue in-depth communication and discussions on this matter. Chinese airlines welcomed the invitation from the Croatian National Tourist Board to visit Croatia for further discussions”.
Air China’s entry would also provide strategic benefits for Croatia Airlines, given both carriers’ Star Alliance membership, enabling expanded onward connectivity, coordinated itineraries and potential feed through the alliance network. The new service is expected to launch in August, in line with the typical approach of Chinese carriers, which often introduce routes and open ticket sales at relatively short notice. Such launches are usually closely coordinated with tour operators, which assemble travel groups in advance to help secure strong passenger loads from the outset. Based on indirect passenger flow, Shanghai is the busiest unserved route in China from Zagreb. It is followed by Beijing and Guangzhou.
Earlier this year, Zagreb Airport identified China as one of its priority long-haul markets for future route development, alongside the United States, India and Japan. If launched, the new service would complement Zagreb’s existing seasonal long-haul network, which currently includes flights to Toronto with Air Transat and Seoul with T’Way Air.
a very good news!
ReplyDeleteIt won't happen.
DeleteNice.
ReplyDeleteŽeno sugar and water, quick! 😱
ReplyDeleteWill be a welcome sight indeed. Not the most modern of product on those a330s. But if they offer good prices (which they will) they'll fill the seats.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese airlines never have a good product but their prices are rock bottom so they're an excellent addition to any airport!
DeleteChinese airlines have a good product on newer planes but they aren't gonna send a350 to Zagreb or Bucharest.
DeleteThey do have some nice aircraft nowadays. I flew from Budapest to Shanghai last month. Was great. The A330s are not lovely however.
Delete12:00
DeleteBUD-PVG flights are Shanghai Airlines 787-9-s.
All China-BUD routes are operated by 787s (Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Southern)
Very nice! :)))
ReplyDeleteWhat % will be Croatians going the other way?
ReplyDeleteChinese airlines offer VERY good prices to asia and australia. There will be a healthy number of Croats/Slovenes/Bosnians who would use this. If you see the passengers who fly from Budapest to china you will always see loads of former yugoslavs.
DeleteHong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea etc it's all possible with Air China
DeleteAnonymous09:18 There probably will. I saw dozens of Croatians using CS BEG-CAN route, so if they were willing to go to Belgrade to hop on a plane, Zagreb will sure do.
DeleteI wonder if it's too early for Jasmin to think about codeshares
ReplyDeleteThey probably will codeshare seeing as Air China is a Star Alliance member
DeleteJasmin thinks about everything, Dont worry and be happy.
DeleteJasmin knew what he was doing scraping OTP. He is a government appointed genius
DeleteSupport for Jasmin from his fans!!
DeleteA huge loss for Lufthansa in both Zagreb and Ljubljana if that's the case
ReplyDeleteHuge is a big word. Great for the Zagreb consumer if this actually happens.
DeleteNot a huge loss 2x a week with a stop will have minimal impact
DeleteAir China will fly 4x a week.
DeleteGreat news for Franjo Tudman airport!!! 🎉
ReplyDeleteNothing is confirmed yet
Deletethats what you think. it has been confirmed, not announced yet only.
Deletegood news for Zagreb airport then.
DeleteGood plans for Zagreb airport.
DeleteSeeing is believing.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteThis is charade. No one will fly this route until visa regime is on. Both Croatia and Romania markets are not attractive enough for Chinese tourists to fly there.
ReplyDeleteThat isnt true. But think what you like :)
DeleteThere are Chinese tourists in every European capital. This flight will definitely work. In 10 years, all major cities in Europe will have direct flights to China. Wake up Balkan.
DeleteWhat an anon at 1046. Chinese need visas for most places and it doesn't stop them travelling
DeleteChinese who get EU visa will visit, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, not Croatia or Romania. Especially out of summer season. They will go to Prague, Vienna, Budapest, not Zagreb or Bucharest
Delete?
DeleteBecause they travel as tour groups. Their agencies do everything regarding visas.
DeleteMore chinese tourists ! Bravo OTP and ZAG!
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteIf route materializes, it will mostly hurt flyDubai and Qatar Airways as those airlines carry most Chinese passengers to Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteWe might see less flights from UAE and Qatar to ZAG from August.
I think that first for all most Chinese enter the country by bus, and in terms of airlines, that would be LH group.
DeleteMaybe less flights (I think QR is already at 4 weekly till mid September, and I would expect that to continue until end of Summer schedule), but definitely not on an account of this...those airlines really don't depend on Chinese traffic at all when it comes to Zagreb.
DeleteQatar and flyDubai carry mostly transfers. Air China would definitely take some passengers from them since there will be tour group onboard those flights.
DeleteIn general, new routes positively affect demand, so I expect more (leisure based) China travel from Croatia, which would benefit CA, but also the other carriers with strong China network.
DeleteIn China there is no "leisure based demand". Most passengers travel as part of tour groups since they do not know English.
DeleteI'm impressed by the fact it will likely be a year-round service
ReplyDeleteHow is transiting in Bucharest like?
ReplyDeleteAny experiences?
Which transiting? Passengers should not be required to leave the aircraft in Bucharest. However, if aircraft is going to be refueled at OTP, then passengers have to leave the aircraft for security reasons.
Delete