Zagreb Airport has introduced a new price list for its services, alongside a revamped incentive programme that is believed to be aimed at Ryanair's competitors. So far this year, Zagreb has secured three new routes: Sun d'Or from Tel Aviv, Air China's Beijing service via Bucharest, launching on September 4, and Ryanair's Warsaw Modlin route, commencing on October 26. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines has discontinued services to Milan, Bucharest and Tirana, while Ryanair will end flights to Thessaloniki in late October.
The new price list marks first adjustment in over three years, with an across-the-board increase in nearly all core fees. The most notable rises are in landing charges, passenger-related fees and infrastructure costs. The largest increases are seen in landing and take-off charges. Similar upward adjustments are visible in passenger service charges, where international passenger fees have increased from 19.67 euros to 21.70 euros, and in security charges, which have risen from 6.50 euros to 8.06 euros per passenger. Infrastructure-related charges have also increased, with the passenger component rising from 2.50 euros to 3.10 euros and the aircraft component from 1.50 euros to 1.86 euros per tonne. Parking charges have also gone up, particularly on a unit basis. Croatia Airlines has criticised the development.
At the same time, a new incentive scheme has also been launched, with airlines having until December 31 to apply. The new model significantly lowers the entry threshold for incentives compared to the previous scheme, under which Ryanair was the sole beneficiary and airlines were required to generate a minimum of 35.000 passengers per year. This change is expected to make the scheme more accessible, particularly for smaller markets and airlines considering lower-volume routes. Another key difference lies in the programme’s duration and flexibility. The earlier model ran over a five-year period, whereas the new scheme is limited to four years but introduces mechanisms that reward stronger early performance. Airlines exceeding 100.000 or 150.000 passengers in the initial years can secure continued incentives without needing to meet annual thresholds.
Under the new Growth Incentive Model, Zagreb Airport excludes a defined list of destinations from eligibility. These are considered either sufficiently developed or strategically not targeted under the scheme. Notably, they are primarily routes not served by Ryanair. Within Europe, they include Athens, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Helsinki, Istanbul IST, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Kyiv, Lisbon, London Heathrow, Madrid, Milan Malpensa, Moscow Sheremetyevo, Munich, Oslo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Stockholm Arlanda, St. Petersburg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Warsaw and Zurich. Regionally, it includes all domestic destinations, as well as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana. Longer routes excluded from the scheme are Doha, Dubai, Seoul Incheon, Tel Aviv and Toronto. In practice, the airport is now targeting secondary or underserved European cities, niche leisure markets and new point-to-point opportunities outside core trunk routes.
As previously reported, the new scheme is generating increased interest from other low cost carriers. Asked last month by EX-YU Aviation News whether it is considering a return to Zagreb after an absence of more than a decade, Wizz Air declined to comment directly on the possibility, stating, “We are continuously evaluating opportunities. This region, specifically the EX-YU aviation space, is always very close to Wizz Air’s heart. We are evaluating this and similar opportunities all the time”.
Sucks for Ljubljana honestly. With this there's no way of getting additional Wizzair flights...
ReplyDeleteLJU had all the time in the world to attract LCC base and did nothing.
DeleteThis is true, but on the other side, it seems that Fraport decided against attracting Wizz air (and other LCCs) with similar incentive scheme... Bad for Slovenia, but in-line with Fraport business strategy.
DeleteWhy?
DeleteNot saying Fraport isn't to blame, but for someone who lives near LJU it sucks. I'll be driving to Zagreb for the 9th time this year on Friday...
DeleteWhy are you driving to other airports? Don't you know that tickets from LJU are only 30€ more expensive? :)
DeleteSuch is life when you only know how to use Ryanair website.
DeleteI can't really fly to BRU in the morning can I, or fly to Greek islands, Malta, Cyprus, Spain, Germany, Ireland? I would happily pay 30€ or hell even 60€ more for me to catch a direct flight to some places...30€ I use only for gas to Zagreb and back, then there's parking for a week, where someone could just drop me off in Ljubljana, and the time as well...at least 4 added hours for each return trip
DeleteThis is the perfect explanation that neither the airlines nor the government wants to see
Delete09:18
DeleteZagreb passengers flying Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia, Turkish and Qatar are subsidising your cheap holidays to Malta, Kos and Lanzarote. That's what is happening here.
Zagreb passengers flying Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia, Turkish and Qatar are not forbidden to fly with Ryanair or other LCCs.
DeleteAnon 10:12 Lufthansa, Turkish, British Airways, Iberia and others are paying the full price (similar or higher than in ZAG) in LJU, but still not contributing to "cheap" holidays of Slovenians in Malta, Kos or any other destination... On the other side, 10 mio EUR in cash was paid to Fraport Germany last year alone. This is what is happening in LJU.
DeleteNo you are wrong, I usualy fly Croatia to Munich and Brussels, I've flown Iberia to Madrid, and Qatar to Doha this year. Simply because I can't afford to have my luggage lost on stopovers when flying from LJU
DeleteGosh guys. Talk about small issues.
DeleteIt's always the same salty LJU guy who will go above and beyond to "prove" that LJU is the worst airport ever.
DeleteIt's not, I fly from Lju when I can. Over 20 flights from LJU this year.
DeleteOffer from LJU compared with ZAG for long distance trips (Asia, North America…) is not very different (minus Qatar Airways)
DeleteBut whoever denies that offer from LJU for intra Europe flights is bad compared to ZAG, TRS, etc is defending one narrative that its not possible to understand. I belive that airport success result is not just to have a flights to key Europe hubs for 300 po tickets
Fanboys would prefer that LJU has 30 daily flights only to FRA. After all, flights are apparently only 30€ more expensive for them (they get special discounts).
DeleteBased on their comments wouldnt be surprised 🤣
DeleteCroatia Airlines has every right to complain.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the airport expects Croatia Airlines to absorb the higher costs because it cannot realistically move its hub elsewhere.
DeleteAnd at the end higher costs absorbed by Croatia Airlines will simply and carelesly be transferred to stoka sitnog zuba who will cover their multillion euro losses without even saying beeeee
DeleteIt's a stupid zero sum game. You increase the overall prices and then give subsidies to some. For those who want to know more... Take a look which of these destinations are TAV airports????
DeleteThis scheme appears tailor made for Wizz Air. Lower passenger thresholds and incentives for underserved destinations fit its business model perfectly.
ReplyDeleteActually not only for wizz... any other LCC can now introduce fewer flights and use incentives, maybe easyJet as well.
DeleteA Wizz Air base in Zagreb would completely change the market, but I doubt Ryanair would allow that to happen without responding aggressively.
DeleteWhy would it entirely change the market?
DeleteRyanair has already transformed Zagreb Airport’s traffic figures. It is logical that management now wants to avoid becoming overly dependent on a single low-cost airline.
DeleteThis is less about attracting Ryanair’s competitors and more about gaining leverage in future negotiations with Ryanair.
DeleteThe airport should focus on attracting year round routes not another wave of seasonal flights that disappear after one summer.
ReplyDeleteZagreb barely has any seasonal routes that disappear after one summer. I think there were two in the last 10 years. What are you even talking about
DeleteWhy exclude Milan Malpensa when Croatia Airlines has just discontinued Milan?
ReplyDeleteBecause it is already served?
DeleteWho serves Malpensa from Zagreb? Nobody!
DeleteBut it is discontinued.
DeleteRyanair flies to Bergamo
DeleteSame for Tirana. If these routes didn't work without incentives, maybe they will with a little push.
Delete@9.11 lol that route made zero sense anyway
Delete@09:42 Yep, without solid connections this was doomed, and even then its hard considering how well connected Tirana is nowadays. It is, however, a good place for Zagreb residents to go for some good value beach action.
Delete@09:42 how it makes zero sense? TIA is one of the fastest growing airports and Albania one of the fastest growing touristic destinations.. There also is a sizeable number of Albanians who work in Zagreb area. What made zero sense is OUs marketing and they didn't collaborate with agencies.
Deletesomeone should read the article ....that airport is excluded from the incentive scheme
Deleteand secondly the alb. coast is simply not interesting enough for the Zagrebers. if they dont go to their own coast they want to explore something with an old town vibe (check FRs leissure destinations)
@11:23 'coast is simply not interesting enough for the Zagrebers.' although it is often better value than staying domestically. The comment and the person's reply was regarding the route itself, not about its being excluded which is clear in the article.
Delete@11:07 without really strong connections the point to point demand is limited, at least with OU. Sizeable number of Albanians does not (necessarily) equate to lots of passengers.
and those are probably from ExYu anyway...
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteFor what? Please explain
DeleteDo you really expect an explanation?
DeleteMore competition can only be positive for travellers.
DeleteSome people don't care what's positive for travelers but only for what's positive for the state owned carrier! 🤷♂️
DeleteZagreb needs easyJet more than Wizz Air. Routes to places such as Paris, Amsterdam, London Gatwick and Geneva would provide useful competition on major markets.
ReplyDeleteI agree about that, and its not impossible to see easyJet to introduce some routes in this program as well.
Delete@09:08 I agree. Geneva is a really needed link. I've had to go via Belgrade and via Munich to do that route. There are loads of Swiss holiday-makers coming to Croatia in the summer who would use it as an entry/exit point to compliment flights to Split.
DeleteThe Air China route is far more significant than another low cost European service. Zagreb should prioritise sustainable long haul connectivity.
ReplyDeleteZAG gives discounts on long haul routes, no worry about that. It can still be some additions in next year.
DeleteUnited from/to New York is a must (finally)
DeleteThis is not good. The airport is not going in the right direction. There is only so much you can rip off legacy carriers before they disappear.
ReplyDeleteThese few increases could chase away LOT, British Airways, Iberia, Aegean and other airlines that are hugely valuable to Zagreb but don't bring in a lot of passengers because they only fly one route (to their hub airport).
Zagreb airport is using those airlines to cross-subsidise low fees it charges to Ryanair and soon Wizz. And it's not fair.
I get that it brings volume to the airport and volume means more money for ZAG through parking charges, duty free spending, etc etc, but connectivity is important too.
Losing British Airways and Iberia in the winter is not good for us passengers even if Ryanair flies to Malaga, Alicante, Stansted and Dublin year-round. Connections matter. Hub connectivity matters. Having a variety of legacy alliances matters.
People from LJU will tell you that obviously you do not know anything. The only thing that matters is a LCC base for them cheap €€€ tickets.
DeleteI agree. Instead of chasing more low-cost carriers, Zagreb should work on attracting SAS, ITA, Finnair and additional legacy airlines.
Delete^ Finnair tried and failed.
DeleteExactly, because fees are too high. Zagreb charges almost as much as Amsterdam or Frankfurt or Heathrow. That's crazy
DeleteAnon 09:14 LOT doesn’t seem to agree with you as of this September
DeleteI would not be surprised to see Wizz Air announce two or three routes rather than a full base. It can test the market with aircraft based elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe passenger fee increase alone is more than two euros. Once security and infrastructure charges are included, the total increase per passenger becomes significant.
ReplyDeleteThe scheme should prioritise genuinely unserved markets rather than subsidising airlines to duplicate existing routes from nearby airports.
ReplyDeleteI hope this leads to the return of routes such as Manchester, Dublin, Stockholm or Lisbon
ReplyDeleteManchester is already served by Ryanair and Croatia airlines serves Stockholm
DeleteBoth routes are seasonal.
DeleteStockholm is year round route, not seasonal.
DeleteTo be fair it's served until January and restarts in march
DeleteReturn of Dublin? Ryanair is serving Dublin year-round, with excellent yields
DeleteFrom next winter Stockholm will be year round and operated through the whole winter. It's already in the system.
DeleteRegarding the china flights...Why would anyone fly the route with 3 hour stop in bucharest? Why wouldn't you do Turkish ZAG-IST-PEK route instead?
ReplyDeleteOr even better question, who would pay 300€ for ZAG-OTP flight?
just found this absurdity:
DeleteFirday September 4th:
Air China "direct" flight:
11:55 AM – 8:05 AM+1
Air China
14 hr 10 min
ZAG–PEK
1 stop - 3 hr OTP
681 kg CO2e
+17% emissions
€521
ZAG-PEK "indirect" flight:
11:30 AM – 4:50 AM+1
Austrian, Air China
11 hr 20 min
ZAG–PEK
1 stop - 1 hr 10 min VIE
528 kg CO2e
-9% emissions
€540
Not to mention the Vienna - PEK flight is on the A350...
DeleteChinese tourists will fly the route. Predominantly. Going long-haul to or from holidays, you don't care much for one or two hours more or less. No risk for losing connecting flight or lost luggage at transfer airport. Plus that time will be used for clearing Schengen zone entrance/exit, which means it's not wasted time. For Croatian or European passengers, I agree, it's not very much convenient, but as I said in the beginning, Chinese passengers are expected to be majority on those flights
DeleteChinese passengers will use the flights. Not having to worry about a missed connection or your luggage being lost is a big deal. Your luggage is guaranteed to arrive on this stopover which it is not in Vienna or Istanbul especially
Delete^ I agree, however I'm not sure the average passenger in Europe worries overtly about baggage being lost, rather cost/timings. Seems like its not particularly cheap if PEK is ones final destination, however I'm sure they will offer some tempting prices for connections elsewhere.
DeleteIf the price is right i'd do it! Looking forward to seeing a trip report.
No good times ahead for Croatia Airlines at Zagreb Airport..
ReplyDeleteTheir bad times don't matter if the general passenger has more options.
DeleteFR are gonna be delighted with the higher fees
ReplyDeleteNew strategy working out great
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2026/07/lufthansa-to-halve-zagreb-route.html
This isn't related to the strategy at all, at least not Zagreb airport. It's Lufthansa's internal strategy and reorganisation
DeleteLH is cutting left and right, but if it makes you happy, you can continue blaming ZAG for it
DeleteBravo LJU
ReplyDeleteWhy this scheme that will bring more cattle carriers like Ryan? We need more licrative markets and carriers, like Emirates, United, AA or Qantas.
ReplyDeleteQantas flies to a total of 3 cities in Europe. I don't think Zagreb is next up.
Delete'cattle carriers like Ryan'...i assume you don't fly often ? 'licrative markets' you mean like London? Milan? Dublin? Rome? All served by what you describe as a cattle carrier....Give us a brake dude.
DeleteWho wouldn't like to hear Michael O'Leary's response to this?
ReplyDelete