Dubrovnik and Split airports baffled by Ryanair flights
Officials from Dubrovnik and Split airports have said they are perplexed by Ryanair's recent announcement that it will launch flights to the two cities next year. The airline has avoided Croatia's two busiest coastal airports due to high costs. However, both said they have not held talks with Europe's largest airline. On Monday, Ryanair announced it would introduce four weekly flights from Dublin to both Dubrovnik and Split next June and has put tickets on sale for the two routes. The carrier noted "Ryanair is pleased to announce another two new summer routes from Dublin to Dubrovnik and Split, our newest airports, which will operate from June, as part of our expanded Dublin 2019 summer schedule".
The Deputy Director of Airport Operations in Dubrovnik, Josip Paljatak, said, "We are surprised by Ryanair's announcement that it will launch flights to Dubrovnik next year. We have not been given any formal notice of these flights and neither have we signed a slots agreement or handling agreement with them". The General Manager of Split Airport, Lukša Novak, noted, "Our representatives took part at the IATA Slot Conference in Madrid in mid-November but no contact was made with Ryanair. We did receive word that they have made some plans to fly to Split but none of them have been confirmed by the airport. Split Airport must approve all services".
Ryanair has not commented on these latest development and continues to sell tickets for the two routes. Last month, the carrier told EX-YU Aviation News, "Ryanair has held positive discussions with the Croatian Minister for Tourism regarding longer term traffic growth and route development at its existing Croatian airports as well as potential new airports like Zagreb and Split". Furthermore, it noted it was in discussion with the Croatian National Tourist Board. "Ryanair is currently in discussions with the Minister and the Croatian National Tourist Board to deliver traffic growth of c. 50% and introduce up to eight new routes to Zadar in summer 2019. These routes will operate from other Ryanair bases as its seasonal Zadar base will not reopen in summer 2019", the company said. It added, "Ryanair has already announced four of these routes (to Cologne, Hamburg, Nuremburg and Prague) and looks forward to announcing the remaining new routes once successful negotiations with the Minister and the Tourism board have been completed".
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