Croatian airports to reach 11 million passenger target
Croatia’s nine commercial airports are on course to handle a joint total of over eleven million passengers in 2019 following last year's 10.5 million. Despite a continent-wide slowdown, the Croatian market recorded the seventh largest increase in traveller numbers within the European Union so far this year, behind Austria, Latvia, Portugal, Finland, Hungary and Malta, but ahead of the remaining 21-member states, as well as above average European growth. During the January - August period, Croatian airports welcomed 8.285.615 passengers through their doors, up 8.7%. Dubrovnik added the most travellers when compared to last year, with an additional 240.016 passengers handled. Overall, the Croatian market processed an additional 667.729 travellers.
Croatian airports passenger numbers, JAN - AUG
| Airport | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Split | 2.497.427 | ▲ 6.5 |
| Zagreb | 2.276.373 | ▲ 2.4 |
| Dubrovnik | 2.099.022 | ▲ 12.9 |
| Pula | 604.191 | ▲ 12.2 |
| Zadar | 594.314 | ▲ 33.1 |
| Rijeka | 150.583 | ▲ 11.3 |
| Osijek | 37.580 | ▼ 34.7 |
| Brač | 20.749 | ▼ 7.7 |
| Lošinj | 5.376 | ▼ 4.5 |
Split Airport continued to hold its position as the country’s busiest. Its General Manager, Lukša Novak, conceded that extreme seasonality may prevent it from overtaking Croatia's main hub in Zagreb on an annual level, but added it was not an impossible task. "Almost half of our annual traffic is achieved during July and August. During the four summer months we have the most passenger traffic in the country. We are extremely seasonal in character but when looking at it on an annual level, we are in second place”, Mr Novak previously said. Zadar Airport continued to post impressive growth on the back of Ryanair's major summer expansion from the coastal city. Apart from the eight new routes introduced by the budget airline, the airport has also seen easyJet double its capacity, while Laudamotion, Transavia, Condor, Air Serbia and Iberia launched new services to the Croatian city.
Osijek Airport’s performance has been hit by Wizz Air’s suspension of its year-round Basel service in mid-June. The route had an 80% average cabin load factor last year, while the budget carrier aims for a 94% load factor. The Prefect of the Osijek-Baranja County, Ivan Anušić, said, “We have held talks with Chinese investors over Osijek Airport. This autumn we will submit a Letter of Intent to the Croatian government. We are yet to define whether the Chinese will take Osijek Airport under a concession, turn it into a distribution centre or do something different”. The airport is currently served seasonally by Croatia Airlines and Eurowings, while Trade Air maintains year-round domestic Public Service Obligation flights, which are up for review at the end of this year.
0 Response to "Croatian airports to reach 11 million passenger target"
Post a Comment