Croatia Airlines plans fleet, network expansion in 2020
Croatia Airlines has confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News it intends on expanding both its fleet and route network during the year. The carrier said it is currently in the process of drafting such plans after which it will make a definitive decision. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, the carrier is currently in talks with Montenegro Airlines over future operations between Zagreb and Podgorica. The two carriers plan on cooperating on the route, which is expected to run three times per week. It is unclear whether both or just one of the two airlines would maintain flights between the two cities. Late last year, the President of the airline’s Supervisory Board, Zlatko Mateša, said the carrier was focused on launching services to Sofia and the Montenegrin capital.
The airline is also expected to increase capacity on a number of routes this coming summer. It has already scheduled larger Airbus A319 aircraft on selected days to several destinations which were previously served by wet-leased Air Nostrum Bombardier CRJ1000 equipment. In addition, the carrier is again expected to utilise the 100-seat CRJ1000 jets on some of its routes. The future structure of the country’s Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights will also have an impact on Croatia Airlines’ network. A new four-year contract for the upkeep of subsidised domestic flights will come into force this year, with the Croatian government looking to increase funding in order to include more services.
The developments come in the lead up to the final stage of Croatia Airlines privatisation process, which is expected by June 2020. Aegean Airlines and Air Nostrum have so far expressed interest in the carrier by submitting non-binding bids. Last Thursday, the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, spoke with the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, about the government’s efforts to privatise Croatia Airlines and its current status. Last year, the government granted the company 33.7 million euros, 20.2 million of which will be made available this year, under the condition it successfully sells or recapitalises the airline by the middle of the year. At the time, the European Commission said it was in close contact with Croatian authorities over the state aid package and was monitoring developments.
0 Response to "Croatia Airlines plans fleet, network expansion in 2020"
Post a Comment