Dubrovnik Airport plans for 30% of original traffic in 2020
Dubrovnik Airport is facing an extremely challenging summer season with airlines continuing to cancel their operations to the city as a result of the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak and the expected decline in travel demand following the pandemic. According to General Manager Frano Luetić, the airport anticipates handling just 30% of its planned traffic this year, in the best of cases. So far, American Airlines and Qatar Airways have cancelled all of their planned operations to the coastal city for this year, while Lufthansa, airBaltic, Enter Air, Jet2, Finnair and Volotea will significantly reduce their operations. “We are witnessing something unlike we’ve ever seen in peacetime. We have been left without any traffic”, Mr Luetić said.
Dubrovnik Airport has been closed since March 19. In a statement this week it said its doors would remain shut until at least May 2. Some domestic flights are expected to resume next month, however, the majority of international services are unlikely to resume before June. The airport estimates it will register a net loss of 9.5 million euros during the first half of the year. Despite the result, none of its 387 staff members will be dismissed, although the fate of 162 seasonal workers will depend on the support the Croatian government provides to its airports as part of measures to stimulate the economy in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Dubrovnik Airport was expected to have a record summer with a 4% increase in overall operations. Instead, during the first quarter, it welcomed 72.406 travellers, down 38.6% on 2019. The airport has halted all ongoing non-essential investments for the time being but is considering the purchase of thermal cameras, which measure people’s body temperature, once it resumes operations. Tonči Peović, the General Manager of Brač Airport and one of the executive board members of the Croatian Employer’s Association has warned that the Croatian aviation industry stands to lose up to 93 million euros as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and up to 198.5 million euros in lost revenue.
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