Croatia’s ETF Airways to take delivery of first jet
Croatian start-up carrier ETF Airways is to take delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, in the coming weeks. The jet, leased from AerCap, is seventeen years old and was previously operated by a number of carriers including Malev and S7 Airlines. The aircraft recently received ETF’s livery in Shannon in Ireland and is expected to carry the Croatian registration 9A-ABC. The plane will be used for charter flights under a lease arrangement covering aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI). ETF intends to focus on routes from the Croatian Adriatic coast to Western Europe, with its main base being Dubrovnik.
ETF has also finalised an agreement for the lease of a second B737-800 jet which will join the fleet this summer. There are plans to add a third aircraft next year and for the carrier to have up to seven planes by 2025. As the airline will be registered in Croatia, it will have the ability to fly across all markets within the European Union. The company recently completed hiring future cabin crew members, who are currently undergoing training. It is now looking for new partners, companies and brokers for ACMI and charter business opportunities worldwide. Private investors and Croatia-based investment funds are said to be supporting the initiative and the airline is said to have stable and secured financing.
Commenting on its operations, economic analyst Velimir Šonje, who is one of the airline’s investors and members of the Supervisory Board, said recently, “ETF does not aim to become a big scheduled carrier. Our main goal is to utilise the opportunities which we expect in the coming years through charters and similar arrangements, primarily on the EU market, through flexible and reliable service”. Mr Šonje added that the post-Covid world will open a number of opportunities in particular markets niches. Croatia has had numerous charter and scheduled airlines in the past, each with varying degrees of success.
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