Zagreb Airport looks to rebuild long haul network
Zagreb Airport has boasted the largest long haul network in the former Yugoslavia over the past few years during the summer months with Korean Air, Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat all maintaining services to the Croatian capital. Talks were also taking place over potential operations from the United States, while Air Asia X was due to launch summer charters from Bangkok in 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic saw the suspension of the airport’s entire long haul network. Korean Air was the first to announce it was temporarily cutting operations. The airline still plans to return to Zagreb but when that may be depends on the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier has told EX-YU Aviation News that a tentative return to the Croatian market next summer will depend on the state of the global health emergency and international travel restrictions. At this point, Korean Air has zeroed out its flights to Zagreb for 2022, meaning no seats are available for sale at the moment, even though services have been scheduled.
On the other hand, Canada’s national carrier has confirmed it will launch operations from Toronto to Zagreb next June, taking over the route from its leisure unit Air Canada Rouge. Air Canada has put tickets on sale for its Zagreb flights and will run three weekly rotations with its Airbus A330-300 aircraft. It will be complemented by leisure airline Air Transat, which plans to return to the Croatian capital next year, albeit at a reduced volume compared to its pre-pandemic schedule. The airline plans to run two weekly services between Canada’s and Croatia’s largest cities from May 27 until October 3, however, only one weekly rotation is scheduled from September 11 until its last flight of the season.
Zagreb Airport is continuing to work on attracting other carriers to build up its long haul network. United Airlines has said it is considering introducing a second destination in Croatia next year. It confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News it is “seeking additional opportunities in Croatia” after launching its initial service to the country, to Dubrovnik, this summer. United is a Star Alliance member and has its codes placed on a number of Croatia Airlines’ services. Thanks to its codeshare partnership, the carrier was responsible for carrying over 12.000 passengers for part of their journey to or from Zagreb in the pre-pandemic 2019, or some 9% of the US - Zagreb market. Furthermore, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has formally nominated Croatia to join the US Visa Waiver Program, which would enable Croatian citizens to enter the US visa-free. While there are still several steps left to be completed in this process, including a final assessment of Croatia’s eligibility by the US Department of Homeland Security, visas are expected to be abolished in the near future, further stimulating travel between the two countries.
Korean low cost carrier T’Way Air plans to launch flights between Seoul and Zagreb next year. The airline is preparing to add three A330-300 aircraft to its fleet in February 2022. T’way Air will deploy the jets on short and medium haul routes initially, and, depending on pandemic developments, operate the widebodies to mid and long haul destinations such as Zagreb, Sydney, Honolulu, and Singapore. The Croatian Ambassador to South Korea, Damir Kusen, believes T’Way will not oversaturate the market. "We believe that this will certainly be an attractive option for younger travellers to Croatia due to the significantly lower priced tickets and will stimulate a new category of passengers”, Mr Kusen noted.
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