Zagreb’s busiest routes approaching pre-Covid passenger levels

Zagreb Airport has witnessed several routes approach or surpass pre-pandemic passenger levels during the first half of the year, despite the advent of Ryanair, which has launched a number of flights that both directly and indirectly compete against legacy carriers. Services between Zagreb and Amsterdam are already performing above pre-Covid levels, with passenger numbers up 14.4% on the same period in 2019. Both Croatia Airlines and KLM maintain between the two cities. Turkish Airlines has been another strong performer, with its passenger figures up 10.8% on its Zagreb route compared to three years ago. Despite a slower January - March period for the carrier, numbers picked up during the second quarter.

Zagreb performance on select routes, H1 2022

Data shows the London Heathrow service is approaching pre-Covid passenger levels, with second quarter figures outperforming those in 2019. This is despite Ryanair launching flights between the Croatian capital and London Stansted. Although the Heathrow service is maintained by both Croatia Airlines and British Airways, Europe’s largest carrier singlehandedly welcomed almost the same number of passengers on its London service. In addition, passenger numbers between Zagreb and Dublin are outstripping 2019 levels, with both Ryanair and Croatia Airlines operating the route during the first half of the year. The Croatian carrier has since suspended the service but is set to restore flights this upcoming winter season. 

Other routes are still significantly behind 2019 levels, in particular the likes of Frankfurt, Vienna, Brussels and Cologne, which were all impacted by lockdowns and strict coronavirus related measures during the first quarter of the year. Passenger numbers on the Dubai service are also notably down on three years ago, although this is mostly the result of Emirates’ absence during the second quarter. As a result, figures on the route have declined 59% on 2019, highlighting the importance of Emirates’ wide-body operations. Croatia Airlines’ busiest domestic routes, from Zagreb to Dubrovnik and Split, have reached 62% and 77% of their pre-Covid traveller levels, respectively.

EX-YU Aviation News

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