Croatia Airlines plans new routes for 2024
Croatia Airlines has said it plans to grow its number of flights and capacity next year, although they are still unlikely to reach 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, Slaven Žabo, noted, “We plan to expand our network of international flights during the summer of 2024 and increase the total number of operations compared to this year. During the 2024 summer season, we plan to increase flights by 6% and capacity by 7% on this year. As we anticipate the delivery of our first of fifteen new, modern and eco-friendly [A220] aircraft in mid-2024, we will be able to offer more seats and greater comfort”.
Croatia Airlines intends on adding new routes in 2024, as well as extend seasonal operations so they are maintained for a longer period. "We will know exact details on the introduction of new international routes for the coming summer season following the autumn slot conference", Mr Žabo said. The 153rd IATA Slot Conference is taking place in Dubai next week. EX-YU Aviation News will attend the event and will bring you any new developments. The Croatian carrier also plans to resume a number of its seasonal routes earlier, in late March rather than late April, and end them further back during the summer season, in late October, rather than September. For the 2024/25 winter season, which begins at the end of October of next year, the airline is considering introducing services from Dubrovnik to Paris.
Croatia Airlines operated 16.972 scheduled flights during the 2023 summer season, offering 1.803.624 seats on the market. This was down 12.9% and 13.9% respectively on 2019. A 6% and 7% increase next year would still mean the carrier would maintain a reduced schedule compared to the pre-pandemic era. During the first three quarters of 2023, Croatia Airlines handled 1.350.237 passengers, with an average cabin load factor of 65.9%. The carrier is due to take delivery of its first A220 aircraft in June of next year with another unit to also join the fleet in 2024. It will be followed by six in 2025, four in 2026 and the remaining three in 2027. It has not been specified whether the airline will first take delivery of the 127-seat A220-100 or the 149-seat A220-300.
Zagreb Airport is hoping for Croatia Airlines to expand its operations from the city in the future. The airport’s recent Connecting Capital Cities Incentive Model, which motivates airlines to introduce flights from Zagreb to up to sixteen European capital cities have been geared towards the carrier, however, so far it has not applied. Croatia Airlines has been increasingly expanding its network from the country’s coast since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and is yet to restore a number of routes out of Zagreb which were discontinued as a result of the global health emergency.
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