Croatia Airlines is putting a greater focus on its operations out of Split this summer, with the carrier to station two aircraft in the city, shift several routes previously operated out of Zagreb and increase frequencies on a number of services from the country’s second largest city. The Croatian carrier will maintain 21 destinations out of Split this summer, which is more than from its main hub in Zagreb. As previously reported, it will shift services formerly operated out of the capital, including Bucharest, Milan and Stockholm, while Dublin, which is still being maintained from Zagreb, will be temporarily suspended over a three-and-a-half-month period and moved to Split instead. Amsterdam will complete the line-up of new routes from Croatia’s second largest city this summer. The airline has previously served some of these destinations from Split. Amsterdam was last operated in October 2013, Dublin in October 1996 and Milan in September 2000.
Croatia Airlines plans to have two aircraft stationed in Split this summer - an Airbus A319 and a Dash 8 turboprop. By doing so, the carrier plans to increase frequencies on a number of routes it has traditionally served from the city, outstripping pre-pandemic levels. These include flights to Copenhagen, which will run three times per week from June 13 until September 26 instead of one weekly in the summer of 2019, Dusseldorf, which will operate twice per week from June 16 until September 22 instead of once per week, Frankfurt, which will be maintained nine times per week from June 15 until September 26 instead of seven weekly, Munich, which will increase from eight to twelve weekly between June 10 and September 26, as well as Vienna, which will run on a daily basis from June 12 to September 25, instead of four weekly during the pre-pandemic 2019.
Commenting on the carrier’s summer operations, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, recently said, “We have tried to tailor our flight network to our passengers’ needs. In support of Croatia’s tourism, we are expanding our flight network from Dalmatia’s biggest city - Split. I believe that many of our passengers will fly to Split and find an attractive holiday destination on the Adriatic to spend the warmer part of the year in”. Apart from Zagreb and Split, Croatia Airlines will operate six international destinations from Dubrovnik, as well as one each from Rijeka and Osijek.
Smart
ReplyDeleteGreat to see them increasing frequencies on a lot of flights from Split. But they will have to deal with Zagreb and make a strategy what to do there.
ReplyDeleteI thought BCG found solution for ZAG some time ago 😃
DeletePerhaps BCG's strategy was for OU to shift focus to Split :)
DeletePozdrav - it's pretty obvious what BCG's strategy for ZAG was .... just give up !
DeleteWill Split manage to stay the second busiest airport in Croatia this year?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant busiest airport in Croatia
DeleteIt depends how the Ryanair cancellations in Zagreb unfold. If they continue in July and August then it might happen that Split will keep its no. 1 position, but even so it will be tough.
DeleteEven with the FR cancellations, I don't think Split will end the year ahead of Zagreb this time around.
DeleteHow many passengers does Split have so far this year?
DeleteJAN - MAR 72523
DeleteDoes OU usually have aircraft stationed in Split during the summer?
ReplyDeleteOnly as a nighstop
DeleteSo this is the first time they will actually have based aircraft and crew in SPU?
DeleteSo what is the long term strategy?
ReplyDeleteThey need to check dictionary under the "strategy"
DeleteTheir strategy is very clear and precise - whichever way the wind blows
DeleteI'm dumbfounded by their logic to pull out of Zagreb-Dublin route during height of summer. I doubt this route will come back next year.
ReplyDeleteThey probably can't compete with FR here. It's a relatively long flight so costs are not that low.
DeleteMore money can be made in those three months from Split than from Dubrovnik. Simple as that.
DeleteJel planiraju za Beg iz Splita mozda?
ReplyDeleteNe
DeleteThey cancelled SPU-BEG back in 2019. They said themselves it wasn't making money for them. I assume JU flying quite a few weekly frequencies didn't help them.
DeleteSo the biggest loser from all this will be ZAG which chased OU away and is facing cuts by FR.
ReplyDeleteI guess this should teach them a lesson not to disrespect those who are keeping them in the business.
I don't think OU would have done much from Zagreb this summer, with or without Ryanair.
DeleteI really wouldn't blame either FR or ZAG. It is their own doing.
DeleteI'm not sure how "loser" ZAG is, as it is very close to full recovery after the painful divorce last year. And obviously it won't be in LJU's position once OU goes bankrupt, as it has secured another base carrier.
DeleteIt's close because of FR and because of OU which is still operating some flights from ZAG. June numbers will be interesting to follow.
DeleteInteresting to see that many of these new routes used to be served from Split decades ago.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise as OU retreated from many routes and let the competition flourish. Same thing in Dubrovnik too (and even Zagreb)
DeleteI wish they would keep the planes in Split over winter and look into keeping some of these route for the entire year.
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of demand can you expect to Split in winter time?
DeleteI assume there is some. It is Croatia's second largest city.
DeleteThe catchment area is large
DeleteGood luck OU!
ReplyDeleteThis is all well and good. Meanwhile, the new PSO contracts are supposed to start next week and the Croatian government still hasn't made a selection of the carriers and which routes they will operate. Not to mention that these contracts were supposed to be awarded 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe entire process has been a joke.
DeleteIt's a joke every year with the selection process.
DeleteWhy though? What's going on?
Delete@10.11 selection process isn't every year but every 4 years.
DeleteIt's interesting to see that Munich has so many frequencies from all Croatian cities (Split being increased to 12). Even from Rijeka and Osijek OU's only international destination is Munich. I always though Frankfurt was LH's main hub.
ReplyDeleteYes, but from RJK both Lufthansa and Condor operate to Frankfurt. Even Ryanair did.
DeleteOU needs to grow - routes and fleet.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. What happened with that plan for them to completely renew their fleet?
DeleteEven if start now, 20 years are lost
DeleteOU's hub should be in Split.
ReplyDeleteThat will allow them to better compete against YM.
Amongst other.
YM?
DeleteOU doesn't have much chance again YM on long term. Perhaps it can compete with 6W with this strategy.
DeleteYM-Montenegro Airlines, 6W-Saratov Airlines. Both airlines went bankrupt. What in the world are you talking about?
DeleteAir Montenegro is still YM.
Delete*MNE
DeleteAir Montenegro is not YM. But even so, how on earth are they competition to Croatia Airlines in any respect?
DeleteSo according to you how will OU (with "hub" in SPU) better compete with YM (base in TGD and TIV)? And how will they compete with Saratov Airlines even tho they don't even exsist anymore?
DeleteDo you hear the irony in this Anon 09.22 comment?!
DeletePay attention to the news.
DeleteMNE just announced an increase to LJU.
I don't see any irony.
It is two extra flights during the month of May for a route that used to have more than double the frequencies 3 years ago than today. So how is Air Montenegro competition to Croatia Airlines, especially on a route they dont even compete on in any way shape or form?
DeleteJust wait 'til Kucko becomes CEO and then you will see why they will be a competitor to OU. Nothing better than seeing a guy with a point to prove - especially against his former employer
DeleteAt the end of the day, a network like this will bring them money. What is the point of flying loss making routes from ZAG?
ReplyDeleteWell it is still a gamble whether they will make money. Remember, there is huge competition in Split and the coast.
DeleteBut in Split there is enough demand for everyone.
DeleteFinally putting a greater focus on the coat. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense to increase frequencies from Split above pre pandemic levels as expectations are there will be more demand than ever. I think this is a good move.
ReplyDeleteI would have thought that the best way to counter Ryanair in Zagreb would be to grow your network significantly in the region and the west and offer great connections via Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteOU is stagnating big time.
ReplyDeleteHow are they stagnating when they increased a lot of frequencies from Split?
DeleteBy shifting them from Zagreb...
DeleteSo they are increasing frequencies above pre-pandemic levels from Split while their frequencies from Zagreb are still way below pre Covid. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Dubrovnik? Why not launch some new routes from there too?
ReplyDeleteThey gave up on DBV long ago. They operate the same routes from there for years.
DeleteNot enough demand for them and yields are probably trash with so many LCCs they would have to compete against.
DeleteHopefully they expand Dubrovnik next year.
DeleteGood news. I think it's the only option left for them - to focus on the coast because Ryanair is too strong in Zagreb now.
ReplyDeleteAnd other LCCs are not strong on the coast?
DeletePo svemu sudeci Ryan ima velike probleme u Zag..otkazuje linije..sve moze zavrsiti i njihovim odlaskom iz Zag
DeleteSto se babi tilo to joj se i snilo
DeleteIt's a shame all these new routes and extra frequnecies will only be operational for 3 months.
ReplyDeleteThat is when the money is made.
DeleteThey won’t fly ZAG-DUB while they are flying SPU-DUB. Where is the logic in that?!
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense for me either.
DeleteWell at least something new from OU
ReplyDeleteGroundbreaking
DeleteBajic's five year term starts on 1st May. Prepare for more of the same.
DeleteSo basically all the new routes they introduced from ZAG in the last couple of years are being moved to Split?
ReplyDeleteGreat news!
ReplyDeleteIt would be if this expansion didn't come at the expense of their Zagreb network.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what their financial results will be like this year.
ReplyDeleteThis Split adventure won't help.
DeleteQ1 results will be out soon.
DeleteOvo je najrevolucionarniji komercijalni potez u hrvatskom zrakoplovstvu unatrag 30 godina. Svi su izgledi da će polučiti dobre rezultate. Novac se bere ljeti, a ljeto i obala idu zajedno.
ReplyDeleteBravo OU.
Novac se ne bere. Novac se zaradjuje. Ocito da i Vi i Croatia Airlines s time imate problema
DeleteNot bad at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's more than I could have hoped for from Croatia Airlines to be honest.
DeleteWhy no new routes from Zagreb? :(
ReplyDeleteThey probably think they can't turn a profit on any new route they introduce.
Delete* That is a disaster.
DeleteHappy for Split
ReplyDeleteThis will help them even more to recover quickly from Covid.
DeleteGood that Croatia decided to focus more on Split, but I think it is coming late... Furthermore, their brand awareness on demand generating markets is low... and their prices are not competitive! Just for illustration: Croatia decided to introduce AMS - SPU route, but with only 1 flight per week (on Tuesdays) and only for 3 months (from mid Jun to mid Sep). This same route is serviced by EasyJet (7 flights per week), KLM (7 flights per week), and Transavia (3 flights per week), almost all of them throughout entire summer timetable and at significantly lower or sometimes similar prices as Croatia! To me this does not make any sense, especially because Croatia's "strategy" is similar to most other routes... It is kind of suicidal... or "daj što daš"... or "možda su u šumi"...
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteWishing them good luck
ReplyDeleteLet's see if this Split adventure will work this summer. For their sake I hope it does and I hope they haven't made a major strategic mistake by retreating from Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest winner out of all this is Split Airport.
ReplyDeleteThis will last for only three months. What do they do after that in Zagreb after they have lots even more market share?
ReplyDeleteJust to remind of last year : peak season. 3 flights that day to Vienna from Split. Austrian 120 passengers. Wizz 170 passengers. Croatia Airlines 16 passengers. That much about the most brilliant and most revolutionary commercial move in croatian aviation during the last 30 years
ReplyDeleteThey are also serving Berlin this summer as well.
ReplyDelete