August 6, 2023 – A small boost for those looking to access Dubrovnik this winter, as Croatia Airlines restores an international route to the Pearl of the Adriatic.
While there are plenty of flights into the likes of Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik in peak season, the situation in the winter could not be more different. Dalmatia in the off season is beautiful for many reasons, but in recent times, it has not been easy to access. An interview I did with a British tour guide during the 1980s a couple of years ago shows just how different life used to be just a few decades ago, not only with year-round flights, but year-round tourism. Read Croatian Winter Tourism 1990: Full of Life! Interview with Tour Rep.
Without the flights, the tourism businesses close for the winter, and with the businesses closed, there is nothing for tourists, a cycle which is hard to restart.
Dubrovnik in particular has been quite isolated in recent years over the winter period, with almost all flights going through Zagreb. As ExYuaviation reports, there is some good news this winter, with Croatia Airlines deciding to reinstate its Dubrovnik to Frankfurt route three times a week for the majority of the winter period (with a short break in late January and late February).
In addition to confirmation of the Frankfurt route by Dubrovnik Airport’s Deputy Manager for Development, Maro Lukšić, the portal quotes Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, who recently said the carrier aimed to serve Dubrovnik internationally this winter. “Our new strategy will bring adjustments to our network which will further highlight that Croatia Airlines is an important part of Croatia’s transport and tourism infrastructure. During the coronavirus pandemic, we linked Osijek with an international destination for the first time – Munich – with the support of the city, county and tourism boards. It has now developed into a year-round route. During the previous winter, we connected Pula with Zurich and maintained flights between Split and Zurich in cooperation with local tourism boards. Our goal now is to link both Zadar and Dubrovnik with international destinations during the winter period. The whole of Croatia is important to us because that way we will succeed in our mission”, Mr Bajić said.
The new flight will also be handy for neighbouring Montenegro in the Boka Bay/Lustica Peninsula area, a close transfer to Dubrovnik and where – in contrast to the Croatian coast, most of the bigger resorts remain open.
My top tip to see Dubrovnik during this time – February 3 and the Feast of St Blaise, Patron Saint of Dubrovnik – in my view, the very best time to see the city. Find out why in Dubrovnik, Full of Life as St Blaise Celebrated in Style.
