November the 8th, 2024 – Five new aircraft for domestic carrier Croatia Airlines will be in operation as part of the company’s summer 2025 schedule.
As Mladen Miletic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) has recently been presenting its offer at the WTM fair in London. As part of that, the national air carrier Croatia Airlines announced its summer flight schedule (March the 25th – October the 25th) for 2025. In included all of the Croatia Airlines flights to all 28 international destinations with which there is a direct connection with Croatia.
Flights operating on certain seasonal lines will begin flying as early as the end of March next year and will be operated until the end of October. Through this, Croatia Airlines continues to contribute to the extension of the tourist season in Croatia.
The plan is to expand the network of international flights and gradually increase the number of Croatia Airlines flights during summer 2025. All this will be done in accordance with the expected delivery of new Airbus A220 aircraft.
73 lines
It’s worth noting that back in July this year, the company included the first new A220 aircraft in its fleet. In doing so, it began the renewal of its fleet until 2027, the largest project in the company’s 35-year history.
The arrival of the second new A220 aircraft is expected by the end of this year, and three more aircraft should be delivered by the peak of the next tourist season. This will ensure the company’s further growth, that is, the development of its destination network and the increase of available seats.
Croatia Airlines summer 2025 are planned to operate on a total of 73 lines (8 more than this year) In the peak of the season, the number of flights is planned to increase by 12% compared to 2024’s season. During this period, more than 108,000 seats will be available to passengers on a weekly basis, which represents a significant increase of as much as 57%.
“I’m extremely glad that next year, the Croatian national airline is planning to continue flying to 28 international destinations, with a significantly larger number of flights and seats on offer. The importance of air traffic for Croatian tourism is unquestionable, especially when it comes to connecting Croatia with our most important European markets outside of the summer months, that is, in the pre- and post-season, when there is only room for growth in tourist traffic.
High-quality connectivity by air is one of the basic prerequisites for positioning Croatia as a sustainable, easily accessible and attractive year-round destination,” said Kristjan Staničić, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board.
can croatia airlines ever compete with ryanair?
Ryanair’s arrival at Zagreb International Airport has proven to be an exceptionally lucrative decision for the popular Irish carrier, and Croatia Airlines, unfortunately famed for its higher prices, has had reason for concern. Ryanair opened up an array of European destinations at very low prices for Zagreb’s population, and in turn it opened up the chance for many Europeans to come and explore the Croatian capital for extremely favourable prices.
Croatia Airlines has unfortunately become somewhat synonymous for high prices among many people in Croatia, with most opting to travel with Ryanair to the likes of London, even if landing at London Stansted as opposed to Heathrow isn’t as ideal.
It remains to be seen how Croatia Airlines will perform with its planned summer 2025 schedule, but it’s difficult to imagine that Ryanair will ever see less lines waiting at its check in desks at Zagreb Airport.
