As previously announced, ETF Airways, a new Croatian start-up registered in November last year, has plans to launch operations in 2021 with charter flights from the Adriatic coast to destinations around Europe.
Ex Yu Aviation reports that ETF Airways plans to take over its first aircraft next week (189-seat Boeing 737-800), and a second soon after. ETF ultimately plans to operate five aircraft, with one based in Dubrovnik for charter flights and others wet-leased to other airlines. Ex Yu Aviation reports that tour operators are interested, but no deals have been signed yet.
The company’s CEO, Stjepan Bedić, has no doubt that ETF will help Croatian tourism.
“Thinking that we are world-famous in tourism and that everyone will come to us is counterproductive. Antalya has thirty million passengers per year. All of Croatia’s coastal airports combined have fewer passengers than Ibiza. What we have are peanuts. We are talking about basing one aircraft in Dubrovnik. By bringing a guest to Dubrovnik everyone will be able to profit from it – hotels, the city, tourist attractions,” he said for Ex Yu Aviation.
ETF will focus mainly on servicing the competitive Croatian coast during the summer months, with a network of destinations, including Dubrovnik, Pula, Split, and Zadar, to airports in France, Germany, and the UK.
ETF is currently looking for partners, companies, and brokers for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (wet-lease) and charter opportunities to keep their aircraft on the Croatian coast.
The new start-up has been well received in Croatia thus far, with private investors and investment funds in the country supporting the airline.
ETF investor, Deputy President of the Supervisory Board, and economic analyst Velimir Šonje said:
“ETF does not aim to become a big scheduled carrier. Our main goal is to utilize the opportunities which we expect in the coming years through charters and similar arrangement, primarily on the EU market, through flexible and reliable service”.
He added that there will be many opportunities in the post-COVID world.
You can find more about ETF Airways here.
Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.
For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
