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| Croatia Airlines | ||
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| IATA OU |
ICAO CTN |
Callsign CROATIA |
| Founded | 1989 (as Zagal-Zagreb Airlines) | |
| Hubs | Zagreb Airport | |
| Focus cities | Split Airport Dubrovnik Airport |
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| Frequent flyer program | Miles & More | |
| Member lounge | Senator Lounge | |
| Alliance | Star Alliance | |
| Fleet size | 10 (+8 orders, 4 options) | |
| Destinations | 27 | |
| Parent company | Government of Croatia | |
| Headquarters | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Key people | Ivan Mišetić (President and CEO) | |
| Website: http://www.croatiaairlines.hr | ||
Croatia Airlines d.d. is the national airline and flag carrier of Croatia, based in Zagreb, and a regional member of the Star Alliance. It operates services to domestic and international destinations. Its main base is Zagreb Airport, with focus cities at Dubrovnik Airport and Split Airport.1 In 2007 Croatia Airlines posted a net profit of 25 million Croatian Kuna and transported 1,715,027, a maximum in the airline's history.citation needed
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History
The airline was established on 20 July 1989 as Zagal – Zagreb Airlines, and started operations using Cessna 402 aircraft on cargo services for the UPS. The company used the name Zagal for short. After the first democratic elections held in Croatia, Zagal changed its name on July 23, 1990 to Croatia Airlines1.
In 1991 the airline signed an agreement with Adria Airways and then was able to lease a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 to start domestic jet services between Zagreb and Split. 1992 was a tough year for the company when the Serbo-Montenegrin aggression on Croatia forced the airline to stop flying. As soon as flights restarted, Croatia Airlines bought three Boeing 737s from Lufthansa and became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). That year also saw the airline's first international route.
In 1993 two ATR 42s and two more 737s joined the fleet, offices were opened in several European cities and the company bought a travel agency, Obzor, to organize travel for groups and individuals. By 1994, Croatia Airlines had welcomed its one millionth passenger. Later that year, Pope John Paul II flew the airline on a trip to Croatia.
In 1995, another ATR 42 was welcomed, as was the two millionth passenger. In 1996, Croatia Airlines became the first airline to fly to Sarajevo. In 1997 the airline's first Airbus A320 arrived and was nicknamed Rijeka. In 1998, another first plane of a new type arrived when the airline's first Airbus A319 joined the fleet. This airplane was nicknamed Zadar. Also that year, Croatia Airlines became a member of the Association of European Airlines (AEA). By 1999, two more Airbus jets had arrived and Croatia Airlines started selling the Boeing part of their fleet. Another important event occurred when the airline flew its five millionth passenger.
In 2000 two more Airbus planes arrived and an Automated Ticketing System was inaugurated. 2001 saw Croatia Airlines get maintenance and technical performing certificates from the German aviation authority Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. On November 18, 2004, Croatia Airlines joined the Star Alliance as a regional member, sponsored by Lufthansa. Croatia Airlines carried 1,715,027 passengers in 2007.citation needed According to some estimates 2007 was their best traffic year and also most profitable.citation needed
2008 has seen the airline retire its fleet of three ATR 42 short-haul aircraft in service from 1993, to be replaced by six Bombardier Q400 aircraft, the first of which was delivered in May 2008. The airline is also believed to be interested in taking a stake in neighbouring airline BH Airlines with whom it presently codeshares.2
Destinations
Croatia Airlines serves the following destinations (as of May 2008):
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Bol (Bol Airport)
- Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Airport) Focus city
- Osijek (Osijek Airport)
- Pula (Pula Airport)
- Rijeka (Rijeka Airport)
- Split (Split Airport) Focus city
- Zadar (Zadar Airport)
- Zagreb (Zagreb Airport) Hub
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf International Airport)
- Frankfurt (Frankfurt International Airport)
- Munich (Franz Josef Strauß International Airport)
- Israel
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Croatia Airlines also operates codeshare services to other destinations, primarily with Star Alliance partners.
Fleet
The Croatia Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 5th November 2008):3 4
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Business/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-112 | 4 (4 orders) |
132 (12/120) | Short-Medium haul | Deliveries 2012-2013 |
| Airbus A320-200 | 4 | 164 (18/146) | Short-Medium haul | |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 2 (4 orders) (4 options) |
76 (0/76) | Short haul | Deliveries 2009-2010 |
| Total: | 10 |
As of 30 October 2008, the average age of the Croatia Airlines fleet is 9.3 years 5.
The airline is to acquire 6 (with options for 4 more) factory new 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to boost its regional route network currently served with ATR 42 aircraft.6 Delivery of the first aircraft registered 9A-CQA started in May 2008 and will continue through to 2010 with all aircraft on a 6 years finance leases. It is part of their plan to finally establish Zagreb as a major regional hub.7
Airbus and Croatia Airlines announced on October 22 the order of four additional 132-seat A319 aircraft, to be delivered from 2012.8
References
- ^ a b Flight International 3 April 2007
- ^ CH-Aviation - Airline News, Fleet Lists & More
- ^ Croatia Airlines Fleet
- ^ Croatia Airlines Fleet at CH-Aviation
- ^ Fleet Age
- ^ Croatia Airlines Orders Two Bombardier Q400 Nextgen Airliners 19 September 2008
- ^ "Croatia Airlines to boost regional network", Airliner World (June 2007), p. 5.
- ^ Croatia Airlines to acquire four additional A320 family aircraft 22 October 2008
External links
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