Croatia Airlines
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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 | Dubrovnik Airport Split Airport |
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| Frequent flyer program | Miles & More | |
| Member lounge | Senator Lounge | |
| Alliance | Star Alliance | |
| Fleet size | 11 (+3 orders, 2 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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[edit] 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 Airlines[1].
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 Yugoslav wars 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]
Early 2008 saw the airline retire one of its three ATR 42 short-haul aircraft in anticipation for the delivery of replacement Bombardier Q400 aircraft. The airline is also believed to be interested in taking a stake in neighbouring airline BH Airlines with whom it presently codeshares.[2]
[edit] Destinations
Summer schedules for 2008 see the airline expand [3] its destination network to: Podgorica, Priština, Düsseldorf and Copenhagen.
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
- Italy
- Israel
- Kosovo
- Priština (Priština International Airport) [Starts June 16, 2008]
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Podgorica (Podgorica Airport) [Starts June 17, 2008]
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Croatia Airlines also operates codeshare services to other destinations, primarily with Star Alliance partners.
[edit] Fleet
The Croatia Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at April 2008) [4] :
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Business/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-300 | 2 (Dalmacija,Istra) | 48(0/48) | Short haul routes | exit service 2008 |
| Airbus A319-100 | 4 (Zadar, Zagreb, Vukovar, Split) | 132 (12/120) | Short and medium haul routes | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 4 (Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Osijek) | 164 (18/146) | Short and medium haul routes | |
| Bombardier Q400 | 1 (Slavonija) (1 to be delivered June 2008) |
76 (0/76) | Short haul routes | another 2 deliveries in 2009, 2 options |
| Fokker 100 | 1 (wet leased from Trade Air) | around 100 | Short haul routes |
As of 3 June 2008, the average age of the Croatia Airlines fleet is 11.3 years ([1]).
The airline is to acquire 4 (with options for 2 more) factory new 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to boost its regional route network currently served with ATR 42 aircraft. Delivery of the first aircraft registered 9A-CQA started in May 2008 and will continue in 2008 and 2009 with all aircraft on a 6 years finance leases. It is part of their plan to finally establish Zagreb as a major regional hub.[5]
Croatia Airlines will wet lease a Fokker 100 operated by Trade Air from May 2nd to June 16th to enhance the fleet while waiting the delivery of 2 new Q400s. The first Q400 is planned to be delivered to Split Airport on May 12th, and first commercial flight is planned on May 16th. The second Q400 is expected in June. [6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Flight International 3 April 2007
- ^ http://www.ch-aviation.ch/airlinepage.php?code1=OU
- ^ http://www.croatiaairlines.com/hr/novosti/tabid/237/Default.aspx
- ^ Croatia Airlines Fleet
- ^ "Croatia Airlines to boost regional network", Airliner World, June 2007, p. 5.
- ^ http://aerocroatia.awardspace.com/
[edit] External links
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