Editing Croatia Airlines (section)

== History ==
===Early years===
[[File:Croatia Airlines MD-82; YU-ANO, June 1991 DTV (5164294148).jpg|thumb|right|A former Croatia Airlines [[McDonnell Douglas MD-82]] in 1991.]]
[[File:Boeing 737-230-Adv, Croatia Airlines AN0203066.jpg|thumb|right|A former Croatia Airlines [[Boeing 737-200]] in 1992.]]
[[File:Croatia Airlines ATR ATR-42-300 9A-CTU (21833697829).jpg|thumb|right|A former Croatia Airlines [[ATR42-300]] in 2006.]]
[[File:CTN HQ.jpg|thumb|Croatia Airlines [[head office]] in [[Buzin, Zagreb]]]]
The airline was established in June 1991 with no planes and already with poor economic prospects. Later in 1991, Croatia Airlines signed an agreement with [[Adria Airways]] which allowed it to lease a [[Douglas DC-9|McDonnell Douglas MD-82]] to commence domestic jet services between Zagreb and [[Split, Croatia|Split]]. Croatia Airlines acquired three [[Boeing 737]]s from [[Lufthansa]] and became a member of the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA). As the [[flag carrier]] of newly independent Croatia, the airline launched its first international service on 5 April 1992, from Zagreb to Frankfurt.<ref>[http://www.exyuaviation.com/2014/08/croatia-airlines-turns-25.html Croatia Airlines turns 25] at EX-YU Aviation News, 12-8-2014, retrieved 1-12-2015</ref>

In 1993, two new [[ATR 42]]s and two more 737s joined the fleet and representative offices were opened in several European cities and the company bought the travel agency Obzor to organize travel packages for groups and individuals. By 1994, Croatia Airlines had welcomed its millionth passenger. Later that year, [[Pope John Paul II]] flew the airline on a trip to Croatia.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

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]] after the Bosnian War. In 1997, the airline's first [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] arrived and was named ''Rijeka''. In 1998, another first plane of a new type arrived when the airline's first [[Airbus A319]] joined the fleet. This airplane was named ''Zadar''. In the same 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. The airline flew its five millionth passenger.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

===Development since 2000===
In 2000, two more Airbus planes arrived and an automated ticketing system was inaugurated. In 2001, the airline received maintenance and technical performing certificates from the [[Germany|German]] aviation authority [[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt]]. On 18 November 2004, Croatia Airlines joined [[Star Alliance]].{{cn|date=January 2025}}

[[Airbus]] and Croatia Airlines announced on 22 October 2008 the order of four additional 132-seat A319 aircraft, to be delivered from 2013.<ref>[http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_10_22_a320_croatia_airlines.html Croatia Airlines to acquire four additional A320 family aircraft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027132559/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_10_22_a320_croatia_airlines.html |date=2008-10-27 }} 22 October 2008</ref> By March 2009, the airline also retired its fleet of three [[ATR 42]] short-haul aircraft, after operating the type since 1993, and replaced it with a fleet of six [[Bombardier Dash 8|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400]]s, the first of which was delivered in May 2008.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

The airline carried its 20,000,000th passenger in July 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/novosti/biznis/clanak/id/60792/croatia-airlines-20-milijunti-putnik |title=Croatia Airlines: 20-milijunti putnik |date=24 July 2009 |work=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]] |language=hr |access-date=12 April 2017 }}</ref> and has carried well over 1 million passengers annually from 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/2009/07/20-million-for-croatia-airlines.html |title=20 million for Croatia Airlines |date=July 28, 2009 |work=Blogspot |publisher=Exyuaviation }}</ref>

Croatia Airlines and maintenance partner [[Lufthansa]] announced on 23 May 2011 the introduction of new slim-line [[Recaro]] economy seats to be retrofitted into certain [[A320 Family]] aircraft from summer 2012, increasing seating capacity by two rows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=106152 |website=Balkans.com |title=Croatia Airlines to Introduce Lufthasa's Recaro seats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132156/http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=106152 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |date=23 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=139574 |website=Balkans.com |title=Croatia Airlines presents new economy class cabin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402225024/http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=139574 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |date=20 March 2012}}</ref>

Losses have been made for several years; in November 2012, the government announced that it would provide HRK 800m ($ 136m) for Croatia Airlines to become cost-effective from 2013 on. The government is seeking to restructure the airline, which includes plans to cut its workforce by ten percent within two years and it is also looking for a strategic investor.<ref name="friedlnews">{{cite web|title= Croatia Pushing Ahead With Croatia Airlines Restructuring|url=http://www.friedlnews.com/article/croatia-pushing-ahead-with-croatia-airlines-restructuring|access-date= 27 May 2013}}</ref>

In February 2020, Croatia Airlines announced two new seasonal flights to [[Podgorica Airport|Podgorica]] and [[Sofia Airport|Sofia]] operated by [[Bombardier Dash-8|Bombardier Dash 8 Q400]].<ref name="CA">{{cite web|title= Croatia Airlines uvodi letove iz Zagreba u Sofiju i Podgoricu|url= https://www.croatiaairlines.com/hr/O-nama/Mediji/press/2618/Croatia-Airlines-uvodi-letove-iz-Zagreba-u-Sofiju-i-Podgoricu|access-date= 11 February 2020}}{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In April 2024, Croatia Airlines concluded an agreement on the lease of an Airbus A319 aircraft with the Croatian airline Fly Air41, which is otherwise a sister company to [[Sundair|SundAir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2024 |title=Croatia Airlines je uzela u najam još jedan zrakoplov tipa Airbus A319 |trans-title=Croatia Airlines leased another Airbus A319 aircraft |url=https://croatianaviation.com/croatia-airlines-je-uzela-u-najam-jos-jedan-zrakoplov-tipa-airbus-a319/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Croatian aviation |language=hr}}</ref>

=== Renewal of the fleet ===
In October 2022, Croatia Airlines announced plans to reduce their fleet and replace all current aircraft with six new [[Airbus A220-300]] by 2026. The airline decided against the competing [[Embraer E2]] as it was able to use downpayments for a former and since cancelled order for Airbus A319s nearly 15 years ago.<ref name="a220">[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/croatia-airlines-laesst-embraer-links-liegen-und-kauft-airbus-a220 aerotelegraph.com] (German) 5 October 2022</ref> In November 2022, it has been stated that the airline will operate up to 15 A220 with 9 additional aircraft to be leased.<ref name="flightglobal">[https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/croatia-airlines-to-operate-up-to-15-a220s-as-it-places-firm-order/151142.article flightglobal.com - Croatia Airlines to operate up to 15 A220s as it places firm order] 29 November 2022</ref> In January 2023, a lease was agreed for the first six aircraft of four A220-300 aircraft and two A220-100 aircraft. The lease was concluded with Air Lease Corporation Clover based in the Republic of Ireland as the lessor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 January 2023 |title=Croatia Airlines ugovorio zakup šest zrakoplova A220 |trans-title=Croatia Airlines contracted the lease of six A220 aircraft |url=https://www.seebiz.eu/tvrtke/croatia-airlines-ugovorio-zakup-sest-zrakoplova-a220/286954/ |access-date=16 January 2023 |website=SEEbiz |language=hr}}</ref>

In September 2023, Croatia Airlines sold and leased back its entire [[Airbus]] fleet from lessor World Star Aviation. Four [[Airbus A319]] and one [[Airbus A320]] were sold prior to the [[Airbus A220]] delivery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/09/croatia-airlines-sells-airbus-fleet-to.html?m=1|title=Croatia sells Airbus aircraft|date=15 September 2023 }}</ref> In November 2023, Croatia Airlines has started retiring aircraft prior to its first [[Airbus A220]] deliveries with the first aircraft to leave the fleet being an [[Airbus A319-100]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/11/croatia-airlines-retires-one-a319-jet.html|title=Croatia retires A319 jet|date=24 November 2023 }}</ref> The arrival of the first aircraft was confirmed for July 2024, while the second new A220 was expected at the end of the same year. The following six aircraft would be delivered in 2025, then four in 2026, and the last three in 2027.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Topić |first=Dario |date=12 June 2024 |title=Croatia Airlines dobiva najmoderniji avion: Pogledajte što će nuditi putnicima, znamo gdje će letjeti, a imat će i posebno ime |trans-title=Croatia Airlines is getting the most modern plane: Look at what it will offer to passengers, we know where it will fly, and it will have a special name |url=https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/luksuz-u-zraku-croatia-airlines-dobiva-najnoviji-model-a220-putnici-ce-napokon-moci-surfati-u-letu-1776696 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Večernji list |language=hr}}</ref> On 30 July 2024, first airplane named Zagreb, landed on [[Zagreb Airport]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vajdić |first=Karlo |date=30 July 2024 |title=Airbusom A220-300 počela pola milijarde eura vrijedna obnova flote Croatia Airlinesa |trans-title=With the Airbus A220-300, the renovation of Croatia Airlines' fleet, worth half a billion euros, began |url=https://hr.bloombergadria.com/biznis/kompanije/63674/airbusom-a220-300-pocela-pola-milijarde-eura-vrijedna-obnova-flote-croatia-airlinesa/news/ |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=Bloomberg Adria |language=hr}}</ref> Second airplane arrived on 20 December 2024 and it was named Split.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2024 |title=Drugi zrakoplov Airbus A220 nove flote Croatia Airlinesa sletio u Hrvatsku |trans-title=The second Airbus A220 aircraft of Croatia Airlines' new fleet has landed in Croatia |url=https://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/drugi-novi-zrakoplov-airbus-a220-nove-flote-croatia-airlinesa-sletio-u-hrvatsku-4466215 |access-date=22 December 2024 |website=Poslovni dnevnik |language=hr}}</ref>