Croatia Airlines

Croatia Airlines Ltd. is the flag carrier of Croatia. Its headquarters are in Buzin near Zagreb,<ref name="Basic information">Template:Cite web</ref> the capital, and operates domestic and international services mainly to European destinations. Its main hub is Zagreb International Airport with focus cities being Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar.<ref name="FI">Flight International 3 April 2007</ref> Since November 2004, the airline has been a member of Star Alliance.

History

Early years

File:Croatia Airlines MD-82; YU-ANO, June 1991 DTV (5164294148).jpg

A former Croatia Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in 1991.

File:Boeing 737-230-Adv, Croatia Airlines AN0203066.jpg

A former Croatia Airlines Boeing 737-200 in 1992.

File:Croatia Airlines ATR ATR-42-300 9A-CTU (21833697829).jpg

A former Croatia Airlines ATR42-300 in 2006.

File:CTN HQ.jpg

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 McDonnell Douglas MD-82 to commence domestic jet services between Zagreb and Split. Croatia Airlines acquired three Boeing 737s 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>Croatia Airlines turns 25 at EX-YU Aviation News, 12-8-2014, retrieved 1-12-2015</ref>

In 1993, two new ATR 42s 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.Template:Cn

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 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.Template:Citation needed

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 German aviation authority Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. On 18 November 2004, Croatia Airlines joined Star Alliance.Template:Cn

Airbus and Croatia Airlines announced on 22 October 2008 the order of four additional 132-seat A319 aircraft, to be delivered from 2013.<ref>Croatia Airlines to acquire four additional A320 family aircraft Template:Webarchive 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 Q400s, the first of which was delivered in May 2008.Template:Cn

The airline carried its 20,000,000th passenger in July 2009,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and has carried well over 1 million passengers annually from 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2020, Croatia Airlines announced two new seasonal flights to Podgorica and Sofia operated by Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.<ref name="CA">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</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.<ref>Template:Cite web</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">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">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">Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 July 2024, first airplane named Zagreb, landed on Zagreb Airport.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Second airplane arrived on 20 December 2024 and it was named Split.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Corporate affairs

Ownership

Croatia Airlines is a joint-stock company. Its share capital is divided into 92.388 million ordinary shares (Template:As of):<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Share owner	Number of shares	Percentage
Republic of Croatia	91,610,821	99.16%
Zagreb Airport Ltd.	477,121	0.52%
Hrvatska poštanska banka for the Republic of Croatia	173,768	0.19%
JANAF	22,000	0.02%
Others	104,243	0.11%

Business trends

The key trends for Croatia Airlines group over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	Turnover (€ m)	Net profit (€ m)	Number of employeesTemplate:Efn	Number of passengers (m)	Passenger load factor (%)	Number of aircraftTemplate:Efn	Sources
2007	204	0.13	1,052	1.7	64.9	10	<ref name="croatiaairlines">Template:Cite web</ref>
2008	229	Template:Color	1,113	1.8	65.2	10	<ref name="croatiaairlines" />
2009	192	Template:Color	1,131	1.7	61.4	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010	196	Template:Color	1,117	1.6	62.0	13	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2011	234	Template:Color	1,101	1.8	67.0	13	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	237	Template:Color	1,086	1.9	69.1	13	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	219	0.19	1,041	1.7	68.8	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014	218	1.1	908	1.8	69.2	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	214	1.9	898	1.8	69.7	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	215	1.0	967	1.9	70.7	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017	233	3.5	924	2.1	75.2	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2018	236	Template:Color	959	2.1	73.5	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019	236	Template:Color	999	2.1	73.6	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020	100	Template:Color	980	0.61	49.6	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021	112	Template:Color	920	0.78	49.9	13	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022	210	Template:Color	909	1.4	62.0	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023	252	2.0	911	1.7	65.3	12	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024	220	Template:Color		1.8	65.1	13	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Destinations

Template:As of, Croatia Airlines flies to the following destinations:<ref name="OU_Routes">Template:Cite web</ref>

Country	City	Airport	Notes	Refs
Albania	Tirana	Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name=OUseasonal25>Template:Cite web</ref>
Austria	Vienna	Vienna International Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Belgium	Brussels	Brussels Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Mostar	Mostar International Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
	Sarajevo	Sarajevo International Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Croatia	Brač	Brač Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Dubrovnik	Dubrovnik Airport	Template:Airline hub	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
	Osijek	Osijek Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
	Pula	Pula Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
	Rijeka	Rijeka Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
	Split	Split Airport	Template:Airline hub	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
	Zadar	Zadar Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
	Zagreb	Zagreb Airport	Template:Airline hub	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
Czech Republic	Prague	Václav Havel Airport Prague	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
Denmark	Copenhagen	Copenhagen Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
France	Lyon	Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
	Paris	Charles de Gaulle Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
Germany	Berlin	Berlin Brandenburg Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" /><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
	Düsseldorf	Düsseldorf Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
	Frankfurt	Frankfurt Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
	Munich	Munich Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Greece	Athens	Athens International Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
Ireland	Dublin	Dublin Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
Israel	Tel Aviv	Ben Gurion Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="TLV_Susp_Aug_24">Template:Cite news</ref>
Italy	Milan	Milan Malpensa Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
	Rome	Rome Fiumicino Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
North Macedonia	Skopje	Skopje International Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />
Norway	Oslo	Oslo Airport, Gardermoen	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
Romania	Bucharest	Henri Coandă International Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
Spain	Barcelona	Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" /><ref name=OUsummer25 />
Sweden	Stockholm	Stockholm Arlanda Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUseasonal25 />
Switzerland	Zürich	Zürich Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/>
Turkey	Istanbul	Istanbul Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=OUsummer25 />
United Kingdom	London	Gatwick Airport	Template:Airline seasonal	<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=OUsummer25 />
		Heathrow Airport		<ref name="OU_Routes"/><ref name=":4" />

Codeshare agreements

Croatia Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:<ref name="CAPA Croatia Airlines profile">Template:Cite web</ref>

• Air Canada
• Air France
• Air India
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• ITA Airways
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Singapore Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines

Fleet

Current fleet

Template:As of, Croatia Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:<ref name="fleetofficial">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Passengers<ref name="fleetofficial"/>	Notes
Airbus A220-100	—	2	127<ref name=":1" />	Deliveries since July 2024.<ref name=flightglobal/><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=aero.de>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Airbus A220-300	3<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	10	149<ref name=":3" />
Airbus A319-100	4	—	144	To be replaced by Airbus A220.<ref name=aero.de/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Airbus A320-200	2	—	174
Template:Nowrap	4<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	—	76
Total	13	12

Former fleet

Croatia Airlines formerly also operated the following aircraft types:

Croatia Airlines historical fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
ATR 42-300QC	3	1993	2009	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BAe 146-200	2	2000	2002	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Boeing 737-200	5	1992	1999	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fokker 100	1	2001	2005	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
McDonnell Douglas MD-82	2	1990	1991	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website