Croatia Airlines

Croatia Airlines
IATA
OU		 ICAO
CTN		 Callsign
CROATIA
Founded 1989 (as Zagal-Zagreb Airlines)
Hubs Zagreb Airport
Focus cities Split Airport
Dubrovnik Airport
Frequent-flyer program Miles & More
Member lounge Senator Lounge
Alliance Star Alliance
Fleet size 13 (+4 orders, 4 options)
Destinations 27
Company slogan More than a comfortable flight
Parent company Government of Croatia
Headquarters Zagreb, Croatia
Key people Ivan Mišetić (President and CEO)
Website http://www.croatiaairlines.hr
Airbus A319-100 (2009)
Airbus A320-200 (2009)
Bombardier Q400 (2008)
Airbus A319 taxiing at Zagreb Airport, Croatia in old livery. (2007)
Airbus A320 at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany. (2007)

Croatia Airlines d.d. is the national airline and flag carrier of the Republic of Croatia. Based in Zagreb,[1] the airline is a member of Star Alliance and operates domestic and international services. Its main base is Zagreb Airport, with focus cities being Dubrovnik and Split.[2] In 2008 Croatia Airlines posted a net profit of 38 million Croatian kuna and transported 1,870 000 passengers (2008). [1]

Contents

History

The airline was established on 20 July 1989 under the name of Zagal – Zagreb Airlines, and started operations using a single Cessna 402 aircraft on cargo services for UPS. After the first democratic elections held in Croatia, Zagal changed its name to Croatia Airlines[2] on 23 July 1990.

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. Due to the ongoing military conflict in the region and the closure of the airspace over Croatia, the airline was soon forced to suspend operations. As soon as flights restarted, Croatia Airlines acquired three Boeing 737s from Lufthansa and became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). That year also saw the airline open its first international route to Frankfurt.

In 1993 two new ATR 42s and two more 737s joined the fleet, 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 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 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.

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.

By March 2009, the airline completely 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 Q400 aircraft, the first of which was delivered in May 2008.

The airline carried its 20,000,000th passenger in July 2009,[3] and has carried well over 1 million passengers annually from 2000.[4]

Destinations

Fleet

The Croatia Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 01 April 2010):[5][6]

Croatia Airlines Fleet
Aircraft Total Order Passengers (Business/Economy) Notes
Airbus A319-112 4 4 132 (12/120) Deliveries: 2012-2013
Airbus A320-200 3 0 164 (18/146)
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 6 0 76 (0/76)
Total: 13 4

As of January 2010, the average age of the Croatia Airlines fleet was 8.3 years [7].

Airbus and Croatia Airlines announced on 22 October 2008 the order of four additional 132-seat A319 aircraft, to be delivered from 2012.[8]

Historic fleet

Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Ref
ATR 42 3 1993 2009 [9]
Boeing 737-200 5 1992 1999 [10]
BAe 146 2 2000 2003 [11]
Fokker 100 1 2008 2008 [12]
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 2 1991 1991 [13]

References

  1. ↑ "contact us." Croatia Airlines. Retrieved on 24 October 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flight International 3 April 2007
  3. ↑ Croatia Airlines: 20- milijunti putnik
  4. ↑ exyuaviation: 20 million for Croatia Airlines 28 July 2009
  5. ↑ Croatia Airlines Fleet
  6. ↑ Croatia Airlines Fleet at CH-Aviation
  7. ↑ Fleet Age
  8. ↑ Croatia Airlines to acquire four additional A320 family aircraft 22 October 2008
  9. ↑ Airfleets. "ATR 42/72 in Croatia Airlines history". http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Croatia%20Airlines-history-atr.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  10. ↑ Airfleets. "Boeing 737 in Croatia Airlines history". http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Croatia%20Airlines-history-b737.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  11. ↑ Airfleets. "BAe 146 / Avro RJ in Croatia Airlines history". http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Croatia%20Airlines-history-bae146.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  12. ↑ Airfleets. "Fokker 70/100 in Croatia Airlines history". http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Croatia%20Airlines-history-f100.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  13. ↑ Airfleets. "McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90 in Croatia Airlines history". http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Croatia%20Airlines-history-md80.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 

External links