Zagreb Airport seeks Low Cost Carriers
Zagreb Airport is engaged in talks over securing additional low cost flights in order to stimulate growth as the pandemic continues to impact the industry. The airport, considered expensive by budget carriers, has launched a new subsidy scheme to stimulate the arrival of new airlines and the launch of new routes. In order to qualify for the discounts, which includes an 80% reduction in the passenger service charge that amounts to 17.5 euros, an airline must launch services from the Croatian capital to destinations that were not previously served in either the pre-pandemic 2019 or in 2020. The carrier must also maintain operations throughout the year.
The new policy is said to have generated interest among the major European no frills airlines. Zagreb Airport is dominated by full service carriers with Eurowings being the only low cost airline serving the city. Based on the existing summer season schedule, just 3.6% of all flights from Zagreb will be operated by no frills airlines, all of them by Eurowings. However, it too noted that its airport charges are “significantly higher than most major European airports, making it less appealing for low cost carriers”. Croatia’s busiest airport hiked its passenger service charge following the opening of its new passenger terminal in 2017 by two euros per each international passenger. Similarly, it increased its fees by half a euro per every domestic passenger to seven and a half euros.
Europe’s busiest airline, Ryanair, held talks with the Croatian Ministry for Tourism in 2018 over the potential introduction of flights to Zagreb. Commenting on its absence in the Croatian capital, Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, previously said, “It is a high-priced airport environment with fluctuating demand. Should the costs come down, I think they would attract us”. Zagreb Airport was previously served by the likes of Wizz Air, easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle, however, all terminated their operations from the Croatian capital, but continue to maintain a notable presence on the coast where fees are lower.
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