Croatia Airlines has not reacted well to Ryanair’s announcement for a new Croatian route and increased summer frequencies and has demanded the same fees and conditions from Zagreb Airport.
Ryanair plans to fly from Pula to Poznan, Poland, operating twice weekly, as well as increased flights from Pula to Brussels Charleroi and London Stansted, now operating three times a week from July.
“As vaccination rollout programmes continue in the coming months, air traffic is set to soar and we are delighted to announce this new route from Pula to Poznan as well as additional flights from Pula to Brussels Charleroi and London Stansted from this July as part of Ryanair’s Croatian Summer Schedule,” said Olga Pawlonka, Ryanair’s Sales & Marketing Manager for CEE & Balkans.
Croatia Airlines has requested for Zagreb Airport to offer fees and conditions similar to those provided to low cost carrier Ryanair. “Competing with a significant number of large carriers has been the reality of the market since Croatia Airlines’ foundation and there is nothing problematic in that regard. However, it is unacceptable that the national carrier is financing the arrival of new carriers on the market,” Croatia Airlines said.
The airline also claimed that the market was being “distorted in favour of Ryanair” and that it had “received less than €200.000 euros in incentives from the airport between 2016 and 2019 for the launch of ten new routes, while Ryanair will get thirty times more for its twelve new destinations”.
“We appreciate Zagreb Airport’s efforts in securing new flights, however, this should only be done on the basis of impartiality and the same terms should be offered to all companies without favouritism. At the same time, we expect for Zagreb Airport to meet the needs of Croatia Airlines in the same way and that conditions will be harmonised with those offered to Ryanair, taking into account the number of routes we operate and passengers carried. Failure to secure the same incentives for Croatia Airlines, or even greater discounts, seriously endangers equal conditions for all and purposely causes damage to the national carrier, which is majority owned by the Republic of Croatia”, the company ended.