Flag carrier Croatia Airlines has put pen to paper on "a firm order" for a half dozen Airbus A220-300s, the French manufacturer has announced.
The airline is to lease another nine of the jets, Airbus added, part of a fleet revamp that will see "previous generation" aircraft replaced as part of a 25-year partnership between Airbus and Croatia Airlines.
The airline said in a separate statement that the new planes meant that its fleet "will in its entirety be replaced with a new, single-type fleet of jet-powered aircraft" by 2026.
“Today’s signing of a contract for the purchase of state-of-the-art Airbus aircraft is a very special moment for all of us at Croatia Airlines. It marks the beginning of a new period of aviation, a new period in the life of Croatia Airlines, a new period for our passengers, and a new period for Croatia’s tourism and economy as a whole,” said Jasmin Bajić, the airline's chief executive and president of the management board.
Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial Officer and head of international Christian Scherer, said the aircraft was "ideally suited to Croatia's aviation needs" as it offers "operational flexibility and efficiency".