As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 30th of April, 2019, Croatia Airlines' operating losses during the first quarter of this year stand at 90.2 million kuna, with a net final loss for that period totalling a massive 98.6 million kuna, as Croatia Airlines announced on Tuesday.
Croatia Airlines explained that these significant losses are to be expected in view of its highly seasonal business performance. The air company added that the lower net result, in comparison with the previous year, was significantly influenced by the increase in amortisation costs, standing at 26.5 million kuna, caused by the change in international financial reporting standards, ie, with the application of IFRS 16, as well as major work on the engines made in the previous period.
Croatia Airlines made sure to add that the net effect on the result, resulting from the change in the method of recognising operating lease costs, amounted to 4 million kuna for the first quarter of 2019.
They point out, however, that its EBITDA performance indicator is more positive, standing at as much as 16.6 million kuna when compared to the same period last year.
In the first quarter of this year, 345,800 passengers were transported by Croatia Airlines, which was 2.4 percent less than during in the same period last year. This reduced demand has been put down to Easter having been later this year than it was in 2018, as well as the fact that it was higher at the same time last year because the demand for the European handball championships in Croatia was of course high. Given the favourable booking and demand, the fall in the number of passengers for Croatia Airlines during 2019's first three months will likely be compensated for during the remainder of the year.
This season, Croatia Airlines will continue to fly to all ten of the destinations which have been included in its flight network over the last three years - Lisbon, Milan, Prague, St.Petersburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Bucharest, Dublin and Mostar, as well as the seasonal Split - Copenhagen and Dubrovnik - Munich routes, which was first introduced last year. The news is that there will be an additional flight on Tuesdays on the normal Zagreb - Dublin route, so that passengers will have three flights available to them per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
During this year's summer tourist season, the company will fly directly to 38 European destinations in 24 countries, with Zagreb being directly connected to 24 European destinations in 22 countries.
The air company's report also states that Croatia Airlines recorded an operating loss of 76.5 million kuna in 2018, with a net loss of 82.9 million kuna.
The company also recently announced that the consortium of Privredna banka Zagreb and DVB Banka has been selected as the financial advisor for the company's much needed recapitalisation, the consortium will also seek an equally needed strategic partner.
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