April 23, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Vueling flights to Split and Dubrovnik will operate from Barcelona next month.

Croatian Aviation reports that the well-known Spanish low-cost airline Vueling will reconnect Croatia with the capital of Catalonia - Barcelona, from the beginning of next month.

Vueling has confirmed the reintroduction of regular international routes from Barcelona to two Croatian airports - Dubrovnik and Split.

In the first days of May, this airline will resume regular flights to Dubrovnik Airport and Split Airport from its main base - Barcelona.

The Barcelona - Dubrovnik - Barcelona line will be in operation from May 2, once a week, every Sunday. As early as May 13, the company will add a second weekly flight on Thursdays. The company plans to significantly increase the traffic on this line at the beginning of June and operate 5 times a week between Dubrovnik and Barcelona. Vueling is the only company operating on this line and has no direct competition.

The second Vueling line to Dubrovnik, the one from Rome, has been postponed until June 1. 

In addition to the line to Barcelona, Dubrovnik is currently the only Croatian airport connected by a regular line with Madrid. Namely, the Spanish Iberia resumed traffic on this route in the first days of the summer flight schedule, with one flight per week. From May 2, Iberia will operate twice a week between Madrid and Dubrovnik on Fridays and Sundays.

Vueling will also return to Split in May. The Barcelona - Split - Barcelona line has been announced from May 1, once a week throughout the following month, every Saturday. Five weekly flights are planned for June, but the company will likely reduce the number of operations following the demand.

Vueling also runs to Split and Rome. This line is also currently postponed to early June.

In addition to Split and Dubrovnik, Vueling normally operates to Zagreb and Zadar, but these lines have not been announced for May. More specifically, the line from Rome to Zadar has been announced for July, while the line between Barcelona and Zagreb is currently planned for June 19. Given that there is a high probability that Croatia Airlines will not operate between Zagreb and Barcelona this summer season, Vueling will be the only airline to offer direct flights between the two cities. In the last crisis year, Vueling operated on this route, but reduced and significantly shorter than under normal circumstances.

The Spanish low-cost airline will operate 13 return flights to Croatia in May and offer just over 4,600 seats between Barcelona, Split, and Dubrovnik.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 22, 2021 - The US Embassy Croatia Travel Advisory is advising US travelers not to travel to Croatia as of April 21, 2021. 

The US Embassy issued a travel advisory for Croatia on April 21, 2021, urging US travelers that Croatia has moved to the #4 Advisory Level - Do Not Travel. 

All information from the US Embassy below: 

"Do not travel to Croatia due to COVID-19.

Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for the Croatia due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Croatia. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Croatia.

Read the country information page.

If you decide to travel to Croatia:

• See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19.
• Visit the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html">CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on https://www.facebook.com/travelgov">Facebook and https://www.twitter.com/travelgov">Twitter.
• Review the Crime and Safety Report for Croatia.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information."

For the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

April 22, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as British Airways flights to Dubrovnik resume mid-May, frequencies to Split have been increased, and the return to Zagreb Airport is further delayed. 

Croatian Aviation reports that British national airline British Airways has made changes to its summer flight schedule. It has further delayed its return to Zagreb but has increased the planned number of operations to Split Airport.

British Airways has not operated to Zagreb Airport since January this year. The company suspended all flights on this route after the UK strain of the virus appeared and a ban on commercial flights from this country was briefly introduced. After that, traffic to Zagreb was not renewed. Although companies are gradually returning to Zagreb Airport (Lufthansa, LOT, Austrian, etc.), British Airways has not yet done so, and it is obvious that it will not soon. Namely, the company canceled all flights until June 21 and currently plans to operate between Zagreb and London again from that date.

Currently, 11 flights per week are available for booking from the end of June, with a daily departure from Zagreb after 1 pm. A second daily flight will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in the evening.

Given that British plans to return to Zagreb at the end of June, the realization of flights should not be in question, but the number of weekly flights certainly is. There is no doubt that the company will cancel certain flights and fly significantly fewer times a week compared to what is available today for booking on the airline’s website.

The first flight between London and Split has been announced for the end of May (May 28), and in the second half of June, there will be a significant increase in weekly frequencies (up to 5 flights per week). Additionally, from the same date, the company will operate on London City - Split line!

This carrier offers as many as 11 flights a week to Split, 8 weekly flights from Heathrow Airport, and an additional 3 flights a week from London City from the end of June.

The London Heathrow - Dubrovnik Airport - London Heathrow line should start operating first, in mid-May. From May 17, three flights are available a week, on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays, and a month later (from mid-June), British plans to operate on this line as many as 10 times a week. Traditionally, Dubrovnik is the most popular destination for British tourists in Croatia, and after the outbreak of the pandemic, all operations to Dubrovnik were transferred from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow.

Pula Airport should also have two flights a week. The London - Pula Airport - London line will be in traffic from June 22, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Due to the global pandemic, British Airways renewed this line only in August last year and suspended it already in September, so Heathrow and Pula will be connected for a longer period this year. 

In total, British Airways will offer as many as 34 flights a week between London and Croatian airports in the peak of the summer season this year.

If we consider that other airlines (WizzAir, Ryanair, EasyJet, Croatia Airlines, Jet2.com, TUI,…) will operate between Croatian and London airports, the number of available seats on the market will certainly be more than enough. The demand of British tourists for Croatia will again be crucial for airlines' survival between these destinations.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 20, 2021 - After the big announcement on Monday, the United Airlines New York-Dubrovnik flight details are here. 

TCN announced the big news on Monday that United Airlines will introduce the New York - Dubrovnik - New York route in July this year. 

Croatian Airlines reports that the United line to Dubrovnik Airport will operate from New York, or from Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR), one of the three airports in the service of New York (along with LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy). Technically, this airport is located in New Jersey, about 15 miles from Manhattan.

Newark has been one of the largest hubs of United Airlines for years, and this American airline returned to JFK a month ago, from where it operates on a smaller number of routes.

From Newark Airport, United and its regional airline, United Express, fly to more than 170 destinations in the US and the world!

United Airlines has several destinations in Europe, and it should be noted that there are currently no flights on certain routes solely due to reduced demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubrovnik is now one of several well-known European destinations from New York (in business or tourist terms).

The first flight to Dubrovnik will take off from New York to Dubrovnik on Thursday, July 8 (in 80 days) at 19:20 local time. The night overseas flight to Dubrovnik will take approximately 8 hours and 55 minutes, with the expected landing in Dubrovnik after 10 am. 

The B767-300ER aircraft, of which United Airlines has 38 in its fleet, will stay in Dubrovnik for two full hours. Departure from Dubrovnik is scheduled at 12:15 pm. The flight to New York will take a little over 10 hours, with the expected landing in New York at 16:25 local time.

Interestingly, the first departure from Dubrovnik is planned for Saturday, July 10, so the United Airlines plane will stay at Dubrovnik Airport for more than 24 hours.

From the beginning of July to the beginning of October, this well-known American carrier will land in Dubrovnik every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday morning (taking off the day before from the USA).

On 38 return flights between Dubrovnik and New York, United Airlines has 16,264 seats on sale, of which 2,280 seats are available in business class. The cabin configuration in economy class is 2-3-2, while in business class, the seat layout is 2-1-2.

A return ticket on a direct flight from Dubrovnik to New York can be purchased at a price slightly higher than 4,500 kuna in economy class on the airline's official website. 

There is no doubt that this route, despite the global pandemic, will be successful for the airline. The fact that American Airlines had an excellent load factor on the route from Philadelphia to Dubrovnik speaks for itself. In the summer of 2020, aircraft were to operate on this route daily.

Given the many American tourists visiting Dubrovnik, United's capacity to Dubrovnik should not be a problem to fill, even in these times of crisis.

United and Croatia Airlines are on the move, which should sign a code-share agreement before the start of operations and enable passengers from Zagreb to continue their journey to the USA with one stop in Dubrovnik.

United Airlines should offer another route to Croatia in the summer of 2022. Its finalization is currently underway, and the news is expected soon. The abolition of visas for Croatian citizens during tourist visits to the USA will certainly support this.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 19, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as United Airlines flights to Croatia have been announced with a New York-Dubrovnik route this summer!

Croatian Aviation reports that United Airlines, one of the largest American airlines, is launching a direct route between the United States and Croatia!

The prestigious American airline based in Chicago announced the news today at a press conference.

United has 8 hubs in the US, with the largest one in Chicago, but the company will launch flights to Dubrovnik Airport from New York (Newark Airport, EWR), where the company has over 68% of the total traffic.

After American Airlines permanently canceled the Philadelphia-Dubrovnik route due to the global pandemic, Croatia will once again have a direct connection with the United States. Although direct flights to America have been talked about for years, there were no real flights to Zagreb, and the pandemic made the introduction of this line even more difficult. In the meantime, Croatia has met all the conditions for the abolition of tourist visas to enter the United States, and American guests can plan a vacation in Croatia this summer, so United decided to be the first to react and introduce a direct line to Dubrovnik from New York this summer!

In addition to a direct flight to New York, United will offer passengers from Dubrovnik several destinations in the rest of the United States and South America with one stop in New York.

The introduction of a regular direct flight between Croatia and the United States is no surprise. In 2019, there were more than 620 thousand American guests in Croatia, who spent over 1.5 million overnights, and Dubrovnik is definitely the most visited destination of American guests. Recall that in the summer of 2020, American Airlines planned to operate to Dubrovnik daily, but the plans were completely changed due to the global pandemic.

Trade is also essential, and in 2019 Croatia exported goods and services worth more than HRK 3 billion to the United States, while we imported goods worth more than HRK 1 billion. In addition to American tourists, it should be noted that about 1.2 million Croats and their descendants currently live in the United States, most of them in Chicago, about 150,000.

If we consider the Croatian emigration to the USA, the number of American tourists in Croatia, and the exchange of goods, the United Airlines line between Dubrovnik and New York has a great chance of success.

United will operate to Dubrovnik as early as July 8 this year with three flights per week. Departures from New York are planned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with the return from Dubrovnik a day later.

B767-300 aircraft with 30 seats in business class, 49 in premium economy class, and 135 in economy class will operate on the flights to Dubrovnik.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 19, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Turkish Airlines announces fewer Istanbul-Zagreb flights from May 1, while the Dubrovnik line is still in question. 

Croatian Aviation reports that the Turkish national airline will offer fewer weekly flights between Zagreb Airport and Istanbul in May compared to April.

In April, Turkish Airlines offered up to 9 flights a week on a direct route between Zagreb and Istanbul. In May, however, the airline reduces the number of weekly operations between the two mentioned cities, and only up to five flights a week are available.

Turkish Airlines offered a larger number of flights on this route in early April. As many as two flights a day were available three days a week; the company was obviously counting on increased demand around the Easter holidays. However, the number of operations in May will not be so large. From May 1, Turkish Airlines will reduce the number of operations to five flights a week and operate B737-800 aircraft and A320 family aircraft.

Direct flights between Istanbul and Zagreb in May will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, noting that flights on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays are announced in the morning and on Mondays and Thursdays in the evening.

The second Turkish Airlines line in Croatia is the one to Dubrovnik, which the airline has operated since 2016. Turkish Airlines held a meeting with representatives of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board in January this year on re-establishing a direct line between Istanbul and Dubrovnik, which has been suspended since the outbreak of the global pandemic. It is currently possible to book a flight on this route for the beginning of June. However, the airline has been holding tickets to and from Dubrovnik since January 2020, then cancels those flights.

Whether Turkish Airlines will return to Dubrovnik this year remains to be seen, but Zagreb, as the company's Croatian destination, should not be questioned. In fact, in the peak season, we can expect daily flights to the Croatian capital depending on the restrictions.

As for the wider region, this well-known airline plans to operate in May to Ljubljana (3 times a week), Budapest (7 flights a week), Vienna (14 times a week), Belgrade (11 times a week), Sarajevo (8 times a week), Podgorica (9 times a week), Pristina (5 times a week), Skopje (5 times a week) and Venice (7 times a week).

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 16, 2021 - While we have to wait a bit longer for USA direct flights to Croatia, at least travelers can get from Sarajevo to Chicago. Welcome, Eastern Airlines! 

Klix.ba and Ex Yu Aviation report that at the end of May, the American airline Eastern Airlines will launch a weekly flight between Chicago and Sarajevo, which will introduce the first direct flights from the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the USA.

A flight is planned every Friday from Chicago from O’Hare Airport, starting May 28 through September 3, while the return will be on Sunday. The line is conceived as seasonal.

The price of a one-way ticket is $898, and a return ticket is $1,826.

All flights will be operated by Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, which can accommodate 238 passengers, of which eighteen are in the premium class and the remaining 220 in economy class.

Chicago has previously been the second busiest route from Sarajevo to the United States after New York. Namely, in 2019, 5,995 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities. Ex Yu Aviation adds that it was the sixteenth busiest unserved route from Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital overall, jumping to eleventh in 2020. Passenger volumes, however, were significantly lower due to the pandemic. 

"We want our passengers to have a good experience while traveling with Eastern. Instead of spending on frills, go with our low fare, no-frills ticket and save your money. All Eastern Airlines flights are always direct and nonstop. This means significant time savings and no wasted time changing planes or reaching through the airport to catch your connection. More importantly, your health and safety are more valuable than ever. Nonstop flights equal less time spent in airports, less touchpoints, and a safer adventure", the company said.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina may enter the United States with a valid visa and a negative coronavirus test. At the same time, US citizens may also enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with a negative PCR test.

Tickets for the flights have already been released through the airline's website.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Apil 15, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Finnair flights to Dubrovnik and Split have been announced for this summer!

Croatian Aviation reports that Finnair, Finland's national airline, plans to resume operations on its seasonal routes to Split and Dubrovnik from June. In previous years, the company operated briefly on a regular route to Pula, but it was canceled before the outbreak of the global pandemic.

Precisely because of the pandemic, this well-known airline did not operate in Croatia in the summer of 2020. Namely, a significant percentage of passengers on Finnair flights to Croatian airports are transfer passengers from Asia, which in the summer of 2020 were almost non-existent. Add to that the rather restrictive measures in Finland, the suspended lines were not a big surprise. 

Although Finland does not currently recommend that its citizens travel abroad, including to Croatia, it is to be expected that with the arrival of summer the measures will be significantly milder, so a kind of opening of borders will enable tourist trips to Croatia.

For this reason, Finnair plans to resume traffic to Split and Dubrovnik this summer. The first flight to Split is currently announced for June 3, and the company offers as many as five flights a week. It is almost certain that the company will cancel a certain number of flights on a weekly basis (according to the bookings, especially at the beginning of the route), but Finnair's return to Split this summer should not be questioned.

Traffic on the Helsinki - Dubrovnik - Helsinki Finnair line should be established from June 1 with four flights a week, but the company also warns of the possibility of canceling certain rotations.

Although Finnair worked intensively on the establishment of the Helsinki - Zagreb - Helsinki line before the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, this did not happen for obvious reasons. The company will arrive in Zagreb this Sunday (April 18) on an ad-hoc charter flight from Helsinki, which will be a great opportunity for Zagreb spotters who cannot see the aircraft of this airline often at the Zagreb airport.

The E190 aircraft should land in Zagreb at 4:30 pm under flight number AY7569.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 14, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Austrian flights to Split and Dubrovnik resume later this month, and LOT announces regular traffic between Warsaw and Dubrovnik from April 28.

Croatian Aviation reports that Austrian Airlines will resume operations on its seasonal routes from Vienna to Split Airport and Dubrovnik Airport by the end of April. Although these lines in previous years mostly started with traffic as early as the end of March, due to the impact of the pandemic, this will happen a month later this year. 

The Vienna - Dubrovnik - Vienna line will operate from April 23, once a week, every Friday, and as early as the beginning of May, two more flights a week will be added, so Austrian will operate to Dubrovnik every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

The Vienna - Split - Vienna line has been announced from April 30, also three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. E195 aircraft and aircraft from the A320 family have been announced on both mentioned routes.

Polish LOT Polish Airlines has announced the resumption of regular traffic between Warsaw and Dubrovnik. The line should be in operation from April 28. Until the second half of May, two flights a week have been announced, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. E195 aircraft have been announced on this route, which can carry up to 112 passengers in the Polish national transport fleet.

Both companies, Austrian Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, have resumed traffic to Zagreb Airport. Austrian currently operates four times a week to Zagreb (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday), and Polish LOT also operates to Zagreb on the same days. 

Furthermore, Ex Yu Aviation reports that Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will restart its seasonal line from Kyiv to Pula this summer and has announced its return to Split after seven years. Both lines will run two flights per week and begin on June 2 and June 3. Boeing 737-800 jet will operate on this route. You can find more information about the Kyiv - Pula line here.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 12, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as El Al flights to Zagreb resume from May, and Arkia flights to Dubrovnik later this month!

Croatian Aviation reports that two Israeli airlines plan to establish direct flights from Tel Aviv to Dubrovnik and Zagreb at the end of this month and at the beginning of May.

Arkia Israel Airlines has announced that it will establish a direct line between Tel Aviv and Dubrovnik from April 23, 2021. The line will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. It will be operated by E195 aircraft.

In previous years, Arkia operated on a regular route to Rijeka, even using B757 aircraft, but the line last worked in the summer of 2018.

On the other hand, the national airline, El Al Israel Airlines, is currently offering tickets on a regular route between Tel Aviv and Zagreb from May 4 this year. Only one flight per week has been announced for the beginning of May, and a total of three flights a week on this route should be available in the second half of May, every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Before the outbreak of the global pandemic, El Al operated seasonally on this route, using B757 aircraft (pictured), and on several occasions, the B747 also came to Zagreb. In the meantime, the company retired all B747 aircraft in the fleet, and currently, B737-800 aircraft are planned for Zagreb. The company currently has 15 aircraft of this type in its fleet, and the capacity varies depending on the configuration - from 166 to 189 seats.

Given that the Israeli population's vaccination rate is extremely high and that the demand for tourist travel is growing significantly, it is not surprising that these two carriers have announced they will resume lines to Croatia.

In the summer season of 2019, Croatia Airlines operated seasonally on the line between Zagreb and Tel Aviv. It was the only night rotation of the Croatian national airline, departing around midnight from Zagreb. It is unknown whether the company will resume traffic on this line in the summer season this year.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.