April 18, 2021 – Apart from the news about TCN's CEO Paul Bradbury being sued by the Croatian National Tourist Board, this week has been full of many other exciting yet inspiring news stories. Here are TCN's five biggest events in Croatia from April 12 to 18, 2021.

With the worsening epidemiological situation and tightening measures in four Croatian counties on Monday, the week didn't start very promising nor positive. However, a lot can happen in seven days, and we list five top news stories from Croatia.

Highlights of the week: Croatian National Tourist Board sues Paul Bradbury

Croatian media have been flooded this week with the news about the two lawsuits against TCN's CEO Paul Bradbury, submitted by the Croatian National Tourist Board because of Bradbury's criticisms of their work.

Source: Telegram.hr

Namely, CNTB filed two lawsuits against Bradbury, one for a Facebook joke he posted and the other for statements he said in an article on the Croatian portal Index. There was simply no stopping talking about these controversial lawsuits that appalled and disappointed the public this week. Read all the details about the first and second lawsuits in our articles.

Highlights of the week: Rimac Automobili presented a new incredible campus

On the list of people who promote Croatia in the best possible way, Mate Rimac takes one of the leading spots. His company Rimac Automobili never ceases to surprise with the novelties, such as the latest news about constructing the impressive new campus with numerous facilities.

Source: Rimac Automobili

See the impressive video and photos of the forthcoming Rimac campus that stunned the whole of Croatia this week.

Highlights of the week: Many fantastic flight news for Croatia

Although all travel is currently questionable due to the epidemiological situation, hope is still restored by numerous information about flights to and from Croatia published this week.

Thus, for example, Israeli El Al and Arkia flights to Croatia continue, as well as Austrian flights, Polish LOT, Finnair, and Eurowings.

Split airport by Romulić and Stojčić

And even though Croatia will have to wait a bit longer for introducing direct flights from the USA, from this week, the travelers can get from Sarajevo to Chicago by Eastern Airlines.

Highlights of the week: Croatia women's handball national team won HEP Croatia Cup

Croatian athletes do not stop surprising us positively from week to week!

After defeating the current world champions, the Netherlands, the Croatia women's senior national team also defeated the former world champions Brazil and won the HEP Croatia Cup in Poreč.

Source: Hrvatski rukometni savez

Highlights of the week: Klepetan returned to Malena again!

And to sweeten this week, the most famous Croatian love story got its happy follow-up. For the 19th consecutive year, the white stork Klepetan has returned from the south to the nest of his beloved Malena, continuing one of the most beautiful animal love stories in the world!

Spring may not have returned in the form we know, given that this week's temperatures in Croatia are more like autumn's, but it seems like the natural world is very much following its course.

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April 16, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as 10 Eurowings flights to Zagreb, Split, Zadar, and Rijeka will operate from next month!

Croatian Aviation reports that Eurowings, a low-cost airline from the Lufthansa Group, will resume traffic to several Croatian airports in May and have a total of as many as 10 scheduled flights to four Croatian airports - Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar, and Split.

The company currently operates three international routes to Croatia (one to Zagreb and two to Split) and will resume operations on seven more in May.

More flights to Zagreb Airport and Split Airport

Zagreb will continue to be connected to Cologne three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), and Eurowings will resume traffic on the line between Stuttgart and Zagreb on May 20 with two flights a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.

Eurowings currently operates on two lines to Split, and in May it will have a total of five.

Lines from Dusseldorf and Stuttgart to Split currently operate once a week, and a second flight per week is introduced on both routes (in addition to Saturday, an additional flight on Tuesdays).

Eurowings will introduce lines from Cologne, Dortmund, and Hamburg to Split in early May, and all lines will be open once a week, on Saturdays.

Lines to Zadar Airport and Rijeka Airport are being introduced

Zadar and Rijeka airports will welcome the first planes of this airline in this year's summer flight schedule in May.

The Dusseldorf - Rijeka - Dusseldorf line will start operating at the very end of the month (May 29), once a week, on Saturdays, while Eurowings will resume traffic to Zadar on two lines.

The Stuttgart - Zadar - Stuttgart line will operate from May 23, once a week, on Sundays, while the Cologne - Zadar - Cologne line will operate from May 22, also once a week, on Saturdays.

In May, Eurowings will perform almost 100 rotations on 10 international routes to and from four Croatian airports, with the largest number of seats being offered to Zagreb and Split. In June, we can expect a larger number of weekly operations on these lines, as well as the introduction of additional and renewed traffic to Pula Airport. We remind you that the line to Osijek is not on sale for this year.

Aircraft from the A320 family was announced on all routes to Croatia in May.

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.

April 10, 2021 - Jet2 flights to Dubrovnik, Split, and Pula have been postponed until the end of June, as the British low-cost airline blames the UK government's lack of clarity over travel plans this summer. 

Croatian Aviation reports that the well-known British tour operator has postponed traffic to tourist destinations in Europe, including previously announced flights to Croatia.

Due to constant changes in some countries related to the free movement of passengers (which directly affects passenger demand), Jet2 has decided to cancel all announced flights to well-known European tourist destinations, including flights to Croatian airports - Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik.

Although the flights were originally planned for the end of March, then postponed to the beginning of May, the latest decision is that there will be no flights to Croatia until the end of June. A significant number of routes have been announced only from July!

This company has the largest number of operations to Dubrovnik Airport. These are direct lines from Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Newcastle. Four of the eight lines have now been announced from the end of June, while the remaining lines will start operating only from July. Given that British guests are traditionally the most represented in Dubrovnik, this is a rather strong blow to the local tourism of Dubrovnik and the region. It is expected that other companies from Great Britain will start flights to Croatia much later than planned, with a smaller number of weekly operations.

Postponed operations to Pula and Split

Six lines to Split Airport (from Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester) have also been postponed to the end of June, while the line from Edinburgh will start operating only in July.

According to Pula Airport, Jet2 is planning only one line this year - from Manchester. The start of traffic on this line has also been postponed to the end of June.

Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy said in a statement on Friday:

“We are trying to run a business so that we can take customers away, but we need the Government to provide us with clarity to achieve this.

After several weeks exploring how to restart international travel, with substantial assistance and input from the industry, the framework lacks any rigorous detail about how to get international travel going again. In fact, the framework is virtually the same as six months ago.

Following the publication of the framework today, we still do not know when we can start to fly, where we can fly to and the availability and cost of testing. Rather than answering questions, the framework leaves everyone asking more.

Because of the continued uncertainty that the framework provides, it is with a heavy heart that we have taken the decision to extend the suspension of flights and holidays up to and including 23 June 2021.

Where customers yet to travel are affected by any programme changes, we will automatically cancel their booking with a full refund, and our team of travel experts will be in touch to help them to book their summer getaway for later in the year."

Recall, UK ministers announced a new traffic light system for international travel from May 17, which will categorize countries based on risk.

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 9, 2021 - The latest flight news for Croatia as Air France flights to Dubrovnik increase this summer, while the Paris-Zagreb route will not see the addition of a second daily flight. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Air France has revised its summer flight schedule for this year, with changes on the routes to Croatian airports. The French national carrier maintains a year-round line between Paris and Zagreb, and in the summer, it also operates to Split and Dubrovnik.

No second daily flight to Zagreb

Back in January 2020, the company announced that it would introduce a second daily flight between Zagreb and Paris. Of course, this did not happen after the pandemic outbreak, but the company resumed traffic on this line in June last year.

Since March this year, Dutch KLM operates twice a day on the line between Amsterdam and Zagreb, and since KLM and Air France are in the same group, it was to be expected that Air France will withdraw its second daily flight, which has now happened.

Namely, until just a few days ago, Air France offered a second daily flight on the route to Zagreb Airport from June this year, but they are no longer available for booking. Instead of two, Air France will have one daily flight on the Paris - Zagreb - Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport) route, while two daily flights will be operated by the aforementioned partner company KLM on the route to Amsterdam.

The Croatian national airline - Croatia Airlines - also operates on the routes from Amsterdam and Paris from Zagreb. There are currently no carriers other than those mentioned on these lines.

Return to Split and increase in traffic to Dubrovnik

On the last day of May, Air France will resume traffic on the Paris - Split - Paris route. The company will operate daily on this route only from July 1, although initially, daily flights were available from May 31. Air France will offer on average between 2 and 4 flights a week to Split Airport until July. 

From the same date (May 31), the company plans to renew the Paris - Dubrovnik - Paris line as well. It will initially operate with two flights a week, gradually increasing the number of weekly operations. From the beginning of July, daily flights have been announced on this route, while Air France will operate as many as 11 times a week between Paris and Dubrovnik Airport from the middle of the same month.

Of course, these flights will primarily depend on the epidemiological situation in both countries. Still, the positive news is that Air France will resume traffic to Split and Dubrovnik, with the intention of increasing the number of operations to Dubrovnik Airport.

Air France currently plans to use E190 aircraft and aircraft from the A320 family, with A318 aircraft announced for Dubrovnik, a rarity in the European sky, considering that only 80 of them have been sold in total.

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 8, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Transavia flights to Split resume in mid-April! 

Croatian Aviation reports that well-known low-cost airline Transavia plans to resume traffic to Split Airport from mid-April.

The Dutch low-cost airline, a subsidiary of KLM and Air France, will renew only one route to Croatia in April.

Although the company normally operates on as many as 10 international routes to as many as five Croatian airports (Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik), the company will resume traffic on only one route in the middle of this month.

Namely, the Paris - Split - Paris (Orly Airport) will operate from April 16 with two flights a week, every Friday and Sunday.

All other lines to Croatia have been postponed for the middle, and most even for the end of May:

• Rotterdam - Split,
• Nantes - Dubrovnik,
• Pariz - Dubrovnik,
• Rotterdam - Dubrovnik,
• Eindhoven - Rijeka,
• Pariz - Zadar,
• Rotterdam - Zadar,
• Pariz - Pula,
• Rotterdam - Pula

Transavia plans to operate on all of these lines in the high season but reduced compared to the number of operations the company had in 2019 before the global pandemic.

Paris and Split will be connected by a direct line again from mid-April. There have been no direct flights between the two cities since the end of October last year, i.e., the end of the summer flight schedule. Orly Airport is a little less than 20 kilometers from the center of Paris. The journey on this route usually takes a little less than 60 minutes.

In addition to Transavia, there should be other airlines between Paris and Split in the peak of the summer season; Air France, Croatia Airlines, and EasyJet.

Split Airport, along with Zagreb, is the only airport in Croatia to which several foreign carriers are returning in April. The traffic is still modest, but according to the announcements, that should change as early as May. According to the mentioned announcements, Split Airport should have a significantly higher number of aircraft operations on regular routes this season than in the summer of 2020, when Split, along with Zagreb, had a significant number of passengers in the crisis, pandemic 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.

April 7, 2021 - The latest flight news as travelers can choose from 14 Norwegian Air flights to Croatia this summer! 

Croatian Aviation reports that Norwegian low-cost airline Norwegian Air plans to operate 14 routes to three Croatian airports this summer.

Norwegian plans to resume traffic to three Croatian airports from June this year; Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik. Before the outbreak of the global pandemic, the airline operated to Zadar, Rijeka, and Zagreb.

The airline had a minimal number of international lines to Croatia in the summer season of 2020. It is common knowledge that this low-cost carrier was in financial trouble even before the outbreak of the global pandemic. In January, there was news that this carrier would cancel all long-haul lines and focus on those within Europe.

In addition to being a pioneer in low-cost, long-haul lines, Norwegian had an extremely high-quality product, and passengers were delighted with the ratio of paid and received. One of the great marketing moves was the introduction of free internet on all Norwegian lines, but the rapid expansion led almost to its very collapse.

However, Norwegian is trying to consolidate and plans to operate to three Croatian airports, Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik, in this year's summer flight schedule. There has been no line to Rijeka or Zagreb for a long time.

Although in 2019 the number of routes to Croatian airports was significantly higher, given the current global situation, reduced passenger demand, and the state of this airline, 14 planned routes to Croatia for the summer of this year sounds more than good. Of course, given the movement of the global pandemic, there is a possibility that Norwegian will further reduce its flight schedule.

However, they have confirmed that they plan to operate on the routes below:

Oslo - Pula from June 2, 2 times a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Bergen - Split from June 19, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Copenhagen - Split from June 1, 2 times a week, daily from June 28,

Helsinki - Split on June 2, 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,

Oslo - Split from June 1, 3 times a week, daily from June 25,

Stavanger - Split from June 22, 2 times a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Stockholm - Split from June 2, 2 times a week, 5 times a week from June 21,

Trondheim - Split from June 19, once a week, on Saturdays,

Bergen - Dubrovnik from June 19, once a week, on Saturdays,

Copenhagen - Dubrovnik from June 26, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Helsinki - Dubrovnik from June 1, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Oslo - Dubrovnik from June 1, 2 times a week, daily from June 25,

Stavanger - Dubrovnik from June 19, once a week, on Saturdays,

Stockholm - Dubrovnik from June 12, 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Given the problems that Norwegian has found itself in the past few years, it is quite difficult to expect that they will really operate on all of these lines. In the summer of 2020, Norwegian had only three routes to Croatia, two to Split, and one to Dubrovnik. With the current epidemiological situation in Europe, we can hardly expect a sharp increase in passenger demand in June. There are less than two months left until its first flight to Croatia.

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.