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.

Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb, also known as Zagreb airport, welcomed its millionth passenger this year five days earlier than in 2018, reports AvioRadar on May 13, 2019. 

The lucky 'one millionth' was Jela Ravnjak who traveled on the Croatia Airlines flight OU513 from Dublin to Croatia's capital.

“This year’s millionth passenger at Franjo Tuđman Airport was registered on an inbound Croatia Airlines flight from Dublin. We want to point out that this was achieved earlier than ever and is the best indicator of the continuous growth of passenger traffic at our airport,” said deputy director of MZLZ - Zagreb Airport d.o.o. Hrvoje Bradica, who added that the airport also achieved record results in April, with an increase in passengers of 11% compared to April 2018. Furthermore, so far this year, Zagreb airport has recorded a total growth of passenger traffic of 9%. 

“We are pleased that this year's millionth passenger at Franjo Tuđman Airport was recorded on one of our flights. Croatia Airlines connects Zagreb with 24 destinations in 22 countries and, through the increase in the number of passengers on our flights, we directly contribute to the increase of passenger traffic at Zagreb airport,” said Slaven Žabo, director of commercial affairs at Croatia Airlines. 

“I am surprised and happy. The greeting was great, and the majorettes also welcomed me. I did not expect this. I came from Dublin where I visited with friends. I love to travel and I will gladly take advantage of this award,” said Jela Ravnjak from Velika Gorica who is a doula, a woman experienced in childbirth who provides information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and after childbirth.

Ranjak received a gift certificate for the Aelia Duty-Free Shop at Zagreb airport and two return flights to one of Croatia Airlines’ destinations. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.