June 8, 2019 - American Airlines launched its new seasonal service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik on June 8, 2019, connecting the United States and Croatia for the first time in 28 years. American Airlines flight 148 landed in Dubrovnik 45 minutes earlier than scheduled.
Mate Erceg
Ex Yu Aviation reports that flight AA148 left Philadelphia on Friday, June 7 at 6:06 pm local time (initially scheduled for 6:10 pm) with 209 passengers on board the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The return flight, which leaves Dubrovnik on June 8 at 11:40 am, should carry 120 passengers.
Tonči Glavina
Tonči Glavina
As expected, this new seasonal service was a cause for celebration, and a ceremony was held earlier in the week at the National Constitution Center Museum in Philadelphia to kick off the new connection.
There was even a party for 200 people and a klapa performance!
TCN's Steve Rukavina was on the inaugural flight, alongside the Croatian Ambassador to the United States, Pjer Šimunović, and the State Secretary at the Croatian Ministry of Tourism, Frano Matušić.
"We are honored that American Airlines has chosen Dubrovnik to launch this historic service connecting our two great countries. We believe this will deepen the bilateral alliance and the bonds of friendship between two World Heritage cities and between the United States and Croatia," said Matušić on Ex Yu Aviation.
Before the flight took off, American Airlines pulled out all the stops at the airport.
Tonči Glavina
Rukavina said that the Philly mayor closed the event by saying: “My only regret today is that I am not on the flight to Dubrovnik!”
Steve Rukavina with Natko Vlahovic and AA VP Jim Moses
Flights to Dubrovnik will run on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and from Dubrovnik on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Mondays. Recall, bookings were so good on this route that American Airlines announced they had to boost operations back in April. Namely, in September, the service will operate four times a week until the end of the month.
More soon...
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