FLEET - Croatia Airlines eyes unified fleet in 2027, profit in 2028

9A-CAO - A220-100- Croatia Airlines-BRU

Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) is expecting to complete its fleet-wide transition to A220 family aircraft by year-end 2027, although “with a realistic dose of flexibility,” given supply-chain constraints and production capacities at Airbus, CEO Jasmin Bajic said. 

First announced in October 2022, the carrier's single-type fleet replacement project has included the acquisition of thirteen A220-300s and two A220-100s, with six deliveries of the former still pending (five more in 2026 and one in 2027). 

Bajić added that the airline has planned a return to profitability in 2028, although he remains cautious regarding geopolitical instability, jet fuel prices, and a 20% increase in passenger fees at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman

CH Aviation / Photo: Ton Jochems

FLEET - Croatia Airlines retires last A320

Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) retired its last of a once four-strong fleet of A320-200s on January 26, 2026. 9A-CTO (msn 2178) operated its last flight on the Zagreb-Amsterdam Schiphol-Zagreb route and has been parked at the Croatian gateway since then. The 22-year-old aircraft is owned by Macquarie AirFinance. Croatian Airlines continues to operate four legacy A319-100s and three DHC-8-Q400s, alongside an A220-100 and six A220-300s.
 CH-Aviation / Photo: Flyingphotos

ROUTES / FLEET - Croatia Airlines marks first commercial flight of new Airbus A220-100 in Dubrovnik

Croatia Airlines marked the first commercial flight of its new Airbus A220-100, the latest aircraft to join the fleet of Croatia’s flag carrier. The first A220-100, delivered on 30 September this year, bears the name of the city of Dubrovnik, and today carried its first passengers on the regular domestic service from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. 8 October 2025, Zagreb – Today, at Dubrovnik’s Ruđer Bošković Airport, Croatia Airlines marked the first commercial flight of its new Airbus A220-100, the latest aircraft to join the fleet of Croatia’s flag carrier. The first A220-100, delivered on 30 September this year, bears the name of the city of Dubrovnik, and today carried its first passengers on the regular domestic service from Zagreb to Dubrovnik.

At the ceremony held at Dubrovnik’s Ruđer Bošković Airport following the aircraft’s arrival from Zagreb, Slaven Žabo, Commercial Division Director at Croatia Airlines, said the following:

– We are delighted that the very first passengers on our newest aircraft arrived right here in Dubrovnik, and we hope they enjoyed a first-class flying experience. The Airbus A220-100 is specially adapted to the challenges of flying in demanding weather conditions, which is particularly important for flight operations at Dubrovnik Airport, where strong bora winds are common. A noteworthy detail is that this aircraft, named after Dubrovnik, the jewel of Croatia’s tourism, offers the highest number of seats of any aircraft of its type.

Žabo added that the complete fleet renewal project represents a significant step forward for Croatian civil aviation, and enables Croatia Airlines to further strengthen its flight network.

– Thanks to our cooperation with Dubrovnik’s Ruđer Bošković Airport, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board, we are extending our seasonal Dubrovnik–Rome service into the upcoming winter flight timetable, making it a year-round route. In addition, flights on the Dubrovnik–Frankfurt route will continue, ensuring that Dubrovnik remains directly connected with two major European destinations throughout the winter period.

Regular international Dubrovnik–Rome flights will operate twice weekly – on Thursdays, and Sundays – while Croatia Airlines aircraft will serve the Dubrovnik–Frankfurt route three times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Viktor Šober, CEO at Dubrovnik’s Ruđer Bošković Airport, stated the following:

– We are delighted that Croatia Airlines’ newest aircraft, bearing the name Dubrovnik, has landed at Ruđer Bošković Airport. The introduction of modern aircraft such as the Airbus A220-100 enhances the travel experience for passengers, while the symbolic connection of the name further reaffirms Dubrovnik’s international importance as a globally recognised destination. We believe that this aircraft, along with the entire new fleet, will contribute to even better year-round accessibility of our city.

From today until Sunday, 12 October 2025, passengers travelling from Dubrovnik (as well as from Split, Zadar, Rijeka, and Osijek) can take advantage of a special Croatia Airlines offer of a 50% discount on direct international flights to the airline’s European destinations (and back). The offer applies to travel during the 2025/2026 winter timetable, i.e. between 26 October 2025 and 28 March 2026. The discount applies to the airfare (base fare), while airport charges and other fees are payable in full. This exclusive offer is available on the airline’s website, www.croatiaairlines.com, and in the Croatia Airlines mobile app.

As part of the largest project in the company’s 36-year history – the complete fleet renewal – Croatia Airlines has so far taken delivery of six new Airbus A220-300 aircraft with a seating capacity of 149 passengers, and one Airbus A220-100 with a seating capacity of 127 passengers. The project is expected to be completed in 2027, when the entire fleet will consist of 15 new Airbus A220 aircraft, including 13 A220-300s, and two A220-100s.

Croatia

ROUTES - CROATIA AIRLINES OUTLINES A220-100 OPERATIONS FROM OCT 2025

Croatia Airlines tomorrow plans to launch Airbus A220-100 scheduled operations, initially on Zagreb – Dubrovnik route. The Star Alliance member recently also filed additional operations for the 127-seater during winter 2025/26 season.

Zagreb – Dubrovnik A220-100 service inaugural on 08OCT25, OU6660/6665 (followed by 19OCT25 and 21OCT25 from ZAG)
Zagreb – Barcelona One-time A220-100 service on 21OCT25
Zagreb – Berlin One-time A220-100 service on 24OCT25
Zagreb – Brussels First A220-100 flight on 16OCT25
Zagreb – Frankfurt One-time A220-100 service on 24OCT25, 26OCT25
Zagreb – Milan Malpensa One-time A220-100 service on 20OCT25, 22OCT25
Zagreb – Sarajevo First A220-100 flight on 07NOV25, followed by 09NOV25 and various dates in January 2026, and 19FEB26
Zagreb – Skopje One-time A220-100 service on 12OCT25
Zagreb – Split One-time A220-100 service on 24OCT25
Zagreb – Vienna One-time A220-100 service on 03JAN26
Zagreb – Zurich A220-100 service on 01JAN26, 03JAN26, 04JAN26, 10JAN26, 11JAN26

Photo:Croatia 

FLEET - Croatia Airlines takes delivery of first A220-100

Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) has taken delivery of its first A220-100, following a direct non-stop ferry flight from Montréal Mirabel to Zagreb Franjo Tuđman on September 29-30, 2025.
9A-CAO (msn 50087) is the world's first unit of the type configured in the maximum certified density for up to 127 passengers.
The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1521G engines, is owned by Air Lease Corporation, and is the first of two units of the type that Croatia Airlines plans to add as part of its ongoing fleet renewal.
ch-aviation data indicates that the aircraft will enter service on October 10 and debut on the route between Zagreb and Munich. 9A-CAO will also operate to Dubrovnik and Hamburg on the same day.
"The aircraft will enter service after the completion of all necessary technical preparations and approvals from the relevant Croatian institutions," airline's spokesperson told ch-aviation.
The Croatian flag carrier currently operates six A220-300s, four A319-100s, two A320-200s, and four DHC-8-Q400s. It is set to receive seven more A220-300s and one -100 by 2027, becoming an all-A220 operator, as part of its fleet renewal drive. Croatia Airlines received its first A220-300 in July 2024.
Until now, the highest seat-count on in-service A220-100s was the single-class layout for up to 125 passengers installed by Swiss and ITA Airways.

CH aviation / Photos Croatia Airlines
 

FLEET / ROUTES - CROATIA AIRLINES MOVES FORWARD A220-100 SERVICE ENTRY TO MID-OCT 2025

Croatia Airlines in recent schedule update filed revised Airbus A220-100 operation for Northern winter 2025/26 season, which now sees the smaller A220 variant enters service on 10OCT25.

For the period of 10OCT25 – 13OCT25, the A220-100 will be serving following routes:

Zagreb – Dubrovnik
Zagreb – Dubrovnik – Rome Fiumicino
Zagreb – Frankfurt
Zagreb – Munich
Zagreb – Skopje
Zagreb – Split – Rome Fiumicino
Zagreb – Thessaloniki

Photo: Croatia 

FLEET - Croatia Airlines is due to take delivery of its first 127-seat A220-100 in October 2025, becoming the smallest aircraft in its fleet.

Photo: Croatia / A220-300
 

FLEET - Croatia Airlines is preparing to take delivery of its third A220-300

With all three scheduled to be in service from 20 May 2025.
The airline is expected to take delivery of a further five A220s in 2025.

ROUTES - Croatia Airlines to expand operations at Zagreb in 2025 with five new routes

 Photo: Croatia

Croatia Airlines last week filed changes to its planned Northern summer 2025 operations, as the airline schedules network expansion, including service resumptions.

Zagreb – Bucharest eff 01JUL25 3 weekly A220-300

OU316 ZAG1345 – 1610OTP 223 6

OU316 ZAG1755 – 2020OTP 223 24

 

OU317 OTP1700 – 1735ZAG 223 6

OU317 OTP2105 – 2140ZAG 223 4

OU317 OTP2110 – 2145ZAG 223 2

Zagreb – Hamburg eff 01JUL25 3 weekly A220-300

OU4426 ZAG0800 – 0945HAM 223 2

OU4426 ZAG1745 – 1930HAM 223 57

 

OU4427 HAM1030 – 1215ZAG 223 2

OU4427 HAM2020 – 2205ZAG 223 57

Zagreb – Madrid eff 03JUL25 3 weekly A220-300 (Last served until October 2000)

OU372 ZAG0740 – 1020MAD 223 46

OU372 ZAG1610 – 1850MAD 223 1

OU373 MAD1110 – 1345ZAG 223 46

OU373 MAD1940 – 2215ZAG 223 1

Zagreb – Milan Malpensa eff 02JUN25 3 weekly A220-300 (Last served until October 2019)

OU392 ZAG0750 – 0910MXP 223 135

OU393 MXP1010 – 1120ZAG 223 135

Zagreb – Prague eff 02JUN25 3 weekly A220-300 (Last served until October 2019)

OU4320 ZAG1210 – 1320PRG 223 135

OU4321 PRG1410 – 1520ZAG 223 135

Other planned service increase:

Dubrovnik – Prague 08JUN25 – 09OCT25 Increase from 1 to 2 weekly, A220/319

Dubrovnik – Zurich 08JUN25 – 10OCT25 Increase from 4 to 5 weekly, A220/319

Split – Istanbul eff 09MAY25 Increase from 3 to 5 weekly, A320

Zagreb – Barcelona 07JUN25 – 12OCT25 Increase from 3 to 4 weekly, A220/319

The carrier during Northern summer 2025 season also plans to expand Airbus A220-300 operations, including additional routes listed below:

Dubrovnik – Athens

Dubrovnik – Prague 

Dubrovnik – Rome Fiumicino 

Dubrovnik – Zurich

Split – Athens

Split – Munich

Split – Oslo

Split – Zurich

Zagreb – Munich

Zagreb – Sarajevo

FLEET - Croatia Airlines will take delivery of its first 149-seat A220-300, registration 9A-CAE, in July 2024

The carrier expects to take delivery of a second A220-300 at the end of 2024, followed by six more in 2025, four in 2026 and three in 2027.

 

FLEET - Croatia Airlines is set to take delivery of the first of 15 A220 in just over a month. The first jet will arrive in June and the second in November 2024.

Photo: Croatia
 

NEW AIRCRAFT - Croatia Airlines eyes first A220 delivery in 2Q24

Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb) is expecting the first of its four A220-300s from Air Lease Corporation to deliver in the second quarter of 2024, the airline told Ex-Yu Aviation News.

"Activities related to the introduction of the A220 into the fleet are going to plan," it said, pledging to reveal more information about its fleet renewal at a later stage.

The Croatian flag carrier plans to induct at least twelve A220s, including six -300s on a direct order from Airbus and four -300s and two A220-100s on lease from Air Lease Corporation. The latter are scheduled to start delivering first in 2024 through 2025. Croatia Airlines did not disclose any Airbus delivery dates. The airline is considering dry-leasing a further three A220s with a possible 2027 induction.

The A220s will replace the airline's existing fleet of five A319-100s, two A320-200s, and six DHC-8-Q400s. Once the rollover is complete, Croatia Airlines aims to be an all-A220 operator.

CH Aviation

Croatia Airlines leases A220s from ALC

In October 2022, Scramble reported that Croatia Airlines has selected the Airbus A220 as its aircraft to renew its fleet with. Since then, the airline has signed a firm order in November 2022 for six A220-300s with Airbus, but also said it would look to lease an additional nine A220s in order to replace the whole fleet and standardize on a single aircraft-type.
On 16 January 2023, Air Lease Corporation announced it has reached a lease-agreement with Croatia Airlines for the lease of six A220s, which will be two A220-100s and four A220-300s. ALC said the A220s would be delivered in 2024 and 2025. It's unclear if the airline is seeking leases for three more A220s or that this is it for now.
With this latest lease-deal, the airline has now secured orders and leases for a total of twelve Airbus A220s, of which two are the smallest version. Currently, Croatia Airlines is operating a fleet of thirteen aircraft consisting of five Airbus A319s, two A320s and six DHC-8-400s.
Illustration by Airbus.

 

Croatia Airlines signs firm order for six A220 aircraft

 

Toulouse, 29 November 2022 – Croatia Airlines, Croatia’s national flag carrier based in Zagreb, has signed a firm order for six A220-300 aircraft. Croatia Airlines plans to lease an additional nine A220s, taking its total commitment for the type to 15.

The A220s will replace previous generation aircraft in the company's fleet, reducing operating costs as well as improving environmental efficiency and competitiveness while offering passengers unrivaled comfort throughout its fleet.

“Today’s signing of a contract for the purchase of state-of-the-art Airbus aircraft is a very special moment for all of us at Croatia Airlines. It marks the beginning of a new period of aviation, a new period in the life of Croatia Airlines, a new period for our passengers, and a new period for Croatia’s tourism and economy as a whole,” said Jasmin Bajić, CEO and President of the Management Board of Croatia Airlines.

“We are thrilled to add Croatia Airlines as a new A220 customer. The A220 is ideally suited to Croatia's aviation needs, providing operational flexibility and efficiency allowing its airline to pursue its ambition for both regional and international connectivity without compromising on any aspect, be it passenger comfort or trip and seat cost economics,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.

The A220 is a clean sheet design and the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100 to 150-seat market segment bringing together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest generation GTF™ engines. The A220 delivers a 50% reduced noise footprint, up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat and CO2 emissions - compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

Airbus and Croatia Airlines have had a long-standing partnership starting 25 years ago, when the airline first became an Airbus operator. Today, the Croatian carrier operates an Airbus fleet of seven single-aisle aircraft from the A320 Family (five A319s and two A320s).

With currently more than 230 A220s delivered to 16 airlines operating on four continents, the A220 is the optimal aircraft for regional as well as long-distance routes and will enable Croatia Airlines to further contribute to the development of tourism in the region, while providing flexibility to right-size their operations.

To date, more than 70 million passengers have enjoyed the A220. The fleet is currently flying on over 800 routes and 325 destinations worldwide. As of the end of October 2022, around 30 customers have ordered 780+ A220 aircraft - confirming its breakthrough on the small single-aisle market.

Croatia Airlines selects Airbus A220

Croatia Airlines has announced it has selected the Airbus A220 as the type to replace its current fleet with. Last year September, we reported that the airline was planning to streamline its fleet around just one aircraft type to simplify its operations and in order to return to profitability.

Initially, Croatia Airlines will order six new Airbus A220s, which will replace the airline's current order for four A320neos. The exact breakdown of which version of the A220 they are ordering isn't known yet but deliveries are to be completed by 2026.

The order for six A220s doesn't cover the current number of aircraft in the fleet, which today consists of five Airbus A319s, one A320 and six DHC-8-400s. So, it's unclear of this order is the initial part of the fleet renewal or that the airline will be drastically downsizing.

CROATIA - CRJ1000 - EC-MNR

Marco Moutinho - LPPT

Croatia Airlines outlines Air Nostrum CRJ1000 operations in S17

Croatia Airlines in summer 2017 season is leasing Air Nostrum CRJ1000 aircraft to support its operation, currently scheduled from May 2017. The Air Nostrum CRJ1000 will replace previously scheduled service by Trade Air Fokker 100 aircraft, while enabling the airline to introduce additional cities in Europe.


eff 01MAY17 Zagreb – Brussels 3-4 weekly
eff 01MAY17 Zagreb – Copenhagen 6 weekly
eff 01MAY17 Zagreb – Skopje 2 weekly
eff 02MAY17 Zagreb – Barcelona 1 weekly
eff 03MAY17 Zagreb – Lisbon 1 weekly
eff 04MAY17 Zagreb – Dubrovnik – Athens 3 weekly
eff 19MAY17 Zagreb – Stockholm Arlanda 3 weekly
eff 21MAY17 Zagreb – Helsinki 3 weekly
eff 21MAY17 Zagreb – Oslo 2 weekly

Jim Liu Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

CROATIA AIRLINES INICIA OPERAÇÃO ZAGREB-LISBOA

A Croatia Airlines anunciou recentemente que irá iniciar, a partir de 20 de maio, voos diretos entre a capital croata, Zagreb, e Lisboa. Membro da Star Alliance, a Croatia Airlines vai operar, até ao final de outubro, três ligações semanais: às segundas, quartas e sextas-feiras.

Para celebrar o início desta nova ligação a Croatia Airlines criou uma tarifa promocional com preço especial, que inclui o transporte de uma mala até 23kg, refeição, bebidas e jornais a bordo.

As promoções também são válidas em voos de ligação a outros destinos croatas como Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar e Pula, se viajarem com a Croatia Airlines, via Zagreb.

AMBITUR

Croatia Airlines to lease two EMB-190s, mulls MRJ90s

Croatia Airlines will lease two EMB-190s from neighbouring carrier Montenegro Airlines next year as it contemplates its options insofar as the 100-seater jet market is concerned.

CROATIA AIRLINES - A320-200 - 9A-CTK - 25 Years

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa