Croatia Airlines: Croatia Airlines to take delivery of third A220-300

Croatia Airlines is preparing to take delivery of its third 149-seat Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with all three jets of the same type tentatively scheduled to be in service from May 20. On that morning, the carrier plans to deploy the aircraft from Zagreb to Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Frankfurt, all of which will be airborne at the same time, although changes are possible at this stage. In a statement to the "Avioradar" portal, Croatia Airlines confirmed the jet would be delivered in May. Nicknamed "Dubrovnik", it is expected to carry the registration 9A-CAL. The carrier has also confirmed it is in talks with Airbus over the potential display of one of its A220s at the upcoming Paris Air Show, taking place between June 16 and June 22.As part of its transition towards a single-type fleet, the airline is expected to take delivery of a further five A220s this year, including its first of two 127-seat A220-100 aircraft. The delivery of the jet is currently slated for October, with its first revenue service scheduled for October 26, between Zagreb and Brussels, although changes remain likely. Croatia Airlines expects to generate short-term losses as a result of its transition to an all-A220 fleet, which saw its expenses balloon last year. However, the carrier is confident the shift will produce overall savings in the long run. It posted a net loss of nearly twenty million euros last year. The carrier detailed how the arrival of its first two A220s in 2024, as well as the delay in their delivery, had financially impacted the company. It is due to post its first quarter 2025 financial results by the end of the month.Commenting on the fleet transition, Croatia Airlines' CEO, Jasmin Bajić, recently said, "Our strategy focuses on our customer needs, further business optimisation and enhanced competitiveness. Before, it was about survival in our region, which has experienced a lot of geopolitical instability. There have been industry crises too, and, of course, the pandemic. But by the end of 2027, we hope to have fifteen new A220s, which will replace our entire existing fleet. This will not only enable our growth but also make us more competitive and sustainable, which fits our business plans perfectly". Mr Bajić added, "We must also respect the fact that Croatia Airlines is integral to our country's transport and infrastructure. That makes our role in tourism vital. We're working together with tourism and government authorities to boost visitors to our country year-round".EX-YU Aviation News