Croatia Airways’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, has mentioned that 2028 is anticipated to mark a turning level for the airline, with a return to profitability projected throughout its first full 12 months working an all-Airbus A220 fleet. Nevertheless, he cautioned that the continuing disaster and broader geopolitical uncertainties might have an effect on these plans. Chatting with the “Poslovni Dnevnik” each day, Mr Bajić mentioned, “Beneath our enterprise plans, 2028 – the primary 12 months with a totally unified fleet – was anticipated to mark a return to profitability following the transition interval. Nevertheless, the present disaster has disrupted and rendered unsustainable a lot of the framework on which airline planning and operations have historically been primarily based beneath regular situations. Flights are being cancelled, some airways are grounding plane, whereas rising inflation and rising financial uncertainty are anticipated to negatively have an effect on the market and demand. Geopolitical developments are additionally having a direct affect on the supply and price of plane spare elements, a scenario additional exacerbated by the growing necessities of the defence trade”.
Commenting additional on the service’s efficiency, Mr Bajić famous, “Till then [2028], we’re going by a demanding however crucial transition course of: sustaining our present operations whereas concurrently introducing a brand new fleet and step by step retiring the outdated one. In apply, this implies bearing double prices, which is why current years might seem from the surface as one thing of an funding hole between development and profitability”. He added, “As soon as accomplished, the fleet will probably be absolutely standardised on the Airbus A220, bringing decrease upkeep and coaching prices, larger operational flexibility, improved capability utilisation, decreased gasoline consumption and better reliability. It’s going to additionally allow the strategic improvement of the community with out the restrictions imposed by the present fleet”.
The CEO is assured the airline will take supply of a complete of seven A220s this 12 months, and its ultimate jet of the kind in 2027 in an effort to full its fleet renewal course of subsequent 12 months. “Given the present geopolitical scenario, I can say that 2027 stays an achievable goal, albeit with a sensible diploma of flexibility”, Mr Bajić mentioned.
He didn’t want to speculate concerning the firm’s monetary efficiency for this 12 months, following heavy losses throughout the first quarter, noting, “Unfavourable monetary outcomes have been anticipated throughout the fleet alternative interval. This 12 months is especially vital as a result of, for the primary time, two opposing developments are overlapping. On one hand, we achieved the strongest first quarter within the firm’s historical past, carrying 405.000 passengers, a rise of twenty-two%, or roughly 74.000 extra passengers than in the identical interval final 12 months. Alternatively, we proceed to face elevated prices related to the continuing fleet renewal programme, alongside extra geopolitical dangers and operational pressures. The greater than twofold improve in jet gasoline costs on the onset of the disaster will place additional stress on this 12 months’s monetary efficiency. This comes on prime of a roughly 20% improve in passenger and airport fees at Zagreb Airport, which took impact on June 1, 2026”.
