Croatia Airlines’ first Airbus A220-300 international flight marks 35th birthday

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

Zagreb, 7 August 2024 – Today, Croatia Airlines marked its 35th anniversary with the first international commercial flight of its new Airbus A220-300 on the Zagreb to Frankfurt route.

This flight symbolically commemorated the founding of the Croatian airline on this date in 1989.

The first international passengers on the new A220 flew the same route on which Croatia Airlines conducted its first international flight in 1992, marking the beginning of the company’s regular passenger service connecting Croatia with the world.

Exactly three and a half decades ago, on 7 August 1989, Zagreb Airlines d.d. (Zagal) was registered in Zagreb as an air transport company, beginning operations in December of the same year with postal delivery services.

About a year later, on 23 July 1990, Zagal changed its name to Croatia Airlines d.d., becoming the national airline for passenger, cargo, and mail transport.

Croatia Airlines’ first passenger flight took place on 5 May 1991 on the Zagreb to Split route, establishing regular passenger traffic within Croatia. The connection of Croatia with the world began on 5 April 1992 with the first international flight on the Zagreb to Frankfurt route.

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

Over the past three and a half decades, Croatia Airlines has grown into a European carrier known for its flight safety, professional staff, and quality service, providing passenger and cargo services in both regular and charter traffic. Since the first flight, the company has conducted nearly 709,000 flights and transported more than 45,800,000 passengers.

In doing so, the company has become a member of the most important aviation associations – the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Star Alliance, the world’s leading airline association.

To mark today’s first international flight of Croatia Airlines’ new Airbus A220, a ceremony was held at Frankfurt Airport. Slaven Žabo, the Director of Commercial Affairs of Croatia Airlines, emphasised:

“We are proud and happy to provide a first-class flying experience in the new aircraft for our international passengers today as we celebrate Croatia Airlines’ 35th anniversary. We are especially pleased that the first international flight of the new Airbus A220 was from Zagreb to Frankfurt, which is very symbolic given that this was the route of our company’s first international flight in 1992.

I sincerely thank our partners at Frankfurt Airport for 32 years of successful business cooperation, and we hope that many passengers will continue to arrive and depart from here on our new and redesigned fleet.”

Regarding the arrival of Croatia Airlines’ new Airbus A220-300 and its first international passengers in Frankfurt, Alexandra Ulm, Fraport’s Head of Traffic Development, stated:

“We are very proud that Croatia Airlines has chosen Frankfurt as the first international destination for its new aircraft. We wish Croatia Airlines and its new A220-300 many happy landings at Frankfurt Airport in the future!”

It is worth noting that the arrival of the first new Airbus A220 in late July this year marked the beginning of the largest project in Croatia Airlines’ history – the renewal of the entire fleet by 2027. The beginning of this new business era is also characterised by a refreshed visual identity, through which the values of Croatia Airlines are consistently communicated with an even greater focus on passengers and targeted audiences.

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

The redesigned logo and the new aircraft design further emphasise the company’s core messages: quality, safety, travel comfort, and hospitality, while the design of the emblem is closer to the design of the aircraft tail, for which the company has become known.

The second new A220 aircraft is expected by the end of 2024, with the next six expected to be delivered in 2025, four in 2026, and three aircraft in 2027, bringing the total number of new A220 aircraft in the Croatia Airlines fleet to 15.

The largest project in the company’s history will enable further development and successful and sustainable business in the future while further confirming Croatia Airlines’ position as a strategically important part of Croatia’s transport and tourism infrastructure.

In its desire to create memorable moments together with its passengers, Croatia Airlines sincerely thanks all its customers for their trust over the past 35 years and looks forward to all new joint flights, which will now be even more comfortable and efficient, justifying passengers’ expectations at every moment.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Croatia Airlines is offering passengers a 35% discount on one-way and return tickets for all domestic and international flights today.

The discount is available only today when booking and purchasing tickets on the website www.croatiaairlines.com, via the Croatia Airlines app, and at other company sales outlets, and applies to travel that must be completed by 1 August 2025.