Croatia Airlines marks first flight as part of Schengen

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

Zagreb, March 26, 2023 – Croatia officially joined the Schengen area and controls where Croatia borders with Schengen countries on land and sea were removed in 1 January 2023. 

Today controls at airports were removed and Croatia Airlines flights have become domestic flights within Europe, which enables passengers to travel faster and more smoothly to and from Croatia to countries that are signatories to the Schengen Agreement.

To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held today at Frankfurt Airport, marking the first flight of Croatia Airlines from Frankfurt to Zagreb (flight number OU417) as part of the Schengen travel regime.

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

“We are glad that with the start of this year’s summer flight schedule, our passengers can travel to Croatia even more easily, quickly and comfortably, as well as from Croatia to countries that apply the Schengen regime. After many travel restrictions that were caused by the coronavirus pandemic were lifted, travellers now get even greater freedom of movement within Europe and we hope that this will further contribute to their decision to choose air transport for business and private trips,” said Mato Radić, Croatia Airlines’ sales manager for Central Europe.

(Photo: Croatia Airlines)

Croatia’s national airline made its first international flight on the Zagreb-Frankfurt route back on April 5, 1992, which marked the beginning of connecting Croatia with the world in international air traffic.

During this year’s tourist season, Croatia Airlines plans to connect Croatia with 23 European destinations, among which 18 are in the Schengen area, and border controls will continue to be applied for flights to/from destinations outside the Schengen area (UK, Ireland, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania).