There is growing interest from low cost carriers (LCCs) in launching services to Zagreb, as the airport’s Growth Incentive Model, from which Ryanair has benefited over the past several years, is set to expire this June. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, one of the airlines to have expressed interest in potentially serving the Croatian capital is Wizz Air. The low cost carrier previously operated flights to Zagreb from Dortmund and London, but discontinued its services in 2011. With the current incentive framework nearing its conclusion, Zagreb Airport is expected to introduce a revised model aimed at sustaining growth while diversifying its airline base. This could reduce reliance on a single dominant low cost operator and encourage greater competition, particularly on key European routes.
Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, previously said Zagreb Airport was too expensive for the airline. “Zagreb is a high-priced airport environment with fluctuating demand. If Zagreb Airport becomes more reasonable, we will certainly consider it as an opportunity to expand our network”, Mr Varadi noted at the time. The carrier’s renewed interest comes as it expands in Croatia this summer with the launch of new seasonal routes to the coast. Meanwhile, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary previously said the airline would welcome Wizz Air’s presence at Zagreb Airport and stands ready to compete against its low cost rival.
Zagreb Airport is also running its Connecting Capital Cities Incentive Model, for which airlines have been eligible to apply since June 2023, with the scheme set to run until May this year. The programme provides enhanced financial support for the simultaneous introduction of multiple destinations, rather than incentivising the launch of a single route. To qualify for the incentives, airlines must introduce at least two weekly year-round services to a minimum of three of the sixteen pre-selected destinations. These include Prague, Tallinn, Berlin, Budapest, Riga, Vilnius, Luxembourg, Stockholm (Arlanda or Skavsta), Tirana, Pristina, Reykjavik, Tbilisi, Kyiv (upon the reopening of Ukrainian airspace), Chisinau and Yerevan.
