Croatian ACMI specialist ETF Airways has announced its will add ATR72-600 aircraft to it fleet next year. It comes as flag carrier Croatia Airlines is seeking a long-term wet-lease partner to provide turboprop capacity to the airline. ETF’s CEO, Stjepan Bedić, said, “We are so proud to reach a stage where we can add one more type to our fleet. We were curious about the ATR72 for a while and finally we decided to go ahead and give it a try. We plan to add “Galileo” in Q1 2026”. The aircraft in question is currently eight years old and will be delivered in March.
ETF Airways, which boasts three Boeing 737-800 aircraft, all of which will be wet-leased to Argentine low cost carrier Flybondi over the coming winter, is considering adding a second ATR to its fleet by 2027. “We currently have strong demand for ACMI leases involving turboprop aircraft. We believe this is a good niche given current market trends, as competition for leasing Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft is quite strong. Our long-term plan is to add another aircraft of the same type by 2027”, Mr Bedić said. A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby the lessor provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) to another airline.
The development comes as Croatia Airlines itself is seeking a wet-lease partner for turboprop capacity for next year. The carrier previously confirmed it would wet-lease turboprops for regional routes to replace its existing Dash 8s, with another two of four due to leave the fleet next year. “What we plan to do next is find a partner for 2026 that will operate on our behalf on shorter routes through a wet-lease arrangement. That will involve the partner airline’s crew and aircraft. Austrian Airlines currently has the same agreement with Braathens. These aircraft will be used on shorter routes such as Sarajevo, Vienna and Osijek”, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, previously said. It comes as the carrier transitions to an all A220 fleet by 2027.
