Croatia Airlines Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Pioneering Airbus A220-300 Flight on Historic Zagreb-Frankfurt Route
Published
Image generated with Ai
This flight not only commemorated the 35th anniversary of Croatia’s national airline, founded on this day in 1989, but also revisited the same route where the airline’s inaugural international flight took place in 1992. This flight was pivotal in establishing Croatia’s global connectivity.
On August 7, 1989, Zagreb Airlines d.d. (Zagal) was officially registered in Zagreb, beginning its operations in December of that year by offering postal transport services. Less than a year later, on July 23, 1990, the company rebranded itself as Croatia Airlines d.d., stepping into its role as the country’s flagship carrier for passenger, cargo, and mail transport.
Croatia Airlines embarked on its first commercial journey on May 5, 1991, flying from Zagreb to Split, thereby initiating regular domestic passenger services. The airline’s first international venture took place on April 5, 1992, connecting Zagreb to Frankfurt, marking the beginning of regular international operations.
Over the past 35 years, Croatia Airlines has evolved into a respected European carrier, known for its commitment to flight safety, skilled personnel, and high-quality service. Since its inception, the airline has conducted nearly 709,000 flights, transporting over 45.8 million passengers. Croatia Airlines is also a proud member of key aviation organizations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Star Alliance, the world’s premier airline alliance.
To celebrate the maiden international flight of Croatia Airlines’ new Airbus A220, a special ceremony was held at Frankfurt Airport. During the event, Slaven Žabo, the airline’s Commercial Division Director, expressed his pride and satisfaction:
– We are proud and happy that today, as we celebrate Croatia Airlines’ 35th anniversary, we have provided our international passengers with a first-class flying experience in our new aircraft. We are particularly pleased that the first international flight that our new Airbus A220 operated was on the Zagreb – Frankfurt route, which is very symbolic considering that this route saw the first international flight in our company’s history 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 depart from and arrive in Frankfurt aboard our new and redesigned fleet.
Following the arrival of Croatia Airlines’ new Airbus A220-300 aircraft and its inaugural passengers in Frankfurt, Alexandra Ulm, Head of Traffic Development at Fraport, expressed her excitement:
-We are very proud that Croatia Airlines has chosen Frankfurt as it’s first international destination for their very new aircraft. We wish Croatia Airlines and its new A200-300 many happy landings at FRA in the future!
The late July arrival of Croatia Airlines’ first Airbus A220 marked the launch of the airline’s most ambitious project to date—the complete renewal of its fleet by 2027. This significant milestone also signals the start of a fresh business cycle, underscored by a revamped visual identity that continues to embody Croatia Airlines’ core values while focusing even more on passengers and key audiences. The redesigned airline logo and modernized aircraft livery further emphasize the company’s commitment to quality, safety, comfort, and hospitality. The new logomark has been aligned more closely with the design of the aircraft tail, enhancing the distinctiveness of Croatia Airlines.
The fleet renewal plan includes the delivery of a second aircraft by the end of 2024, followed by six more in 2025, four in 2026, and three in 2027, bringing the total to 15 new A220 aircraft.
This monumental project will not only propel Croatia Airlines into its next phase of growth but also reinforce its role as a vital component of Croatia’s transportation and tourism infrastructure, ensuring sustainable and successful operations in the future.
As Croatia Airlines celebrates 35 years of service, the airline expresses heartfelt gratitude to its passengers for their loyalty and trust. Looking ahead, the airline eagerly anticipates creating even more memorable journeys, delivering enhanced comfort and efficiency to meet passenger expectations.
In honor of its 35th anniversary, Croatia Airlines is offering passengers a special 35% discount on both one-way and return tickets for all domestic and international flights operated by the airline. This exclusive discount is available only today for bookings and purchases made online through the Croatia Airlines app and at other company sales points. The discount applies to flights scheduled through August 1, 2025.
