(30/07/24) Croatia Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, has taken delivery of its first
Airbus A220-300.
The aircraft, which features the airline’s new
livery, is the first to be delivered of the
thirteen A220-300s and two A220-100s on order.
Delivery of the second aircraft is expected by the
end of 2024, whilst the next six are scheduled for delivery in
2025, four in 2026, and three aircraft in 2027.
The delivery is part
of the renewal of the airline’s entire fleet with new-generation
aircraft, the biggest project in the company’s history which
is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
Croatia Airlines A220-300. Picture: Airbus
“Our new visual identity communicates with our
passengers and the public even more simply and easily. The first
impression that Croatia will leave will now be even stronger,”
said Slaven Žabo, Commercial Division Director at Croatia
Airlines. “Besides flying in new and significantly quieter
aircraft, our passengers will have the convenience of a more
comfortable passenger cabin featuring wider seats and larger
windows, more carry-on baggage space, and high-speed inflight
Wi-Fi.”
During this year’s summer season, Croatia Airlines
is connecting Split Airport (SPU) with the following 22
international airports: Amsterdam, Athens, Vienna, Berlin,
Bucharest, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Copenhagen,
London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Paris,
Prague, Rome, Skopje, Stockholm, and Zurich.
During the upcoming winter season, the flag
carrier is planning to connect Croatia with 29 European airports,
operating flights on 50 international routes.
The A220
provides greater efficiency with 25% lower fuel burn and CO2
emissions per seat, as well as a 50% reduced noise
footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft, and around
40% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.
“We are witnessing a new historic step forward and
into a better future for Croatia Airlines, as well as for all of
us, who will fly Croatia’s flag carrier as businessmen, tourists
and passengers,” said Tomislav Mihotić, State Secretary at the
Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure of the
Republic of Croatia. “In the 35 years of its existence and
provision of transportation services, Croatia Airlines has been
connecting Croatia’s cities with key European destinations, and,
in collaboration with partner airlines, the whole world. As such,
Croatia Airlines is of immense support for us all.”
The A220 is purpose-built for
the 100-150 seat market and powered by Pratt & Whitney’s
latest-generation GTF engines can fly non-stop up to 3,600
nautical miles (6,700 kilometres).
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already
able to operate with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
with the company aiming for all its aircraft to be capable of
operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.
As of the end of June 2024, around 30 customers
have ordered more than nine hundred A220 aircraft. Over 340 Airbus
A220s are
currently flying on more than 1,400 routes and more than 440
destinations worldwide. To date, more than 100 million passengers
have flown on the A220.
