Croatia Airlines has cancelled approximately 900 flights scheduled between now and July as jet fuel costs double following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran-Iraq War. The cancellations represent around 5% of the 27,000 flights the carrier had planned for that period.
Slaven Zabo, commercial director of Croatia Airlines, confirmed the cuts in an interview with Croatian television station RTL. He also announced that ticket prices will rise from June, citing fuel costs, demand, competition and increasing airport taxes as contributing factors.
“The price of jet fuel has doubled since the start of the crisis and has increased more than that of crude oil. Current fuel costs for airlines, including Croatia Airlines, will result in multimillion-dollar losses during this period,” said Slaven Zabo.
The fare increases will be compounded by a separate decision from Zagreb Airport to raise its fees by 20% from June, according to regional broadcaster N1. Croatia Airlines operates flights between Zagreb and several European cities, including Barcelona and Madrid.
The airline had already begun reducing its network in March and April, cutting routes connecting Croatia with Amsterdam, Milan, Bucharest, Tirana and Skopje. The latest round of cancellations extends those reductions further into the summer season.
Despite the cuts, Croatia Airlines says it expects to maintain up to 100 daily flights during the peak season between June and August. The airline is among several European carriers attempting to limit losses by suspending shorter, less profitable routes as fuel costs continue to rise.
The Strait of Hormuz blockade has created significant disruption across the aviation industry, with kerosene prices tracking sharply above crude oil during the crisis period. Airlines across the continent are reassessing their summer schedules as the conflict continues to affect global fuel supply chains.
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