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Croatia Airlines is in the period transported 775.000 passengers from January to May 2026, which is 20%, or about 130.000 passengers more than in the same period last year. on the historical result for the specified period, which confirms the strong operational growth of the Croatian national airline.
Positive trends have been achieved in all months since the beginning of the year: in January, 24% more passengers were transported than in the same month in 2025, in February 21% more, in March 24% more, in April 21% more, and in May 16% more passengers. It is particularly important to point out that Croatia Airlines achieved passenger traffic growth in April despite the fact that in the same month, the two largest Croatian airports recorded a decline in traffic, namely Zagreb International Airport, a decrease of one percent, and Split Airport, a decrease of three percent.
These results further confirm the importance of Croatia Airlines in connecting Croatia with European destinations, but also its contribution to the overall Croatian aviation market, tourism and economy.
The growth in passenger traffic was achieved during a period in which the company continues to implement the largest project in its history, fleet renewal with new Airbus A220 aircraft, which creates the foundations for long-term operational efficiency, higher service quality and more sustainable business development.
At the same time, the current crisis caused by the war in the Middle East and consequently, the large increase in the price of jet fuel caught the company precisely in the phase of strong operational growth. In the new circumstances, marked by the pronounced volatility of energy prices and complex geopolitical trends, Croatia Airlines is continuing with the fleet renewal project, as well as with the adjustment of operational and commercial activities in order to ease the pressure on business as much as possible.
Fuel represents one of the largest operating costs in the aviation industry, and recent market disruptions have led to significant price increases. Instabilities in energy markets directly affect the operations of all airlines, including Croatia Airlines, and it is expected that the current situation will have an impact on business results in the coming period, as is the case in the global aviation industry, which is extremely dependent on energy prices and the stability and security of the international environment.
In such circumstances Croatia Airlines applies crisis management mechanisms, which implies continuous activities on optimization of operations, careful management of costs and revenues and maximum preservation of the stability of the flight network and business as a whole. Geopolitical developments, along with instability in the energy markets, are additionally reflected in the availability and prices of spare parts for aircraft, which is negatively affected by the ever-increasing needs of the military industry.
For more than three and a half decades, Croatia Airlines has been connecting Croatia with Europe and the world, confirming its key role in the mobility of citizens and the development of Croatian tourism and the economy. The results achieved in the first five months of 2026 confirm that the national airline, despite the extremely complex circumstances on the global market, continues to strengthen its market position and fulfill a key role in connecting Croatia with the world by transport.
