Croatia Airlines is progressing with its fleet renewal, with the first results already visible through new route launches. The national carrier has announced new routes from Zagreb to Milan, Hamburg, Prague, Bucharest, and Madrid.
The fleet modernization and complete transition to a single-type fleet consisting of 15 Airbus A220 aircraft continues. In this context, two Dash 8 Q400 aircraft (reg. 9A-CQA and 9A-CQB) have already left the fleet, making way for more modern and economical Airbus A220 models.
In an interview with AvioRadar, Croatia Airlines confirmed that two new A220-300s (9A-CAE and 9A-CAI) have already been delivered, with a third aircraft (reg. 9A-CAL) expected in May. The first smaller A220-100 model will be delivered in Q4 2025, aligning with plans for the 2025/2026 winter schedule, where these aircraft are already planned for Zagreb-Brussels flights.
Croatia Airlines expects five more A220 aircraft this year. The airline emphasizes that global supply chain challenges may affect delivery timelines but notes that the new fleet will enable further route network expansion.
When asked about the possibility of showcasing an aircraft in partnership with Airbus at the upcoming Paris Air Show – considering Airbus’s tradition of displaying aircraft ready for delivery to airlines during the event – Croatia Airlines confirmed to AvioRadar that this possibility is being considered in collaboration with Airbus, though no final decision has been made yet.
Contrary to claims made by Airbus representatives at the 2023 Paris Air Show, Croatia Airlines confirms that their A220 aircraft will not feature Airspace XL baggage bins. Neither current nor future aircraft will have this specific configuration, as officially confirmed to AvioRadar.
The new A220 aircraft are a key part of Croatia Airlines’ strategy, enabling not only fleet modernization but also more intensive route network expansion. The company will announce more detailed plans in the coming weeks.
