Croatia Airlines Blames Rising Costs on Delayed A220 Deliveries

Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) has attributed a rise in costs during the peak summer season to delays in the delivery of its Airbus A220 aircraft, which have also resulted in additional leasing and maintenance expenses.

In its nine-month financial report, the carrier said its fleet renewal program “represents the foundation for long-term sustainable operations and a more efficient business model,” but added that revised delivery schedules from suppliers in early 2025 caused significant setbacks. “At this point, the total number of days of delay for A220 aircraft is more than 62 months,” the airline stated.

Croatia Airlines reported a consolidated operating loss of EUR 21.5 million (USD 24.7 million) for the January–September period, though EBITDA rose 9% year-on-year to EUR 12.4 million (USD 14.2 million).

The airline had planned to launch A220-100 operations for the summer 2025 season but has faced ongoing delays. To date, it has received seven A220s—six A220-300s and one A220-100—and plans to operate a total of 15 aircraft (13 -300s and two -100s).

According to ch-aviation data, Croatia Airlines currently operates one A220-100, six A220-300s, four A319-100s, two A320-200s, and four DHC-8-Q400s, with additional A220 deliveries expected in 2026.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com