Speaking recently to the “Večernji list” newspaper, Ivan Mišetić, the CEO of Croatia Airlines, said that the carrier’s loss for 2009 totalled 27.3 million Euros. Mišetić blames the bad result on the global financial crisis and specifically the decrease in the number of passengers using business class. The head of the Croatian carrier believes that privatisation is the airline’s best and only option. He claims that this is not the question at hand, rather it’s how quickly the carrier will be sold. Mišetić also said that in particular flights from secondary airports in Croatia, such as Dubrovnik, are producing big losses but the Government will, like each and every time, cover the airline’s losses.Further questioned about Croatia Airlines’ imminent privatisation, Mišetić claims that recent rumours about a possible Lufthansa takeover are premature and speculative but shouldn’t be ruled out. Mišetić criticised Zagreb Airport and its high handling prices which are only enforced onto its biggest customer – Croatia Airlines. He laughed off suggestions that low cost airlines will bring Zagreb substantial passenger growth and doesn’t believe that low costers will particularly hurt Croatia Airlines. Mišetić also claimed that Croatia Airlines is working out its problems with its hub airport in regards to the debt it owes to its home base. “In my 18 years of working at Croatia Airlines I have never seen a tougher and more demanding year”, Mišetić said expressing his hope that the airline will be able to end 2010 with a loss of 13 million Euros.
0 comments:
Post a Comment