Zagreb – New York in the works

Possible flights from Zagreb to New York in 2011

The director of Croatia’s main airport, Tonči Peović, announced last week that Zagreb might soon have direct flights to the United States. The airport’s management is negotiating with a US carrier to commence flights between New York and Zagreb. Peović did not want to disclose the airline in question until the deal is finalised although he expressed optimism, stating that flights would commence in 2011.


The “Jutarnji List” daily reports that the airport will purchase a certain number of seats on each flight in order entice the airline to initiate the flights. The airline will be exempt from paying landing and handling fees in the first year, with the fees progressively introduced within the next five years. Peović believes that with the establishment of the direct US service, Zagreb would become a transit point in the region which would in turn attract many new airlines and passengers.

The presence of North American airlines in the region is limited. During the 2011 summer season both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines will commence flights to Budapest in Hungary from New York City. No former Yugoslav republic has direct flights to United States or Canada. The director of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport hinted last month that flights to the United States could be established from the Serbian capital in 2011 although no concrete negotiations have taken place.