ČSA plans Zagreb and Belgrade pullout

Zagreb and Belgrade flights on the line
The national carrier of the Czech Republic, ČSA is seriously considering suspending flights to Belgrade and Zagreb from the start of the winter season, insiders say. The Czech airline is trying to concentrate on more profitable markets by opening a base in Bratislava in neighbouring Slovakia and launching several new routes to Russia.

Only a month ago the SkyTeam member airline flew to the Croatian capital 9 times per week, usually with ATR72s. It has now cancelled 3 of its weekly flights and downgraded to a 45 seat ATR42. The airline won't be operating its traditional seasonal summer services to Dubrovnik and Split either. Zagreb was ČSA’s first international destinations, launched back on July 1, 1930.

The Czech national carrier is making more drastic cuts to its Belgrade service which used to operate twice per day. Effective immediately, the airline has cancelled 10 of its weekly flights and now operates only 4 times per week from Prague to Belgrade with a Boeing 737-500. The airline will close its representative office in the Serbian capital tomorrow. Flights between Prague and Belgrade have been operating since 1946 with the only interruption occurring during the 1990s when flights to Yugoslavia were banned under international sanctions. Jat Airways suspended flights to Prague as part of its cost cutting escapade in 2008 along with Tirana, Gothenburg, Malta, Thessaloniki and Tripoli. All of them, expect for Tirana and Prague, were resumed the following year. The main problem on the route is the lack of point to point passengers.

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