Croatia Airlines, the flag carrier of Croatia, registered a loss of over 173 million Kunas (27.5 million USD) in the first half of 2020. However, this is not even twice as large a loss as was registered last year. In 2019, the loss was just under 90 million Kunas (14 million USD).
Croatia Airlines makes a loss
Nacional reports that Croatia Airlines saw a “drastic” reduction in demand for services offered by the aviation industry as a result of COVID-19 this year, which is in line with the impact seen by all carriers worldwide.
The operational loss registered by Croatia Airlines between 1 January and 30 June 2020 was 155 million Kunas (25 million USD). Together with the “net financial result” for the same period, the Croatian national airline registered a total loss for the year of just over 173 million Kunas (27.5 million USD).
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For the duration of this period, Croatia Airlines aircraft operated 5,661 flights. This represents a 57% fall compared to the first half of 2019. Because of the major fall in demand for air travel, the fleet utilization changed too: Airbus aircraft were used very scarcely, especially the Airbus A320 aircraft, which were grounded for two months. Instead, Croatia Airlines used its Dash 8-400 aircraft.
Passenger numbers are down 66%
Other statistics that accompanied the release of the financial results for the first half of this year are also in line with those of the rest of the aviation industry worldwide, though they remain relatively less severe than those of some of the other regional airlines in Europe.
Passenger numbers totaled 330,935. This is 66% less than last year’s 630,000. Of that, domestic traffic fell 63%, to 83,618. The fall in international traffic was 66%, at 244,382 passengers. Charter traffic was, expectedly, the worst hit, with an 84% fall to just 2,935 passengers.
The loss is just slightly worse than last year
Croatia Airlines’ loss of 173 million Kunas (27.5 million USD) in the first half of 2020 is less than twice the loss incurred in the first half of 2019, which was just under 90 million Kunas (14 million USD). This indicates that there are perhaps adverse factors in the company that cannot be attributed to COVID-19.
Revenue is down 55%, of which ticket sales represented the most significant decrease. This decrease totaled 400 million Kunas (63.5 million USD). However, costs have been decreased by less: 41% only.
The loss in the second quarter of the year presents a particular problem for the company because the second and third quarters are when Croatia Airlines makes a profit with which it attempts to cover the losses made in the winter months.
Croatia Airlines is counting on the Croatian Government’s financial assistance in the near future again, following a cash injection of 250 million Kunas (40 million USD) last year. The airline is counting on its track record over the past few months to help facilitate this financial assistance: it continued to operate flights from Zagreb to Frankfurt throughout the period of travel restrictions, and it carried Croatian soldiers from Afghanistan to Zagreb too.
Do you think smaller, regional airlines like Croatia Airlines will withstand the adverse impact that COVID-19 has had on the industry?