Easyjet / Pula

[balacleigh]

Hello,

Has anyone seen the article below ? Is it true ? Thanks.

Balacleigh

EasyJet negotiates to launch service in Croatia

Tue Nov 9, 8:34 AM ET


ZAGREB (AFP) - The low-cost airline easyJet is negotiating to launch flights to the Croatian town of Pula next year, a press report said.


AFP/EasyJet/File Photo



Talks could be concluded by the end of the year, after which Pula, on the northern Adriatic, would be connected to airports in Britain and Germany on a daily basis, Pula airport director Bruno Rogovic told the Jutarnji List daily.


A flight from Pula to Berlin would cost around 20 euros (26 dollars), he said.


Rogovic expects the deal would help boosting Croatia's tourism, notably in the northwestern Istria peninsula.


Croatia's tourism industry, gradually recovering since the 1991-95 war of independence from the former Yugoslavia, is seeing its highest number of tourist visits.


The Balkans country accomodated 8.3 million tourists during the first nine months of the year or five percent more than in the same period in 2003. Zagreb expects that in 2004, tourism revenues will rise seven percent to 8.5 billion dollars.


Pula airport also had been in talks with Ryanair but the Irish low-cost carrier decided to withdraw from the discussions.


EasyJet offers 180 routes between 55 European airports

[Graham Amiss - Bosmere Travel]

So far this year I have seen press reports linking Easyjet/Ryanair with Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula and Zagreb. At least we have not had Osijek rumours this year - well not yet!

There are about five other stories doing the rounds regarding new airlines into Croatia, if they were all solid it would mean about 40 - 50 flights a week extra from the UK. We can all dream

[Peter Ellis]

Hapag Lloyd Express is showing flights from Cologne-Bonn on its website from next spring.

German Wings is already flying from Zagreb to Cologne-Bonn.

[Peter Ellis]

I should have said the Hapag Lloyd Express flights are to Rijeka.

[Peter Ellis]

Looks like things are warming up. Easyjet are supposed to be running a trial in to Pula during February. Air Croatia are supposed to be starting daily flights from Heathrow in to Rijeka. They already route the Zagreb flights via Pula and Rijeka on alternate days in the summer.
With Ryanair in to Trieste, Easyjet in to Ljublijana and Pula, Air Croatia in to Rijeka and Pula from Heathrow and Hapag Lloyd Express in to Rijeka, Istria is getting vastly better air access than anywhere else in Croatia.

[balacleigh]

Thanks for the replies. I have emailed Easyjet who denied that they were looking at flying to Pula. I guess they would say that wouldn't they.

Peter - is this news about trial flights credible ?

Thanks

[Peter Ellis]

Jutarnj List reported that they were in negotiations last year and quoted the airport director, so it seems strange that they deny even looking at Pula. It is possible that these are not farepaying flights and are just for familiarisation or something, in which case Easyjet's sales dept might have no knowledge of them.
Personally, I couldn't see a business case for using an airport where 80% of the potential catchment area is sea, Pula being at the tip of the Istrian peninsular.
However, when I phoned information at Pula airport a few minutes ago they confirmed that Easyjet were doing a trial in to Pula next month but that I needed to ring another number for fuller information. It is nearly 19.00 here now so I wasn't surprised when I got no reply from it. If I get a moment I'll try them again tomorrow.

[Graham Amiss - Bosmere Travel]

Peter, the same story has been doing the rounds in Dubrovnik for about the last six months. the last time we contacted Easyjet the respose was that the summer timetable was already fixed. Maybe they are looking at the future.