Croatia Airlines passenger traffic rises 22% in first four months of 2026

(Photo: Šime Lugarov/Croatia Airlines)

ZAGREB, 7 May 2026 – Croatia Airlines carried 569,415 passengers in the first four months of 2026, representing an increase of 22 percent compared with the same period last year.

The Croatian national carrier transported 104,108 more passengers than in the opening four months of 2025, continuing what the company described as a period of strong operational growth and an expansion of its market share in Croatia’s aviation sector.

According to available figures for the January to March period, total passenger traffic across Croatian airports increased by 10 percent year-on-year.

During the same period, Croatia Airlines recorded passenger growth of 23 percent, outperforming the wider market.

The airline reported growth across all major passenger indicators between January and the end of April 2026.

Domestic traffic reached 140,292 passengers, an increase of 11 percent compared with the same period last year. International scheduled services recorded the strongest rise, with 424,437 passengers carried, up 26 percent year-on-year.

Charter traffic also increased, with 4,686 passengers transported, 2,767 more than during the corresponding period in 2025.

Croatia Airlines aircraft completed 7,451 take-offs between January and April, 222 more flights than in the same period last year, representing growth of 3 percent.

The airline also reported higher cabin occupancy despite increased capacity, with the passenger load factor rising by 4.3 percentage points compared with the first four months of 2025.

The growth comes during what Croatia Airlines describes as the largest investment cycle in the company’s history, centred on the renewal of its fleet with new Airbus A220 aircraft.

The airline said the results were achieved despite ongoing challenges in the aviation industry linked to the war in the Middle East and a sharp rise in fuel prices.

Croatia Airlines highlighted the importance of strong pre-season traffic growth, noting that air connectivity plays a key role in supporting tourism arrivals and extending Croatia’s tourist season.