Croatia Airlines has marked 35 years of continuous operations. The airline was registered as “Zagal” (Zagreb Airlines) on August 7, 1989, and later renamed Croatia Airlines in July 1990.
The company initiated its 35th-anniversary celebrations in August 2024, highlighting its journey from starting operations to becoming a member of the Star Alliance and a prominent European carrier.
The 35th anniversary coincides with the largest project in the airline’s history—replacing its entire fleet with 15 new Airbus A220 aircraft by 2027. By February 2026, the airline is continuing its transition to an all-A220 fleet, with plans to retire its last Airbus A320 in mid-February 2026. Croatia Airlines maintains a modern fleet focused on efficiency. The anniversary underscores commitment to future growth and service excellence.
The airline retired its last Airbus A320 aircraft (registration 9A-CTO) in early February 2026 as part of a total transition to an Airbus A220 fleet. They recently announced a massive summer 2026 schedule with over 19,290 planned flights, a 6pc increase from the previous year, connecting Croatia to 32 international destinations.
By early 2026, the airline had carried more than 46m passengers since its inaugural commercial flight in 1991
