is the
Flag Carrier Airline of
Croatia , based in
Zagreb . It operates services to domestic and international destinations. Its main base is
Zagreb Airport (ZAG).
The airline was established on
20 July 1989 as
Zagal - Zagreb Airlines , and started operations using
Cessna 402 aircraft on cargo services for the
UPS . The company used the name ''Zagal'' for short. After the first democratic elections held in
Croatia , ''Zagal'' changed its name on
July 23 1990 to ''Croatia Airlines''.
In
1991 the airline signed an agreement with
Adria Airways and then was able to lease a
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 to start domestic jet services between Zagreb and
Split .
1992 was a tough year for the company when the
Yugoslav Wars forced the airline to stop flying. As soon as flights restarted, ''Croatia Airlines'' bought three
Boeing 737 s from
Lufthansa and became a member of the
International Air Transport Association (IATA). That year also saw the airline's first international route.
In
1993 two
ATR 42 s and two more 737s joined the fleet, offices were opened in several European cities and the company bought a travel agency, ''Obzor'', to organize travel for groups and individuals. By
1994 , ''Croatia Airlines'' had welcomed its one millionth passenger. Later that year,
Pope John Paul II flew the airline on a trip to Croatia.
In
1995 , another ATR 42 was welcomed, as was the two millionth passenger. In
1996 , ''Croatia Airlines'' became the first airline to fly to
Sarajevo . In
1997 the airline's first
Airbus A320 arrived and was nicknamed ''Rijeka''. In
1998 , another first plane of a new type arrived when the airline's first
Airbus A319 joined the fleet. This airplane was nicknamed ''Zadar''. Also that year, Croatia Airlines became a member of the Association of European Airlines (AEA). By
1999 , two more Airbus jets had arrived and ''Croatia Airlines'' started selling the
Boeing part of their fleet. Another important event occurred when the airline flew its five millionth passenger.
In
2000 two more Airbus planes arrived and an ''Automated Ticketing System'' inaugurated.
2001 saw ''Croatia Airlines'' get maintenance and technical performing certificates from the
German aviation authority
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt . On
November 18 ,
2004 , ''Croatia Airlines'' joined the
Star Alliance as a regional member, sponsored by
Lufthansa .
Croatia Airlines serves the following destinations(as of January
2006 ):
The Croatia Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at September 2005):
