Second new Airbus A220 aircraft welcomed by Croatia Airlines in Zagreb
20 December 2024, Zagreb
Croatia Airlines, Croatia’s flag carrier and Star Alliance member, today welcomed in Zagreb its second new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with a seating capacity of 149 passengers. This marks the continuation of the airline’s fleet renewal project, which began on 30 July this year, when the first of 15 new Airbus A220 aircraft arrived. The entire fleet is set to be replaced by 2027.
The latest Airbus A220 aircraft arrived directly from the Airbus plant in Mirabel, Canada, and was received at the airline’s technical centre at Zagreb Airport, where it will undergo all necessary preparations before entering regular flight operations. The new aircraft, registered as 9A-CAI, has been named Split.
Born from a clean sheet design, the Airbus A220 is a new generation aircraft offering the best performance in terms of efficiency and noise emission in its class. With an innovative design and the latest generation of technology, the A220 provides both crews and passengers a superior flying experience. Purpose-built for the 100 to 150 seat market segment, the A220’s range is up to 3, 600 nm or 6, 700 km.
It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PurePower® PW1500 GTF™ latest generation engines (geared turbofans). It is also worth pointing out that, per seat and compared to previous generation aircraft, it burns 25% less fuel, and emits 25% less CO2. Compared to previous generation aircraft, its noise footprint area is up to 50% smaller, and it emits approximately 40% less nitrogen oxides compared to civil aviation standards.
The A220 features an innovative cabin design for superior passenger comfort. More specifically, it has the widest seats and the highest ceiling in its class, a wider aisle, more leg room, and large panoramic windows for more natural light into the cabin. It also features more overhead stowage space, and lavatories with improved accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility. Onboard Croatia Airlines’ A220, passengers are provided with high-speed inflight Wi-Fi, and each seat features a USB-A and USB-C port alongside convenient smartphone and tablet holders, as well as access to digital media content
The air in A220 cabins is a mix of fresh air drawn from outside, and air that has been passed through efficient HEPA filters, which remove 99.9% of air particles. The air in the A220 cabin is renewed fully every 2-3 minutes.
Following the introduction of the first two new A220 aircraft this year, Croatia Airlines anticipates receiving six more in 2025, four in 2026, and three in 2027. The fleet will ultimately consist of 15 A220 aircraft, of which 13 will be A220-300 (whose seating capacity is 149 passengers) and two A220-100 (whose seating capacity is 127 passengers).
The renewal of the fleet of Croatia’s flag carrier marks the beginning of a new business development cycle, which is also accompanied by a refreshed visual identity, with the help of which the values of Croatia Airlines are consistently communicated, alongside an even greater orientation towards passengers and target audiences. The airline’s logo redesign and the new look of the aircraft further accentuate the company’s core messages – quality, safety, travel comfort, and hospitality. The airline’s logo redesign aligns with the iconic tail design for which the company is known.
The biggest project in the history of Croatia Airlines will facilitate the further development of the company, and the airline’s successful and sustainable operations in the future. It also further confirms the position of Croatia Airlines as a strategically important segment of Croatia’s transport and tourism infrastructure.