Croatian start-up ETF Airways will soon start with charter flights

Croatian start-up ETF Airways plans to start operating this year by holding charter flights from the Adriatic coast to European destinations. The airline was registered in November last year and plans to use a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The company is currently in the process of hiring cabin crew to be based in the country and abroad.

ETF Airways also plans to offer wet-leasing services. The only successful Croatian airline operating on a similar model is Trade Air, which operates charter flights around the world, as well as domestic public service obligations (PSO). The government is expected to begin tendering this year for the award of new four-year PSO contracts, currently held by Croatia Airlines and Trade Air. Existing public service contracts expired on March 28, 2020, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Croatian government did not initiate tender procedures for the award of new ones, but simply extended the existing ones that currently exist.