November 22 (SeeNews) - State-controlled flag carrier Croatia Airlines [ZSE:CRAL-R-A] is set to add new flights to its network next summer including to Scandinavia, local media reported on Tuesday.
"Feasibility studies have been completed for the launch of new services, most probably to Scandinavia. In addition to Stockholm, this would likely include Oslo as well," EX-YU Aviation News quoted the company's CEO, Kresimir Kucko, as saying.
Croatia Airlines has already completed studies for frlights to Moscow and Dublin, Kucko added.
This summer, Croatia Airlines introduced new seasonal flights from Zagreb to Prague, Milan, Lisbon and St Petersburg.
The airline will also operate two charter flights from Osijek to Dublin over the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday period to test interest in the route.
The company has been in talks with plane manufacturers for two years and will make a decision on expanding its fleet by the end of the year, Kucko noted. Currently its fleet consists of twelve aircraft - two Airbus320s, four A319s and six Q400 aircraft.
The airline's consolidated net profit fell to 4.6 million kuna ($649,800/612,000 euro) in the first nine months from nearly 6.8 million kuna a year earlier. Total consolidated revenues edged down to 1.22 billion kuna in 2016 through September from 1.24 billion kuna last year.
In 2013, the government called for expressions of interest in the purchase of a 49% stake in Croatia Airlines but the offer failed to draw any candidates. Earlier this year, Croatia's previous government removed the flag carrier from its list of companies regarded to be of strategic importance for the country and banned for sale.
(1 euro=7.53047 kuna)