The Croatian government has adopted a decision to allocate 950.000 euros for the upkeep of Croatia Airlines’ flights between Zagreb and Mostar in 2026. The move comes just weeks after the state converted 78.3 million euros of the carrier’s debt into equity, as well as injected 35 million euros in financial support, with a further 35 million euros planned for next year. In addition, the government has granted authorities in Mostar a further 850,000 euros to “finance programmes aimed at improving aviation safety”. The Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure will oversee the use of these funds.
Croatia Airlines handled 11.042 passengers on flights between Zagreb and Mostar in 2025, representing an increase of 1.6% compared to the previous year. The average cabin load factor on the route stood at 50.6% for the year. The carrier operated a total of 141 flights in each direction during 2025. Almost all services were performed by the 76-seat Dash 8 Q400 turboprop, with the exception of one rotation operated by the Airbus A220-100 and one by the A319. Croatia Airlines launched scheduled flights between Zagreb and Mostar on May 3, 2018, and resumed operations on May 3, 2023, following a suspension during the pandemic. All services on the route are subsidised. Croatia Airlines maintains three weekly services between the two cities. The carrier had previously considered launching nonstop operations from Mostar to several destinations in Europe.
In its decision to grant funds for 2026, the government noted, “Pursuant to the Decisions on the allocation of funds to enhance the air transport connectivity of the City of Mostar, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia on 14 March 2024 and 24 April 2025, agreements were concluded in 2024 and 2025 between the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and the City of Mostar on co-financing programmes aimed at improving the city’s air connectivity. Based on these agreements, the implementation and financing of Mostar Airport’s programme for the provision of scheduled international air services on the Mostar – Zagreb – Mostar route were secured for 2024 and 2025”. It added, “In addition to the aforementioned decisions of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, this proposal introduces the possibility of financing programmes aimed at enhancing the safety and security of civil aviation, in principle through investments in infrastructure or equipment”.
