A. Vidović, S. Steiner, I. Štimac: Development Potentials of Low Cost Aviation in the Republic of Croatia ANDRIJA VIDOVIĆ, Ph.D. Traffic Planning E-mail:
[email protected] Review SANJA STEINER, Ph.D. Accepted: Mar. 10, 2011 E-mail:
[email protected] Approved: Nov. 15, 2011 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences Vukelićeva 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia IGOR ŠTIMAC, M.Sc. E-mail:
[email protected] Zagreb Airport Ltd. Pleso bb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS OF LOW COST AVIATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ABSTRACT and the share of traditional companies was gradually reduced. The liberalization of the aviation market has enabled Functional organization and the associated traf- low-cost airlines to take over a significant share in the avia- fic and technological processes applied in low-cost tion market. Benefits of low-cost models are multiple, both airlines resulted in up to 50 percent lower operating for passengers and for secondary and regional airports, costs compared to traditional companies. Currently in which were neglected in the past and which record signifi- cant inflow of passengers with the arrival of low-cost airlines. Europe there are 58 low-cost airlines that operate and In the structure of the air traffic in the Republic of Croatia they generate 38 percent of total passenger traffic and in the last ten years, there has been a progressive growth of 23 percent of total Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR) op- foreign low-cost airline operations, which suggests a poten- erations. tial for the operation of a Croatian low-cost airline.