Croatia Airlines to add wet lease ETF Airways ATR72

Croatia Airlines has confirmed it has entered into a wet lease agreement with ETF Airways for an ATR72-600 turboprop aircraft, which was recently delivered to ACMI experts. The aircraft is tentatively scheduled to enter service on behalf of Croatia Airlines starting next Wednesday, although an earlier launch is still possible. The 70-seat aircraft carries the national airline's corporate logo in the form of a sticker. A wet lease is an arrangement in which a lessor provides an aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) to another carrier. The Croatian flag carrier has previously said it will have to wet-lease small regional aircraft to make up for the retirement of its Dash 8 turboprops as it transitions to an all-Airbus A220 fleet.

ETF Airways has three Boeing 737-800 aircraft and is expected to become Croatia Airlines aircraft supplier Since announcing plans to add the first ATR aircraft. At the time, ETF CEO Stjepan Bedić said: “We have been curious about the ATR72 for some time and finally decided to give it a try. Currently, we have strong demand for ACMI leasing involving turboprop aircraft. Taking into account current market trends, we think this is a good niche, as the competition for leasing Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft is quite fierce. Our long-term plan is to 2027 Another aircraft of the same type will be added in 2020. “Croatia Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Slaven Žabo pointed out last month, “Croatia Airlines' strategy is to operate a single aircraft fleet composed of A220, but it does not exclude other aircraft types under different arrangements. We will invest appropriate capacity on appropriate routes through ACMI arrangements.”