Croatia is making efforts to expand its nonstop connectivity with the United States. The country’s Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlić Radman, discussed the “potential establishment of nonstop flights between Croatian and American airports” during meetings with local leaders in Florida recently. The Croatian National Tourist Board noted that long-haul markets like the US are crucial for growth and that “we must actively encourage the launch of new routes” to improve accessibility. During the first half of the year, over 260.000 Americans visited Croatia, representing an increase of 16% on the same period last year.
Dubrovnik, which is currently the only Croatian airport with nonstop flights to the US served by United’s daily rotation from Newark over most of the summer, is leading efforts to secure more flights to the country. In the past, it has also been served by Delta, which maintained flights from New York’s JFK Airport for a single season in 2021, and by American Airlines with a route from Philadelphia in 2019. “We are the only airport in Croatia with a nonstop service to the US. While we are currently connected to New York, one route is proving insufficient. We need another one, similar to what we had a few years ago”, the CEO of Dubrovnik Airport, Viktor Šober, said in late 2024. He added, “The primary challenge is the shortage of aircraft and delays in the arrival of new jets due to manufacturing and supply chain issues. It’s a complex situation, making it difficult to secure these flights. However, I am confident that within the next year or two, we will have something concrete”.
US carriers are due to announce their network additions for the 2026 summer season over the coming weeks. American Airlines has already done so, adding new seasonal services from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, as well as flights between Dallas and Athens, all of which will run on a daily basis with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Delta has announced new routes from the US West Coast, with flights from Los Angeles to Barcelona and Rome launching next year, however, its more comprehensive network expansion plans are due in September. On the other hand, United usually outlines its growth for the coming year in early October.
