Croatia Airlines has announced the introduction of a new seasonal service connecting Split and Istanbul, set to commence operation this summer. This move signals the carrier’s return to Turkiye’s largest city after an absence of just over eleven years. While the airline ceased its operations between Zagreb and Istanbul on March 30, 2013, it has never before operated flights between Split and Turkiye.
The newly established route will operate three times a week, departing from Split on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and returning from Istanbul on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, utilizing the Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights are scheduled to run from May 7 to October 12.
The addition of the Split-Istanbul route makes Split the third Croatian city offering scheduled nonstop flights to Turkiye, alongside Zagreb and Dubrovnik. Despite Turkish Airlines considering Split as a potential third destination in Croatia for several years, plans to serve the city have yet to materialize. Croatia Airlines and Turkish Airlines maintain a limited codeshare partnership within the Star Alliance network. Under this agreement, the Croatian carrier’s designator code and flight numbers are utilized on Turkish Airlines’ services between Turkiye and Croatia,while Turkish Airlines codeshares on Croatia Airlines’ flights connecting Zagreb with Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, and Mostar.
Source: thedubrovniktimes
