Croatia Airlines recorded a net loss of €64.7 million in the first nine months of 2026, more than three times the €20.9 million loss a year earlier, despite carrying 7% more passengers. Operating revenue rose 8% to €221.2 million, but total expenditure increased 18% to €292.6 million, widening the operating loss from €21.5 million to €49.3 million.
The carrier remained loss-making in the third quarter, with a net loss of €15 million compared with €2.9 million in the same period of 2025. Fleet renewal and market conditions weighed on the result. Croatia Airlines is replacing its fleet between 2024 and 2027, with aircraft induction and transition costs adding to pressure from higher fuel prices. Fuel expenditure rose by €20.7 million year on year, while maintenance costs increased by €7.6 million.
Passenger numbers reached 1,656,468 from January to September. International scheduled traffic grew 9% to 1,244,532 passengers, and the overall load factor improved by 1.2 percentage points to 67.5%.
The Croatian government provided €35 million during the reporting period. A further €35 million was approved at the 28 October shareholder assembly, as part of a recapitalisation package worth about €156 million. Sale-and-leaseback transactions involving two spare engines generated an additional €25.7 million.