Dubrovnik Airlines is a charter airline that specializes in service to cities in the Republic of Croatia, once part of the former Yugoslavia. Because it is a charter airline, travelers do not generally book directly with the airline, but rather travel agencies hire the firm to fly their customers to Croatia and back. Though the airline focuses on tourist travel, it also operates domestic flights within Croatia.
Dubrovnik Airlines is a relative newcomer to the air travel industry. The Croatian shipping firm Atlantska Plovidba launched Dubrovnik Airlines in 2004 with a view to capturing a slice of the tourism air market in and out of Croatia. The airline's first flight took place in 2005. Since then the company has continued to grow, carrying more passengers each year.
Dubrovnik Airlines offers several features to ensure customer satisfaction. Each flight has four stewardesses or stewards to help keep travelers comfortable while flying to and from Croatia. Catering is provided and depends on the contract with the travel agency that chartered the flight. On some flights travelers are given the opportunity to purchase traditional Mediterranean treats like olive oil and wine, and duty-free items are offered for sale on international flights.
Dubrovnik Airlines targets geographical areas in northern and western Europe and within Croatia. Travelers can fly between Dubrovnik and cities like Zagreb, Croatia's capital, but Dubrovnik Airlines focuses primarily on flying tourists from Europe to the popular Croatian resort Dubrovnik, where the airline is based. The city was founded in the seventh century by refugees from a nearby city that had been attacked. Dubrovnik's long, rich history, dramatic city walls, medieval monuments, attractive city center and its location on the Adriatic coast have all combined to make it a popular tourist destination, full of interesting sights and activities for visitors.
Wherever the Dubrovnik Airline fleet flies, its airplanes can be easily identified by symbols that reflect Dubrovnik's cultural heritage. On the tail there is the image of a flag with the word "freedom," and each plane also proudly bears the name of one the famed Dubrovnik Towers.
Dubrovnik Airlines continues to add to its list of destinations, and each passing year sees more passengers flying with the airline. By adding air service between cities within Croatia, the airline has increased its business for the off-season. There is substantial potential for this relatively young Croatian company.
