Origins and post-independence years

The origins of the airline date back to 20 August 1989, when its forerunner Zagal – Zagreb Airlines began operations with a single Cessna 402 aircraft providing cargo services for the United Parcel Service (UPS). On 23 July 1990, right after the first democratic elections were held in what would then become the present-day country of Croatia, the nascent company changed its name to Croatia Airlines.

In 1991 the airline signed an agreement with Slovenia-based Adria Airways for the lease of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 for the commencement of domestic service between Zagreb and Split. This scheduled route was short-lived, and Croatia Airlines was forced to cease all operations due to the closure of Croatian airspace and the impending Croatian War of Independence which would last until 1995; civil aviation would not resume until after the war was over. As soon as newly independent Croatia was restored to a state of peace, a proposal for a succeeding flag carrier was already underway, eventually coming to fruition on 2 January 1996 when the new airline was formally established under the name Croatia Airways.

Operations recommenced in May 1997 with the launch of flights from Zagreb to Sarajevo, becoming one of the first airlines to fly to the city after the Bosnian War. The first aircraft was an Airbus A320 named Rijeka (pictured here). Two Airbus A319s named Zadar and Zagreb joined the fleet in 1998, and that same year Croatia Airways became a member of the Association of European Airlines (AEA). Two more A319s arrived in 1999, bringing the fleet count to five aircraft.

Registration: 9A-CTA
Aircraft name: Rijeka