Croatian national airline "Croatia Airlines" announced that it is temporarily suspending flights Zagreb - Rome – Zagreb from today to the end of March, in order to protect general health status in Croatia.
-In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the Republic of Croatia, that is, with the aim of protecting the general health of all Croatian citizens and the health safety of passengers and employees of the Croatian national carrier, Croatia Airlines, from today until the end of March this year suspends scheduled flights on the Zagreb - (via Split) - Rome international route – it’s written in the statement.
-Croatia Airlines, due to the new situation, is applying custom rules and procedures to all international passengers, who have so far purchased tickets for flights and passengers who will buy tickets by the end of March, and for trips planned until May 31st. In particular, passengers are permitted to change their flight dates on the same line without charge, provided that the journey is completed by 31st of December 2020. In the case that when the flight date is changed and there is no transportation available in the same tariff class as on the original ticket, only the difference in price will be charged up to the first available tariff class- Croatia Airlines points out.
The airline also says that the sales staff of the company have already started to inform all passengers who have purchased tickets for flights by the end of March this year, and service users are also directly informed through other sales channels (internet, sales agents, and more). Passengers from canceled flights Zagreb-Rome have the right to change the date of the flight and to get a refund if they cancel the trip completely, Croatia Airlines emphasizes.
The temporary suspension of flights to and from Rome (currently the only Italian destination in the Croatia Airlines flight network) is in line with the most recent decision of the National Civil Protection Staff of the Republic of Croatia on a mandatory two-week quarantine for all foreign nationals arriving from Italy to Croatia, while Croatia nationals need to go to self-isolation.The adoption of the measure was also influenced by the latest decision by the Italian government to declare a quarantine for the whole of Italy due to the coronavirus epidemic, the statement said.
Croatia Airlines points out that their Crisis and Emergency Management Office has been continuously monitoring the development of the coronavirus situation since January 23rd - all current information and recommendations of Croatian and international competent institutions and associations (Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, Croatian Institute of Public Health , Star Alliance, IATA), and accordingly plans and takes the necessary steps. This includes informing the company's internal public, according to which the company distributed surgical masks, disposable rubber gloves, disinfectants and hygiene wipes to all employees coming in and direct contact with passengers in all domestic and international destinations, as well as additional amounts of disinfectants that are standard on aircraft equipment.
The company's operating manuals prescribe procedures for detecting infectious disease in crew members or passengers. All necessary hygiene measures in aircraft are continually taken in accordance with the recommendations of the aircraft manufacturers, and the company also has everything for disinfection and disinfestation of aircraft if necessary, the statement said.
Croatia Airlines continues to continuously monitor the development of the situation, and the recommendations of international and domestic competent institutions and associations, and will, if necessary, adapt the business to the greatest possible well-being of passengers, its employees and the entire population of the Republic of Croatia.
Croatia Airlines continues to operate scheduled flights to all other European destinations of the company, the statement concludes.
