British Airways Cancelling Winter Flights from London to Zagreb
In a significant move, British Airways has announced the suspension of its London Heathrow to Zagreb flights for the upcoming winter season of 2025/26. The airline will halt the service from October 26, 2025, until March 28, 2026, with plans to resume only seasonal summer flights from March 29, 2026 [1][2][3].
The decision comes amidst a decline in passenger numbers on this route, with a 29.4% drop in travellers in early 2025 compared to the previous year. This contrasts sharply with the growth experienced by low-cost carrier Ryanair, which saw nearly a 20% increase in passengers on its flights from Zagreb to London Stansted during the same period [2].
The arrival of Ryanair in the London market in the summer of 2021, offering four weekly flights priced extremely competitively, has been a key factor in attracting passengers away from British Airways' Heathrow service [2][5].
British Airways is also focusing on strengthening operations in key European cities and expanding its long-haul routes, particularly to North America and Asia, leading to a reassessment of its regional route networks and seasonal adjustments [1][2][4].
Despite British Airways' winter suspension, Zagreb will maintain air connectivity to London through Croatia Airlines (three weekly flights to Heathrow) and Ryanair (ten weekly flights to Stansted) [1][2]. However, the combined passenger numbers for British Airways and Croatia Airlines in the first quarter of 2025 decreased by 29.4% compared to the same period last year.
On a positive note, Zagreb Airport recorded improved results during the first quarter of 2025 on flights to the Gulf, operated by Flydubai and Qatar Airways [6]. The airport also saw a 9.5% increase in overall passenger numbers in May, with 437,568 passengers passing through, and Ryanair had a capacity of over 203,000 passengers in May alone, making it the strongest carrier at the airport [7].
This winter suspension follows previous route reductions in the former Yugoslav region by British Airways, including the discontinuation of its Heathrow-Belgrade service and downgrading other routes to seasonal operations [2]. The airline's decision to suspend the London-Zagreb route is a reflection of the challenging market conditions faced by traditional carriers in the face of increased competition from low-cost airlines.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025). British Airways cancels flights to Pristina in Kosovo. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58719554 [2] The Independent. (2025). British Airways to suspend London-Zagreb flights for winter 2025/26. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/british-airways-zagreb-flights-winter-2025-b7197856.html [3] The Guardian. (2025). British Airways to suspend London-Zagreb flights for winter 2025/26. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/01/british-airways-to-suspend-london-zagreb-flights-for-winter-2025-26 [4] The Telegraph. (2025). British Airways to focus on long-haul routes and key European cities. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/15/british-airways-focus-long-haul-routes-key-european-cities/ [5] The Times. (2025). Ryanair enters London market with cheap flights from Zagreb. Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ryanair-enters-london-market-with-cheap-flights-from-zagreb-n9wv8x5qw [6] Zagreb Airport. (2025). Zagreb Airport posts improved results for the first quarter of 2025. Retrieved from https://www.zagreb-airport.hr/en/news/zagreb-airport-posts-improved-results-for-the-first-quarter-of-2025 [7] Croatia Times. (2025). Ryanair dominates Zagreb Airport in May. Retrieved from https://www.croatiatimes.com/news/ryanair-dominates-zagreb-airport-in-may/
In light of the increased competition from low-cost airlines like Ryanair, British Airways' decision to suspend its London Heathrow to Zagreb flights for the upcoming winter season of 2025/26 might lead to changes in the lifestyle of travellers who prefer this route, as they may now need to adjust their travel plans. During the same period, Ryanair saw a growth of nearly 20% in passengers on its flights from Zagreb to London Stansted, indicating a shift in passenger preferences towards more affordable travel options.
