The CEO of Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) says studies are underway over the potential use of A321-200NY(XLR)s to open up intercontinental flights in the future.

“Our team is constantly scanning for new routes, and it is our wish also to start direct intercontinental flights in the future,” Jasmin Bajić said during a press conference, as quoted by the Poslovni dnevnik business paper.

Bajić has raised the possibility of A321neo(XLR)s in the future, which would be capable of long-haul flights, but told ch-aviation earlier this year that any order "is a possibility in the distant future."

"Together with our Star Alliance and other code share and interline partners we continue to provide air connections to and from Croatia with the whole world. Croatia Airlines is the only carrier serving all eight Croatian airports. This year, to be more specific, we’re expanding our network of international flights from and to Zagreb by introducing new direct flights to Berlin Brandenburg International, Stockholm Arlanda, and Tirana, as well as from and to Split by launching flights to Istanbul Airport. During this year’s tourist season, Croatia Airlines will be connecting Zagreb with 18 international destinations, Split with 21 international destinations, and Dubrovnik with seven European destinations. Similarly, Croatia Airlines is continuing to operate its year-round flights on the Rijeka-Munich, and Osijek-Munich routes."

However, he dismissed Balkan media reports that recently claimed the state-owned carrier is considering deploying its incoming A220 fleet on longhaul routes, saying his comments were taken out of context.

Croatia Airlines expects its first A220-300, 9A-CAE (msn 55290), this month. When in service, it will fly a Zagreb-Split-Zagreb and Zagreb-Frankfurt-Zagreb rotation. In June, Bajić told ch-aviation that the second A220 will arrive in November and six more in 2025, and the type will progressively starting flying to more European cities from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.

“Upon the delivery of all fifteen A220 aircraft, which we expect by the end of 2027, we will have the ability to achieve the full potential for network growth," Poslovni dnevnik quoted him.

Croatia Airlines' existing fleet includes five A319-100s, three A320-200s, and six DHC-8-Q400s. Presently, the carrier's network stretches to Istanbul Airport Airport in the east, Athens in the south, IATYA!DUB in the west, and Oslo Gardermoen in the north. However, the A220's range puts North Africa within reach."