Croatia Airlines (OU, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman) will lease two E190s from neighbouring carrier Montenegro Airlines (Podgorica) next year as it contemplates its options insofar as the 100-seater jet market is concerned.
EX-YU Aviation News says the agreement between the two ex-Yugoslav operators has been structured in such as way as to allow the Croatians to study the Embraer (EMB, São José dos Campos Professor Urbano Ernesto Stumpf) Regional Jets' performance before the aircraft are formally deployed into service.
Once in Zagreb Franjo Tuđman, Croatia Airlines says it may use the two jets to develop regional bases with Sarajevo a strong potential candidate.
As part of its fleet renewal plans, CEO Krešimir Kučko said last year that his airline would source an additional four to six aircraft before 2018 with the Embraer EMB-190 and E195 mentioned as top contenders. However, according to local paper Večernji list, Croatia Airlines is also expected to enter into talks with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (Nagoya Chubu) over a possible order for its upcoming twinjet, the M90, which could act a replacement for the carrier's fleet of six Dash 8-400s.
Currently, Croatia Airlines operates six Q400s, two A320-200s, and four A319-100s (with four more on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac)).
