Croatia Airlines posted an operating loss of HRK 22.4 million in the first nine months of 2020 and a net loss of HRK 243.5 million, the national flag carrier reported on Friday.

The net loss was HRK 195.1 higher than in the same period last year and was a direct consequence of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the air transport industry worldwide.

As a result, the airline operated 11,709 fewer flights and recorded a 69% decrease in the number of passengers transported, or a total of 1.17 million fewer passengers.

In the first nine months of this year a total of 142,958 passengers travelled on domestic flights, or 64% fewer than in the corresponding period of last year, and 384,712 passengers or 69% fewer were recorded on international flights.

A total of 5,700 passengers were transported in extraordinary transport. Overall a total of 533,381 passengers travelled on Croatian Airlines flights in the period from January to September 2020.

(€1 = HRK 7.57)