Leadership change at Croatia Airlines amid fleet renewal and financial losses

Croatia Airlines is undergoing a leadership change as its long-serving chief executive steps down for health reasons, with the departure of CEO Jasmin Bajić announced by the airline. The move comes amid the carrier’s ongoing fleet renewal program, which is pushing the airline toward an all-Airbus A220 lineup as part of its broader modernization and restructuring efforts, according to Aviation.Direct.

EX-YU Aviation News adds that the leadership transition follows nine years at the helm and is tied to the nearing conclusion of the fleet renewal involving Airbus A220 aircraft. The report specifies that Bajić has submitted his resignation for health reasons and that the stepping down is to take effect on December 5, with no further details about interim leadership or a formal succession plan provided in the material.

In parallel with the leadership changes, EX-YU Aviation News notes that Croatia Airlines issued a warning about ongoing pressures on its operations during the upcoming winter quarter of 2026, describing anticipated softening of demand as a factor that could compound existing operational challenges. The material frames this as part of near-term performance and capacity planning communications, without quantified figures or route-specific details.

EX-YU Aviation News also highlights a digital modernization effort: the airline is preparing to introduce a new online booking platform aimed at simplifying ticket purchases and improving the passenger experience. The available material does not specify features, rollout timing, deployment dates, or geographic scope for the platform launch, but characterizes it as part of the broader modernization push.

Aviation.Direct corroborates the leadership change, reiterating that Croatia Airlines is navigating a difficult transition as it moves toward an all-Airbus A220 fleet and away from a mixed fleet, tying the shift to broader financial and operational pressures faced by the carrier toward the end of 2026. The source describes the leadership change as part of the broader renewal program and notes the absence of interim leadership details in the supplied material.

Aerospace industry coverage from AeroTime echoes the core Croatia Airlines details reported by EX-YU Aviation News, emphasizing the same elements: the resignation of Jasmin Bajić for health reasons with a December 5 departure date, the winter operational warning, and the online booking platform initiative. The material does not introduce new specifics beyond what EX-YU Aviation News has documented.

Aviation Week’s briefing appears to focus on broader industry developments rather than Croatia Airlines specifics, with mention of Australasia Airlines and discussions of flight cycles in the Australasian market. This portion of the provided material does not include aircraft details, dates, locations, injuries, or outcomes related to Croatia Airlines, and does not contribute new information about the Croatian carrier beyond the cross-referenced leadership and modernization themes reported by the other outlets.

Overall, the reporting paints a consistent picture: Croatia Airlines is transitioning its leadership with Jasmin Bajić stepping down for health reasons, effective December 5, against a backdrop of a fleet renewal toward an all-Airbus A220 configuration and ongoing financial and operational pressures. The airline is also signaling near-term seasonal challenges in the winter 2026 period and pursuing digital modernization through a new online booking platform, with no published details on interim leadership or the platform’s rollout timeline.