Croatia Airlines (OU) has taken delivery of its tenth Airbus A220, adding a new A220-300 registered 9A-CAS to its fleet at Zagreb Airport (ZAG). The aircraft marks a notable first for the aviation industry, becoming the world’s first Airbus A220 to wear the official Star Alliance livery.
Named Velika Gorica, the aircraft supports the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal program while recognizing the Croatian city that has long served as the country’s aviation center. The news comes a couple of months after SWISS announced that it would dismantle its ten A220s.
Croatia Airlines Receives Tenth Airbus A220
The newest Airbus A220-300 arrived at Zagreb Airport (ZAG) shortly after midnight local time on July 29, officially becoming the tenth Airbus A220 in Croatia Airlines’ fleet.
Built at Airbus’ Mirabel assembly facility near Montreal, Canada, the aircraft carries manufacturer serial number 55465. Its delivery journey began on July 28 with a nonstop flight from Montreal to Copenhagen that lasted nearly eight hours. After a scheduled stop in the Danish capital, the aircraft completed the final one-hour and 33-minute sector to Zagreb.
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The delivery forms part of Croatia Airlines’ long-term fleet modernization strategy, under which older aircraft are being replaced with the more fuel-efficient Airbus A220 family.
What sets 9A-CAS apart is its paint scheme. It is the first Airbus A220 anywhere in the world to be delivered in the official Star Alliance colors. Based on current fleet plans, it is also expected to remain the only aircraft in Croatia Airlines’ future all-A220 fleet to carry the alliance’s special livery.
Aircraft Honors Croatia’s Aviation City
Croatia Airlines has named its newest aircraft Velika Gorica, recognizing the city for its importance to the country’s aviation sector. Velika Gorica was officially designated the City of Aviation in 2016 due to the concentration of aviation infrastructure and organizations located there.
The city is home to Zagreb Airport, Croatia Control, the Aeronautical Technical Centre, the Aviation Technical School, the University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, and numerous aviation-related companies. Croatia Airlines was among the organizations that signed the charter recognizing Velika Gorica as the City of Aviation. Naming the aircraft after the city reflects the airline’s ties to the community surrounding its main hub.
The carrier has previously operated several aircraft in Star Alliance colors, including Airbus A319s registered 9A-CTI and 9A-CTM, along with Airbus A320 9A-CTO.
Airbus A220 Fleet Reaches Ten Aircraft
Following the arrival of 9A-CAS, Croatia Airlines now operates ten Airbus A220s.
| Registration | Configuration | Delivered | Aircraft Name | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9A-CAO | CY127 | Sep 2025 | Dubrovnik | 0.9 Years |
| 9A-CAQ | CY127 | Mar 2026 | Pula | 0.4 Years |
| 9A-CAE | CY150 | Jul 2024 | Zagreb | 2.1 Years |
| 9A-CAI | CY150 | Dec 2024 | Split | 1.6 Years |
| 9A-CAL | CY150 | May 2025 | Vukovar | 1.3 Years |
| 9A-CAM | CY150 | Jun 2025 | Rijeka | 1.1 Years |
| 9A-CAN | CY150 | Jun 2025 | Osijek | 1.1 Years |
| 9A-CAP | CY150 | Aug 2025 | Zadar | 0.9 Years |
| 9A-CAR | CY150 | Jun 2026 | Šibenik | 0.2 Years |
| 9A-CAS | CY150 | Jul 2026 | Velika Gorica | Brand new |
| 9A-CAU | CY150 | Jul 2026 | — | Brand new |
Data: planespotters.net
One aircraft, 9A-CAN “Osijek,” is currently grounded in Split after a runway excursion during a rejected takeoff. Despite that temporary setback, Croatia Airlines continues to receive new aircraft under its planned fleet expansion program.
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Fleet Modernization Scheduled Through 2027
Croatia Airlines intends to operate a fleet of 15 Airbus A220 family aircraft as part of the largest fleet renewal program in its history. The future fleet will comprise 13 Airbus A220-300s and two Airbus A220-100s, giving the airline a standardized fleet designed to improve fuel efficiency, reduce operating costs, and provide a more consistent passenger experience.
With ten aircraft now delivered, five remain to be handed over. Under the current schedule, three additional Airbus A220s are expected before the end of 2026, while the final two aircraft are due to enter the fleet during 2027. The addition of Velika Gorica moves Croatia Airlines closer to completing its fleet renewal program while making the carrier the operator of the world’s first Airbus A220 in the official Star Alliance livery.