Dubrovnik officials debate airline ticket subsidies

Political debate has intensified in Dubrovnik regarding the high cost of air travel between Dubrovnik and Zagreb. City Councilor Viktorija Knežević has questioned the status of previously promised cheaper tickets for residents, noting that while the state allocated approximately 6.2 million euros in 2022 to maintain the Dubrovnik–Zagreb line, no maximum price caps or special resident tariffs were established.

Knežević also called for a thorough restructuring of Croatia Airlines, citing its ongoing financial losses and the continuous state investment required to sustain it. She argued that citizens deserve transparency regarding the current contract and what services they receive for public funds.

In response, SDP City Councilor Anita Bonačić Obradović criticized Mato Franković, noting that the City of Dubrovnik previously provided subsidies of 250 kuna per return ticket to residents. This program, which operated under Franković’s leadership, was suspended in July 2020 due to the pandemic but has not been reinstated despite a significantly larger municipal budget. Obradović has advocated for reinstating subsidies specifically for oncology patients and children with developmental disabilities who must travel to Zagreb for medical treatments unavailable locally.