Jet2 and Jet2holidays have launched their first flights on a new route between Croatia's international airport, which welcomed a total of 223.3 million arrivals in 2024, and the UK's third busiest airport and Croatia's international airport.
The first flights begin in early May and services will be run twice a week until mid-October, Croatia's Tourism Bureau confirmed. The new route connects Pra, a gorgeous city on the southern tip of the Istria Peninsula in western Croatia and Manchester Airport. The city is known for its impressive number of its most famous ancient Roman buildings. The most famous of these is the Pla Arena, one of the most famous Roman amphitheaters. The new route is expected to boost travel between the UK and Croatia, especially as the UK's interest in the country continues to grow.
According to Croatia Week, Visera Fabrio, director of the UK's Croatia National Tourism Commission (CNTB) office, said:
“We are confident that Jet2 returns to Pula and expands its offer will significantly increase the number of British tourists in Istria this summer.”
In addition to the Pra Arena, tourists to the city must stop by the impressive temple of Augustus, a well-preserved Roman temple dedicated to the first Roman emperor Augustus.
It is said to have been built for a lifetime between 27 BC and 14 BC. Porta Gemina, meanwhile, is a double-arched Roman city gate built in the second half of the second century. In ancient times, the Pla was surrounded by walls, and Portagemina served as one of ten gates to the city standing on the north side. Some of these walls are still visible today, connecting the gate to Giardin Square.
The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing and shipbuilding. It was an Istria administrative centre ever since ancient Rome, until it was replaced by Pazin in 1991.
Pra Airport (Phi), where new budget airline flights arrive, is just four miles from the city centre, and in 2019 recorded nearly 780,000 passengers.
This isn't just the Jet2 route to Pula that will be offered this summer. The airline also serves every Saturday from Birmingham twice a week, until mid-October two times a week from London Stansted. This means that Brits across the UK can visit this incredible city.
A new exclusive route from East Midlands Airport to Pula is also scheduled to be released on May 24th.
This expansion allows Jet2 to fly to three Croatian airports (Dubrovnik, Split and Pula), allowing travelers to explore the diverse coastal regions of the country surrounding the Adriatic Sea.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, commented on the company's biggest summer program for Croatia:
Manchester Airport welcomed record passengers with over 30 million passengers in 2024, becoming the UK's third busiest airport behind Heathrow and Gatwick.
