The 13 Best Airlines to Fly to Croatia in 2026 (For All Budgets)

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I’ve been flying to Croatia for years now, and I still get excited every time I start planning a new trip. For this guide, I went through every major airline serving Croatian airports to figure out which ones are worth booking in 2026. I looked at routes, prices, loyalty programs, and all the little details that can make or break a flight.

2026 is shaping up to be a great year for flying to Croatia. United just launched the first-ever direct flight from the US to Split. Croatia Airlines is in the middle of a major fleet upgrade. And the budget carriers keep expanding – Ryanair and easyJet are fighting for market share on the coast, which means more options and better prices for the rest of us. Here’s my complete breakdown of the best airlines to fly to Croatia and how to make the most of each one.

• Read next: The 7 Cheapest Airports to Fly Into Croatia

Quick tip to find cheap flights to Croatia

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1. 🇺🇸 United Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• ✈️ Best For: The only direct flights from the US to Croatia
• 💺 Cabin Options: Polaris Business, Premium Plus, Economy Plus, Economy
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 carry on and 1 personal item free; checked bags vary by fare
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: MileagePlus (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book the Split route early if you want a Polaris seat. United is using a smaller plane with extra business class suites, so availability tends to disappear fast once summer bookings open up.

United is the only US airline flying direct to Croatia, which alone makes them worth considering. Before 2026, every flight from America meant connecting somewhere in Europe, usually adding five or six hours to your total travel time. Now, you can leave Newark in the evening and wake up in Split or Dubrovnik the next morning.

The big news for 2026 is the brand new Newark to Split route, launching April 30. Flights run three times a week through early September, and it’s the first time any US airline has offered nonstop service to Split. This is huge if you’re planning to visit the islands since Split is the main ferry hub for Hvar, Brač, and Vis. United also continues its Dubrovnik flights, so you’ve got options depending on which part of Croatia you want to explore.

I’ve flown United’s transatlantic routes a few times and generally find them comfortable for the price. The planes on the Croatia routes are Boeing 767s with a 2-3-2 layout in economy, which means if you’re traveling as a couple you can grab two seats together by the window without anyone climbing over you. Business class is their Polaris product with lie flat seats if you want to splurge, but honestly economy is perfectly fine for an overnight flight when you’ll be sleeping most of the way anyway.

• Plan your visit: Why Croatia Is Europe’s Ultimate Summer Escape (Dubrovnik to Hvar)

2. 🇭🇷 Croatia Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Zagreb International Airport (ZAG)
• ✈️ Best For: Connecting flights within Croatia and from European cities
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag (23kg) included on most fares
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & More (same program as Lufthansa)
• 💡 Pro Tip: If you’re already in Europe, Croatia Airlines often has the best one stop connections to smaller Croatian airports like Zadar, Pula, and Rijeka that the bigger carriers don’t serve.

Croatia Airlines is the national carrier. While they don’t fly direct from the US, they’re worth knowing about if you’re connecting through a European hub. They operate flights from major cities like Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, and Zurich into Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, plus they’re the only airline serving some of Croatia’s smaller regional airports. If your final destination is somewhere like Zadar or the Istrian coast, Croatia Airlines is probably how you’ll get there.

The big story for 2026 is their fleet overhaul. They’re replacing their older planes with brand new Airbus A220s, and by the end of the year they’ll have 14 of them. I mention this because the A220 is genuinely one of the nicest planes to fly on for short trips. The cabin feels wider than it actually is, the windows are huge, and it’s quieter than most aircraft in this size range. New routes for 2026 include Stuttgart to Dubrovnik and Nantes to Split, both launching in May.

The other thing that makes Croatia Airlines useful is their Star Alliance membership and the Miles & More program. If you fly Lufthansa, United, or any Star Alliance carrier to reach Europe, you can earn and redeem miles on Croatia Airlines flights. You can also book the whole journey on one ticket through United’s website, which means your bags transfer automatically and you’re protected if a connection gets delayed. For island hopping or getting to Croatia’s less touristy corners, they’re a great choice.

• Read next: 15 BEST Airlines to Fly to Europe from the US in 2026

3. 🇩🇪 Lufthansa

• 🏠 Hubs: Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC)
• ✈️ Best For: Anyone not near Newark who needs one-stop service to Croatia
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included (except Economy Light fares)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & More
• 💡 Pro Tip: Their leisure airline Discover now flies Frankfurt-Dubrovnik year-round, including winter.

Lufthansa flies nonstop from 19 US cities to Frankfurt or Munich. That makes them the most accessible European carrier for Americans heading to Croatia. From either hub, you can connect to Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik on flights that take about 90 minutes. I fly them regularly from Boston because the math just works: morning departure, evening arrival in Frankfurt, short connection, and I’m in Split by midnight local time.

The reason Lufthansa lands this high on my list is coverage. If you live in Chicago, Denver, Austin, Miami, Seattle, or most other major US cities, they offer a direct flight to Germany. United’s Croatia routes only depart from Newark, so unless you’re already on the East Coast or willing to position there, Lufthansa gives you a much easier starting point. You book one ticket, check your bags through to Croatia, and don’t think about them until you land.

Lufthansa is also rolling out new Allegris business class seats on more routes through 2026. If you’re splurging on the transatlantic leg, I recommend checking whether your flight has the new cabin. They share the Miles & More loyalty program with Austrian, SWISS, and Croatia Airlines, which means you can mix these carriers on one booking and credit everything to the same account.

• Read next: How I Found a $1,200 Business Class Ticket to Europe

4. 🇦🇹 Austrian Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Vienna (VIE)
• ✈️ Best For: The fastest connections from the US to Croatia
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included (except Economy Light fares)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & More
• 💡 Pro Tip: Vienna to Split or Dubrovnik is only about an hour. If you can find a US flight that arrives Vienna mid-morning, you’ll be at your hotel by early afternoon.

Austrian Airlines flies nonstop from six US cities to Vienna: New York JFK, Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, and Boston. What makes them worth considering is geography. Vienna is closer to Croatia than Frankfurt or Munich, so your connection flight is shorter and your total travel time drops. Vienna to Split takes about 65 minutes, Vienna to Dubrovnik is 75 minutes, and Vienna to Zagreb is 45 minutes.

The connection experience in Vienna is straightforward. It’s a smaller airport than Frankfurt, so you’re not hiking a mile between terminals. Austrian serves all four major Croatian airports (Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar), and they run multiple daily flights to each during summer. If your US flight lands around 8 or 9am, you can realistically be in Split by noon.

Austrian is part of Lufthansa Group, so they share the Miles & More program and you can mix them with Lufthansa, SWISS, or Croatia Airlines on one ticket. They’re also rolling out new Boeing 787 Dreamliners on US routes through 2026, which is a nicer plane than the older 767s and 777s they’ve been flying. If connection time matters to you more than departure city options, Austrian is hard to beat.

• Read next: 13 BREATHTAKING Places in Austria to Visit (Local’s Guide)
• You may also like: 7 Austrian Mountains So Beautiful You’ll Plan a Trip Just to See Them

5. 🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Istanbul (IST)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who want excellent service and don’t mind a longer routing
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (no premium economy)
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 2 checked bags included on most transatlantic fares
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & Smiles
• 💡 Pro Tip: Turkish serves all three major Croatian airports (Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik) with year-round flights from Istanbul, including winter service to Split.

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from 14 US cities to Istanbul, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington Dulles. From Istanbul, you can connect to Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik on flights that take around two hours. The routing isn’t as direct as flying through Frankfurt or Vienna, but Turkish makes up for it with service.

The reason I include Turkish this high is the overall experience. Turkish Airlines’ business class catering is consistently rated among the best in the industry, and even economy passengers get proper meals and two free checked bags. The Istanbul lounge is enormous and has everything from a putting green (yes, really!) to hot food. If you’re someone who values the flight experience as part of the trip rather than just a means of getting there, Turkish delivers more than most European carriers at similar price points.

The tradeoff is time. Istanbul is farther east, so your total journey is longer than routing through Germany or Austria. But Turkish maintains year-round service to all three major Croatian cities, which means you have options even in winter when other carriers cut back. They also offer some of the best award availability in Star Alliance if you’re booking with miles.

• Flying with Turkish? Read: Istanbul Layover Guide (Must-See Tours & Insider Tips)

6. 🇬🇧 British Airways

• 🏠 Hub: London Heathrow (LHR)
• ✈️ Best For: Oneworld loyalists and anyone with a stash of Avios points
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business (Club World), First
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included on most fares (hand baggage only on basic fares)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: British Airways Club (Avios)
• 💡 Pro Tip: BA uses distance-based pricing for award flights, so London to Dubrovnik costs surprisingly few Avios since it’s under 1,100 miles.

British Airways serves all four major Croatian airports from London Heathrow: Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Pula. Flights resume seasonally (Zagreb from late March, Dubrovnik from early April, Split from late April, Pula from May), with daily or near-daily service during peak summer. The connection through Heathrow adds a stop compared to going through Frankfurt or Vienna, but if you’re already flying into London or have Avios to burn, it’s a strong option.

The Avios angle is the real reason BA makes this list. Because their award pricing is based on distance, short European flights like London to Croatia can be genuine sweet spots. A one-way economy award to Dubrovnik can cost as little as 13,000-18,500 Avios depending on peak/off-peak dates, and you can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards to top up your balance. If you’ve been hoarding credit card points and wondering what to do with them, this is one of the better uses.

BA’s fuel surcharges on award tickets used to be brutal, but they’ve restructured to flat fees that are much more reasonable now (as low as £1 each way on short-haul economy). The Heathrow lounges are good if you’re flying business class, and the terminal has more shopping than most people need. Just leave plenty of connection time. Heathrow is massive, and if you’re clearing customs from the US before your Croatia flight, 90 minutes minimum is wise.

• Read next: British Airways First Class in 2026 (Complete Guide)

7. 🇨🇭 SWISS

• 🏠 Hub: Zurich (ZRH)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who appreciate a polished experience and efficient connections
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included on most fares
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & More
• 💡 Pro Tip: SWISS is launching seasonal service to Rijeka in July and August, making it easier to reach the Istrian peninsula without driving from Zagreb.

I have a soft spot for SWISS. The service feels warm without being over-the-top, Zurich airport is clean and calm, and they hand out Swiss chocolate on every flight. They fly nonstop from Zurich to Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Zadar, and now Rijeka for summer 2026, plus Geneva offers connections to Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik. From the US, SWISS serves New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami with daily or near-daily flights.

The big news for 2026 is SWISS Senses, their new cabin concept rolling out on brand-new Airbus A350s. Boston got the first A350 service in January 2026, and the experience is a significant upgrade. There’s five different business class seat types (including suites with doors), lie-flat beds up to 7.2 feet long, seat heating and cooling, and improved economy with bigger screens and USB-C charging. The A330s are getting retrofitted throughout 2026, so you’ll increasingly see these cabins on transatlantic routes. If you’re flying business, look for the A350 when booking – it’s worth it.

Zurich connections work well because the airport is compact and transfers are smooth. I’ve made connections there in under an hour without stress. The Croatia flights themselves are short, about 90 minutes, and if you’re heading to Istria or the Kvarner coast (Opatija, Rovinj), the new Rijeka route saves you a three-hour drive from Zagreb.

• Read next: My Ultimate Rovinj, Croatia Guide

8. 🇫🇷 Air France

• 🏠 Hub: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• ✈️ Best For: SkyTeam loyalists and travelers with transferable points
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, La Première (First)
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included on most transatlantic fares
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Flying Blue
• 💡 Pro Tip: Flying Blue miles transfer from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt at 1:1 – and there are frequent 20-30% transfer bonuses throughout the year.

Air France is expanding its Croatia service significantly for 2026. They’re increasing Paris-Zagreb to up to 14 weekly flights during July and August, and Paris-Dubrovnik jumps to 11 weekly rotations in peak summer (up from 2 weekly in 2025). That’s a lot of capacity, which tends to mean more competitive fares and better award availability. From the US, Air France serves around 20 cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Houston.

The real appeal here is Flying Blue, the shared loyalty program with KLM. It’s genuinely one of the best SkyTeam programs for transatlantic awards. You can often find business class between the US and Europe for around 50,000 miles one-way when availability is good. The program is a transfer partner of every major credit card currency, which makes it easy to pool points from multiple cards. I’ve moved Chase and Amex points into Flying Blue during transfer bonuses and come out ahead.

Paris CDG is massive, so I recommend budgeting at least 90 minutes for connections. The upside is the lounge network – Flying Blue Gold status gets you access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide. If you’re splurging on premium cabins, Air France is rolling out its redesigned La Première first class suites across the network through 2026, with Boston getting the product in July.

• Plan your stay: 12 Scenic Destinations in Dubrovnik You Need to See
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9. 🇳🇱 KLM

• 🏠 Hub: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who want efficient connections through a compact, well-organized hub
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Comfort, Business
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included on most transatlantic fares
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Flying Blue (shared with Air France)
• 💡 Pro Tip: KLM just finished retrofitting its entire Boeing 777 fleet with new business class seats featuring privacy doors and direct aisle access – a huge upgrade from the old 2-2-2 layout.

KLM flies to all three major Croatian airports from Amsterdam: Zagreb year-round (twice daily), plus Split and Dubrovnik seasonally. For summer 2026, they’re doubling Dubrovnik to 14 weekly flights – that’s twice-daily service from March 29 through the season. From the US, KLM serves 15 cities nonstop including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of Europe’s easiest hubs. Everything is under one roof, signage is clear, and you can make a 60-minute connection without stress. I find it less chaotic than Paris CDG or London Heathrow, though security lines can build during peak morning hours. The Croatia flights run about two hours on Embraer E195-E2 or Boeing 737 equipment.

Since KLM and Air France share Flying Blue, all the same points strategies apply – transfers from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt at 1:1, plus frequent transfer bonuses. When booking awards, search both airlines. KLM sometimes has better Croatia availability than Air France, and you can mix carriers on the same itinerary through the Flying Blue portal.

• You may also like: 12 Secret Spots in Croatia That Are Totally Worth the Trip
• For more reading: Exploring Split, Croatia (Diocletian’s Palace to Hvar Day Trips)

10. 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways

• 🏠 Hub: Doha (DOH)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who want a premium experience and are flexible on travel time
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (Qsuite)
• 👜 Baggage Policy: 2 checked bags included in all classes
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Privilege Club (uses Avios, oneworld alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: If flying business, confirm your specific flight has Qsuite before booking. Not all Qatar planes have it.

Qatar Airways connects the US to Zagreb through its hub in Doha, on the Arabian Peninsula. It’s a different routing than European carriers. Instead of connecting through Frankfurt or Amsterdam, you fly east to Doha first, then back west to Croatia. This adds several hours to your journey, so Qatar isn’t the fastest option (from the US), but it might be the most comfortable.

The reason Qatar keeps winning “world’s best airline” awards is the onboard experience. Their Qsuite business class has closing doors, lies completely flat, and in the center section four seats can convert into a private room for families. Economy is also better than average with two free checked bags, more legroom, and excellent food. Qatar flies nonstop to Doha from 11 US cities including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta.

The practical question is whether a nicer flight is worth extra travel time. If you dread long-haul flying and want to arrive feeling human, Qatar’s business class might justify the detour. I’ve done it and the experience makes the travel day enjoyable rather than exhausting. If you just want to reach Croatia quickly, stick with a European carrier. Qatar uses Avios points (same as British Airways), and award availability is often better than other premium airlines.

• Read Next: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Croatia

11. 🇮🇪 Ryanair

• 🏠 Base: Multiple European cities (largest presence at Dublin, London Stansted)
• ✈️ Best For: Budget-conscious travelers already in Europe who want the cheapest possible fare
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 👜 Baggage Policy: One small bag free (40x30x20cm, fits under seat); everything else costs extra
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: None worth mentioning
• 💡 Pro Tip: The base fare is just the beginning. Add up bags, seats, and priority boarding before comparing prices – sometimes a full-service carrier ends up cheaper.

Ryanair won’t get you from the US to Croatia, but once you’re in Europe, they’re often the cheapest way to reach Croatian airports. They have bases in Zagreb and Zadar, and fly to all the major Croatian cities from dozens of European airports – London, Dublin, Brussels, Berlin, Rome, and many smaller cities. If you’re already planning time in another European country before Croatia, Ryanair can save you serious money on the connection.

The catch is that Ryanair’s low fares come with trade-offs. Your ticket includes only a small personal item that fits under the seat. Anything larger costs extra, and fees add up fast. A checked bag runs €20-60 each way depending on when you book and how busy the flight is, and buying at the airport costs even more. Seats aren’t assigned unless you pay, which means couples might end up separated.

None of this is necessarily bad if you know what you’re getting into. Pack light, book bags in advance, pay for seat selection if it matters to you, and Ryanair can be excellent value. I’ve taken plenty of €30 flights around Europe on them. Just don’t expect anything beyond transportation from point A to point B – and always double-check the airport, because “Paris Beauvais” is an hour from Paris and “Frankfurt Hahn” is nowhere near Frankfurt!

• For more countries: 12 Underrated Getaways in Europe (From Visiting 38 Countries)

12. 🇬🇧 easyJet

• 🏠 Base: London Gatwick, London Luton, and other UK/European cities
• ✈️ Best For: UK travelers wanting direct flights to Croatia’s coast
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 👜 Baggage Policy: Small underseat bag free; cabin bags and checked luggage cost extra
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: None worth mentioning
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book bags online in advance – airport prices are significantly higher.

If you’re flying from the UK to Croatia, easyJet is probably already on your radar. They run direct flights from London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh to Split and Dubrovnik, with Pula and Zadar added during peak summer. Flights take around 2.5 hours, prices often start under £50 each way if you book early, and there’s no complicated connections to worry about.

The main limitation is timing. EasyJet treats Croatia as a summer destination, so most routes only operate from late March through October. Dubrovnik keeps a few winter flights from London and Manchester, but if you’re planning a spring trip to Zagreb or a November visit to Split, you’ll need to look elsewhere. This is a beach-season airline, and they schedule accordingly.

The experience onboard is basic but fine for a short flight. You get a seat, and that’s about it – everything else costs extra. A checked bag runs £10-50 each way depending on when you book, and showing up at the airport without pre-purchased luggage gets expensive fast. For a quick summer trip to the Dalmatian coast where you’re packing light, easyJet does the job at a price that’s hard to beat. Just don’t expect any frills.

• Next, read: My 30-Day Balkans Road Trip Itinerary 

13. 🇭🇺 Wizz Air

• 🏠 Base: Budapest, plus bases across Central/Eastern Europe
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers in Central/Eastern Europe looking for cheap connections to Croatia
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 👜 Baggage Policy: Small underseat bag free (40x30x20cm); cabin trolleys and checked bags cost extra
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Wizz Discount Club offers reduced fares for a membership fee
• 💡 Pro Tip: Baggage prices spike closer to departure – add bags when you book, not later.

Wizz Air is an airline you’ll stumble across when searching for cheap flights from Central and Eastern Europe. They’re based in Budapest and fly to Split and Dubrovnik from cities like London Gatwick, Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, and Gdansk – and they’re adding Rijeka as a new destination in 2026. If you’re already planning to spend time in Poland or Hungary before heading to Croatia, Wizz can save you a decent amount on the connecting flight.

I’ll be honest: Wizz isn’t my first choice for Croatia. Their route network is thinner than Ryanair or easyJet, they don’t fly to Zagreb, and most of their coastal services only run a few times per week during summer. That’s fine if your schedule is flexible, but it means fewer options if you need specific dates or want to travel off-season. Always check what’s actually available before building your trip around them.

The experience is bare-bones budget travel – small seats, no frills, crew selling snacks down the aisle. Your ticket includes only a tiny underseat bag, and checked luggage fees can climb quickly if you don’t book them early. For a two-hour flight to Dubrovnik, none of that really matters. You get there, you save some money, and the plane lands on time more often than not. That’s the deal with Wizz.