In 2025, the Ruđer Bošković Airport confirmed its status as a key airport for southern Croatia and the wider region, achieving a historic milestone of more than three million passengers for the first time ever. With a total of 3,090,245 passengers and a growth of 4.46% compared to the record year 2024, the airport recorded impressive continuity in traffic and capacity growth. This result reflects not only sustained interest in Dubrovnik as a tourist destination, but also its increasingly important role in business tourism and the conference industry.
Last year, Dubrovnik was once again the only Croatian airport with a direct connection to the United States, operating daily from May to the end of September and four times weekly in October. The return of Swiss, which connected Dubrovnik and Zurich with five weekly flights in the summer schedule, along with the introduction of five new routes, including three Ryanair base routes, further strengthened the airport’s connectivity network.
In addition to passenger traffic, cargo traffic recorded significant growth, increasing by more than 1,000% in 2025. Alongside these positive traffic trends, the airport also stood out in operational modernization, introducing new systems for faster passenger and baggage processing (CUPPS, DCS, and AMS) and acquiring state-of-the-art security equipment. These improvements ensure a faster, simpler, and safer passenger experience, which is particularly important for conference and business travel organizers seeking reliable and efficient logistics solutions.
Stable Winter Connectivity: Enabling Year-Round Events
The 2025/2026 winter flight schedule brings stable connectivity between Dubrovnik and key European hubs, which is especially important for business travellers. Croatia Airlines has introduced a year-round route to Rome, operating twice weekly in the winter schedule and on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer season. Regular year-round routes also include connections to Frankfurt, Vienna, Brussels, London, and Warsaw, enabling Dubrovnik to host conferences and business meetings throughout the year.
The presence of Discover Airlines (Germany), Austrian Airlines, and LOT Polish Airlines ensures reliable access to Western and Central European markets, while the Frankfurt route provides connectivity to the global Lufthansa Group network. This schedule facilitates easier arrival for international participants and strengthens Dubrovnik’s position as a destination accessible 12 months a year, a key prerequisite for the development of business tourism.
Croatia Airlines and the Expansion of the European Network in 2026
Croatia’s national carrier, Croatia Airlines, plans more than 19,290 flights in the 2026 summer schedule (29th March – 24th October), offering 9% more seats compared to the previous year. Connectivity between Croatia and 32 international destinations and 33 European airports further reinforces the country’s position on the European aviation map.
In 2026, Croatia Airlines will connect Dubrovnik with eight key business and leisure destinations: Athens, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stuttgart, and Zurich. The new seasonal route Stuttgart–Dubrovnik, operating on Mondays and Fridays, further links southern Croatia with the German market, traditionally important for both business and incentive travel segments.
Particular emphasis is placed on fleet modernization. Currently, seven new Airbus A220 aircraft are in service, with plans to expand the fleet by an additional seven aircraft during 2026. This will enable more efficient operations, greater flexibility, and a smaller environmental footprint. For event and incentive organizers, this represents an added advantage: fewer delays, more comfortable flights, and greater reliability in participant transport.
Summer Flight Schedule: A Season of Growing Accessibility and New Markets
In 2026, Dubrovnik Airport will be connected to more than 65 international destinations, with new routes further expanding the network toward Central Europe and the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik can expect a strong pre-season, with connections to Madrid, Dublin, London, and Manchester already available from late February.
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air is introducing a new seasonal route between Budapest and Dubrovnik, operating three times weekly from June to September, making Dubrovnik even more accessible to visitors from Hungary. Ryanair is continuing its expansion with a new route from Gdańsk, connecting Dubrovnik with northern Poland for the first time—a market showing strong growth in interest in Croatia.
Greek national carrier Aegean Airlines is adding a connection to Thessaloniki, while Air France will significantly increase the number of flights from Paris, operating up to 11 weekly flights at peak season, making Dubrovnik one of the most accessible Mediterranean cities for French business travellers. KLM is also introducing a second daily rotation from Amsterdam, offering even greater flexibility for conference participants arriving from the Benelux countries and Western Europe.
With its extensive air connectivity, strong pre- and post-season opportunities, and a continually growing number of international flights, Dubrovnik is positioning itself in 2026 as a reliable and attractive destination for conference organizers, business events, and incentive programs, offering quality infrastructure, dependable carriers, and direct connections to key European and global markets.