Zračna luka Franjo Tuđman Zagreb

My air travel love affair with ZAG

My first experience with Zračna luka Franjo Tuđman Zagreb (Franjo Tuđman International Airport Zagreb, airport code ZAG) – named after Croatia’s first president – was when I redeemed frequent flier miles to fly the short hop between Zagreb and Split in May 2024 in lieu of taking a very long bus.

I’m a frequent flier, so I prefer flying to driving, buses, and trains – although a train would be my second choice (but alas, there is not a train between Zagreb and Split).

That morning I took an Uber from my nearby Airbnb to ZAG, whose new terminal opened at the end of March 2017. It’s very modern (some people love it, some hate it) – with its arching roof of metal beams, panels, and glass. I found it to be very open, airy, and bright. It’s also small – one terminal with 30 or so gates. Twenty airlines serve 70 destinations (64 international, 6 domestic), per a recent press release.

I approached the Croatia Airlines counter to check my large bag and the agent was absolutely delightful. Because of my Star Alliance Gold status, I also qualified for fast pass security. I breezed my way through, but took a few photos along the way, saying to myself, “I would love it if this were my home airport.”

I flew through ZAG a couple of more times last spring: to/from London and to Vienna. Because these trips were international, I qualified for lounge access, which made travel even more pleasurable.

After my three and a half months back in California and my decision to apply for residency in Zagreb, I was almost giddy booking my return from Sacramento (SMF) to ZAG. I wondered if perhaps my “airport crush” was just that – memories through rose-colored glasses.

Thankfully I was wrong. As I deplaned at ZAG on October 15, I felt like I was coming home.

I’ve made a number of trips between ZAG and SFO since then (through a number of European hub airports) and the experience is always pleasant – regardless of the airline I’m flying. The agents are always polite and professional, security is easy (even without fast pass, there’s rarely a long line), and the small lounge is warm and welcoming.

ZAG just announced an increased seasonal flight schedule (122 destinations, 42 countries), so I suspect that it will be busier, but still more agreeable and manageable than a large international airport. And, a lot of the world will be my oyster.

Even if you’re not a fan of the architecture, ZAG is the airport others should emulate – an example of kindness, ease, and efficiency.