Croatian airports begin to apply Schengen rules

Airports across Croatia began to apply the Schengen rules on Sunday, as air passengers to and from Croatia and other Schengen area members will no longer need to go through passport checks, a significant move that marked the full Schengen membership for Croatia, reported Xinhua.

However, flights to and from Croatia and non-Schengen members will remain unchanged.

"On the first day, March 26, we expect 108 departure and arrival flights, 53 of which are arrivals, and 10 of which are outside the Schengen area," the Zagreb International Airport said in a press release.

Moreover, 55 flights are expected to depart on Sunday, of which 11 are outside the Schengen area, and 44 are within the Schengen area, according to the press release.

Croatia joined both the European Union and the Schengen area on Jan. 1 this year and land border crossings were abolished the same day it joined the Schengen area.