Klagenfurt Airport, in cooperation with the Carinthian tour operator Springer Reisen, is expanding its portfolio for the 2026 summer season. Starting August 21, 2026, the Greek island of Skiathos will be served directly from the Carinthian capital for the first time. Weekly flights will operate every Friday until September 25, 2026. Avantiair will be the operating partner for this route, using modern regional aircraft. This schedule is particularly aimed at holidaymakers who wish to use the last weeks of their summer vacation for a trip to the Aegean Sea.
In addition to the new destination of Skiathos, the successful connection to Paros, established last year, will continue. These flights will commence on May 16, 2026, and will operate every Saturday until the beginning of July. Furthermore, the neighboring island of Naxos will be integrated into the program via an organized private ferry transfer, increasing flexibility for island-hopping vacationers. Maximilian Wildt, Managing Director of Klagenfurt Airport, sees the expansion as a vote of confidence in the location and an important signal for strengthening regional air traffic in Carinthia, which had recently come under pressure due to the consolidation of the route network.
Research in the tourism sector reveals that Skiathos, as part of the Northern Sporades, possesses a unique infrastructure. Its airport, "Alexandros Papadiamantis," is known for its short runway, necessitating the use of specialized aircraft and experienced crews like those of Avantiair. With this niche offering, Springer Reisen is deliberately focusing on destinations away from mass tourism to ensure its competitiveness against the neighboring airports of Graz and Ljubljana. The strategy of accessing smaller Greek islands via direct charter flights has already proven profitable for the tour operator in recent years.
For Klagenfurt Airport, expanding charter flights is a necessary step towards stabilizing passenger numbers. Since domestic traffic and connections to major hubs like Frankfurt or Vienna are subject to fluctuations, the seasonal tourist business forms a reliable economic pillar. Industry experts observe that regional tour operators are increasingly relying on exclusive flight connections to differentiate themselves from online portals. The cooperation between Springer Reisen and Klagenfurt Airport underscores the importance of tailor-made charter offers for maintaining regional aviation infrastructure in southern Austria.