With the start of the 2026 summer season, the Tyrolean tour operator Idealtours has significantly expanded its flight portfolio from Innsbruck Airport. A fully booked inaugural flight marked the launch of the new nonstop connection to the Greek island of Corfu.
In close cooperation with the Maltese airline Universal Air, this destination will now be served weekly. By using a de Havilland Dash 8-400, the company is relying on an aircraft specifically optimized for the requirements of regional airports.
This new service underscores the strategy of offering Tyrolean travelers time-saving point-to-point connections without stopovers, coupled with a comprehensive service package including home pick-up. Innsbruck Airport officials also confirmed operational reliability for the summer season, which, given the logistical challenges in European airspace, provides crucial planning security for the regional tourism industry.
Universal Air and the de Havilland Dash 8-400 in focus
The success of the new route to Corfu is inextricably linked to airline partner Universal Air. The Malta-based airline has established itself in recent years as a specialist for niche markets and regional connections in the Mediterranean and Central Europe. The route from Innsbruck is operated with the de Havilland Dash 8-400, a high-performance turboprop high-wing aircraft valued in the aviation industry for its versatility. With a capacity of 78 seats, the aircraft is perfectly suited to the passenger volume that Idealtours calculates for its exclusive charter programs.
The Dash 8-400 is characterized by a cruising speed that, on shorter and medium-haul routes, almost reaches the level of regional jets, while offering greater flexibility during takeoffs and landings on challenging runways. The Dash 8-400 particularly shines at Innsbruck Airport, whose topographical location in the Alps places specific demands on aircraft performance. Its engine technology and aerodynamic design ensure stable flight even in difficult wind conditions, while the cabin configuration provides modern comfort for the approximately two-hour flight to Corfu.
The summer flight schedule 2026: Focus on non-stop connections
A key feature of Idealtours' new holiday connections is their consistent focus on nonstop flights. Unlike direct flights, which may include layovers, the connection from Innsbruck to Corfu takes you directly to your destination without any detours. This time saving is a significant selling point for the regional market. The current flight schedule stipulates that the Greek island will be served every Saturday, which meets the typical needs of holiday hotels.
In addition to Corfu, Idealtours' flight schedule for summer 2026 includes other attractive destinations, all served nonstop from Innsbruck. These include the Ionian islands of Kefalonia and Lefkada (via Aktio/Epiros), as well as Halkidiki in northern Greece and Kalamata in the southern Peloponnese. The Italian region of Calabria is also served via Lamezia Terme Airport. This wide range of destinations provides the tour operator with comprehensive coverage of the central and eastern Mediterranean. Flight times are coordinated to allow passengers to maximize their vacation time, further highlighting the efficiency of the nonstop connections.
Service concept and logistical security at the site
To enhance the comfort of nonstop travel even before departure, Idealtours has integrated a free home pick-up service throughout North Tyrol into its program. This service ensures that travelers arrive directly at Innsbruck Airport check-in without needing to use a private car or public transport. The entire logistics chain is centrally managed by the tour operator to guarantee a seamless handover to the airport ground staff and the Universal Air crew.
Regarding operational reliability, Innsbruck Airport management announced that the supply of aviation fuel is secured for the entire summer season. This is particularly important for charter flights to Greece, as a reliable infrastructure at the home airport is essential for punctuality and reliability of the flight schedule. The technical maintenance of the Dash 8-400 aircraft is carried out according to strict European standards, with Universal Air guaranteeing high technical availability for the fleet.
The establishment of new nonstop connections not only strengthens the offerings for holidaymakers but also solidifies Innsbruck Airport's position as a key infrastructure element for western Austria. When local companies like Idealtours invest in new routes and collaborate with specialized partners like Universal Air, it promotes regional economic development. The high occupancy rate of the inaugural flight to Corfu demonstrates the strong confidence in regional air travel options.
Headquartered at Malta International Airport, Universal Air operates under a Maltese Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and has undergone a strategic realignment in recent years. Originally launched as a provider of a broader range of air transport services, the airline now focuses exclusively on the B2B market. A key characteristic of the company is its specialization in the use of turboprop aircraft, which are particularly advantageous on short and medium-haul routes and at airports with challenging infrastructure.
Company history and transformation
The company's roots go back to 2015, when it was founded as Air CM Global. In its early years, the focus was primarily on business aviation and aircraft management. In September 2022, it rebranded as Universal Air, with the ambition of significantly expanding its presence in regional scheduled and charter services.
A significant turning point in the company's history occurred in the spring of 2025. After a period in which the airline attempted to establish its own scheduled services – for example, from Malta to Hungary or Germany – on its own account, management decided on a strategic change of course. All scheduled flights were discontinued on May 31, 2025. Since then, Universal Air no longer operates as a traditional airline with direct sales to end customers, but instead focuses entirely on the charter and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) business.
The operational backbone of Universal Air is its fleet of de Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft (formerly Bombardier Q400). This aircraft type is considered one of the most efficient and fastest turboprop models in the world. In Universal Air's configuration, the aircraft offers seating for 78 passengers. The choice of this aircraft is no coincidence: the Dash 8-400 combines the economy of a propeller-driven aircraft with a cruising speed that, on regional routes, is hardly inferior to that of jets.
A particular advantage of the Dash 8-400 is its ability to operate on relatively short runways, making it the ideal aircraft for airports like Innsbruck. For Universal Air, this aircraft type offers a high degree of flexibility in planning charter flights for tour operators like Idealtours, as it can be utilized economically while also offering a high standard of reliability.
Business model: Charter and ACMI as core competencies
Universal Air's current business model rests on two stable pillars. As a charter service provider, the airline operates complete flight programs on behalf of tour operators. Universal Air provides nonstop flights to holiday destinations, while the client handles the seat marketing. This offers tour operators the security of a fixed capacity without the operational risk of running their own flight operations.
The second pillar is the ACMI (wet lease) business. In this area, Universal Air leases its aircraft, including crew, maintenance, and insurance, to other airlines. This often occurs to compensate for short-term capacity shortages at partner airlines, to test new routes, or to manage seasonal peaks. This focus on professional services for the industry has established Universal Air as a flexible player that can react quickly to market changes without being constrained by the complexities of its own ticket distribution.
