Austrian tour operator Springer Reisen has published its full charter program for the summer season 2026, focusing on increased connections between the regional airports of Graz, Klagenfurt and Linz and Greek island destinations.
In cooperation with the airline Avantiair, numerous direct flights will be offered between May and September, targeting niche markets and specialized tourism offerings. The expansion includes weekly rotations to destinations such as Paros and Skiathos, with surrounding islands also integrated into the program through coordinated transfer services. In addition to the collaborations with Avantiair, a Eurowings connection from Graz complements the portfolio. This strategic decision underscores the importance of decentralized flight connections for the Austrian travel market and aims to secure the utilization of regional infrastructure through exclusive holiday allotments. The 2026 plan also reflects a stabilization in the charter flight segment, following logistical adjustments at the Linz and Klagenfurt hubs in previous years.
The strategic partnership with Avantiair
A key pillar of the upcoming summer season is the cooperation with the German airline Avantiair. The company, known for its fleet of twin-engine regional aircraft, will handle the majority of flights from its bases in Graz, Klagenfurt, and Linz. These aircraft are particularly well-suited to smaller island airports, which are often difficult or impossible for larger jets to access. The decision to partner with Avantiair allows Springer Reisen to fly directly to destinations like Paros, which has limited runway capacity, thus providing a competitive advantage over mass-market carriers that primarily serve large hubs like Heraklion or Rhodes.
The flight schedules are designed to optimally cover the holiday periods in the respective Austrian states. By focusing on weekly intervals, a high degree of planning certainty is created for local hotels and travelers. Industry experts see this close collaboration between tour operator and specialized airline as a model that secures the continued operation of flights at smaller Austrian airports, which are increasingly facing competitive pressure from larger hubs.
Direct connections and logistical links from Graz
Graz Airport serves as the main hub in southern Austria for the 2026 program. Springer Reisen offers the most comprehensive package from here. Flights to the island of Paros will be offered every Saturday from May 23 to September 26, 2026. A special feature of this flight is the direct connection to the neighboring island of Naxos. Since Naxos itself does not have an internationally certified airport for larger charter aircraft, a combined transfer is offered. Passengers land in Paros and are then transferred to their accommodations on Naxos by private boat, significantly reducing travel time compared to scheduled flights via Athens.
A second focus is on the Northern Sporades. From May 15th to September 25th, 2026, flights to Skiathos will operate every Friday from Graz. Here, too, the tour operator uses Skiathos as a logistical hub to connect the islands of Alonissos and Skopelos via ferry transfers. In addition to the Avantiair flights, Karpathos will also be served. This route will be operated weekly on Tuesdays by Eurowings between May 26th and September 29th, 2026, thus diversifying the offerings from the Styrian capital and appealing to different price segments.
Revitalization and focus at Klagenfurt Airport
For Klagenfurt Airport, the 2026 program represents an important stabilization of its tourism offerings. After the Carinthian airport faced structural challenges and fluctuations in scheduled services in the recent past, the charter flights from Springer Reisen send a clear signal of the airport's continued viability. Flights to Paros will operate from Klagenfurt on Saturdays during the early summer season, from May 23 to July 4, 2026, with transfers to Naxos included.
Interestingly, the operator is using a late-season model for the connection to Skiathos. This route will be offered every Friday from August 21 to September 25, 2026. This staggered schedule allows for targeted demand during the late summer months and early autumn, when the Aegean climate is particularly attractive to many travelers. The decision to once again prominently feature Klagenfurt in the flight schedule strengthens the airport's position as a regional gateway to the Mediterranean and offers short travel distances for the local population.
Charter offers from Linz Airport
The service will also be made permanent in Upper Austria next summer. Linz-Hörsching Airport will be permanently linked to Skiathos in the 2026 program. Flights will operate during the same period as those from Graz, namely from May 15th to September 25th, 2026, every Friday. The logistics for connecting Alonissos and Skopelos via ferry transfer will be implemented in the same way as for the other departure airports.
Linz Airport benefits from its strategic location and its affluent catchment area in Upper Austria and neighboring Bavaria. As Linz has increasingly focused on cargo and business aviation in recent years, the summer charter program is a welcome addition to support passenger numbers during the holiday months. The focus on the Sporades islands allows the airport to differentiate itself from competing airports in Salzburg or Vienna by offering a specialized destination.
Economic implications for regional aviation
The announcement of this program comes at a time when the Austrian aviation industry is grappling with increased operating costs and a changing competitive landscape. Avantiair's use of smaller aircraft is an economic response to the need to achieve high load factors on niche routes. While large airlines often rely on economies of scale through wide-body aircraft, Springer Reisen's model offers the flexibility that is essential for regional bases.
Furthermore, these charter flight chains secure valuable jobs at the Graz, Klagenfurt, and Linz airports – from ground staff and security personnel to terminal service providers. This ensures that the added value remains in the regions. For the Greek destinations, the weekly arrivals from Austria represent a reliable source of income for the local tourism industry, which specializes in catering to guests from the Alpine region.
Outlook for the 2026 travel season
Market observers predict that demand for organized charter trips with direct connections from the traveler's home will remain stable in 2026. Despite competition from online booking portals, many travelers appreciate the logistical convenience of a fully organized transfer, especially for destinations like Naxos or Skopelos, which require multi-stage travel arrangements. Springer Reisen positions itself as a specialist in making complex logistics easily accessible.
Publishing the complete program for Klagenfurt and Linz at this early stage allows travel agencies and end customers to plan ahead and benefit from early booking discounts. This leads to a more even utilization of flight capacity and minimizes the risk of last-minute flight cancellations. In summary, the 2026 Greece program is an important component for the tourism connectivity of the Austrian federal states and further strengthens cooperation between specialized tour operators and regional transport hubs.