Bern Airport and the company Vini launched a joint test phase in March 2026 for a novel flight concept on the route between Bern and Munich. A Cessna Grand Caravan, with a capacity of nine seats, is being used for this purpose.
The pilot project is based on a combination of fixed departure times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, along with digital booking analysis designed to enable flexible management based on actual demand. The primary goal of these test flights is to collect precise market data on passenger demand and economic capacity utilization on this specific regional route in order to assess the viability of permanent connections.
In parallel with its activities in Switzerland, Vini is also expanding the concept to the German market. Regular direct flights between Mannheim City Airport and Berlin will commence in May 2026. This decision followed a successful test week in February, during which demand-driven connections to Berlin and Hamburg were tested. Flights from Mannheim are planned for May/June and September/October and will operate on Mondays and Fridays. The Stuttgart-based company E-Aviation (Eisele Flugdienst), which also uses Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, is responsible for the operational handling of the flights.
Vini's strategic focus is on occupying niche routes that are unprofitable for large airlines due to low passenger numbers. By using smaller, more efficient turboprop aircraft and concentrating on regional airports with short travel distances, the company aims to attract business travelers and commuters. Vini is already planning to expand to additional destinations. According to official statements, routes to cities such as Hamburg, Antwerp, and Dresden are currently in the planning phase. This expansion depends significantly on the results of current pilot projects, which are designed to provide insights into booking patterns within the niche market of exclusive small-aircraft flights.
Industry experts are viewing the model critically, as the profitability of nine-seater aircraft in scheduled service is considered a challenge. Nevertheless, the approach offers regional airports like Bern and Mannheim the opportunity to restore lost connections to important economic centers. Technical implementation by experienced partners like E-Aviation is intended to guarantee high reliability. Should the test phases prove successful, this could lead to the development of a new segment in European regional air transport, one that prioritizes flexibility and speed and avoids waiting times at major hubs.