An Adria Airways Airbus A319 will depart from Maribor Airport Monday afternoon marking the launch of the Slovenian flag carrier's scheduled flights between Slovenia's second largest city and London, and the inception of Maribor as Adria's second domestic hub.
Adria will operate three weekly flights on the route as a budget carrier until the end of September. Promotional prices started at 69 euros return. Return tickets are currently available from 139 euros.
The carrier expects to decide by the middle of the month whether to extend the flights beyond September, according to Adria spokeswoman Sara Slodej.
It will also be clear by then whether additional destinations will be added from Maribor. Unofficial information suggests Barcelona and Berlin are among the potential destinations.
Aerodrom Maribor, which operates the Maribor Airport, has billed the launch of the route as a major milestone in making Maribor an international destination.
"We have to start somewhere so we started with London. We are hoping for increased number of routes," Aerodrom Maribor director Marko Gros told the STA.
Both Adria and the airport say the booking rate is currently very good.
Maribor, Slovenia's second biggest airport, has so far been best known for charter flights, though there have been several short-lived attempts in recent years involving budget carriers.
Last year it boasted 18,000 charter passengers, this year the figure is expected to reach 35,000.
Source: The Slovenia Times
