You can fly to this summer island paradise from Pécs, new destinations may follow

Universal Air, a Maltese airline, is launching its first flight on the Malta-Pécs-Munich route on 26 March. They plan to expand their network by conquering less well-connected regional airports like Pécs-Pogány, which is how they would like to compete with budget airlines.

According to turizmus.com, a Hungarian travel news outlet, Universal Air operated as a charter airline in 2023. This March, they are launching their first scheduled flight on the Malta-Pécs-Munich route.

They aim to provide premium economy service for their passengers while maintaining low prices. Thus, they would like to offer a “golden middle way” for their customers between the budget and the traditional airlines. Simon Cook, the CEO of Universal Air, said they would include 15 kg baggage and hand baggage into their ticket price.

The airline plans to start three flights per week from Malta to Athens, Corfu, Ibiza, Munich, Palermo and Pécs, but they plan to expand their network by the end of 2024.

Pécs-Pogány Airport. Photo: FB/Pécs-Pogány

Corfu is the next destination from Pécs

The CEO believes their modern fleet will bring them into an advantageous position in the market. He added the capacity of their planes was only 78 seats, so they would like to offer flights to less well-connected, small, regional airports. That is where they believe there is a market gap that they could fill.

He cited Pécs as an example. “There are over a million people within a 45-minute drive from the airport but there’s no scheduled service,” he said. “With small aircraft, we’re able to go in and accept hitting low numbers to connect somewhere that has not had a scheduled service since around 2018”, Mr Cook told Times of Malta.

In February, Mr Cook hoped they could expand their service from Pécs with a Corfu destination.

Inside a Universal Air plane. Photo: FB/Pécs-Pogány

According to the official Facebook page of the Pécs-Pogány Airport, the first plane to Corfu will take off on 5 June and will commute until 23 October.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com