Iuliia Tore 
Germania has launched its 2018 summer season schedule, with an expanded range of holiday destination departures from Zurich. In 2017 the carrier served 13 summer destinations with a total of 30 flights a week. The route network has now risen to 18 destinations served by 41 weekly flights – an overall increase of 36%. To absorb the predicted growth in passenger traffic this summer, the Swiss green-and-white carrier is leasing an Airbus A319 from Germania subsidiary Bulgarian Eagle. The expanded fleet this summer comprises three A319 aircraft and an A321.
Most Germania frequencies are serving the popular Spanish and Greek islands. On the Balearic and Canary Islands, summer destinations are Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura and – for the first time – Tenerife (from 1 May) and Ibiza (from 3 May). As in previous years, Mallorca is being served daily with a total of nine flights a week. The Greek programme again comprises Kos, Crete and Rhodes, with the addition this year of Corfu (from 22 May). Also new from Zurich are flights to the Croatian coastal resort of Zadar (from 12 May), opening up attractive beach holiday opportunities for sun-seekers from Switzerland. Again on the 2018 programme are Cyprus and the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Burgas.
Following a lengthy break in services to Antalya, the Swiss carrier is resuming flights to the Turkish Riviera from the end of August. Says Tobias Somandin, CEO of Germania Flug AG: “Tourism to Turkey is set to enjoy strong revival this summer. The country remains a highly interesting destination. It is a market we need to follow closely if we are to react rapidly and boost capacity should the situation demand.” Egypt too is experiencing renewed popularity following its re-introduction into Germania’s summer schedule in 2017. Egyptian destinations this year are Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh. Further summer destinations are Beirut (Lebanon) and Agadir (Morocco), already firm favourites among Swiss passengers.
