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A new direct charter link between Klagenfurt and Skiathos is set to give Austrian holidaymakers easier access to the Greek islands in late summer 2026, as Avanti Air begins operating weekly flights in partnership with tour operator Springer Reisen.
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Weekly summer link from Carinthia to the Sporades
According to the published summer 2026 schedule from Klagenfurt Airport, Avanti Air will operate a non stop service between Klagenfurt (KLU) and Skiathos Island National Airport (JSI) on behalf of Springer Reisen. The flights are planned as charter rotations focused on holiday traffic rather than year round scheduled operations.
Airport flight plan data indicates that the Klagenfurt to Skiathos route is scheduled to run once a week on Fridays from 21 August 2026 to 25 September 2026, using flight numbers ATV513 outbound and ATV512 inbound. Departure from Klagenfurt is listed at 11:50 with arrival on Skiathos at 15:10, while the return leg is timetabled to leave Skiathos at 09:30 and land in Klagenfurt at 10:50.
These late season dates place the new link in the second half of the Austrian summer holiday period, targeting travellers seeking warm sea temperatures and quieter beaches on the Aegean island after the main peak season. Aviation tracking and tourism booking platforms already show the Avanti Air charter as part of packaged one week stays on Skiathos for the same period.
Part of a broader Greek expansion from Klagenfurt
The new Klagenfurt–Skiathos connection forms part of a wider Greek island programme being marketed out of Carinthia for summer 2026. Press material and airport communications describe how regional tour operator Springer Reisen is again focusing on direct charters from Klagenfurt to multiple Aegean destinations, all operated by Avanti Air.
In the first half of summer 2026, Springer Reisen is promoting weekly flights from Klagenfurt to Paros, with services operating on Saturdays until mid July. Published information from Klagenfurt Airport notes that from mid August, the focus shifts to Skiathos with the new Friday rotation, meaning that Greek island capacity is effectively spread across the season with two different destinations.
Specialist aviation and travel portals report that Skiathos is joining Paros and Naxos in Avanti Air’s Austrian charter portfolio, underlining the carrier’s role as a key partner for regional airports looking to offer non stop flights to smaller Greek islands. For Klagenfurt, which competes with larger gateways such as Vienna, Salzburg and Graz, the additional Greek route adds visibility on the summer leisure map.
Short flight time and tour operator focus
Operational data and previous Avanti Air deployments suggest the Klagenfurt–Skiathos sector will be flown with regional aircraft such as the Dash 8 Q400 configured for holiday traffic. The block time between Carinthia and the northern Sporades is scheduled at just over three hours on the outbound leg, positioning Skiathos as a relatively short hop for Austrian travellers seeking a beach break without changing planes.
The route is structured primarily around package holidays. Online catalogues from Springer Reisen and related booking engines show fixed seven night stays linked directly to the Friday rotations, with outbound travel from Klagenfurt one week and return from Skiathos precisely seven days later. This pattern mirrors existing charter models from other Austrian and German regional airports to Greek islands.
Because the flights are listed as charters rather than regular scheduled services, availability is largely controlled by the tour operator, which bundles air transport with accommodation and ground transfers. For travellers in Carinthia and neighbouring regions, this arrangement provides a turnkey option that removes the need to route through Vienna or Munich to reach Skiathos.
Boost for regional airport connectivity
The introduction of Skiathos as a direct destination follows a broader trend of regional Austrian airports seeking new seasonal leisure routes to maintain passenger volumes. Recent coverage of tourism developments highlights how Greek destinations remain particularly attractive for Austrian markets, prompting tour operators and partner airlines to deploy additional capacity from airports beyond the main hubs.
For Klagenfurt, which already offers links to other sun destinations such as Palma de Mallorca alongside domestic and European services, the new Avanti Air charter reinforces the airport’s positioning as a gateway for Carinthian residents who prefer to depart close to home. The combination of Paros earlier in the summer and Skiathos later in the season broadens the airport’s Greek portfolio and may help smooth demand across several months.
Industry observers note that regional connectivity of this kind also supports local tourism infrastructure around Klagenfurt, as travellers using charter flights often combine their departure or return with overnight stays in the surrounding area. Increased charter activity can therefore contribute indirectly to hotel occupancy and service sector income in the wider Carinthian region.
Strengthening Austria–Greece tourism flows
The launch of the Klagenfurt–Skiathos charter aligns with wider forecasts that Austrian demand for Greek holidays will remain strong into 2026. Recent reporting on air service planning between the two countries points to growing capacity from Austrian and Swiss markets into Greece, driven by continued interest in island destinations and repeat visitors.
Within this context, Avanti Air’s role as operating carrier on behalf of Springer Reisen positions the airline as a niche player serving secondary airports and smaller Greek islands not always covered by the larger network carriers. The Klagenfurt–Skiathos link, while limited to a handful of weekly rotations in late summer, represents a further step in deepening the network of direct connections between regional Austria and the Aegean.
If demand matches expectations during its initial season, the route could provide a template for similar point to point holiday flights in future years, either through extended season dates or additional island pairings. For now, the planned Friday services between 21 August and 25 September 2026 mark a notable expansion of direct Greek island access for travellers in southern Austria.
Klagenfurt Airport – Flight schedule