The new virtual airline Mannheim City Air has commenced scheduled operations at Mannheim Airport. Initially, the airline will offer direct connections to the three holiday destinations of Sylt, Usedom, and Elba. According to the company, the flight times are specifically tailored to weekend and short-term vacationers. The flights will be operated by the German airline Private Wings, which will act as the operating carrier.
Mannheim City Air positions itself as a regional premium provider, promising short routes at the airport, comfortable aircraft, and a customer-friendly service concept. The inaugural flight took place on Saturday, April 18, 2025, from Mannheim to Sylt. Private Wings operates Dornier Do328 aircraft for these flights. This regional aircraft seats approximately 30 passengers and is well-suited for short-haul flights.
The choice of Sylt, Usedom, and Elba as the first three destinations suggests a strategy to offer popular vacation destinations that were previously inaccessible or only accessible with difficulty from Mannheim. Sylt and Usedom are well-known German islands on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, respectively, while Elba is an attractive Italian island in Tuscany. The focus on weekend and short trips could be particularly interesting for travelers from the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.
Mannheim City Air succeeds the insolvent Rhein-Neckar Air, which was forced to cease operations in 2019. The new virtual airline relies on a different business model and appears to focus on select tourist destinations with a focus on comfort and service. It remains to be seen how Mannheim City Air will establish itself in regional air traffic and whether its route network will be expanded in the future.
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