The charter route to the Greek island of Naxos, which has been idle since 2021, is celebrating its comeback in Graz in the 2015 summer flight schedule. The direct flights are operated by the Greek SkyExpress with ATR42 for the tour operator Springer Reisen.

According to the tour operator, the Naxos flights will be offered between May and September 2021. Another new addition to the program is the destination Paros, which Springer Reisen offers non-stop flights to on Saturdays from Graz. On this route, Skyexpress machines will use the latest additions to the fleet: Airbus A320neo.

The charter connection between Graz and Naxos has a long tradition and was originally set up by the Tyrolean charter manager Georg Pommer at the time. With the phasing out of the DHC Dash 8-300 from the Austrian Airlines Group, Springer Reisen then had to look for a new operator. They found what they were looking for in Bregenz at InterSky. The regional carrier flew this route for a few years, but had to file for bankruptcy in autumn 2015.

Since the short runway at Naxos airport makes the use of STOL aircraft necessary, the route from Graz lay fallow for several years. Springer Reisen has now found a new partner in SkyExpress who will operate the direct flights. However, the ATR42 will be subject to a payload restriction and, due to the distance, a refueling stop must be made in Athens.

The terms “direct flight” and “non-stop flight” are repeatedly misunderstood. “Flying direct” does not mean that there is no stopover. On the contrary: direct flights can have as many stopovers as you like, provided the flight number remains the same. Non-stop connections run from A to B without stopping.