New Low-Cost Flights Launch from Debrecen to Sunny Malta

The first scheduled flight of Universal Air from Malta rolled up to the passenger terminal of Debrecen International Airport on Sunday afternoon.

From March 30, the Maltese airline Universal Air will operate two return flights per week on the Debrecen–Leipzig and Debrecen–Malta routes, establishing a direct connection between the cities. Debrecen, located on the eastern side of Hungary is the most populous settlement in the country after the capital, Budapest. On both routes, the airline will operate a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft equipped with 78 seats. The first flight from Malta to Debrecen landed on Sunday afternoon, made a short stop, and then continued to Leipzig. It will return to Debrecen and depart for Malta on the morning of March 31.

The flights will operate on Thursdays and Sundays during the summer season.

László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, recalled that in 2019, Debrecen Airport was the most significant in the region, handling over 600,000 passengers annually. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, interrupted this growth. He emphasized the importance of increasing passenger numbers with new destinations each year, with Universal Air’s presence being one of the first milestones in this effort.

The airport is also undergoing development: planning for a new runway, taxiways, and a new airport navigation system will begin in the coming days. Regarding the launch of the new flights, the mayor noted that

Malta is an important tourist destination, while Leipzig has undergone industrial development in recent years similar to what Debrecen is now beginning.

Eske Herrström, Chief Financial Officer of BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft., pointed out that BMW has a factory in Leipzig, and its Debrecen plant will soon begin production. He described the Leipzig flight as an “open door” for BMW employees and a significant contributor to strengthening cultural ties between the two cities. Christopher Lucas, Universal Air’s Chief Operating Officer, also emphasized the importance of economic and cultural relations, adding that the new flight could support student exchanges and even provide job opportunities for locals.

Györke Ernő, Director of Debrecen International Airport, noted that until Sunday, there was no direct flight from Hungary to Leipzig. He also mentioned that with this flight, Debrecen now has scheduled air connections to six cities, and during the summer, charter flights will operate to an additional six destinations. He also pointed out that a cargo flight arrives from China to Debrecen twice a week. So far, more than 30 flights have transported around 1,000 tons of goods from the sender to the county seat.

Via MTI; Featured picture: Pexels