Three weeks ago, Belgian company VLM Airlines took passengers for the first time from Maribor to Antwerp with a stopover in Munich. But the company did not disclose the number of passengers on this regular route. They reportedly faced problems with the Munich-Maribor flights.
The company plans to fly the Maribor-Munich-Antwerp route every weekday until the end of October.
This flight connection is still in its early stage and there was no advertising before its launch, explains Boris Bobek, director of Aerodrom Maribor, saying that passengers could be counted on the fingers of a few hands. "But I am satisfied to see that the route keeps going," he added.
The VLM Company did not disclose the number of passengers. According to our information, around 160 passengers travelled through the Maribor Airport in 15 days. The summer season is coming, but there are no new routes or charters. "I am currently unable to confirm any dates and destinations. We are certainly discussing flights to the Croatian seaside with VLM and tourist agencies," said Bobek.
But if Maribor Airport will not have a stationed airplane, the summer season will be difficult for VLM. The SHS Company, the owner of both VLM and the Airport, counts on the extension of the runway as well as on the realisation of large-scale plans with Chinese capital.
Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek recently said that he, both personally and as a minister, wanted that "some of the announced plans are actually realised. But no one has informed us about these plans".

For now, only last year's numbers are concrete: there were over 6,000 passengers and out of the eleven announced routes, there is only one regular route flying from Maribor.