The German-owned Express Airways, which is based in Maribor, will fly the route with a Boeing 737 on Thursdays and Sundays. Tickets are already available on the airline's website.

Airport operator Aerodrom Maribor expects that the 142-seater will have an average occupancy rate of 70%, which would mean a total of 10,700 passengers by autumn.

Between 60% and 70% of all clients are expected to be tourists from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium who gravitate towards the Düsseldorf airport.

Express Airlines chairman Sefa Tuncer also announced a regular route between Maribor and Croatia's Split this year, and perhaps also summer charter flights to Turkey's Antalya and Spain's Girona.

Aerodrom Maribor director Ladimir Brolih added that the operator planned to serve a total of 27,500 passengers this year, which would be a 10% annual rise, and to increase cargo transshipment from 183 to 300 tonnes.