The company said the Maribor-London route, which to be launched on 1 June, was selling well, even better than expected.

The flights are scheduled until the end of September and a decision on a possible extension of the route will be made by May at the latest.

Adria's fleet is to be joined by another airbus, an A319, by the end of next month, so this year, the airline will fly an airbus A320 (from April to October), three airbuses A319, six CRJ900 planes, a CRJ700 and a CRJ200. All planes bar the latter are being leased.

Last year, Adria Airways carried 1.113 million passengers and managed to emerge from the red. Its net profit topped EUR 921,000 and operating profit EUR 3m.

Adria is one of the 15 companies slated for privatisation. In January, three state-owned asset management institutions signed an agreement on the joint sale of a combined 91.58% stake in the flag carrier.