AnimaWings opens direct services from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara to Athens

Diana Dima, Chief Commercial Officer, AnimaWings, stated during the joint press conference held in Athens on April 1, alongside Athens International Airport:

“We are delighted to announce, here in Athens, the opening of our new direct services from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara to Athens, further expanding AnimaWings’ footprint in Southeast Europe and strengthening connectivity between Romania’s key regional economic centers and Greece. These routes are designed to serve both leisure travelers and the growing business segment, offering efficient, non-stop access between two dynamic markets with strong economic, tourism and cultural ties.

Athens is not only one of the most popular leisure destinations for Romanian travelers, but also an important business hub in the region, with increasing commercial exchanges, investment flows and corporate travel demand between Greece and Romania. By introducing direct flights from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara, we provide companies and business travelers with convenient schedules, reduced travel times and a comfortable full-service product tailored to short- and medium-haul business travel.

At the same time, Athens serves as a strategic gateway to the Greek islands and the wider Aegean region, allowing passengers to combine business trips with leisure travel or extend their journeys to popular summer destinations.

Operational details – Cluj-Napoca – Athens
• Start of operations: April 2026
• Frequency: 2 weekly flights
• Operating days: Thursday and Sunday
• Route type: all year round
• Direct connectivity between Transylvania’s largest economic center and Athens
• Designed for both business and leisure traffic

Operational details – Timișoara – Athens
• Start of operations: April 2026
• Frequency: 2 weekly flights
• Operating days: Thursday and Sunday
• Route type: all year round
• Direct link between Western Romania and the Greek capital
• Suitable for corporate travel, city breaks and tour operator demand
• Efficient travel option for business communities in Western Romania

Both routes will be operated with the newest Airbus A220-300 aircraft, recently added to the AnimaWings fleet, configured with 148 seats in Economy & Premium Class, offering increased comfort and modern onboard features. The aircraft type is ideally suited for short- and medium-haul European routes and supports both leisure and business travel, thanks to its spacious cabin, quiet environment and enhanced passenger experience.

Greece is a key market for AnimaWings and a central component of our Summer expansion strategy. In addition to Athens, we will launch multiple seasonal routes from across Romania to popular destinations such as Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes and Zakynthos. These services are designed to support both tour operator programs and individual leisure travel, while strengthening AnimaWings’ presence in one of the most important outbound markets for Romanian passengers.

We are confident that the new Greek routes will generate strong interest from both leisure and business travelers, while contributing to the development of economic relations, tourism exchanges and long-term cooperation between Romania and Greece.”

Mrs Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director Communications & Marketing of AIA, stated:

“We warmly welcome AnimaWings to Athens and to our airport’s network, on the occasion of the launch, on 5 April 2026, of its two new direct services from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara — two exciting destinations and, at the same time, important regional centres of Romania.

The Romanian market is a dynamic and steadily growing market, as well as a connectivity hub for Athens, as it now ranks among our top 20 international markets in terms of foreign visitors’ numbers, having recorded the highest respective percentage growth (+60%) in 2025.

We are confident that the new routes will meet passengers’ needs, allowing them not only to enjoy the excellent product offered by our airline partner, but also to discover these unique destinations, which are key cities/points along Via Transilvanica, “the road that unites” — a 1,400-kilometre tourist trail that crosses Romania diagonally.

We wish AnimaWings every success, as well as safe and full flights, and we look forward to further strengthening our close cooperation with our new airline partner, supporting its continued growth in the Athens market.”