Pecs Airport: Comeack in Flight Schedules
21 May 2024 | Blog #5
On March 26, 2024, Pecs Airport (PEV) re-emerged on the map of European airports with commercial scheduled flights. The Maltese regional carrier Universal Air (legally registered as "Universal Air Charter and Management Ltd."), with the IATA code VO, commenced its recently announced route expansion from Malta to Pecs. The flights are operated by an in-house Bombardier Dash 8-400 turboprop, with up to three weekly flights. The aircraft has a capacity of 78 seats. In addition to flights to Malta, there are also scheduled services to Munich (MUC) and the Greek island of Corfu (CFU) operated in a W-pattern. This means all routes from Malta initially stop in Pecs before continuing to Munich or Corfu, then return to Pecs before heading back to the base in Malta. The cheapest one-way fares to Munich (€130) and Malta (€150) include hand luggage (7kg) and checked baggage (15kg).
Universal Air has been operating under this brand since September 2022, having previously been known as Air CM Global Ltd. since its founding in 2015. The active fleet of Universal Air currently consists of only one Bombardier Dash 8-400, with two more expected to join soon. Universal Air's ambitions for the start are very high. In addition to the mentioned destinations from Pecs, direct flights from Malta to Athens (ATH), Corfu (CFU), Ibiza (IBZ), and Palermo (PMO) are also planned. The goal is to offer a mid-range product with more extras than typical low-cost carriers, but with cheaper fares than conventional airlines. No interline or codeshare agreements with other airlines are known at this time. In addition to scheduled flights, Universal Air also continues to operate charter flights.
Pecs Pogany Airport has a single runway (16/34) measuring 1,500 x 30m. These dimensions only allow regional aircraft to operate unrestrictedly at the airport, limiting potential customers for other airlines. With nearly 150,000 inhabitants, Pecs (in German "Fünfkirchen") is the fifth largest city in Hungary. According to the airport's website, a free shuttle service to the city center is offered in line with the new Universal Air flights. Due to its proximity to Croatia, Zagreb Airport (ZAG) presents indirect competition (about 240 km or a 3h 15min drive). The Croatian Osijek Airport (OSI) is also nearby (about 100 km or a 1h 15min drive) but has a similarly limited flight schedule as Pecs. Therefore, many travelers are likely to prefer the domestic Budapest Airport (BUD), located only 250 km or a 2h 15min drive north of Pecs Airport.
From an Austrian perspective, it is amusing to note that Universal Air now uses the former IATA code of the Austrian Tyrolean Airways (VO). This is especially humorous since Tyrolean Airways, on behalf of Austrian Airlines (OS), was the last carrier to offer regular scheduled flights at Pecs Airport. In the summer schedule of 2006, a four-times-weekly connection to the domestic hub in Vienna (VIE) was launched. Mostly, a Bombardier Dash 8-300 was used on the route from Pecs to Becs (Hungarian for Vienna). The route was not successful and was discontinued the same year.
In summary, Universal Air's decision to fly to Pecs can certainly be described as bold. At a time when European regional airlines are becoming increasingly rare, such a move as a newcomer is both full of opportunities and risks. No financial subsidies (such as marketing subsidies or even PSO) for the routes from Pecs are officially known but would be possible and desirable. We can only wish Universal Air and Pecs Airport all the best and much success for their ambitious plans!
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Photo: @ by Stephen Johnes