AnimaWings Launches New Direct Routes to Olbia and Thessaloniki from Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași
02/06/2026 by Animawings / News
AnimaWings, the 100% Romanian airline, continues the accelerated expansion of its scheduled route network and, starting June 2, inaugurates new direct flights to Olbia (Sardinia, Italy) and Thessaloniki (Greece), operated from Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași. The new connections come in response to the growing demand for premium leisure destinations served directly from Romania’s major regional cities and further strengthen the rapid development of AnimaWings’ operations at regional airports.
Through these new routes, passengers from Transylvania, Banat, and Moldova will benefit from direct access to some of the most popular summer destinations in Italy and Greece, without stopovers or connections through other European hubs.
“We continue our strategy of rapidly expanding the AnimaWings network and strengthening direct connectivity between Romania’s major regional cities and some of Europe’s most sought-after holiday destinations. We are seeing increasing demand for direct full-service flights, with a strong focus on comfort and flexibility for both the leisure and corporate segments.
Both Olbia and Thessaloniki are highly attractive destinations for Romanian travelers. In addition, these routes are currently not served by any other airline operators, allowing us to bring to the market a modern travel alternative built around a full-service experience and premium onboard services. At the same time, we continue the accelerated development of our regional operations in Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași,” said Marius Pandel, CEO and Co-Founder of AnimaWings.
Direct Connections to Sardinia: Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara – Olbia
The direct route to Olbia, the main gateway to northern Sardinia and the exclusive Costa Smeralda, has been operated since June 2, 2026, with weekly flights every Tuesday from both Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara. The average flight duration is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes each way, and the service will be available on a seasonal basis from June through October 2026.
The route is currently not served by any other airline operator and provides fast access to premium destinations such as Porto Cervo and the exclusive resorts of northern Sardinia.
New Scheduled Flights to Thessaloniki from Cluj-Napoca and Iași
Also starting June 2, 2026, AnimaWings launched new scheduled routes to Thessaloniki, operated from Cluj-Napoca and Iași twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The average flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes each way, while the flight schedule has been optimized for city breaks and holidays, with morning departures and afternoon return flights.
The new connections provide convenient access to northern Greece, Halkidiki, and the Olympic Riviera, some of the most popular summer destinations for Romanian travelers.
“Thessaloniki Airport warmly welcomes AnimaWings’ new direct connections from Cluj-Napoca and Iași, further strengthening the strong ties between Romania and northern Greece. These new routes enhance regional connectivity, offering passengers greater travel convenience while supporting the continuously growing demand between the two markets. We are delighted to support AnimaWings in this expansion and look forward to a long-term partnership,” said George Vilos, Executive Director Commercial Development – Thessaloniki International Airport.
AnimaWings is represented in Greece by Proton Aviation as its GSA, further strengthening connectivity between Greece and Romania and creating new opportunities for both leisure and business travel.
Full-Service Onboard Experience on the New Scheduled Routes
All new flights are operated with modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft, recently added to the AnimaWings fleet, in a full-economy configuration with 148 seats.
Passengers benefit from a full-service onboard experience, with both Premium Economy and Economy Class travel options available. All tickets include free seat selection, a cabin bag and personal item, as well as complimentary online or airport check-in. In addition, passengers can choose from a range of premium ancillary services, including hot onboard catering, available both individually and as part of all-inclusive packages that include beverages and snacks.
Greece represents one of AnimaWings’ strategic markets during the summer season, with the airline operating multiple destinations across the country, including Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos, and Thessaloniki.
The new routes are also part of AnimaWings’ broader expansion plan across Romania’s regional airports. From Cluj-Napoca, the airline already operates scheduled flights to Athens and Thessaloniki and is set to launch new connections to Vienna and Frankfurt in the coming period. From Timișoara, AnimaWings currently operates scheduled flights to Athens and Istanbul, with new routes to Copenhagen and Rotterdam scheduled to be introduced soon.
