The German airline Germania has launched the first city connection between Zurich and Rostock from Friday, 19th May 2017. The federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania now has a direct link with a very important international market. Twice a week passengers of the airline with the green and white livery can fly from Switzerland to the popular German Baltic coast in just 90 minutes. Connections on Fridays and Sundays provide the perfect conditions for a weekend trip or an extended vacation on the Baltic Sea coast.

This is not the only news from Rostock-Laage Airport. From next Friday (26th May 2017), the Hanseatic city will also boast a direct link to Vienna. Passengers will be able to fly non-stop from Austria to the Baltic Sea with Germania. Flights on this route are also available twice a week (Fridays and Sundays), creating plenty of new travel- related possibilities in both directions.

The first flight from Rostock to Zurich was celebrated on Friday. Passengers were welcomed with live music and a cake in the shape of a Swiss cheese. The president of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Tourism Board, Sylvia Bretschneider, the Mayor of Rostock, Roland Methling, Germania’s Director of Sales, Claus Altenburg, and Dörthe Hausmann, Managing Director of the airport, held a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony before passengers boarded the plane. The flight to Zurich departed on time at 11:30 am.

Sylvia Bretschneider, president of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Tourism Board: “Accessibility is essential when it comes to tapping a new market and attracting a new target group of tourists. Flight connections strongly influence the attractiveness and the touristic visibility of a region. Therefore we are delighted that a city link between Zurich and Rostock was established again after a break of a couple of years. Connecting the regions was only possible through collaboration between many players, which shows that our strength lies in cooperation. Together we can increase the already growing number of tourists visiting from Switzerland. Soon Swiss travellers could be the biggest group of visitors in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.”

Mayor of Rostock, Roland Methling: “Because of this convenient connection cruises will in the future start in Zurich, instead of Warnemünde. Combining our strengths paid off in this case. When it comes to the infrastructure for cruises, the cooperation between Rostock-Laage Airport and Rostock Port, which are part of the ‘Hansestadt Rostock group’, proved itself very successful. Because of the collaboration that began last year, tourists from all over Europe can now start their Baltic cruises on the Warnow river. Checked-in baggage from Zurich or Vienna Airport is directly forwarded to the right cabin on the cruise ship. This is not only a great service, but is also an important strength in the competition for tourists.”

Dörthe Hausmann, Managing Director of Rostock-Laage Airport: “We have established successful links with the South of Germany over the last few years. The connections to Linz and Basel set up over the last few years have also been promising. With these newly established connections to Vienna and Zurich, considerably more tourists from Switzerland and Austria can bring their financial strength to our region.”

Claus Altenburg, Germania’s Director of Sales: “We are glad to be a partner of the regions and we are also pleased to strengthen their collaboration. These city links will complement our range of leisure flight connections from Rostock-Laage Airport for passengers living in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Meanwhile, Vienna and Zurich are great cities to which we are delighted to offer connections.”