Animawings inaugurates direct flights from Cluj International Airport to Vienna and Frankfurt for the first time, consolidating access to intercontinental destinations
Cluj-Napoca, April 28, 2026 - Cluj "Avram Iancu" International Airport and Cluj County Council, together with the airline animewings, announces, for the first time, the introduction of direct regular flights from (RO) Cluj-Napoca by Vienna and Frankfurt – two of the most important air hubs in Europe and among the most desired destinations by passengers from Transylvania.
This expansion marks a new stage in the strategic development of the Animawings network, contributing to the diversification of the Cluj International Airport's destination portfolio and to the strengthening of the region's air connectivity, both through routes dedicated to holiday travel and through direct connections to major international air transport hubs. At the same time, the new routes have a direct impact on the development of the airport, by increasing passenger traffic, expanding the coverage area and strengthening connectivity at European and global level.
Vienna, one of the main hubs in Central Europe, offers excellent connections to destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, being a preferred transit point for both business and tourist trips.
Frankfurt, one of the largest airports in the world and a leading intercontinental hub, provides direct connections to hundreds of global destinations, including numerous cities in North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Through this route, passengers from Cluj-Napoca will benefit from easy access to long-haul flights operated by major international airlines.
The new routes complete Animawings' portfolio of scheduled flights operated from Cluj, contributing to the diversification of travel options for both the holiday and business segments.
The flights will be operated with Airbus A220 aircraft, offering a high level of comfort and efficiency.
The operating program is as follows:
*Note: Changes may be made to the flight schedule published above, so please access the updated schedule on www.animawings.com.
| ROUTE | OPERATION DAYS | FLIGHT SCHEDULE | OPERATING FROM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cluj-Napoca – Vienna | Tuesday |
CLJ 06:45 – FRI 07:15 08:00 FRI – CLJ 10:20 |
July 17 2026 |
| Friday |
CLJ 06:50 – FRI 07:20 08:00 FRI – CLJ 10:20 |
||
| Cluj-Napoca – Frankfurt | Tuesday and Friday |
CLJ 12:30 – FRA 13:40 FRA 14:25 – CLJ 17:25 |
July 17 2026 |
Mr Marius Pandel, CEO of AnimaWings stated: "The launch of direct routes to Vienna and Frankfurt from Cluj-Napoca marks an important step in our strategy to bring a full-service product, based on comfort, flexibility and complete on-board services, closer to Transylvanian passengers. We believe that the Transylvanian market, and especially Cluj, needs more travel options that meet the expectations of an increasingly quality-oriented audience, whether we are talking about the business or leisure segment. Through these new connections to major hubs, we offer not only easy access to global networks, but also a superior flight experience, aligned with the standards that we aim to deliver in all AnimaWings operations."
The President of the Cluj County Council, Mr. Alin Tişe stated on this occasion: "The development of air connectivity is a strategic priority for the Cluj County Council, and the introduction of direct flights to Vienna and Frankfurt is an important step in this direction. These new routes facilitate rapid access to some of the most important economic centers and global hubs, supporting the business environment, attracting investments and the mobility of citizens. At the same time, they contribute to increasing the visibility of the region at the international level and strengthening economic and trade links with foreign markets."
Mr. Viorel Federiga, President of the Board of Directors of Cluj International Airport, he wanted to specify in turn: "The introduction of flights to Vienna and Frankfurt creates important connectivity opportunities for passengers in the region, offering direct access to two of the most relevant European air hubs. These routes facilitate onward travel to an expanded number of intercontinental destinations, particularly to North America, Asia and other global markets, contributing to significantly improving mobility options and increasing international accessibility.”
Mr. David Ciceo, General Manager of Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport, to added: "The introduction of direct flights to Vienna and Frankfurt for the first time by the Romanian company Animawings marks an important step for Cluj International Airport and responds to a constant demand from passengers for fast connections to major European air hubs. These routes facilitate access to some of the most important air transport hubs globally, reducing connection times to intercontinental destinations. From the airport's perspective, we estimate that these new connections will contribute to increasing passenger traffic, expanding the coverage area and strengthening the region's air connectivity."
About AnimaWings:
AnimaWings is a 100% Romanian airline, inaugurated in 2020 and part of Memento Group, alongside the tour operator Christian Tour, with a team of professionals who offer passengers comfortable travel, on regular or charter flights, implementing systems, procedures and safety protocols to an exceptional standard.
The airline is in full expansion and operates the newest fleet in Romanian aviation. From May, AnimaWings will operate with 8 modern Airbus aircraft, of which 4 Airbus 220s received directly from the factory in the last 6 months. The AnimaWings expansion plan by the end of 2027 targets a total of 18 aircraft.
