Brnik, 25 March (STA) - Adria Airways is launching direct flights to seven new destinations "to connect Slovenia with European cities and the Balkan region even more closely", Holger Kowarsch, the new boss of the Slovenia-based air carrier, announced at a ceremony on Sunday.

The carrier launched flights to Sofia today, with flights to Bucharest and Geneva to follow in the coming days, and flights to Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Dubrovnik and Brač by end of April.

Kowarsch said he was satisfied with the demand for the new flights and added that Adria Airways planned to further expand its network.

"We're a small carrier, we have to grow, strengthen our operations and improve our connectivity," said Kowarch, who was appointed Adria's CEO in mid-February.

He is happy with cooperation with Ljubljana Airport, which enables them "to create opportunities for growth and development".

Kowarsch is certain that together they will find ways to compete with airports in Trieste, Venice, Zagreb and Klagenfurt.

The carrier, which according to the CEO recorded double-digit growth last year, will add three new aircraft to its fleet this year and has hired new employees.

Meanwhile, Zmago Skobir, the boss of Ljubljana Airport operator Fraport Slovenija, welcomed the new connections.

New connections translate into better stability for the airport, while they also bring new tourists and investors to Slovenia, he said.

Skobir added that the airport had to follow the increasing traffic with the infrastructure and expressed hope that the operator would get a building permit for a new terminal this year and build it by 2020.

"Slovenia's connections to the rest of the world are key for the economy, particularly for tourism," added Peter Gašperšič, the outgoing infrastructure minister, who took the inaugural flight to the Bulgarian capital.

Adria was acquired by the German 4K Invest through AA International Aviation Holding in early 2016.