Swiss start-up airline flyBAIR is scheduled to launch on July 18 with initial routes from two Swiss regions to Mallorca, after a two-month delay caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Bern-based FlyBAIR originally planned to start operations in May, offering flights to Jerez, Spain; Olbia, Italy; Preveza, Greece; the Greek islands of Crete, Kos and Rhodes; and the Spanish Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Menorca. A further link was planned between the Swiss city of Sion and Mallorca.

FlyBAIR expected to serve the routes using an Embraer E190 operated by Swiss carrier Helvetic.

However, on March 27, FlyBAIR CEO Jose Gonzalez said the launch had been “proactively postponed,” after a significant decline in bookings as the COVID-19 crisis took hold in Greece, Italy and Spain.

On June 12, FlyBAIR said it now will operate its inaugural flights on July 18, to Mallorca from Bern and Sion.

The startup also has revised its network plans for July to October. Flights to Crete and Rhodes will begin in mid-August, followed by services to Jerez, Kos, Menorca and Preveza in September.

A further service, between Bern and Olbia, also was planned for this summer but now is on hold.

Bern airport operator Flughafen Bern is flyBAIR’s largest shareholder, holding 15.3% of the company.