Groningen Gets New Nonstop Route to the Dolomites

Travellers in the northern Netherlands will have a new way to reach Italy’s Dolomites next summer, with SkyAlps launching nonstop flights between Groningen Airport Eelde and Bolzano in South Tyrol. The seasonal connection offers an alternative to flying into larger airports and continuing overland. It also makes Bolzano’s historic centre, surrounding vineyards and Alpine villages more accessible to visitors planning a short break or a longer mountain holiday.

When SkyAlps Will Fly to Bolzano

• Airline and aircraft: SkyAlps, operating a 76-seat Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft.
• Route: Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ), northern Netherlands–Bolzano (BZO), northern Italy.
• First flight: 26 April 2027.
• Last scheduled flight: 9 September 2027.
• Frequency: Mondays and Thursdays, twice weekly; summer season.
• Monday timetable: Groningen 16:55–18:50; return from Bolzano 09:00–10:55 (local times).
• Return fares: From €315.
• Holiday packages: Four days from €525 through SkyAlps Holidays.

Flights can be booked directly with SkyAlps, while SkyAlps Holidays sells flight-and-accommodation packages. The new link gives northern Dutch passengers a nonstop option to South Tyrol; alternatives include flying into Verona or Innsbruck and travelling onwards by road or rail. Bolzano Airport is around 6 km from the centre, with a taxi journey of roughly 15 minutes. The airport's bus stop is about 600 metres from the terminal.

Bolzano provides access to the historic arcades, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and its Ötzi exhibition, while the surrounding countryside offers vineyards, walking routes and mountain villages. Visitors can also take the Renon cable car above the city and use regional public transport to reach other South Tyrolean towns. The Dolomites are UNESCO-listed, although mountain destinations still require separate transfers from Bolzano Airport.

One useful saving is available beyond the airfare. Many participating South Tyrol hotels include the digital Südtirol Guest Pass, covering local buses, regional trains and selected cable cars at no extra charge. It excludes long-distance trains and some tourist shuttle services, and it cannot be bought separately. Check whether accommodation includes it before paying for a rental car or separate transport passes.