Greece’s Aegean Airlines announced it will add two weekly non-stop flights between Heraklion and Kalamata– the first time the Peloponnesian city has been directly linked with Crete by air.

Aegean already launched its non-stop flights to Kalamata from Athens on April 4, connecting the city to dozens of its international destinations, as well as its rich Star Alliance network spanning the entire world.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines also launched flights between Kalamata and Stockholm on February 24, and Air France will launch non-stop Paris to Kalamata on July 6, once a week.

Low-cost carrier Volotea’s also launched new weekly flights from Lille and Lyon, in France, in April.

The airlines are responding to an increase in interest in the region that has been spearheaded by the expansion at Costa Navarino, a premier destination comprised of luxury hotels, private villas, spa facilities and golf resorts.

Last year, Mandarin Oriental opened its first Greek resort within the Costa Navarino complex, joining other global hospitality brands that already welcome thousands of international visitors annually.