Alicante, Spain

Mannheim City Air partners with Ink to bridge Europe's overlooked routes

29 April 2025

Europe’s regional transport network receives a significant boost with the launch of Mannheim City Air, a newly founded virtual airline headquartered in the strategic hub of Mannheim.

Established in December 2024, Mannheim City Air commenced operations on 18 April 2025, aiming to provide efficient and comfortable air travel between key regional centres. Its service offering responds to growing passenger demand for shorter, more convenient alternatives to longer ground journeys.

In preparation for its launch, Mannheim City Air partnered with Ink Innovation, implementing its market-proven Departure Control System (Ink DCS) to support efficient ground operations. Initially, Ink DCS will be deployed across three locations: the airline’s home base at Mannheim City Airport (MHG), Sylt Airport (GWT) in northern Germany, and Marina di Campo Airport (EBA) on the Italian island of Elba.

Mannheim City Air’s focus is firmly on delivering an effortless passenger experience at regional airports, supporting its broader ambition of connecting communities with fast, reliable air links. Its adoption of Ink DCS underlines a strategic commitment to performance excellence and technological innovation from the outset.

From the beginning, it was evident that Mannheim City Air would collaborate with Ink. I have worked with Shawn Richards and his team for over a decade, and I continue to be impressed by the innovative direction they are pursuing and the outstanding team they are building."

Axel Reissmann, Managing Director of Mannheim City Air

Only four days elapsed between the signing of the contract and the go-live. I would like to extend my thanks to Ink for making this possible.”

With its customer-centric approach and focus on operational efficiency, Mannheim City Air is well-positioned to redefine the future of regional air travel.

We always enjoy working with new airlines. There’s a unique energy in startup carriers—the ambition, the appetite for risk, and the drive to do things differently. It resonates deeply with Ink's own ethos. We're proud to support Mannheim City Air as they bring fresh momentum to regional travel in Europe.”

Janet Richards, Chief Commercial Officer of Ink

Ink has a strong track record of supporting start-up airlines, including the swift setups of Lift, Bermudair, and Marabu Airlines, demonstrating its capability to deliver rapid and reliable technology deployment.

The implementation of Ink’s Departure Control is expected to enhance Mannheim City Air's operational flow, ensuring fluid check-in and boarding processes for passengers across its initial network of four stations.

Ink Innovation (Ink) is a travel technology provider that develops cloud-hosted systems, self-service devices, and mobile/browser-based solutions to enhance airport and airline operations. Ink specialises in integrating legacy systems with modern technologies, and its goal is to improve the travel experience by connecting key touchpoints.

Based in Spain, Ink operates globally, partnering with clients such as Copenhagen Airport, JFK Terminal One, Jet2, TUIfly, Marabu, Lift, and Menzies Aviation. For more information, visit www.innovation.ink.