LJUBLJANA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Adria Airways has started to launch a series of direct flights to seven new destinations connecting Slovenia with European cities and the Balkan region as flights from Ljubljana to Sofia was set off on Sunday.

Holger Kowarsch, CEO of the Slovenia-based air carrier, claimed at the launching ceremony on Sunday that the new flights will bring the connections between Slovenia and others "even more closely."

According to the Adria's announcement, the carrier launched flights to Sofia Sunday, with flights to Bucharest and Geneva to follow in the coming days, and flights to Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Dubrovnik and Brac in Croatia by end of April.

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

Adria was acquired by the German 4K Invest through AA International Aviation Holding in early 2016, according to the Slovenian Press Agency.