Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines S.A. is the flag carrier of Greece and the largest Greek airline by total number of passengers carried, by number of destinations served, and by fleet size. A Star Alliance member since June 2010, it operates scheduled and charter services from Athens and Thessaloniki to other major Greek, European and Middle Eastern destinations. Its main hubs are Athens International Airport in Athens, Macedonia International Airport in Thessaloniki and Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. It also uses other Greek airports as bases, some of which are seasonal. It has its head office in Kifisia, a suburb of Athens.
On 21 October 2012, Aegean Airlines announced that it had struck a deal to acquire Olympic Air, and the buyout was approved by the European Commission a year later, on 9 October 2013. Both carriers continue to operate under separate brands. In addition, Aegean Airlines participated in the final stages of the tender for the privatization of Cyprus Airways, the national carrier of Cyprus. Following the bankruptcy of Cyprus Airways, Aegean Airlines established a hub at Larnaca Airport, thus initiating scheduled flights to and from the island to various destinations and filling the service gap created by the services termination of Cyprus Airways.
== History ==
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BAE_Systems_Avro_146-RJ100,_Aegean_Airlines_AN0271184.jpg|thumb|Aegean Airlines used BAe Avro RJ100s between 1999–2011
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boeing_737-46B,_Aegean_Airlines_JP6447923.jpg|thumb|Aegean Airlines used Boeing 737-400s between 2001–2010
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aegean_Airlines_logo.svg|thumb|The former Aegean logo used until 2020
=== Beginnings ===
The company was founded in 1995, taking over activities from Aegean Aviation. It commenced VIP flights from Athens all over the world with wholly owned Learjet aircraft.
=== Commercial flights ===
Aegean's first commercial flights were in May 1999 from Athens to Heraklion, Crete and Thessaloniki with 2 new wholly owned British Aerospace Avro RJ100. In December 1999 Aegean acquired Air Greece. Since 2005, the airline has been in partnership with Lufthansa. In March 2006, Aegean Airlines also entered into a co-operation agreement with TAP Air Portugal. In December 2008, Aegean Airlines announced its co-operation with Brussels Airlines.
=== Cooperation ===
In 2009, Aegean Airlines started codeshare agreements with BMI, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and TAP Air Portugal. On 26 May 2009, the Aegean Airlines' membership application was approved by the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance. Aegean joined the alliance on 30 June 2010.
In February 2010, initial shareholder discussions took place to consider co-operation between Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air fueling rumours of a possible merger. On 22 February 2010, Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines announced that they agreed to a merger. The newly merged airline was to carry the Olympic brand name and logo, after a transition period in which both airline brands would be used in parallel. The Aegean brand would cease to exist after the transition period. It was expected that the merger would be finalised and the combined airline would begin operation by October 2010.
Aegean joined Star Alliance at the end of June 2010. The intent was for the merged carrier to be a Star Alliance member, despite the fact that Olympic Air was forging ties with SkyTeam pre-merger. Star Alliance welcomed the proposed merger, releasing a statement stating "The integration teams from both sides will soon meet to assess the necessary steps, in order to guarantee a smooth transition of the merged Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air operations into the Star Alliance network".
On 26 January 2011, the European Commission blocked the merger between the two airlines, citing anti-competition concerns. The commission stated that the merger would have created a "quasi-monopoly" in Greece's air transport market, with the combined airline controlling more than 90% of the Greek domestic air transport market. The EC further stated its belief that the merger would lead to higher fares for four of the six million Greek and European passengers flying to and from Athens each year, with no realistic prospects that a new airline of sufficient size would enter the market to restrain the merged airline's pricing. Additionally, commissioner Joaquin Almunia stated that the merger would have led to higher prices and lower quality of service for Greeks and tourists traveling between Athens and the islands. Both carriers offered remedies in an attempt to ease concerns, though the EU believed that they would not be enough to protect travelers adequately and ease competition concerns. One of the remedies offered by the airlines included ceding takeoff and landing slots at Greek airports, though the commission noted that Greek airports do not suffer from the congestion observed at other European airports in previous airline mergers or alliances.
On 21 October 2012 Aegean Airlines announced that it had struck a deal to acquire Olympic Air, pending approval by the European Commission. On 23 April 2013, the European Commission issued a press release announcing it was starting an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines and announcing that the Commission will have decided by 3 September 2013. On 13 August 2013 it was published in the Greek media that the final decision had been delayed until 16 October 2013. The merger was approved by the European Commission on 9 October 2013 citing that "due to the on-going Greek crisis and given Olympic's own very difficult financial situation, Olympic would be forced to leave the market soon in any event".
On 1 February 2014 Aegean Airlines took over every non-Public Service Obligation route that was previously operated by Olympic Air.
== Corporate affairs ==
=== Ownership ===
As of 3 July 2014 the airline is owned by Theodoros Vassilakis (34.17% - 23.6% via Evertrans S.A. and 9.46% via Autοhellas S.A.), Alnesco Enterprises Company Limited (9.48%), Siana Enterprises Company Limited (9.48%), and Konstantakopoulos Achilleas (6.39%).
=== Business trends[edit source] ===
In 2009, Aegean Airlines carried 6.6 million passengers surpassing its then-rival Olympic Airlines (5.2 million passengers) for the first time. Losses were incurred 2010–2012, amidst the economic crisis for Greek tourism and the economy in general; passengers carried fell to 6.1 million, although the load factor increased to 74.3%. The group returned to profit in 2013, with further growth from 2014 with the takeover of Olympic Air operations.
Recent business trends for the group are shown below (for year ending 31 December; figures from 2014 onward include Olympic Air):
 	2007 	2008 	2009 	2010 	2011 	2012 	2013 	2014 	2015 	2016 	2017 	2018 	2019 	2020 	2021 	2022 	2023
Turnover (€m) 	482 	611 	622 	591 	668 	653 	682 	911 	983 	1.020	1.127	1.187	1.308	415 	675 	1.336	1.693
Net profit after tax (€m) 	35.8 	29.5 	23.0 	−23.3	−27.2	−10.5	66.3 	80.4 	68.4 	32.2 	60.4 	67.9 	78.5 	−227.9	5.1 	106.8	168.7
Number of employees 	1,923	2,142	2,463	1,949	1,615	1,347	1,459 	1,678 	2,344	2,334	2,493	2,703	2,924	2,699 	2,445	2,684	—
Number of passengers (m) 	5.2 	6.0 	6.6 	6.2 	6.5 	6.1 	6.9 	10.1 	11.6 	12.5 	13.2 	13.9 	15.0 	5.2 	7.2 	12.5 	15.7
Passenger load factor (%) 	70 	70 	65.8 	68.1 	68.9 	74.3 	79 	78.3 	76.9 	77.4 	83.2 	83.9 	84.8 	67.4 	65.5 	79.8 	83.4
Number of aircraft (at year end)	23 	29 	33 	26 	29 	28 	30 	50 	58 	62 	58 	61 	62 	67 	63 	69 	—
Notes/sources 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Excl. OA	Incl. OA	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
== Destinations ==
Country 	City 	Airport 	Notes 	Notes
Austria 	Vienna 	Vienna International Airport 	 	
Belgium 	Brussels 	Brussels Airport 	 	
Bulgaria 	Sofia 	Sofia Airport 	 	
Croatia 	Zagreb 	Zagreb Airport 	 	
Cyprus 	Larnaca 	Larnaca International Airport 	Focus city	
Cyprus 	Paphos 	Paphos International Airport 	 	
Czech Republic	Prague 	Václav Havel Airport Prague 	 	
Denmark 	Copenhagen 	Copenhagen Airport 	 	
Estonia 	Tallinn 	Tallinn Airport 	 	
Finland 	Helsinki 	Helsinki Airport 	 	
France 	Nice 	Nice Côte d'Azur Airport 	 	
France 	Paris 	Charles de Gaulle Airport 	 	
France 	Strasbourg 	Strasbourg Airport 	 	
Georgia 	Tbilisi 	Tbilisi International Airport 	 	
Germany 	Berlin 	Berlin Brandenburg Airport 	 	
Germany 	Cologne 	Cologne Bonn Airport 	 	
Germany 	Düsseldorf 	Düsseldorf Airport 	 	
Germany 	Frankfurt 	Frankfurt Airport 	 	
Germany 	Hamburg 	Hamburg Airport 	 	
Germany 	Munich 	Munich Airport 	 	
Germany 	Stuttgart 	Stuttgart Airport 	 	
Greece 	Alexandroupoli 	Alexandroupoli Airport 	 	
Greece 	Athens 	Athens International Airport 	Hub 	
Greece 	Cephalonia 	Kefalonia International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Chania 	Chania International Airport 	Focus city	
Greece 	Chios 	Chios Island National Airport 	 	
Greece 	Corfu 	Corfu International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Heraklion 	Heraklion International Airport 	Focus city	
Greece 	Ioannina 	Ioannina National Airport 	 	
Greece 	Kalamata 	Kalamata International Airport 	Focus city	
Greece 	Kavala 	Kavala International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Kos 	Kos International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Lemnos 	Lemnos International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Mykonos 	Mykonos International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Mytilene 	Mytilene International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Rhodes 	Rhodes International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Samos 	Samos International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Santorini 	Santorini (Thira) International Airport 	 	
Greece 	Thessaloniki 	Thessaloniki Airport 	Hub 	
Hungary 	Budapest 	Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport	 	
Ireland 	Dublin 	Dublin Airport 	 	
Italy 	Bologna 	Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport 	 	
Italy 	Florence 	Florence Airport 	 	
Italy 	Milan 	Milan Malpensa Airport 	 	
Italy 	Naples 	Naples International Airport 	 	
Italy 	Rome 	Rome Fiumicino Airport 	 	
Italy 	Venice 	Venice Marco Polo Airport 	 	
Latvia 	Riga 	Riga International Airport 	 	
Lithuania 	Vilnius 	Vilnius Airport 	 	
Luxembourg 	Luxembourg City 	Luxembourg Findel Airport 	 	
Malta 	Valletta 	Malta International Airport 	 	
Netherlands 	Amsterdam 	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 	 	
Netherlands 	Eindhoven 	Eindhoven Airport 	 	
Norway 	Oslo 	Oslo Gardermoen Airport 	 	
Poland 	Kraków 	Kraków John Paul II International Airport 	 	
Poland 	Warsaw 	Warsaw Chopin Airport 	 	
Portugal 	Lisbon 	Lisbon Portela Airport 	 	
Portugal 	Porto 	Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport 	 	
Slovakia 	Bratislava 	Bratislava Airport 	 	
Slovenia 	Ljubljana 	Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport 	 	
Spain 	Barcelona 	Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport	 	
Spain 	Bilbao 	Bilbao Airport 	 	
Spain 	Madrid 	Madrid–Barajas Airport 	 	
Sweden 	Stockholm 	Stockholm Arlanda Airport 	 	
Switzerland 	Geneva 	Geneva Airport 	 	
Switzerland 	Zürich 	Zurich Airport 	 	
Switzerland
France
Germany	BaselMulhouseFreiburg	EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg 	 	
United Kingdom	Bristol 	Bristol Airport 	 	
United Kingdom	Edinburgh 	Edinburgh Airport 	 	
United Kingdom	London 	Heathrow Airport 	 	
United Kingdom	Manchester 	Manchester Airport 	 	
Additionally, Aegean Airlines has a commercial agreement with Trenitalia.
=== Charter flights ===
During the summer season, Aegean Airlines operates several A320s, performing charter services in association with major tour operators. The charter flights connect popular holiday destinations in Greece to Italy, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Israel, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine and other countries. In recent years, they have also operated charter flights for football fixtures, for example, when the Greece national football team is playing abroad.
Aegean Airlines also owned a 51% stake in Animawings, a Romanian charter airline, from 2021 to 2024.
== Fleet ==
=== Current fleet ===
As of April 2024, Aegean Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet, consisting of the following aircraft:
Aircraft 	In service	Orders	Passengers	Notes 	Ref.
Airbus A320-200	28 	— 	174 	 	
Airbus A321-200	5 	— 	206 	 	
Airbus A320neo 	16 	5 	180 	Deliveries until 2028. 	
Airbus A321neo 	12 	13 	220 	Deliveries until 2028. 	
Airbus A321neo 	— 	4 	<180 	Longer range versions. Deliveries in 2026–27.	
Total 	61 	22 	 	 	
In addition to the aircraft above, Aegean Airlines also operates a Learjet 60. The aircraft is used for the provision of VIP services and executive travel, in a non-scheduled flight basis.
=== Fleet development ===
In its history, the airline has so far made two strategic moves concerning its fleet. The first was meant to withdraw all turboprop planes from the fleet, which was accomplished in May 2004. In December 2005, the carrier placed an order for eight Airbus A320s.
In August 2010, Aegean Airlines became the first airline to commit to upgrading its Airbus A320 family fleet with the FANS-B+ datalink system offered by Airbus. By March 2014, passenger cabins across the entire fleet were retrofitted with brand-new reclining Aviointeriors Columbus Two seats, which are thinner and lighter, allowing the addition of an extra row. In 2014, Aegean Airlines also completed the purchase of seven brand-new Airbus A320ceo (current engine option) aircraft to add to its fleet; all deliveries were completed by early 2016.
In June 2018, Aegean firmed up a purchase agreement with Airbus for 10 A321neos and 20 A320neos, following a memorandum of understanding signed in March that year. The company also intended to lease up to 20 more Airbus aircraft.
=== Historical fleet ===
In addition to its current aircraft, Aegean Airlines previously operated the following types:
* Airbus A319-100
* ATR 72-200[citation needed]
* ATR 72-500 (wet-leased from SwiftAir)
* Boeing 737-300
* Boeing 737-400
* British Aerospace Avro RJ100
=== Livery ===
The original Aegean Airlines livery is mostly "Eurowhite", featuring a thin red line towards the lower part of the fuselage. Above it, the fuselage is white and features the airline's name, written in dark blue using trademarked font series. Below the red line, the fuselage is painted grey. The Aegean Airlines logo featuring two seagulls flying in front of the sun, is featured on the tail of the aircraft.
During the A320neo delivery presentation, Aegean Airlines unveiled the new logo and livery inspired by Greek sky and seas, historical architecture and the country's design heritage. The new logo consisted of 2 seagulls in different sizes formed into a bigger seagull in the balanced and harmonical symmetry, representing the true spirit of Greece and the airline's values. The new livery follows the Greek identity, features a combination of the white and blue colors that representing traditional and modern Greek culture.
In addition to the standard livery, Aegean Airlines uses several non-standard liveries, such as one advertising Star Alliance as well as one celebrating the new Acropolis Museum.
== Services ==
=== Frequent-flyer program ===
Miles+Bonus is the frequent flyer program of Aegean Airlines and its Olympic Air subsidiary. It is a rebranding of Miles&Bonus, the former frequent flyer program of Aegean as well as a replacement for Olympic Air's Travelair Club. Miles+Bonus has three tiers: Blue, Silver and Gold.[citation needed]
=== Airport lounges ===
Gold members of Miles+Bonus, or those with Gold status in another Star Alliance airline, as well as passengers traveling on business class on an Aegean Airlines or other Star Alliance flight, all have access to the three Aegean Business Lounges in Athens, Thessaloniki and Larnaca.
== References ==
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# ^ "Headquarters." Aegean Airlines. Retrieved on 22 February 2010. "Aegean Airlines Headquarters 31, Viltanioti Str. 145 64, Kifisia, Athens, Greece" Address in Greek: Βιλτανιώτη 31 145 64, Κηφισιά, Αθήνα
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# ^ EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press Release - Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines. Europa.eu. Retrieved on 20 August 2013.
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== External links ==
* Aegean Airlines on Official website