Aegean going for gold in Olympic challenge
Aegean airlines claims it will soon overtake Olympic Airlines as Greece’s largest airline, once its new London-Athens route is established.
State-run Olympic has historically been the largest carrier and in the last 10 years about 20 airlines have been set up and folded in the country.
Aegean, however, will celebrate its 10th birthday next year, having enjoyed double digit growth for the past five years.
Having transported 5.2 million passengers last year compared with Olympic’s 5.7 million, it is catching up fast.
Aegean vice-president Eftichios Vassilakis expects that figure to hit 6 million by next year.
Aegean flights between Athens and London Stansted will start on May 15, departing at 10.30 and 08.00.
An Airbus 320 will be used, one of 27 new Airbus aircraft to be in place by the end of next year, replacing the current Boeing 737-dominated fleet.
New aircraft will benefit Aegean in two ways, claimed Vassilakis: “First, our customers will have a newer, better aircraft in which to travel. But second, due to more efficient fuel consumption and the natural decline in maintenance that comes with new aircraft, our cost base will decrease and help balance out rising fuel prices and economic downturn.”
Vassilakis expects the new route to be used by both business and leisure travellers, with a 50/50 split of Greeks and British. He sees the mix of nationalities offsetting the impact a strong euro could have on Brits travelling to Europe. “The disadvantage for the British is equally an advantage for the Greek market,” he said.
Vassilakis expects the route to make a loss for the first couple of years but feels the airline is profitable enough to cope. He also hopes to add two or three new routes a year to destnations such as France, Spain, Holland and Belgium.