The launch of new routes to Amsterdam and Naxos, the resumption of the route to Israel and increased passenger traffic in the first two months of 2024 are proof that Thessaloniki is still at the heart of AEGEAN’s investments, according to the company’s CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis, as held during his participation in the Greece Talks conference organised on Thursday 14 March in Thessaloniki on “Thessaloniki on the International Tourism Map”. After all, AEGEAN started investing in the prospect of tourism development in Thessaloniki when no one saw this dimension in its modern image.
According to what Mr. Dimitris Gerogiannis said:
- Thessaloniki is a reference point for AEGEAN, as it has been the first core of the development of our activity abroad, and is now our first regional base in terms of activity and turnover, with significant activity all year round. Indeed, since 1999 it has carried more than 13 million international passengers.
- In 2023, AEGEAN operated the largest network in its history from the city of Thessaloniki, creating the conditions for Thessaloniki to establish itself as a year-round city break destination.
- The excellent results in passenger traffic to and from Macedonia airport in 2023, combined with our continued heavy investment in the network and the available seats to and from the base of Thessaloniki, create the conditions for a very good year for tourism in the city and the region as a whole in 2024.
- In the first two months of 2024, AEGEAN’s passenger traffic to and from Thessaloniki Macedonia Airport recorded a significant increase. In particular, an increase of 15% was recorded on the domestic network and 5% on the international network compared to 2023.
- Thessaloniki has changed its face, especially in recent years, and has become again a very extroverted, cosmopolitan, modern and creative city. It has regained its glamour and has laid the foundations for an even more dynamic development path for its people. AEGEAN is and will be a helper in this development path.
AEGEAN’s activity to and from Thessaloniki in 2024
The AEGEAN CEO continued:
- We are increasing the number of seats available, both domestic and international, especially of course international, and we are ensuring greater and better connectivity where we cannot have direct flights.
- In particular, on the domestic network we have increased available seats by 6%, offering a total of 1.87 million seats, while on the international network we have increased available seats by an even greater 8%, offering a total of 1.39 million seats.
- Currently, the summer schedule we have published includes a total of 22 international destinations, of which 20 with scheduled flights, including Frankfurt with 2 flights a day, Larnaca, Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Barcelona, Berlin, Venice, Berlin, Venice, Brussels, Zurich, Cologne, Nuremberg, etc, and now we will also be operating a new direct route to Amsterdam, which will start in winter.
- Soon, the direct route to Israel, which had been interrupted due to geopolitical developments, is expected to resume.
- Also, 14 domestic destinations, such as Athens, Heraklion, Chania, Mykonos, Kos, Rhodes, Lemnos, Santorini, etc., while charter flights are always added during the summer season.
- This year in particular, apart from the new route we are adding to the island of Naxos, there are also increased frequencies from Thessaloniki to island destinations with a presence in most of the summer season such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Kos and Crete.
- It is also important to note that the growth of the international network, which is very strong in April, May and October as part of our general effort to extend the tourist season in a more sustainable way, while the parallel growth in the domestic network offers both options to the local community and the possibility for visitors to combine places within the country, a trend that has been recorded as particularly important after the end of the pandemic.
- AEGEAN currently operates its second largest base at Macedonia Airport, with 7 aircraft.
