Before the peak of the summer tourist season begins, Aegean Airlines will start flights from Istanbul to Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos this year. This was announced at an event for extending the tourist season to Greece, which was held at the initiative of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.
Greece’s projection as a complete tourist brand with an enhanced role in the effort to expand the tourist season took place (28/01/2026) at the Sismanoglio Megaron in Istanbul, in collaboration with the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul and Aegean Airlines. The goal of the action was to further strengthen the presence of Greece and its air connectivity in the Turkish market.
In this context, Aegean Airlines Country Manager Mirey Goldag announced that direct flights from Istanbul to Crete will begin as early as February, significantly boosting winter and early spring tourism to the island. Meanwhile, direct flights to Santorini are scheduled to begin in the spring, contributing to the gradual expansion of the tourist season and the promotion of travel during the off-peak season. During the summer, the network is supplemented with direct flights to Mykonos, increasing the Greek destinations directly accessible from the Turkish market.
The development of these routes supports the strategy of dispersing tourist arrivals over more months of the year, supporting sustainable tourism development in more destinations.
The event
Among the 120 guests at the event were representatives of top tour operators and travel agencies, opinion leaders in the tourism industry, and journalists. The President of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB), Mr. Firuz Baglikaya, confirming the strong interest of the Turkish tourism market in Greece and the prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation.
During the event, the Greek National Tourism Organization’s strategic communication policy was presented, aiming to systematically extend the tourist season and spread demand in time and destinations. The wealth of experiences offered by Greece as a comprehensive and multi-thematic tourist destination was highlighted, with emphasis on culture, urban experiences, nature, gastronomy, and authentic travel experiences that visitors can enjoy throughout the year.
The General Consul of Greece in Istanbul, Ambassador Mr. Konstantinos Koutras stated: “Tourism is one of the most essential channels of communication between our peoples. Travel fosters mutual understanding, creates stable bridges of cooperation, and highlights the common cultural references of the two societies. The strengthening of tourism between Greece and Turkey contributes significantly to the strengthening of relations and the creation of new prospects for cooperation.”
The Head of the Turkish GNTO Foreign Service, Ms. Maria Rachmanidou, emphasized: “Our strategic priority is to promote Greece as a complete tourist brand with activity throughout the year. We invest in targeted promotion of thematic experiences, strengthening cooperation with tourism market professionals, and improving accessibility to expand the duration and quality of tourism demand from the Turkish market. “Air connectivity between the two countries plays a pivotal role in the strategy of extending the tourist season.”
The event also included a presentation of modern collaboration tools with the tourism market, as well as two lotteries for airline tickets, creating a fertile ground for networking and developing new business partnerships.
The initiative is part of the GNTO’s overall strategy to promote Greece as a top tourist destination, with a focus on the quality of the visitor experience, sustainability, and expanding tourism activity throughout the year.
