Aegean Airlines expands flight routes
Greece’s largest private carrier, Aegean Airlines, said yesterday it will expand its European routes next year regardless of the global downturn. The airline, which has taken quite a bit of ailing state carrier Olympic’s market share in recent years, said it will add flights to Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona, Vienna and Venice by next summer on new Airbus A320/321 aircraft. Aegean’s new destinations will complement its recently launched service to Paris, London and Dusseldorf. These new routes will bring Aegean’s total number of daily flights to over 200 from 150 currently. «We are implementing our business plan and the expansion of our international network,» said Aegean Chief Executive Officer Dimitris Gerogiannis. «Having followed a prudent course over the years, we have sound foundations to proceed with our growth plans, despite the economic slowdown,» he added. Aegean Airlines has also signed a cooperation agreement with SN Brussels Airlines. Under the agreement, Aegean Airlines customers and Brussels Airlines customers will have access to the Athens-to-Brussels route of both airlines, among other cooperation conveniences. (Reuters, Bloomberg)