Aegean reports 4% international passenger growth in 2011

Star Alliance’s Greek member Aegean Airlines (A3) reported a 4% growth in passengers carried last year to 6.5 million, owing to strong growth on its international network. International enplanements exceeded domestic passenger traffic for the first time. 

Passenger numbers on its international routes rose 15% to 3.5 million, whereas passengers carried on domestic routes fell 6% to 3 million (and by 15% in the last quarter of the year). The carrier said domestic boardings declined despite promotional offers that resulted in a 20% lower domestic average fare compared to 2007.

“We invest on strengthening our international presence and on supporting the Greek tourism both in Athens and in regional airports. Within the past six years, we have managed to triple the number of passengers traveled on our international network, despite the tough economic environment in Greece, the sharp rise in fuel prices and the significant high airport fees and taxes in Athens determined by the Greek state,” MD Dimitris Gerogiannis said.

Aegean operated 102 international routes from six airports in Greece—Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes, Kos, Thessaloniki and Corfu. In response to the worsening Greek economic crisis, A3 will operate more direct international flights to/from regional airports . The investment resulted in a growth in international passengers of 37% to/from Rhodes, 23% to/from Heraklion and 10% to/from Thessaloniki to a total of 1.1 million international passengers. A3 said UK, Belgium, France, Israel and Russia markets have registered particularly high growth rates.