AEGEAN Airlines: The Largest Airline In Greece
Founded in 1987, AEGEAN Airlines began offering commercial flights within Greece in May 1999. Initially, the airline only served domestic destinations, but international flights became available in 2001. Following a period of decline that coincided with the Greek crisis, AEGEAN reversed its downward trend and managed to keep growing, exceeding the one-billion-euro revenue mark in 2016.
AEGEAN has been achieving important milestones since it commenced operations. In 1999, AEGEAN received recognition for its safety standards and efficient business operations. Other awards and prizes included Airline of the Year, Fastest-Growing Airline in Western Europe, and Most Reliable Airline in Europe.
Over the years, AEGEAN has become the largest airline in Greece according to criteria like number of passengers, variety of destinations and fleet size. At the time of writing, AEGEAN had a modern fleet consisting of more than 60 aircraft travelling to 160 short and medium-haul destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The airline employs more than 2,300 people worldwide and provides services to approximately 12 million passengers per year.
Flying with AEGEAN Airlines
AEGEAN offers seats in Economy and Business class. Economy fares are divided into GoLight (which are the cheapest but have the most restrictions) and Flex tickets, which allow changes at no extra fee.
Ticket prices with AEGEAN are highly seasonal, peaking in June, July and August. Lower rates can be found by booking in advance and travelling during low season, which is from October to March, so choose your dates wisely to get the best fares!
AEGEAN has a frequent-flyer programme called Miles + Bonus, which is available in three categories (Blue, Silver and Gold) and allows travellers to accrue miles when flying with this airline, with any Star Alliance member or with AEGEAN's subsidiary Olympic Air.
Practical Information
To check-in online, travellers must download the AEGEAN app and follow the instructions under the 'Check-In' tab, which is available 48 hours prior to departure. If checking in at the airport, travellers can choose between printing their own boarding passes at the self-check-in kiosks or checking in at the desk.
Baggage allowances:
- Checked baggage: 1 bag weighing no more than 23 kg (Economy) or 2 bags of up to 32 kg (Business)
- Cabin bags must not exceed 56 x 45 x 25 cm (L x W x H). Weight limits: 8 kg (Economy) and 2 bags of maximum 8 kg and 5 kg respectively (Business). A personal item is also allowed.