- The two major Greek airlines, Aegean Airlines and SKY Express, started 2025 with a significant increase in all key indicators, confirming the positive momentum that has developed in the aviation industry. Both Greek airlines are on a steady growth trajectory, investing in strengthening their international presence and in the quality upgrade of their services.
Aegean Airlines: 3.1 million passengers in the first quarter
Aegean recorded an 8.4% increase in its passenger traffic in the first quarter of 2025, carrying a total of 3.093 million passengers. At the same time, it increased the number of seats offered by 8.8%, reaching 3.859 million, while the load factor remained high, at 80.2%, down by just 0.3 percentage points compared to last year.
Indicative of the strengthening of its international work is the 11.7% increase in international passenger traffic, reaching 1.913 million passengers from 1.713 million in the corresponding period last year. Of these, Athens had the lion’s share, with 1.651 million international passengers (+12.1%), while Thessaloniki also recorded a 6.4% increase in its international travelers.
Traffic on the domestic network also increased by 3.3%, reaching 1.180 million passengers.
Planning for 2025: Aegean will offer a total of 21.5 million seats this year, increased by 1.8 million compared to 2024. On the international network, it will offer approximately 13 million seats (+1.4 million), while on the domestic network 8.5 million (+6%)?. Especially abroad, the company is expanding its activity with new direct flights to Turkey (Heraklion, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini – Istanbul), Iraq (Erbil), Azerbaijan (Baku) and Italy (Larnaca – Rome), while strengthening its presence in the Iberian Peninsula, the Balkans, Egypt, Italy and Switzerland.
In the domestic network, Aegean is adding seven new routes, mainly strengthening connections from Heraklion and Rhodes.
SKY Express: Impressive growth abroad and in revenues
2025 also started with strong growth rates for SKY Express, which recorded a 10% increase in total passenger traffic and 8.5% in revenues in the first quarter of the year.
The company recorded:
- +9.5% increase in seats offered
- +5.5% increase in total number of flights
- +27% increase in international passenger traffic?
Expansion abroad is at the core of SKY Express’s strategy. In 2024, its international network expanded from 15 to 22 destinations, with new connections to Amsterdam, Istanbul, Vienna, Prague, Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Tirana. In the first quarter of 2025, the offer of seats on international flights increased by 33.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.
The increase in passenger traffic to and from key hubs such as Athens (+10%), Thessaloniki (+5.5%), and Heraklion (+8.8%) confirms the dynamic growth of its domestic network. In 2024 alone, 5 million passengers chose to travel with SKY Express.
SKY Express continues to have the largest domestic network in the country, with 33 points. Its fleet, with an average age of just 3.5 years for Airbus and 2.5 years for ATR 72-600, was recently strengthened with two new Airbus A320neo, reaching 27 aircraft. Two more Airbus A320neo will be added in 2025.
Strategic priorities: The company invests in reliability and environmental sensitivity, with full fleet availability and the use of CFM engines.
SKY Express Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Gerasimos Skaltsas, underlined that the 27% increase in international traffic exceeds the 15% increase at Athens Airport and confirms the company’s expansion strategy in international markets.
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