Aegean, 25% international passenger traffic increase in May, with significant contribution to Greek regional development

Notwithstanding the difficult current situation, AEGEAN is investing and growing, supporting and adding significantly to the Greek tourism product. It is worth to underscore that while total figures of Greek airports post an increase of 4.8% for the total of international arrivals in Greece by all air carriers, AEGEAN passenger traffic on international flights, in its entire network, increased by 25%, contributing substantially to the country's tourism development.  It is also significant that the growth potential of June heralds positively the tourism period throughout.

In particular, in May, AEGEAN carried 316,066 passengers on international flights from 252,729 in the respective month of 2010, while the total traffic for May, including domestic flights, stood at 590,196 passengers.  This development is the outcome of AEGEAN’s presence maturing with additional destinations and regular routes, in 'traditional' tourism markets abroad, focusing mainly on England, Germany and Italy; it also results from the significant investment made in new markets, such as Russia and Israel.

A typical characteristic of the company's strategic development and the emphasis placed on regional development is the traffic's increase largely coming from the country's regional airports. As regards to international passenger traffic in May, AEGEAN presented an increase by 19% in Thessaloniki, in Heraklion by 17% and in Rhodes by 70%. Even in Athens posting a slight decline of international arrivals in May, based on published data, AEGEAN presented an increase of 21%.

Mr. Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO of AEGEAN, stated: “AEGEAN is one of the companies in Greece having the power and the will to take up the growth risk necessary despite the crisis and the challenging environment. Growth means being extrovert and investing in Greek tourism. We invest in more flights, more foreign destinations, often with direct connections of big destinations abroad with the country's regional airports. It is worth noting that in order to serve regular and charter flights, as of summer 2011 we based 50% of our fleet in airports outside Athens, such as Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Corfu. Similarly, we invest in the infrastructure required for quality purposes, such as the new business lounge at Thessaloniki airport. The target to service 3,5 million passengers in the international network seems by now feasible'.

In its summer 2011 program, AEGEAN broadened its network significantly with new flights to destinations in Russia, Italy and Israel and increased frequencies to existing destinations in UK, Italy, France, Belgium and Spain.  It also inaugurated the connections with significant markets abroad not only from Athens, but also from Thessaloniki, Herakliion and Larnaka, creating more direct and qualitative connections. During the Summer 2011 program, AEGEAN operates 35 international routes and 24 domestic routes in its regular flights network. Along with charter flights in cooperation with Tour Operators, the company performs additional 121 routes of which 97 international flights connect directly to 9 Greek cities (Heraklio, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Chania, Corfu, Kos, Skiathos, Kalamata and Athens) with more than 50 different airports in Europe and Middle East.

About Aegean Airlines
Aegean Airlines carried 6.23 million passengers in 2010. Since June 30, 2010 it is a member of the strongest worldwide airline alliance, STAR ALLIANCE. In its 12 year history, Aegean has been awarded six times by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA). Furthermore, the company has been repeatedly awarded by the Athens International Airport as the greatest contributor to the airport’s passenger volume increase. Finally, the company has been honored with the Skytrax World Airline award, as the best European regional airline for 2009. AEGEAN operates 35 international and 24 domestic routes during the IATA 2011 summer season. Including charter flights, AEGEAN operates 121 routes, of which 97 are international and connect directly 9 Greek cities (Herakleio, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Chania, Corfu, Kos, Skiathos, Kalamata and Athens) with more than 50 different airports in Europe and Middle East.

Throughout its twelve-year course, AEGEAN has been striving in every step of the way to combine business development with contribution to the country's growth, progress and to the evolution of its people.  In the last 10 years, Aegean and its passengers have contributed to state revenues by more than 1 billion euros. In 2010 only, AEGEAN conferred to the Greek state 188 million euros while it is estimated to contribute in 2011 by circa 200 million euros.