Aegean launches direct scheduled flights from Heraklion to Brussels and Munich

AEGEAN, the largest Greek carrier and a member of Star Alliance network, today launched new direct services from Heraklion to Brussels and Munich. The flight A3 470 departed from "Nikos Kazantzakis" Airport of Heraklion at 07:00 and arrived in Brussels at 09:45 (local time), while fire trucks performed the traditional water cannon salute upon arrival of the aircraft at Brussels. The inaugural flight from Brussels to Heraklion was celebrated this morning in a ceremony at Brussels Airport and was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ,  the Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in Belgium, the presidents of professional chambers and Greek associations, travel agents, representatives of the Star Alliance  members and of the Belgian media, as well as the passengers of this inaugural flight. This new direct flight is also operated in code share with Brussels Airlines.

Respectively, the first flight to Munich A3 476 departed from Heraklion at 15:00 and arrived at "Franz Josef Strauss" Airport in Munich at 17:00 (local time). AEGEAN will connect Heraklion with Brussels and Munich with two weekly flights to each destination. Specifically, the aircraft to Brussels will depart each Wednesday and Saturday from "Nikos Kazantzakis" Airport at 07:00 and will return from Brussels International at 10:30 (local time). The aircraft to Munich will depart each Wednesday and Saturday from "Nikos Kazantzakis" Airport at 15:00 and will return from "Franz Josef Strauss" Airport at 17:45 (local time). The flights will be operated with AIRBUS A320 aircraft, with 168 seating capacity, in dual class configuration offering a full meal and an in-flight entertainment system with six music channels without extra charges.

Passengers who were travelling on the above new flights were offered, apart from commemorative gifts, also Crete's traditional sweets, kalitsounia.

The new direct flights add much more than just new routes to AEGEAN's network. They bring Brussels, the capital of Europe, and Munich, Germany's commercial and financial centre, closer to Crete, one of the most popular tourist destinations not only of Greece but also of the world. They create also new opportunities for trade, tourism and cultural exchange.

As part of its summer schedule, AEGEAN will connect Heraklion with scheduled direct flights to Moscow, Paris, Brussels, Munich, Tel Aviv and Larnaca, in total 27 routes out of Heraklion. It should be noted that AEGEAN has a base of four AIRBUS A320 aircraft in Heraklion which are used for both scheduled and charter flights.

Heraklion – Brussels, starting 28 March 2012

Heraklion – Munich, starting 28 March 2012