Aegean Airlines, host carrier at this month’s European Regions Airline Association (ERA) general assembly in Athens, has an eye on opportunities in Eastern European and Middle East markets, according to Aegean COO Antonis Simigdalas, who is also president of ERA. He told AIN that the airline is “geared for such developments, through its fleet plans, traffic-rights applications and economic stability and planning.”
Accordingly, and in line with its strategy of “selective and focused international expansion on high-traffic routes in Europe and growing regional markets,” Aegean last month exercised options on replacement Airbus A320s and continued acquisition talks with Romanian low-cost carrier Blue Air. Aegean, which describes itself as “the most dynamically developing” Greek airline after its merger with Cronus Airlines and acquisition of Crete-based Air Greece, has grown also through partnerships with German flag carrier Lufthansa, Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and Italy’s Air One and Alpi Eagles.
