Greece Talks panel “Tourism Grows in Growing Cities”: Fraport GREECE CEO Alexander Zinell, AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis, Greek Alternate Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis and Piraeus Bank Chief of Corporate & Investment Banking Theodore Tzouros.
AEGEAN Airlines is set to introduce new routes connecting Thessaloniki with Izmir, Türkiye, and the island of Syros, starting in June, announced CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis on Wednesday.
Speaking during the Greece Talks conference in Thessaloniki, Gerogiannis said the route with Izmir will operate twice weekly.
“This connection will further strengthen their relationship,” he noted, highlighting the cities’ shared historical and cultural ties.
He also underlined AEGEAN’s long-standing interest in the Greek northern city. “We’ve contributed to Thessaloniki’s consistent development,” he added.
Thessaloniki’s growth in 2024
AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis.
In 2024, AEGEAN carried 16.3 million passengers, marking a 6 percent increase over 2023, offering more than 19.7 million seats, an increase of 1.1 million. Thessaloniki Makedonia International Airport was particularly active, with over 2.7 million passengers, a 6 percent year-on-year rise. International flights accounted for 1.1 million of this total, reflecting an 8 percent increase in international traffic.
Gerogiannis highlighted Thessaloniki’s growing customer base, positioning the city as both a city break and leisure destination. Popular nearby destinations like Halkidiki and Katerini further support this growth.
Passenger traffic up in January-February 2025
Moreover, AEGEAN’s CEO informed that international passenger traffic at Thessaloniki’s airport has seen a 6 percent increase in the first two months of 2025, indicating a positive trend for the traditionally quieter period.
Summer 2025 plans
For summer 2025, AEGEAN will offer over 20 international and 17 domestic destinations from Thessaloniki, with new developments including:
– Direct flights to Syros starting in June.
– New route to Izmir, pending regulatory approval.
– Increased frequency of flights to Frankfurt.
– Expanded services to Paris, Milan, Tel Aviv, and Brussels.
With these additions, AEGEAN expects 3.3 million available seats from Thessaloniki, reflecting a 6 percent growth in international flights.
The fourth Greece Talks conference, organized by Travel.gr, focused on Thessaloniki’s identity, development prospects, and future growth opportunities.
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