Aegean connects Santorini with Istanbul

“These are two destinations that are now coming closer” thanks to the new direct connection, the Greek airline says. On the occasion of the launch of the route, a celebratory event was held on Tuesday at Santorini Airport, attended by Aegean President Eftichios Vassilakis, as well as George Vilos, general manager of development at Fraport Greece, which manages the airport.

“This move ushers in a new era for the Cyclades, while offering a unique hospitality experience to passengers,” noted a source close to Aegean. Notably Istanbul Airport also extended a warm welcome to the passengers and crew of the flight, which departed from Turkey and headed to Santorini.

This route is in line with the domestic carrier’s overall strategy to significantly strengthen connectivity with the Turkish market from this season. In this direction, it has increased the offered capacity by 25% from last year. The direct flight from Santorini is part of a wider program of new flights that bring popular island destinations, such as Iraklio, Mykonos and Rhodes, closer to Istanbul, while the number of flights from Athens has also increased.

The choice of Istanbul is not accidental, as its airport is among the busiest air transport hubs in the world, playing a decisive role as an intermediate stop for international flights to more than 260 destinations around the world.

In this context, Aegean, which in recent years has sought to further expand its footprint in key hubs, aims to attract travelers who come to Europe via Turkey. Direct flights to the Greek islands are aimed at serving as a magnet mainly for American, Chinese and Indian tourists. China in particular is a market that is dynamically returning to the global tourism map after a prolonged period of restrictions. To this should be added the great love that the Chinese have shown over time for Santorini, which before the pandemic held a high position in their choices for holidays. In relation to India, it has recently emerged as a rising force in terms of travel demand. “Therefore, until Aegean includes the direct connection with India in its flight schedule in the future, it aims to serve Indian travelers with a connecting link in Istanbul,” airline sources tell Kathimerini.

Kathimerini