Regional outcry over Aegean's suspension of Kavala–Athens flight
The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace has expressed deep dissatisfaction with Aegean Airlines’ response to local concerns regarding the suspension of the morning flight between Kavala and Athens.
In a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, regional authorities criticized the airline’s decision as disrespectful and damaging to regional development.
According to Aegean Airlines, the suspension will last only 42 days due to a temporary shortage in aircraft availability, as the delivery of a new plane was unexpectedly delayed. The airline claims it will compensate for the change by upgrading the afternoon flight with a larger aircraft, maintaining the total number of daily passenger seats.
However, regional authorities were not reassured. In their new letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, officials described Aegean’s communication as “completely unacceptable”, accusing the airline of undermining the importance of Kavala’s “Alexander the Great” Airport and treating the region as non-essential due to its proximity to Dedeağaç (Alexandroupoli) and Thessaloniki.
Accusations of disrespect and regional discrimination
The letter further criticizes Aegean for downplaying the tourism and economic significance of Kavala and Taşoz (Thassos), suggesting the company prioritizes island destinations over the dynamic development potential of Northern Greece. Authorities also rejected the airline’s justification of internal logistical issues as an excuse for cutting essential routes, calling it a “deeply disappointing operational failure.”
Representatives of the region insists the Kavala–Athens air connection is vital for ensuring balanced regional development, fair treatment of citizens across the country, and compliance with national and regional spatial planning strategies. They have called for immediate government intervention to restore reliable air connectivity for the region.
