PRESS RELEASES
10 FEBRUARY 2005
AIA's 5th Airline Marketing Workshop

Athens International Airport awards airlines for their development in 2004
This year' s Airline Marketing Workshop, organised for the fifth consecutive year by Athens International Airport (AIA), was highlighted by the special awards presented by AIA to the airlines that recorded the highest passenger development in 2004, in recognition of their contribution to the airport's overall growth of 11.5% that made Athens International Airport the 2nd fastest growing airport in Europe for 2004 *.

As every year, the 5th Airline Marketing Workshop was a unique opportunity for direct communication between the Airport Company and the airlines, in relation to issues such as the yearly activities review, incentives for airlines, latest developments, new challenges in the air transport sector, etc. On this occasion, Athens International Airport presented special awards to the fastest growing airlines for 2004, in the categories of geographical region, thin route, and best performing newcomer.

The airline awards as per respective category were the following:

A. Fastest Growing Airline per geographical region
(Highest percentage passenger growth, 2003-2004)

  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Western Europe region.
  • Olympic Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Eastern Europe region.
  • Emirates Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East region.
  • Delta Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the America region.
  • Egypt Air was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Africa region.
  • Thai Airways was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Asia region.
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the domestic market.

Β. Fastest Growing Airline in a Thin Route (Highest percentage passenger growth irrespective of geographical region, 2003 - 2004)

  • Ηemus Air received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2004.

C. Best Performing New Airline Award (Airlines that launched operations at AIA in 2003)

  • Hellas Jet was awarded for recording in 2004 the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all newcomers that launched operations to / from AIA in 2003.

D. Overall Fastest Growing Airline in 2004

  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline, operating at AIA in 2004.
The airlines' representatives with their AIA Award

AIA's 5th Airline Marketing Workshop, held today at the International Conference Centre of the Athens Concert Hall, was attended by 118 representatives of the airlines operating at Athens International Airport **. "Zoom in 2004 - Zoom out 2005", "Interviewing our Passengers", "The Challenges of Intelligent Airports", as well as AIA's incentives and airline development, were among the issues presented during this year's Workshop. As guest speaker, Mr. Eulogio Bordas, President of "THR" International Tourism Consultants, referred to the significant issue of capitalising on new opportunities and positive prospects for tourism in Athens / Greece.

AIA' Press Office

* On the basis of the final traffic statistics of the Airport Council International for 2004 / airports over 10 million passengers

** According to Athens International Airport's winter schedule, 64 airlines currently offer scheduled services at AIA.