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The annual Airline Marketing Workshop, organised for the seventh 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 2006, in recognition of their contribution to the airport’s overall record growth of 15.1 million passengers, a result surpassing the 2005 volumes by a significant 5.6%.

As every year, the 7th 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 2006, in the categories of geographical region, thin route, best performing newcomer, and best of the top-10 airlines.

The airline awards as per respective category were the following:

Α.  Best Performing New Airline Award
(Airlines that launched operations at AIA in 2005)

•  Qatar Airways was awarded for recording in 2006 the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all newcomers that launched scheduled operations at AIA during 2005.

Β.  Best of the Top-10 Airlines Award

•  EasyJet was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2006, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest traffic volumes.

C.  Fastest Growing Airline in a Thin Route
(Highest percentage passenger growth irrespective of geographical region, 2005 – 2006)

•  Air Moldova received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2006.

D. Fastest Growing Airline per geographical region
 (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2005-2006)

• Iberia was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Western Europe region.
• Aeroflot – Russian 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.
• 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.

•  Aegean Airlines was also awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2006.

D. Life Time Achievement Award

• Mr. Yiannos Hadjimarcou ex-General Manager of Cyprus Airways in Greece and Chairman of Board of Airlines Representatives (BAR GR) was awarded for his overall contribution to the aviation industry.

AIA’s 7th Airline Marketing Workshop held today – 15th Thursday, 2007 – at the Ethniki Asfalistiki Conference Center, was attended by the representatives of the airlines operating at Athens International Airport. “Market Overview 2006”, and “Responding to demanding operational cases”, were among the issues presented during this year’s Workshop, whereas AIA, for the first time, included a new awards category in order to promote and award the personal contribution in aviation industry.

Further more, the guest speaker Mr. Eulogio Bordas – President of ‘THR’ International Tourism Consultants, referred to the importance of customer service issues “Passenger story-telling” while Mrs. Linda Tavlin – Communication Specialist, presented “Developing communication techniques”

The airlines' representatives with their AIA Award	AIA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yiannis Paraschis, at the 7th Airline Marketing Workshop 2007	AIA’s Director Communications & Marketing, Mr George Karamanos