PRESS RELEASES
30 OCTOBER 2003
Athens International Airport Winter period starts with an 11% increase in scheduled flights

Athens International Airport started the winter 2003/2004 flight schedule on Sunday, October 26th, 2003, with 137 additional weekly scheduled flights (representing an 11% increase compared to the winter period 2002/2003). Thus, from 26.10.03-27.03.04, fifty-one (51) airlines will be operating 1,385 scheduled weekly flights, connecting "Eleftherios Venizelos" to 100 destinations in 47 countries.

Analytically:

  • In the winter schedule 2003/2004, the number of international flights from/to the Airport, increased by 20%, with 737 weekly frequencies (123 additional on last year's schedule) serving 67 destinations around the globe.
    In addition to the carriers that started operations at "Eleftherios Venizelos" during the summer period (Álbanian Airlines, Germanwings, Hellas Jet, Luxair and Snowflake), AIA's international network is further expanded by two newcomers: Germania Express (Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, and Zurich), and Gulf Air (Bahrain).
    Furthermore, in the winter schedule, airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Alitalia, Air France, Iberia, Emirates etc., increased their weekly frequencies, compared to the period 2002/2003.
  • Domestic services out of Athens increased by 2%, offering travellers a choice of 648 weekly flights (14 more compared to the 2002/2003 winter period) to 33 Greek destinations.

The top destinations served out of Athens International Airport

For the winter period 2003/2004, Eleftherios Venizelos's top international routes are: London with 73 scheduled weekly frequencies (59 last year) and Larnaca with 55 (52 last year), followed by Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt, with 54, 48, and 42 flights each (35, 39, & 38 last year, respectively). The top domestic routes are: Thessaloniki with 156 weekly frequencies (139 last year), and Heraklion with 89 frequencies (83 last year).

The increase in weekly scheduled frequencies for the winter period 2003/2004 at Athens International Airport, demonstrates the aviation industry's steady rebound already witnessed during the last quarter (August - October), which according to the airport's preliminary traffic figures, is expected to show a 5% increase.