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2.3 Airline Marketing Workshop
 


“Let’s make the right move”
 Athens International Airport awarded the fastest growing airlines for the year 2023

Focusing on the art of strategy with the Athens International Airport, the global airport industry, as well as the wider aviation sector “chessboard” looking ahead, the airport’s Airline Marketing Workshop was staged again this year, in the presence of more than 200 attendees. 
 
Titled "Let's make the right move", AIA’s 2.3 Airline Marketing Workshop took industry professionals to the world of the ultimate strategy game, which is no other than chess, inviting the Athens Airport Community to continue collectively making... "the right move". 
 
Once again this year, distinguished guest speakers from the fields of aviation, tourism and economy, state-of-the-art technology and digital transformation, turned the eyes of the audience to the strategic decision – making and to the challenges ahead. 
 
Beyond the areas of the aviation and the economy chain, a special moment of this year’s Workshop was when chess legend Garry Kasparov guided the audience to the "heart" of this year's Conference, the Art of Strategic Thinking. 
 
With a wide range of topics, as every year, the synthesis of the speakers and the fields they dealt with, unfolded as follows:
• The Introduction, the “Arbiter’s Call” as in chess, was as every year made by Mrs. Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, AIA, followed by the 2023 Athens Market Overview & Outlook - “Τower's Pawn Opening” AIA Airline Marketing & Development Team 
• State of the European Airport Industry – “The European Master’s Move” by Mr. Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI EUROPE 
• Experiencing Athens: Visitors' Satisfaction Assessment 2023- “The Athenian Gambit” by Mrs. Maripola Kotsi, Head, Market Insights & Customer Experience, AIA, and Mr. Stefan Merkenhof, GBR Consulting 
• Tourism & Travel Market Strategy - 2024 & Beyond – “The Tourism Game”, a discussion with Mr. Dimitris Fragakis, Secretary General, Greek National Tourism Organization, moderated by journalist Mrs. Lila Kountourioti, 
• Long Haul market Challenges & Opportunities: The Norse Atlantic Airways Case – “The Norse System”, a discussion with Mr. Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO, Norse Atlantic Airways, moderated by Mrs. Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, AIA 
• The Workshop Talks- “King side castling talks” 
• Digital transformation: increasing the odds of success, presented by Dr. Jan Siewert, Senior Manager Digital Transformation, AviAlliance 
• Enontekiö Airport, a unique case of airport operations, by Mr. Marko Halla, CEO / Airport Manager, Enontekiö Airport 
• IPO- “AIA’s Legendary Move”:
Opening Address by Mr. Michail Kefalogiannis, Chairman of the Board of Directors, AIA 
“Public Markets in 2024 & Beyond: The ATHEX Group case –a discussion with Mrs. Violeta Spyropoulou, President, CFA Society Greece, and Mr. Yianos Kontopoulos, CEO, Athens Exchange Group, moderated by Mr. Eleftheriou Georgios, Manager, Investor Relations, AIA 
• Making the Right Move: The Art of Strategic Thinking – “The Scholar’s Mate”, Mr. Garry Kasparov, Former World Chess Champion/ Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation; Author and Public Speaker 
 
The Workshop’s programme was concluded with the Closing Remarks and a “Check Mate” message of Mr. Yiannis Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO) of Athens International Airport, who referred to the outstanding results of the previous year, and to the exceptional cooperation across the entire Athens airport community in 2023, with the airport managing to significantly exceed not only the performance of 2022, but also to surpass the previous record of the pre-pandemic year 2019. In the context of his highlights of international challenges, among which geopolitical volatility and digital transformation, Mr. Paraschis placed special emphasis again this year to the major issue of the environment, elaborating on the next goals of the Athens International Airport to win the big bet of sustainability.
 

 

The Workshop included, as every year, the annual AIA awards presented to the airlines with the most successful development in 2023. Athens International Airport once again awarded the airlines that recorded the fastest growth during the previous year, recording significant growth rates and increased passenger traffic on their scheduled services to and from Athens. 

 
The airlines’ awards for the 2023 performance, were:
  
• Fastest Growing Airline in the Domestic Market
Winner: AEGEAN 
Highly Commended: SKY express
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in Western Europe
Winner: ITA Airways 
Highly Commended: SKY express
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in Eastern Europe
Winner: Wizz Air 
Highly Commended: Air Serbia
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in the Middle East 
Winner: Wizz Air
Highly Commended: Qatar Airways
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in Africa
Winner: AEGEAN
Highly Commended: EGYPTAIR
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in Asia
Winner: Scoot
Highly Commended: Air China
 
• Fastest Growing Airline in America
Winner: Emirates
 
• Fastest Growing Airline on a seasonal route / Europe
Winner: Jet2
Highly Commended: Norwegian
 
• Fastest Growing Airline on a seasonal route / America
Winner: Delta Air Lines
Highly Commended: Air Canada
 
• “Best of the Top 10 Airlines” Award for 2023
Winner: Wizz Air 
 
• Overall Traffic Performance Award for 2023
Winner: AEGEAN 
Highly Commended: SKY express
 
This year’s airline awards were presented with in the creative way of actors Dimitris Makalias and Zissis Roubos. 
 
AIA’s special award «You’re An AΘenian, too!» was presented to Mr. Stefan Merkenhof, GBR Consulting, for his contribution for many years, surveying the Athenian chessboard of visitors!
 

 

Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communication & Marketing of AIA, stated: 
 
"With great pleasure, as always, and - primarily with Strategic Thinking this year - we were delighted to organize the airport’s annual flagship event with this year’s concept being “The Art of Strategy” and the game of chess under the slogan "Let's make the right move!”. We welcomed our airline partners and guest speakers to the ... "Chess Academy" we prepared in Zappeion, to explore together, trends, opportunities and challenges, and to share the strategic thinking and experience of distinguished speakers!”
 
The reciprocal and efficient relationship enjoyed with our airline partners is characterized by the energy and spirit of excellent cooperation. Looking ahead, we once again express our sincere thanks to the airlines and we remain committed to continuing the strong relationship that we have built through the years."

 


PHOTOS
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2.2 Airline Marketing Workshop
 
 
2.2 Airline Marketing Workshop – “Sounding the Future”
 

Athens International Airport awarded the airlines with the fastest recovery in 2022

Focusing on the challenges that the next day holds in the field of aviation and the successive developments taking place in the international airport environment and in the world of technology, AIA’s Airline Marketing Workshop was held again on February 22nd, 2023, after three years, in the presence of more than 200 attendees. 

With the inventive and symbolic title “Sounding the Future”, the “2.2” airline marketing annual gathering (22nd since airport launch) brought together AIA, the Athens airport community, distinguished speakers from the field of aviation and beyond, sustainable tourism, academia, as well as from the world of artificial intelligence and futurology, eyeing the future and sustainable development.

All together "composed" the "Sounding of the Future" reflecting the double meaning of the English title "The Sounding of the Future" which refers to the term market sounding – the exchange of information and data and the continuous tracking and investigation of the market, but also - making a linguistic play with the "sounds", the exploration, the orchestration and the actual musical “synthesis of the future". 

The basic themes of the Workshop were the following: 

  • Athens Market Overview 2022 
  • What Happens Next? Trends, Risks, Opportunities & more in the Aviation Industry – A panel with distinguished aviation professionals and speakers, i.e.  Mr. Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President, IATA (Live Streaming) Mr. Jiri Marek, CEO, Air Serbia Mr. Robert Chad, Area Manager for France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Southern Europe, IATA and moderated by Mrs. Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing and Mr. Nikos Iosif, Manager, Operational Compliance & Transformation, AIA.
  • “The Airport Talk” – A fire-side chat with Mrs. Angela Gittens, former Director General, ACI World 
  • Travel in the age of chaos – Geopolitics & the Aviation Industry - Arthur Snell, Former British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago & Former Assistant Director for Counter - Terrorism at Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • “Sounding the Future” - Gerd Leonhard, Futurist, Humanist, author of “Technology vs Humanity” & CEO “The Futures Agency”
  • The “Sound” of the Future - Dimitrios Vassilakis, President of Jazz Democracy NPO - Artistic Director & founder of RIJF
  • “Accessing” Sustainable Aviation & Tourism – Panel Moderator: Mr. Thodoris Georgakopoulos, Journalist & Author and panelists Mr. Luigi Cabrini, Chair of the BoD, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Mrs. Alexia Panagiotopoulou, Head of Strategy, Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) Mrs. Maria Kapralou, Supervisor, Passengers & PRM Handling, AIA
  • Predicting the Future? AI & Game Theory - Dr. Constantinos Daskalakis, Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, MIT
  • Closing credits – AIA CEO, Dr Yiannis Paraschis 

A special symbolic moment of this year's Airline Marketing Workshop was the musical bridge connecting the past with the present and with the future, as presented by the composer Telemachos Mousas and his band, with the electronic "theremin" (aetherophone) invented in the 1920s and which is the only musical instrument that produces music without physical contact by the performer

The workshop’s Closing Credits were delivered by AIA’s CEO, Yiannis Paraschis. In his message, he referred to the positive outcome of the year that ended, the excellent cooperation and the effort made by the entire airport community effectively facing the critical challenges of 2022, but also those that the industry is anticipated to face, in the light of international challenges, the volatility of the geopolitical situation, the fast-paced development of technology and the major issue of sustainability & the environment.


AIA’s awards to the airlines with the fastest recovery in 2022

At the same time, Athens International Airport awarded for another year the airlines that recorded the most successful course of recovery and development during the previous year, recording significant recovery rates and passenger traffic volumes on their scheduled operations to and out of Athens.

These year’s awards analytically:

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Domestic

   SKY express was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the domestic market in 2022. 
   AEGEAN was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Western Europe

   Volotea was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Western Europe market.  
   Wizz Air was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Eastern Europe

   Tarom was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Eastern Europe market.   
   Wizz Air was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Middle East

   Gulf Air was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Middle East market.   
   El Al was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Africa

   EGYPTAIR was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Africa market.   
   AEGEAN was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – Asia

   Scoot was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Asia market.   
    Air China was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline – America

   Emirates was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the America market.   

  • Fastest Recovered Airline Seasonal Route – America

   Delta Air Lines was awarded for fastest recovery – seasonal route in the America market. 
   Air Canada was highly commended in the same category.

  • Fastest Recovered Airline Seasonal Route – Europe

    Brussels Airlines was awarded for fastest recovery – seasonal route in the Europe market. 
    Air Baltic was highly commended in the same category.

  • Overall traffic performance in 2022 - Growth

    SKY express was awarded for highest growth rate at Athens International Airport in 2022 

  • Overall traffic performance in 2022 - Volumes

    AEGEAN was awarded for recording the highest passenger traffic volume rates at Athens International Airport in 2022. 

  • Special Award:

  •   “You’re An AΘenian, too!” 

     For the first time ever, this special distinction was awarded to Angela Gittens, former Director General ACI World, for her valuable and multi-year contribution to the promotion of Athens in particularly difficult times.

    The title of this specific award has its origins in Athens International Airport’s successful “ΑΘenian” trilogy, an international campaign that promoted Athens to the traveling public worldwide, inviting them to visit the city and feel like citizens of Athens!

 

AIA’s Director, Communications & Marketing, Ioanna Papadopoulou stated on the occasion of this year’s Airline Marketing Workshop:
 
"It was with great joy and emotion that we organized our Workshop this year, which in fact was our first full in -person event after 3 years. We met our airline partners in the extraordinary venue of the Athens Conservatory to explore trends, risks and opportunities and share the knowledge and expertise of distinguished speakers.
 
Our two-way and rewarding relationship with our airline partners, and our common course, is characterized by the energy and spirit of excellent cooperation and adaptability in the field of aviation and tourism. We work closely together to compose and orchestrate the following day and, as we extend for yet another year our warmest thanks to the airlines, we remain true to the principles of meaningful cooperation and support that we have built.”

view the speakers profiles here
and the presenations here


PHOTOS
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20th Airline Marketing Workshop
 
 
AIA’s 20th Airline Marketing Workshop - “The Magic Spell of Change”
 
Aiming at identifying the ingredients of the “magic spell” of tomorrow’s changes and challenges in the aviation sector, the Athens International Airport hosted and celebrated its 20th Airline Marketing Workshop on February 27th.
 
During this year’s anniversary gathering, more than 200 guests had the opportunity to follow a rich agenda of topics that composed an ideal platform for a substantial “family” dialogue between the airport and its key partners. Moreover, Athens International Airport presented its annual awards to the airlines that achieved the fastest development and the highest increases in passenger volumes in their scheduled services during 2019. 
 
Speakers and AIA representatives composed a rich agenda including the following topics:
 
 
• Athens Market Overview 2019
• “Greek diaspora relations with the homeland; the travelling dynamics in the post 2010 era”, by Dr. Manolis Pratsinakis, Onassis/Seesox Fellow, University of Oxford
• “When the only constant is change: disruption and resilience in air transport”, by Andrew Matters, IATA Deputy Chief Economist
• Digital Transformation: “Delay and disruption management through Passenger-Centric ATM”, by Gianmaria Giaconia, CCO, Innov-ATM.
• The Digital Transformation 
- Digital Sky Challenge  
         “Delay and disruption management through Passenger-Centric ATM”, 
          Gianmaria Giaconia, CCO, Innov-ATM
         “A Tool for Safety Incident Analysis in Aviation” 
           The JBM Team
- The Digital Gate III - AIA's Digital Innovation and Youth Entrepreneurship Competition (Team Presentations - MyLayover, Enorasys).
• " Megashifts and paradigm changes: navigating the next 10 years", by Gerd Leonhard, Futurist, Humanist, CEO The Futures Agency.
 
Finally, Athens International Airport CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, concluded the workshop with the closing credits dedicated to the course that led to the very positive 2019. Highlighting strongly the exceptional cooperation and efforts of the entire airport community, AIA’s CEO referred also to the challenges lying ahead in light of international developments that affect airports, airlines and destinations.
 
 
This year’s airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:
  
A. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award in 2019
  • Volotea was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2019, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes. 
B. Best New Entrant Performance Award
  • Cyprus Airways was awarded for recording the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all new comers, while Wizz Air was highly commended.  
C. Fastest Growing Airline – European Seasonal Route
  • Brussels Airlines received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2019, while Croatia Airlines was highly commended. 
D. Fastest Growing Airline – America Seasonal Route
  • American Airlines received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2019, while Air Transat was highly commended. 
Ε.  Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award
  • Bulgaria Air received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2019, while Royal Jordanian was highly commended.
F. Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2019 /2018).
  • Sky Express was awarded as the fastest growing airline in the domestic sector. Ellinair was highly commended. 
  • Eurowings was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe while Iberia was highly commended.
  • Tarom was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe while Aegean Airlines was highly commended.
  • Qatar Airways was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East while Middle East Airlines was highly commended.
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Africa while Egypt Air was highly commended. 
  • Air China was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Asia while Scoot was highly commended.
  • Emirates was awarded as the fastest growing airline for America.
G. Overall Traffic Development Award
Aegean Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2019.
 
H. Special 20-year awards: “Most awarded airline in the last 20 years”
Aegean Airlines was honoured as the most awarded airline in the period 2001 – 2020, during 20 years of AIA Airline Marketing Workshops. Emirates and Qatar Airways ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
 
On AIA’s 20th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed out: 
 
“Our Workshop celebrated this year its 20th birthday! Our team is thrilled and proud to have been hosting for the last two decades this gathering that sets an ideal platform for the dialogue between the airport and our airline partners, fostering the spirit of cooperation, reciprocity, and innovation in the tourism and aviation sectors. 
Constant changes and the continuous need to promptly adapt to a new environment and move forward, was this year’s main theme and the true essence of our anniversary workshop. As the airport community jointly moves ahead on a common and mutually beneficial course, once more, we would like to sincerely thank our airline partners and re-affirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of collaboration and solidarity.”
 
On the following  link , you will find AIA’s Workshop presentations: https://www.aia.gr/media/workshop/workshop20/index.html
 
 
19th Airline Marketing Workshop
 
 
Focusing on the impressive “technological tomorrow” for the aviation sector, the 19th Airline Marketing Workshop was once again organized on March 14th by the Athens International Airport! 
 
Under the title “Do the mATH”, and with a thematic agenda focusing on AI, Big Data, and their impact on aviation and tourism sectors, 200 guests had the opportunity to follow a rich agenda of topics, serving, as every year, as an ideal platform for a substantial “family” dialogue among the airport and its key partners. Speakers and AIA representatives composed a rich agenda including the following topics:
 
  • Athens market overview 2018
  • “People of Greece 2009-2019”: Their new way of thinking… dream – experience – narrate!” by Mrs. Christina Carambela, Managind Director, qed market research
  • “Some privacy please” – The untold quest of passenger data, by Mr. Joseph Avramides, Manager, Data Protection & Compliance, AIA
  • “How to develop and protect your brand in the digital world”, by Mr. Pascal Buchner, CIO, IATA
  • “How is AIA Changing the Aviation & Tourism Business?”, by Mr. Patrick Schwerdtfeger, Business Futurist
  • “Data science and AIA in easyJet”, by Mr. Grigorios Mingas, Lead Data Scientist, easyJet
  • “Robots, AI, Humans, and the Future of Aviation”, by Dr. Nikolaos Mavridis, PhD, MIT, Academic and Consultant in Robotics and AI
 
  It is worth noting that, in the futuristic and tech spirit of the workshop, AIA’s robot, Pepper, was welcoming at the workshop airline representatives and guests, while Ermis - The Robot, by the robotics team “Kouretes” of the Polytechnic University of Crete, was the main presenter introducing the workshop’s speakers and their topics! In addition, a video interview with Sophia, the unique social humanoid, was among the workshop highlights, talking about her experiences regarding Athens, air travelling and the Athens airport! 
 
Finally, Athens International Airport CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, concluded the workshop with the closing credits dedicated to the course that led to the very positive 2018 track record and the 2019 positive prospects, highlighting the exceptional cooperation and efforts of the entire airport community.
 
 
 
Moreover, as every year, Athens International Airport also presented its annual awards to the airlines that achieved the fastest development and the highest increases in passenger volumes in their scheduled services during 2018. 
 
 
This year’s airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:
  
A. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award in 2018
 
  • Sky Express was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2018, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes. 
B. Best New Entrant Performance Award
 
  • Scoot was awarded for recording the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all newcomers
C. Fastest Growing Airline – European Seasonal Route
 
  • Volotea received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2018, while Air Baltic was highly commended. 
D. Fastest Growing Airline – America Seasonal Route
 
  • United Airlines received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2018, while Air Canada was highly commended. 
Ε.  Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award
 
  • Royal Jordanian received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2018.
F. Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2018 /2017).
 
  • Sky Express was awarded as the fastest growing airline in the domestic sector.
    Ellinair was highly commended. 
 
  • Vueling was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe while Iberia was highly commended.
  • Ryanair was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe while Aeroflot was highly commended.
  • Gulf Air was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East while Etihad was highly commended.
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Africa. 
  • Air China was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Asia while Scoot was highly commended. 
  • Emirates was awarded as the fastest growing airline for America.
G. Overall Traffic Development Award
 
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2018. 
 
Also:
 
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the favourite airline for 2018 among the European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
  • Emirates was awarded as the favourite airline for 2018 among the non-European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
 
 
On AIA’s 19th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed out: 
 
“It was our utmost pleasure to welcome our airline partners this year as well, at the Athens International Airport’s 19th Airline Marketing Workshop. It is very important to us that an annual event like our Workshop, keeps fostering the spirit of innovation & novelty, focusing, at the same time, on new technological trends and their impact on the tourism and aviation sectors. That was indeed the main theme and the true essence of this year’s gathering, which reflects our philosophy, as the airport community jointly moves ahead on a common and mutually beneficial course.
 
Once more, we would like to sincerely thank our airline partners and re-affirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of substantial collaboration.”
 
 

View the agenda here!

View the speakers' profiles here 
and their presentations here!
 

18th Airline Marketing Workshop
 

AIA’s 18th Airline Marketing Workshop “The PairFUME of the Athenian Spring”

Athens International Airport awards airlines for their development in 2017.

With the “Pairfume” of the aviation and tourism “Athenian Spring” already…in the air, the 18th Airline Marketing Workshop was once again organized on March 1st by the Athens International Airport! 
 
Under the title “The PairFUME of the Athenian Spring”, 250 guests had the opportunity to follow a rich agenda of topics, serving, as every year, as an ideal platform for a substantial “family” dialogue among the airport and its key partners. At the Zappeion Megaro in the centre of Athens, speakers and AIA representatives composed a rich agenda including the following topics:
 
  • Athens market overview 2017
  • Trends shaping visitor demand in 2018: Focus on Athens / Peter Jordan, Head of Insights, Toposophy
  • “Wanderlust Athens”: The new innovative social media campaign for Athens, an AIA & Marketing Greece initiative / Ioanna Dretta, CEO, Marketing Greece
  • The Airport as a #Hub of Stories: The airport’s next digital step, stories of everyday passengers in the framework of “Athens: 2018 UNESCO World Book Capital” / Thodoris Georgakopoulos, Journalist – Writer
  • Dreams Soar: Shaesta Waiz’s amazing global solo flight for STEM
  • Let’s talk Customer Experience / John Young, CEO, JCY Associates, Marketing & Consumer Behaviour
  • Art of the Possible: Innovation & Technology across Aviation / Houman Goudarzi, Manager, Innovation, IATA
- Inspired by this year’s “PairFume” slogan, airline representatives had the chance to vote their favourite “Athens Spring aromas”, thus composing and creating a new, unique fragrance, the “Athens Aroma”!
 
Finally, Athens International Airport CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, concluded the workshop with the closing credits dedicated to the course that led to the very positive 2017 track record and the 2018 positive prospects, highlighting the exceptional cooperation and efforts of the entire airport community.
 
Moreover, as every year, Athens International Airport also presented its annual awards to the airlines that achieved the fastest development and the highest increases in passenger volumes in their scheduled services during 2017. 
 
 

This year’s airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:

A. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award

  •  Sky Express was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2017, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes.

Β.  Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2017 /2016).

  • Sky Express was awarded as the fastest growing airline in the domestic sector.
  • Olympic Air was highly commended. 
     
  • Pegasus Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe while Austrian Airlines was highly commended.
  • Ryanair was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe while Aeroflot was highly commended.
  • Middle East Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East while Emirates was highly commended.
  • Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Africa while Egypt Air was highly commended.
  • Air China was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Asia. 
  • Emirates was awarded as the fastest growing airline for America while Air Canada was highly commended.

C.    Fastest Growing Airline – Seasonal European Route

  • Croatia Airlines received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2017, while Air Baltic was highly commended.

D.    Best New Entrant Performance award 

  • Cobalt was awarded for recording the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all new comers

E.    Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award

  • Royal Jordanian received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2017.

 F. Overall Traffic Development Award

-  Aegean Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes       increase at Athens International Airport in 2017.  

Also:
 
- Aegean Airlines was awarded as the favourite airline for 2017 among the European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
 

- Emirates was awarded as the favourite airline for 2017 among the non-European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).

On the occasion of AIA’s 18th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed out:

“It was our utmost pleasure to welcome our airline partners   this year as well, at the Athens International Airport’s 18th Airline Marketing Workshop.  This year’s Workshop “dispersed the aroma” of innovation and successful synergies aiming at enhancing the image and the connectivity of Athens.

That was indeed the main theme and the true essence of this year’s gathering, which reflects our philosophy of partnership and cooperation towards a common and mutually beneficial course. This year’s venue, theZappeion Megaro in the heart of the city, was indeed an ideal spot for us to present our strategic and targeted actions.

Once more, we would like to sincerely thank our airline partners and re-affirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of substantial collaboration.”

View the presentations here!
View the 18th Airline Marketing Workshop Highlights video!

PHOTOS
Photo gallery ›

17th Airline Marketing Workshop
 

Athens International Airport awards airlines for their development in 2016 at the “Lighthouse” of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

The 17th Airline Marketing Workshop organized by the Athens International Airport, was dedicated to innovation and the “novel” approach, under the title “Making the … novel way”. More than 200 guests had the opportunity to follow a rich agenda of topics, serving, as every year, as an ideal platform for a substantial dialogue among the airport and its key partners.

Based on an actual novel titled “Lost and Found: An Aθenian Story”, written especially for the Athens International Airport in the framework of the inventive and awarded campaign “Aviation Marketing delivered in a … novel way”, the guest speakers and AIA representatives composed a rich agenda at Athens’ brand-new Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, including the following topics:

•    Athens market overview 2016, including latest technology developments, revamp of airport infrastructure and airport commitment in environmental protection reflected in AIA’s certification for carbon neutrality.
•    Round the World: Ms. Effie Panagiotopoulou, Ryanair Media and Advertising Manager / Brand Communications, presented the airline’s business model and innovations
•    Colourful Airplanes: Mr. Lee Lik Hsin, CEO of Scoot, the newcomer in the Athens market, presented the airline’s profile and the new route that will connect Athens with Singapore as of June
•    A connected world: How to improve airport capacity management through Collaborative Scheduling Decisions, by Professor Konstantinos G. Zografos, Lancaster University Management School
•    A row of bizarre coincidences, by the inspirational speaker, Mr. Caspar Berry, on risk taking and decision making
•    “Lost and Found: An Aθenian Story”: The prospect of Athens as a city break destination, by Mr. Iossif Parsalis, General Manager, Marketing Greece
•    And… more of Athens, with the campaign “One City Never Ending Stories” of the Αthens Tourism Partnership, (a collaboration of Athens Municipality, Aegean Airlines and Athens International Airport) presented by Thanassis Papathanassiou, Vice President & Executive Creative Director, Frank & Fame

Athens International Airport CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, concluded the workshop with the closing credits dedicated to the course that led to the very positive 2016 track record, highlighting the exceptional cooperation and efforts of the entire airport community.

Moreover, as every year, Athens International Airport also presented its annual awards to the airlines that achieved the fastest development and the highest increases in passenger volumes in their scheduled services during 2016.

This year’s airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:
 
A. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award in 2016
 
  - Ryanair was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2016, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes. In the same category, Emirates was highly commended.
 
Β. Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2016 /2015)

- Ryanair was awarded as the fastest growing airline in the domestic sector.

- Astra Airlines was highly commended.

- Blue Air was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe while Ryanair was highly commended.
 
- Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe while Ukraine International Airlines was highly commended.
 
- Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East while El Al Israel Airlines was highly commended.

-  Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Africa while Egypt Air was highly commended.

C. Fastest Growing Airline - Seasonal Route
 
-  Israir received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in summer 2016, while Croatia Airlines was highly commended.

D. Best New Entrant Performance Award
 
-  Ellinair was awarded for recording the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all new comers

Ε.  Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award
 
- Sky Express received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2016, while Royal Jordanian was highly commended.

F.   Highest Ranking European Destination
 
- British Airways received the award for the highest contribution in making London the top European destination out of Athens.
 
G.   Highest Ranking Non-European Destination
 
  - Qatar Airways received the award for the highest contribution in making Doha the top non-European destination out of Athens.
 
Η. Overall Traffic Development Award

   Ryanair was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2016. 

Also:

-  Aegean Airlines was awarded as the favourite airline for 2016 among the European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
 
-  Emirates was awarded as the favourite airline for 2016 among the non-European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).


Special Destination … “Lost and Found” Awards for the re-establishment of routes to / from Athens

-  Emirates was awarded for re-establishing the Athens – New York direct route.

-  Scoot was awarded for re-establishing the Athens – Singapore direct route.


On the occasion of AIA’s 17th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed out:

“It was our utmost pleasure to welcome for another year our airline partners, in Athens International Airport’s 17th Airline Marketing Workshop.  It is very important to us that an annual event like our Workshop, keeps fostering the spirit of innovation and novelty. That was indeed the main theme and the true essence of this year’s gathering, which reflects our philosophy as the airport community jointly moves ahead on a common and mutually beneficial course.

This year’s venue, the “Lighthouse” of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, made our event a very special experience for us all. We are the first company hosting an event at this brilliant “new destination” of our city. It was indeed an ideal spot for us to present our strategic and targeted actions, aiming at enhancing the connectivity of Athens.

Once more, we would like to sincerely thank our airline partners and re-affirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of substantial collaboration.”


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16th Airline Marketing Workshop
 

Athens International Airport awards airlines for their development in 2015

AIA’s airline marketing support programmes, designed to apply to the airlines’ specific profiles and developmental needs – a package of tailor made, targeted actions also presented in the airport’s highly creative and awarded campaign “Tailor Made Airline Marketing” - along with an overview of the first 15 years of Athens International Airport - were the main focus of the 16th Airline Marketing Workshop, a gathering organized by AIA on an annual basis.

AIA’s Workshop was held on March 3rd, serving, as every year, as an ideal platform for a substantial dialogue among the airport and its key partners, offering a rich agenda of topics, including: The year 2015 review, AIA’s Destination Marketing initiatives for Athens, liberalization and profits for the airline industry, travel loyalty schemes, and the enhancement of passenger experience at the Athens International Airport.
 
The 250 guests had the opportunity to attend the presentations of key speakers, namely, Dr Barry Humphreys - CBE, BKH Aviation, Kam Jandu - Director Aviation Budapest Airport, Aldo Schmid – Aviation Marketing & Traffic Rights Manager Milan Airports SEA, Maria Kouroupi – Senior Marketing Manager Hermes Airports and Arkadiusz Mlyniec - Business Solution Manager, COMARCH.

In addition, this year’s Airline Marketing Workshop offered a special highlight moment, when, airport employees presented on stage, for the first time, their new terminal uniforms, created by the famous Greek designer, Sophia Kokosalaki.

As every year, the Athens International Airport also presented its annual awards to the airlines that achieved the fastest development and the highest increases in passenger volumes in their scheduled services during 2015.
 
The airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:
 
A. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award
 
-    Turkish Airlines was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2015, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes.
 
Β.  Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award
 
-  Sky Express received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2015, while Bulgaria Air was highly commended.
 
C.    Fastest Growing Airline – Seasonal European Route
 
-  Germanwings received the award for achieving the highest percentage passenger growth in the summer period of 2015, while Brussels Airlines was highly commended.

D.    Fastest Growing Airline – Seasonal Non-European Route

 

-  Air Canada Rouge received the award for achieving the highest percentage passenger growth in the summer period of 2015, while Delta Airlines was highly commended.
 
E.    Highest Ranking European Destination
 
-  easyJet received the award for the highest contribution in making London the top European destination out of Athens.
 
F.  Highest Ranking Non-European Destination
 
-  Qatar Airways received the award for the highest contribution in making Doha the top non-European destination out of Athens.
 
G.    Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2015 /2014)
 
-  Aegean Airlines / Olympic Air was awarded as the fastest growing airline in the domestic sector.
 
- Turkish Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe, while Transavia was highly commended.
 
-  Ukraine International Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe, while Aegean Airlines was highly commended.
 
-  Aegean Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East while Etihad Airways was highly commended.
 
 H. Best New Entrant Performance Award
 
-  Ryanair was awarded for recording in 2015 the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all new comers that launched scheduled operations in 2014. Transavia France was highly commended.
 
 I. Overall Traffic Development Award

-  Aegean Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2015. 

 
Also:
 
-  Aegean Airlines was awarded as the favourite airline for 2015 among the European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
 
-  Emirates was awarded as the favourite airline for 2015 among the non-European passengers using the Athens International Airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
 

 
Special Awards:
 
Special Distinction “Record Year 2015”
 
-  Ryanair was awarded for its key contribution in the additional passenger traffic volumes recorded at the airport during the record year 2015.
 
 Special Anniversary 2001-2015 Award
 
-  Aegean Airlines was awarded for carrying the biggest number of passengers through the airport in the period 2001 – 2015. Lufthansa was highly commended in the same category.
 
 
On the occasion of AIA’s 16th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed out:
 
“It was our utmost pleasure to welcome for one more year our airline partners in our Airline Marketing Workshop; this annual meeting is by now an institution in the aviation market, reflecting the essence of our philosophy as we move ahead on a common, mutually beneficial course within a highly challenging and constantly evolving environment. This year, we presented our marketing strategy and actions, including all targeted schemes and initiatives we have designed and implemented, to create the environment allowing airlines to further develop and boost Destination “Athens” as well. Once more, we would like to sincerely thank our airline partners and reaffirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of substantial collaboration.”

 

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15th Airline Marketing Workshop
 

Connectivity held the leading role of the 15th Airline Marketing Workshop, organized by Athens International Airport. This year’s Workshop, held on February 19th, reviewed 2014, a year marked by significant traffic recovery, and dealt with the increase of the Athens network connectivity and the optimistic prospects for traffic development in 2015.

For the last 15 years the annual Airline Marketing Workshop, an internationally acknowledged innovative initiative of Athens International Airport, has evolved into a true institution for the Athens aviation market. Aiming at the exchange of views between the airport and its airline partners, the Workshop serves as an ideal platform for a substantial cooperation among aviation partners in the context of the industry’s many issues and challenges. As every year, the content of the Workshop reflects the Athens International Airport’s philosophy to offer airlines its continuous support and useful tools to assist in their developmental efforts, especially during the continuing adverse economic conditions.

A year of record growth for the Athens aviation market

Key points of the 2014 review were extensively presented during this year’s Workshop: As regards network development, in the previous year Athens connectivity increased significantly, with 8 new airlines, 13 new international destinations and 168 new international weekly services in the summer. Passenger traffic recorded a 21.2% increase, surpassing 2013 levels by 2.7 million: Foreign travellers rose by 29%, while Greek passengers recorded a double-digit increase as well (+22.5%). Following its impressive growth in passenger traffic, flights and seats, Athens airport climbed at the top position among European airports in its category.

Agenda of this year’s Workshop included among others: an experts’ panel discussion on aviation trends and perspectives moderated by Ralph Anker, Chief Analyst of the anna.aero international aviation web portal; AIA’s IT&T Director, George Demetriades, presented airport’s innovations and developments; new trends in the Media world were presented by George Frangakis, Managing Director, Forestview and Jeff Howe, Editor of The Wired Magazine, with a presentation on “Crowd Sourcing”; and, the Director General of ACI Europe, Olivier Jankovec gave a presentation on global aviation connectivity. In his closing credits, AIA’s CEO, Yiannis Paraschis, highlighted positive perspectives following a year that produced great results and took the chance to thank the airlines for their excellent cooperation and commitment to the Athens market.

In addition, as every year Athens International Airport rewarded the airlines that recorded the fastest growth and drastically increased passenger numbers in their scheduled services. “Connie” (from Connectivity) entertained the 180 attendees and added a special tone of music and dance during this year’s gathering!

The airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:

  1. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award was awarded to Emirates as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2014, while Aegean Airlines and easyJet were highly commended.
  2. Fastest Growing Airline - Thin Route Award was awarded to Bulgaria Air for achieving the highest annual passenger growth in 2014, while Air Moldova was highly commended.
  3. Fastest Growing Airline - Seasonal Routes Award was awarded to Air Baltic for achieving the highest passenger growth in the summer period of 2014, while Air Canada and US Airways were highly commended.
  4. Highest Ranking European Destination was awarded to British Airways for the highest contribution in making London the top European destination out of Athens.
  5. Highest Ranking non-European Destination was awarded to Emirates for the highest contribution in making Dubai the top non-European destination out of Athens.
  6. Fastest Growing Airline Awards per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2013 - 2014) were awarded to Aegean Airlines in the domestic sector, Transavia.com for Western Europe (with Vueling and Pegasus Airlines highly commended), Air Serbia for Eastern Europe (with Aegean Airlines and Aeroflot highly commended), Aegean Airlines for the Middle East (with Etihad Airways and El Al Israel Airlines also highly commended) and Egypt Air for the Africa region.
  7. Best New Entrant Performance was awarded to Ukraine International Airlines for recording the highest passenger traffic numbers among all newcomers that launched scheduled operations in 2013 and Aegean Airlines for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2014, with Transavia.com also highly commended in this category.

Special awards were also awarded to Aegean Airlines as the favourite airline for 2014 among European passengers using Athens airport and Emirates as the favourite airline for the same year among non-European passengers using Athens airport. Both results were according to AIA’s official annual survey.

On the occasion of AIA’s 15th Airline Marketing Workshop, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, pointed: “It was our great pleasure to welcome our airline partners to our Airline Marketing Workshop for one more year; this annual meeting has now become an institution in the aviation market and resonates our philosophy as we move ahead on a mutually beneficial common course. Once more, we would like to thank our airline partners and reconfirm our commitment to keep supporting them in the same spirit of substantial collaboration.”

 

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14th Airline Marketing Workshop
 

This year’s Airline Marketing Workshop was held on February 20th and worked on topics such as a market overview of the “stabilisation year” 2013, optimistic forecasts for traffic development in 2014, incentives policy for sustaining and enhancing of the overall Athens traffic, AIA’s actions aiming at boosting the city’s attractiveness and potential as a destination and the airport’s presence in the social media. Furthermore, guest speakers presented trends and future challenges for the global aviation industry, further development potential, extension of the tourist period for Athens, case-studies of the Turkish and Croatian destination marketing strategy and airports and airlines benefits from exploiting social media as witnessed by the international experience.

Finally, as every year, Athens International Airport awarded airlines with the fastest development and highest growth in passenger numbers in their scheduled services during 2013.

The airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:

  1. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award was awarded to Turkish Airlines as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2013 among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes, with Alitalia and Aegean Airlines also highly commended.
  2. Fastest Growing Airline in a Thin Route Award was awarded to Royal Jordanian for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2013, with Pegasus Airlines also highly commended.
  3. Fastest Growing Airline / Seasonal Routes Award was awarded to Norwegian for achieving the highest percentage passenger growth in the summer period of 2013, while US Airways and Air Transat were also highly commended.
  4. Highest Ranking European Destination was awarded to British Airways for the highest contribution in making London the top European destination out of Athens.
  5. Highest Ranking non-European Destination was awarded to Emirates for the highest contribution in making Dubai the top non-European destination out of Athens.
  6. Fastest Growing Airline Awards per geographical region (highest percentage passenger growth, 2012 - 2013) were granted to Aegean Airlines in the domestic sector, Turkish Airlines for Western Europe (with SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Alitalia highly commended in the same category), Aegean Airlines for Eastern Europe (with Aeroflot and Tarom highly commended in the same category), El Al – Israel Airlines for the Middle East (with Emirates and Middle East Airlines also highly commended), Egypt Air for the Africa region and Air China for the Asia region. Aegean Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2013 and Turkish Airlines and El Al - Israel Airlines were also highly commended.

Two special awards were also granted, one to Aegean Airlines as the favourite airline for 2013 among European passengers using the Athens airport and Emirates among non-European passengers using the Athens airport, according to AIA’s annual survey).

This year’s guest speakers were:

  • Christopher Kaparounakis, Vice President of GNTO
  • Iosif Parsalis, General Manager, Marketing Greece
  • Dr Rafael Echevarne, Director Economics and Programme Development, ACI World
  • Luis Fonseca de Almeida, Regional Director of the ICAO EURNAT (European & North Atlantic Office)
  • Tim-Jasper Schaaf, Director Marketing and Sales, IATA
  • Asli Gundogdu Aksungur, Tourism and Cultural Attaché, Turkish Tourist Board
  • Igor Borojević, Market Planning, Analysis and Strategy Department Manager, Croatian National Tourist Board
  • David McMullen, Vice President, SimpliFlying
  • Stavros Kontaktsis, VP / Strategy Director, avakon+

Journalist Mr Haris Ntigrintakis was Panel Moderator

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