Newcastle International Airport welcomed AEGEAN, the national airline of Greece and largest Greek airline, for its first direct flight from the North East to Athens on Wednesday 14 June 2023.
Named as the ‘Best Regional Airline in Europe’ for 11 consecutive years at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, AEGEAN now operates direct flights to the Greek capital every Wednesday and Sunday.
Athens is regarded as Europe’s most historic city and offers a range of spectacular sights, landmarks and museums. As well as a direct connection to Athens, passengers can also travel onwards onto AEGEAN’s extensive network, including the Greek islands of Paros, Chios and Lesbos, as well as further afield in Europe and the Middle East, including Larnaca and Istanbul.
Another popular option for passengers flying to Athens is to explore the stunning network of 277 Greek Islands, which are easily accessible on arrival into the Greek capital via sea or air.
The new airline was welcomed to the region by Airport staff, regional travel agents and representatives from the North East Greek community. Passengers flying on the busy first flight were greeted with complimentary refreshments and a commemorative certificate to mark the launch of the new route.
Welcoming the new service, Dimitris Doumarapis, a member of the North East Greek community, said: “I am incredibly excited about the new direct flights from Newcastle to Athens. It is something that I and the Greek community in the North East have anticipated for years, and I am grateful to all the people involved that have made this possible.
“Thanks to AEGEAN and Newcastle International Airport, this bridge between two cities means my Nana can finally meet her great-grandchild for the first time.”
Karen and Joani, from Newcastle, who were flying to Greece to visit their family for six weeks, said: “This flight means the world to us because we can now easily connect with our family who lives in Athens and the Greek island, Leros.
“We are firstly going to visit our sister who lives in the Greek capital, and after a few weeks, we have booked through AEGEAN to fly to Leros to watch our niece get married and the christening of her little boy.”
Leon McQuaid, Director of Aviation Development at Newcastle International Airport, said: “We are delighted to deliver this new service in partnership with AEGEAN. Greece is one of the North East’s most popular holiday destinations and the arrival of this new airline partner will further enhance our connections for passengers in the region.
“A direct service to Athens has been an ambition for the team at Newcastle International Airport for a long time. It is fantastic to finally wave off the first flight to the Greek capital this evening.”
Flights to Athens from Newcastle International Airport are on sale now, with economy and business class available. Passengers can save up to 30% when booking between 15th – 17th June 2023. To book, visit en.aegeanair.com or contact your local travel agent.