Aegean Airlines will start operating direct flights on the Athens - Baku-Athens route for the first time

Baku/10.08.23/Turan: Azerbaijan has taken the initiative to introduce yet another foreign airline within its borders. The prominent Greek carrier, Aegean Airlines, has announced plans to operate direct flights between Athens and Baku, with service set to commence from September. This development was confirmed by the airline itself.

Scheduled to operate on Mondays and Fridays starting September 29, these flights mark an expansion of international connectivity for the Azerbaijani travel market. However, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), the local airline, has not yet offered any official response to this information. It's worth noting that Teymur Hasanov, the director of the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport, revealed on August 3 that regional airports could potentially serve as bases for foreign airlines.

The incorporation of new international carriers into Azerbaijan's airports is guided by the principles of the fifth and seventh air freedom groups, fostering a climate of parity between foreign and Azerbaijani airlines. This approach grants foreign airlines the right to perform transit flights through Azerbaijani airports.

The choice of September for inaugurating the Athens-Baku route is strategic. As reported by airlineweekly.com, Greece's airline market is known for its seasonality, characterized by robust profits in the summer months and corresponding losses in winter. Therefore, any profit realized in the fourth quarter is deemed a noteworthy achievement. For Aegean Airlines, the decision to expand into the fourth quarter follows an exceptionally strong summer period, during which operating margins soared to 29%, ranking among the highest globally. Only Ryanair and Turkish Pegasus boasted better performances in this quarter. Over the past three years, TSR Aegean Airlines has seen its stock profitability exceed expectations by a remarkable 228%.

Aegean Airlines will join the ranks of other carriers serving Azerbaijan, including Qatar Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Azimut, Uzbek Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Air Baltic, Finnair, Egyptair, Emirates, Aeroflot, flydubai, UTair, American Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air Arabia, and more. This new addition to the list reflects Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to expand its air travel options and facilitate international connections.--0--