Aegean Airlines: What to Expect From Greece's National Carrier, According to Passengers

History and positioning

Born in the late 1990s from the restructuring of earlier Greek carriers, Aegean has consolidated its dominant position over the years, absorbing the historic Olympic Air in 2013, which now operates as the group's regional brand. The strategy is that of a traditional network carrier: fares that include services, a loyalty program and an offering designed for both tourists and business travelers.

The fleet

The fleet is based on the Airbus A320/A321 family, including the most recent neo versions introduced to renew fuel consumption on short- and medium-haul routes, supported by Olympic Air's ATR 72s on the islands with shorter runways. The cabins offer two classes on much of the network, with wider seats and priority boarding in the higher class.

Routes and network

The model is that of a true hub-and-spoke centered on Athens, from which radiate both the island routes — Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Crete among the busiest — and the international connections to capitals such as Rome, Paris, London and Frankfurt, also useful as connections into the network of the other Star Alliance members.

On board and service

On board Aegean maintains the standard of a traditional scheduled airline: a meal or snack depending on the length of the flight, checked baggage included in the standard fare and a loyalty program, Miles+Bonus, that lets you earn points that can also be spent across the Star Alliance network. It is a positioning that clearly sets it apart from Sky Express's low-cost model on the same domestic routes.

What passengers say

• Polished onboard service and courteous staff, often cited as a strength compared with the regional low-cost competitors.
• Good punctuality on the main routes to and from Athens.
• Convenience of included baggage for those traveling with vacation suitcases to the islands.

• Higher fares than the low-cost competition on the same island routes in high season.
• More frequent delays on routes to the smaller islands on windy days, when the ATR 72s are more sensitive to weather conditions.

Aegean is the right choice for anyone who wants a complete service to the Greek islands or a reliable connection within the Star Alliance network, and for those who prefer to pay a little more to have baggage and assistance included. It is less suitable for those traveling with a light backpack who just want the lowest possible price on a short domestic route, where Sky Express remains more competitive. A practical tip: to Santorini and Mykonos in high season, book Aegean flights well in advance, because seats on the base fares sell out quickly and the price jump to the flexible fares is steep.