Aegean Airlines (ICAO: AEE) is the flag carrier of Greece and the largest Greek airline, known for its extensive network and commitment to service.
Aegean Airlines traces its origins back to Aegean Aviation, founded in 1987. After its acquisition by the Vassilakis Group in 1994, it was rebranded as Aegean Airlines and commenced commercial flights in May 1999, initially operating routes from Athens to Heraklion and Thessaloniki. The airline expanded through strategic acquisitions, notably incorporating Air Greece in December 1999 and later acquiring Olympic Air in 2013, though both brands continue to operate separately.
The airline's main operational bases and hubs are Athens International Airport (ATH), Macedonia International Airport (SKG) in Thessaloniki, and Larnaca International Airport (LCA) in Cyprus. Its head office is located in Kifisia, Greece. Aegean Airlines operates a modern fleet primarily composed of Airbus A320 family aircraft, including A319s, A320s, A320neos, A321s, and A321neos. Its subsidiary, Olympic Air, also operates turboprop aircraft like the Dash 8-100, Dash 8-Q400, ATR 42-600, and ATR 72-600 for regional routes. The airline offers scheduled and charter services, focusing on an extensive route network that connects major Greek, European, and Middle Eastern destinations. As of November 2025, it serves over 150 destinations (including 31 domestic and more than 120 international) across 47 countries.
Aegean Airlines has been a proud member of the Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance, since June 2010. For its passengers, Aegean offers Economy Class (with GoLight and Flex fare options) and Business Class. Business Class provides enhanced comfort and privileges, such as priority check-in, fast-track security, lounge access, increased baggage allowance, complimentary welcome drinks, gourmet Greek meals curated by executive chefs, and greater ticket flexibility. The airline also features its Miles+Bonus frequent-flyer program, allowing members to earn and redeem miles across the Star Alliance network. Wi-Fi services are also available onboard for connectivity.
Traveler reviews for Aegean Airlines indicate a generally positive experience with certain recurring complaints.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall, the sentiment suggests that Aegean Airlines often delivers a high-quality in-flight experience, especially concerning crew hospitality and catering. However, operational consistency, particularly with punctuality and ground-based customer service during disruptions, appears to be an area for improvement, leading to a mixed perception among travelers.
Aegean Airlines maintains an excellent safety record, having commenced commercial operations in 1999 with no major accidents or passenger fatalities to date. While minor operational incidents, such as bird strikes, cracked windshields, and instances of turbulence or a loss of cabin pressure (e.g., in July 2023), have occurred, these are not considered indicative of systemic safety concerns and are managed without significant damage or injuries.
The airline adheres strictly to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations and implements rigorous safety management systems. It is also IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registered, meaning it passes the International Air Transport Association's global safety management standards, which are renewed every two years. Furthermore, Aegean Airlines received a 4-star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating from Skytrax, acknowledging its adherence to health and safety measures proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and IATA.
Aegean Airlines operates a modern fleet, predominantly consisting of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The average age of its all-Airbus fleet was 9.6 years as of December 2022, making it younger than those of many other established European carriers. The airline emphasizes meticulous day-by-day maintenance conducted in its modern hangar facilities by a specialized technical department. Every aircraft is equipped with sophisticated safety systems, including TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System).
Based on available data, Aegean Airlines is widely assessed as a safe and reliable European carrier. It consistently receives high safety ratings from aviation safety monitors, including a 7/7 score on AirlineRatings.com. The airline's consistent recognition as the "Best Regional Airline in Europe" by Skytrax multiple times also underscores its commitment to high standards of safety and efficiency alongside service quality.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HER → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
476 | 192 mi | A21N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| SKG → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
428 | 186 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| JTR → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
399 | 136 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| LCA → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
256 | 579 mi | A21N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| RHO → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
256 | 252 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| JMK → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
179 | 84 mi | A320 | Oct 25, 2025 |
| SKG → FRA |
Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
|
112 | 959 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SKG → MUC |
Munich Int'l
Munich
|
103 | 772 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| ATH → SKG |
Thessaloniki Int'l, Makedonia
Thessaloniki
|
100 | 186 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| ATH → JTR |
Santorini (Thira) National
Santorini (Thira)
|
77 | 136 mi | A320 | Nov 21, 2025 |
| ATH → HER |
Heraklion Int'l, Nikos Kazantzakis
Heraklion (Iraklion)
|
71 | 192 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SKG → LCA |
Larnaca Int'l
Larnaca
|
67 | 701 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TIA → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
62 | 329 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| KGS → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
61 | 190 mi | A320 | Dec 2, 2025 |
| LCA → TLV |
Ben Gurion Int'l
Tel Aviv
|
58 | 211 mi | A20N | Dec 8, 2025 |
| TLV → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
57 | 742 mi | A321 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| ATH → BCN |
Barcelona Int'l
Barcelona
|
56 | 1185 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| HER → SKG |
Thessaloniki Int'l, Makedonia
Thessaloniki
|
54 | 378 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| ATH → LCA |
Larnaca Int'l
Larnaca
|
51 | 579 mi | A21N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| LCA → SKG |
Thessaloniki Int'l, Makedonia
Thessaloniki
|
51 | 701 mi | A320 | Dec 2, 2025 |
| ATH → RHO | Rhodes Int'l, Diagoras | 48 | 252 mi | A320 | Nov 28, 2025 |
| HER → MUC |
Munich Int'l
Munich
|
45 | 1131 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TBS → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
43 | 1143 mi | A20N | Dec 4, 2025 |
| OTP → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
41 | 472 mi | A20N | Dec 5, 2025 |
| MJT → ATH |
Athens Int'l, Eleftherios Venizelos
Athens
|
40 | 163 mi | A320 | Dec 3, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.