Aegean Airlines will increase its seat offering this year by 10% compared to 2024, to reach 21.5 million seats, Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis said on Tuesday during a briefing for institutional analysts.
“Greece remains an attractive travel destination and Aegean has an established position,” Vassilakis stressed, adding that he is looking forward to a 6-7% increase, mainly from the Athens and Thessaloniki hubs. The increase in capacity comes in a year where the impact from the need for early checks on Pratt & Whitney engines will continue.
“The peak of this issue is set from end-2025 to mid-2026, a period during which 13-15 aircraft will be grounded,” explained the head of Aegean, clarifying that from 2027 the situation is expected to de-escalate. “We remind you that the compensation from the manufacturer is significant but does not cover all the effects. Despite the above limitations, the capacity increase will come mainly from the delivery of two or three [Airbus] A321neo aircraft on an annual basis, which have a greater number of seats – approximately 220 each – compared to the A320neo.”
On Aegean’s 25-million-euro investment last summer in Volotea, participating in the €50 million capital increase of the Spanish low-cost carrier through a loan convertible into shares, Vassilakis said that an additional smaller investment of €5 million has been made, raising the sum to €30 million.
“The first stage of our participation in Volotea has been positive. The reality is that Volotea’s performance has exceeded our expectations,” he said. It is noted that the Spanish airline recorded a strong increase in EBITDA, which from €95 million in 2023 closed at €150 million in 2024. Currently, Aegean and Volotea are in negotiations to decide whether the second stage of the investment will follow. The outcome of the talks will be announced by the summer.
After the first year of operation of the aircraft maintenance center at Athens Airport, collaboration with major European airlines has already begun; they have sent some aircraft for test maintenance work, while within the next two to three years a set of larger and longer-term agreements is expected.