Page 240 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2024

News from the aviation world
AVIATION

Credit: Αegean Airlines
ing the most outstanding performance
in the region.
In the first half (H1) of 2024, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan saw passenger demand
and seat supply increase by over 80%
compared to 2019, driven by both
domestic and international markets.
All countries in this subregion, except
Turkmenistan, introduced more direct
flights in 2023 compared to 2019.
Northeast Asia’s passenger levels and
seat availability in H1 2024 exceeded
2019 by 2% and 4%, respectively. PR
China led with an 11% increase in seat
availability and a 5% rise in passenger
volumes driven by domestic demand,
while the international segment is grad-
ually catching up, according to IATA’s
data.
South Asian countries have mostly sur-
AEGEAN AIRLINES tribution and other commercial areas, passed 2019 volumes, with Nepal and
INVESTS IN VOLOTEA aiming to exploit the synergies between Bangladesh leading in terms of growth.
Aegean Airlines S.A. recently announced the two companies. In particular, the India added nearly five times the abso-
an investment of €25 million in Volotea commercial cooperation will initially lute number of passengers accrued in
S.L., one of Europe’s leading low-cost concentrate on cross-selling each oth- the same period by Nepal and Bangla-
carriers based in Barcelona, Spain. Start- er’s product through the two companies’ desh, driven by its domestic market. Sri
ing operations in 2012, Volotea operates websites, while also aiming to jointly fur- Lanka, Bhutan, and Afghanistan continue
out of 22 bases mostly in France, Italy ther develop and exploit the international to grow but remain below the 2019 level.
and Spain, covering more than 450 network to/from Greek Regional airports, Central Asia’s stellar aviation perfor-
routes and focusing on providing direct such as Heraklion, Rhodes and Chania, mance is partly linked to overflight
flights to previously underserved and and to/from key European markets like restrictions due to the war in Ukraine,
largely seasonal leisure markets. In 2023, France, Italy and Spain, offering more with more routes from Europe to South-
it carried 10.3 million passengers with a options to customers and optimising the east Asia and the Middle East flying via
fleet of 41 Airbus A320/A319 aircraft. two companies' effort and investment. the countries in this subregion.
Volotea’s bases in France, Italy and Spain Additionally, the two companies have Given the still fraught geopolitical cli-
represent circa 90% of its operations, also agreed to use best efforts to explore mate, the Central Asian market is set to
with Greece and Germany accounting a cooperation for the provision of MRO continue to outperform going forward,
for the remaining 10%. and Flight Simulator Training services by concludes IATA.
The initial €25 million investment is Aegean Airlines’ Group, covering a part
made through joining existing share- of Volotea’s needs in these areas. AMERICAN AIRLINES ADDS NEW
holders of Volotea in an overall capital ROUTE TO ATHENS
increase of up to €50 million in the com- CENTRAL ASIA LEADING While autumn is on the horizon, Ameri-
pany through a profit participating loan GROWTH IN ASIAN TRAFFIC can Airlines is gearing up to bring more
which will be convertible into shares. Air traffic growth is driven by the Asia travellers to Europe next summer with
In parallel, Aegean Airlines and Volotea region, with PR China catching up after five new routes. As the airline continues
have entered into a Memorandum of lifting COVID restrictions, according to to grow its trans-Atlantic service, Amer-
Understanding for cooperation in dis- IATA. But it is Central Asia that is show- ican will resume flights to Edinburgh,

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