Athens International Airport Awards Airlines

Besides the local award as Best Performing New Airline, Qatar Airways picked up numerous other awards recently including the Best Airline in the Middle East by readers of the U.S. magazine Global Traveler. In our photo, Athens Airport Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dr. Yiannis Paraschis handed over the award to Qatar’s area manager for Greece, Morena Bronzetti.

The annual Airline Marketing Workshop, organized for the seventh consecutive year by Athens International Airport (AIA), was highlighted by the special awards presented by AIA to the airlines that recorded the highest passenger development in 2006, in recognition of their contribution to the airport`s overall record growth of 15.1 million passengers, a result surpassing the 2005 volumes by a significant 5.6%.

As every year, the 7th Airline Marketing Workshop was a unique opportunity for direct communication between the airport company and the airlines, in relation to issues such as the yearly activities` review, incentives for airlines, latest developments, new challenges in the air transport sector, etc. On this occasion, Athens International Airport presented special awards to the fastest growing airlines for 2006, in the categories of geographical region, thin route, best performing newcomer, and best of the top-10 airlines.

Athens airport`s 7th Airline Marketing Workshop held recently at the Ethniki Asfalistiki Conference Center, was attended by the representatives of the airlines operating at Athens International Airport.

“Market Overview 2006”, and “Responding to demanding operational cases”, were among the issues presented during this year`s workshop, whereas AIA, for the first time, included a new awards category in order to promote and award personal contribution in the aviation industry.

2007 Annual Awards to Airlines

Best Performing New Airline Award (Airlines that launched operations at AIA in 2005): Qatar Airways, for recording in 2006 the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all newcomers that launched scheduled operations at AIA during 2005.
Best of the Top-10 Airlines Award: EasyJet, as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2006, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest traffic volumes.
Fastest Growing Airline in a Thin Route (Highest percentage passenger growth irrespective of geographical region, 2005 – 2006): Air Moldova, for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2006.
Fastest Growing Airline per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2005-2006):
a. Iberia, as the fastest growing airline for the Western Europe region.
b. Aeroflot – Russian Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Eastern Europe region.
c. Emirates Airlines, as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East region.
d. Delta Airlines, as the fastest growing airline for the America region.
e. Thai Airways, as the fastest growing airline for the Asia region.
f. Aegean Airlines, as the fastest growing airline for the domestic market.
Highest passenger volume award to Aegean Airlines, for presenting the highest increase at Athens International Airport in 2006.
Life Time Achievement Award: Yiannos Hadjimarcou ex-General Manager of Cyprus Airways in Greece and Chairman of Board of Airlines Representatives awarded for his overall contribution to the aviation industry.