Volotea Plans 14% Rise in Seat Capacity to 1.6 Million for Greece

Volotea, the airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, on Tuesday said it plans to launch a record seat offering in Greece, with 1.6 million seats.

The expansion, which represents a 14 percent increase compared to 2023, will be supported by the airline operating nearly 9,500 flights across 70 routes and increasing employment by almost 14 percent.

In Athens alone, the airline plans to strengthen its presence further by offering over 20 routes and putting a record 835,000 seats available, a 23 percent increase compared to 2023.

“We are committed to make travel accessible and convenient for Greek travelers, ensuring they enjoy enhanced connections throughout Europe and can explore the continent effortlessly through our competitive prices,” Volotea Founder and CEO Carlos Muñoz said.

The carrier provides a diverse range of connections from Athens International Airport (AIA), spanning both domestic and international destinations, including Spain (Bilbao), Italy (Ancona, Bari – new base in 2024, Cagliari, Naples, Palermo, Venice, and Verona), France (Bordeaux, Brest – new base in 2024, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg, and Toulouse), Croatia (Dubrovnik and Split), and within Greece (Heraklion/Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini).

Volotea CEO Carlos Muñoz

Volotea’s announcement follows record-breaking results in Greece in 2023, with its base at Athens Airport playing a pivotal role in the company’s growth in the country.

“We proudly carried a record-breaking 1.3 million passengers, expanded our route network, and achieved an impressive 99 percent flight completion rate,” Muñoz said.

Athens, as the airline’s main operational base in Greece, boasted an impressive average seat load factor of 95% and an OTP15 rating, representing on-time performance, exceeding 70 percent. Approximately half of the airline’s flights originating from the country were conducted from the Greek capital, while a significant 65 percent of the 680,000-seat capacity in Athens was dedicated to vital routes linking the city to various islands.

“Our Athens base played a pivotal role, with a significant 28 percent growth in passenger numbers (nearly 645,000 passengers) and quality operational performance, all while maintaining high customer satisfaction levels,” Volotea’s CEO added.

As of the end of 2023, the airline maintained a fleet of two aircraft based in Greece and employed a staff of over 70 professionals.

“As we set our sights on 2024, we are committed to breaking even more records in Greece, with a 14 percent increase in capacity, the introduction of new routes, and the creation of additional local job opportunities,” Muñoz said.