Volotea Closes Athens Base After Six Years, Continues Operations in Greece

Six years after establishing its base at Athens International Airport (AIA), the low-cost airline Volotea has announced the closure of its Athens base, removing the two aircraft previously stationed there.

The airline, which specializes in connecting small and medium-sized European cities, will continue to operate in Greece, maintaining its routes connecting Greek destinations with the rest of Europe. Importantly, Volotea’s flight schedule to and from Athens Airport will remain unaffected by the closure.

In recent years, Volotea has been consistently expanding its network and increasing its presence in Greece. Notably, the airline introduced year-round flights between Athens and Lyon, as well as between Athens and Marseille, starting in the current winter season.

For 2024, Volotea had already announced a 23 percent increase in its capacity at Athens International Airport compared to 2023, and a remarkable 142 percent increase over its capacity in 2018, the year its Athens base was first opened. In total, Volotea plans to offer more than 1.6 million seats in Greece in 2024, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the previous year. The airline will also be launching new routes from Athens, Corfu, Kalamata, and Rhodes.

As of 2024, Volotea’s Athens base employed 80 people directly and more than 450 indirectly, contributing to the local economy and workforce.

Sky Express responds with job opportunities for affected employees

In light of Volotea’s base closure, Greek airline SKY express has announced plans to support affected workers by offering new employment opportunities. In a statement, Sky Express emphasized its commitment to strengthening its workforce and helping those impacted by the closure of Volotea’s Athens base:

“Following the recent announcement regarding Volotea’s Athens base closure, and understanding the uncertainty it brings, Sky Express extends its support to those affected. We invite individuals seeking new opportunities in Greece to apply and join our team. Please send your CV to hr@skyexpress.gr, and we would be happy to meet with you for an interview.”

It should me mentioned that Greek carrier AEGEAN announced its participation in Volotea’s capital increase in September 2024, investing 25 million euros. The Greek airline, alongside other existing shareholders, also provided a convertible loan of up to 50 million euros to the Spanish airline. While the two airlines have collaborated on codeshare flights since 2021, industry insiders indicate that AEGEAN’s strategy remains separate from Volotea’s.