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Athens International Airport S.A. awarded the airlines that recorded the highest passenger development in 2011, during the Airline Marketing Workshop organised by the airport company on an annual basis.
AIA’s 12th Airline Marketing Workshop was held on February 29th, at the Athens Megaron. This year’s workshop presented topics such as the adverse 2011 market overview, the re-branding of Athens and Greece, developed by brand strategist Peter Economides, and online travelling, presented by Ilias Sousis, Head of Agencies, Greece and Cyprus, Google Hellas. This year, special emphasis was placed with the ways of enhancing Athens’s attractiveness as a tourist destination, with reference to the campaign “Give Greece A Chance”, in which AIA participates as sponsor.
Additionally, in the panel discussion for the impact of airlines alliances’ development on airports and airlines, participants were Richard Carret, Regional Director, Sales and Market Development – Europe, Middle East & Africa for Star Alliance, Yann Gilbert, Country Manager Air France & KLM for Greece and Cyprus for SkyTeam, and Freddie Stier, Commercial Manager British Airways for Greece, Cyprus & Turkey, for oneworld.
Finally, as every year, Athens International Airport presented its annual awards to the airlines that demonstrated the fastest development and succeeded in recording the highest increases in passenger numbers in their scheduled services during 2011.
The airline awards, as per respective category, were the following:
A. Best Performing New Airline Award
– Belle Air was awarded for recording in 2011 the highest passenger traffic numbers, among all newcomers that launched scheduled operations in 2010.
Β. Best of the TOP-10 Airlines Award
– Air France was awarded as the overall fastest growing airline operating at AIA in 2011, among the 10 airlines that recorded the highest passenger traffic volumes.
C. Fastest Growing Airline in a Thin Route Award
– Air Malta received the award for achieving the highest percentage annual passenger growth in 2011.
D. Fastest Growing Airline / Seasonal Routes Award
– Air Canada received the award for achieving the highest percentage passenger growth in the summer period of 2011.
E. Fastest Growing Airline Award per geographical region (Highest percentage passenger growth, 2010 – 2011)
– Brussels Airlines was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Western Europe.
– Olympic Air was awarded as the fastest growing airline for Eastern Europe.
– Etihad Airways was awarded as the fastest growing airline for the Middle East.
– Brussels Airlines was awarded for presenting the highest passenger volumes increase at Athens International Airport in 2011.
Special Award:
Aegean Airlines was awarded as the favourite airline for 2011 among the passengers using the Athens airport (source: AIA official annual survey).
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
