Aegean Airlines and Lufthansa unveiled plans for strategic cooperation between the two airlines in Athens…
Aegean Airlines and Lufthansa unveiled plans for strategic cooperation between the two airlines in Athens. The new partnership commences officially with the start of the 2005/06 winter timetable on 30 October 2005. The two carriers will then begin codesharing in their route networks.
Lufthansa, one of the world`s leading airlines, has done us proud by recognising us as a strong regional partner, said Aegean Airlines President and CEO Theodoros Vassilakis. We are delighted at becoming Lufthansa`s partner in Greece, as we are with the opportunity of offering our passengers connections into Lufthansa`s global route network, he added.
Lufthansa and Aegean will codeshare on all their flights between Germany and Greece. Selected domestic flights within Greece and several flights ex Germany will also be offered in the codeshare mode. Details of these services, which are currently being finalised, will be released later.
The first step is to coordinate flight schedules so as to create excellent connections, worldwide, for passengers travelling to and out of Greece, explained Joachim Steinbach, Lufthansa Regional Manager Southeast Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan, commenting on the cooperation agreement between the two airlines at the press conference in Athens. We are particularly proud at finally being able to connect northern Greece again with the whole world,
Selected flights can be booked in combination through global reservations systems, and tickets issued separately by either Aegean or Lufthansa. Besides passengers of the two airlines, partners in the travel industry will also profit from the cooperation accord. Both airlines can offer combined connections, worldwide, making travel seamless, simpler and more convenient.
Cooperation is not confined to coordination of flight schedules. The two partners also plan to harmonise their passenger and baggage check-in procedures and allow mutual lounge access. Passengers will additionally be able to earn and redeem mile credits on flights operated by either airline.
Passengers on flights with the Greek carrier will be able to link easily into Lufthansa`s global network encompassing 177 destinations in 73 countries. Tickets can be booked at travel agencies or at the call centers operated by the two airlines. Online booking on the websites of the two airlines is also planned later. Moreover, travellers flying to Greece from the USA and Canada, for example, can can board beyond flights in the joint route network and utilise better connections to the Greek mainland and the Greek islands.
Aegean Airlines is Greece`s most dynamic airline with growth rates of more than 20 per cent over the past five years. It is the first Greek carrier to offer electronic tickets. Ast year, it was voted the best regional airline 2004/2005 by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA). The Greek carrier operates a fleet of 19 aircraft of the Avro RJ100 and Boeing 737 type, and serves 18 destinations in Greece, Cyprus, Germany and Italy.
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