The Smaller Greek Airlines

In Greece, more than 10 airlines operate flights.

Most of them are unknown to the general public as they mostly operate charter flights rather than commercial scheduled flights.

We have gathered the 8+1 best-known Greek airlines for you to learn about their history and operations!

The information in this article is based on personal research, Wikipedia.org, and airliners.gr

 

Air Mediterranean

The company was founded by Arab owners in 2017 and currently operates only charter flights. Its base and offices are located at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

 

Bluebird

Another company that mainly operates charter flights with its single Boeing 737.

 

Hermes Airlines

Hermes Airlines is a subsidiary of the French Air Mediterranee and was founded in Greece in 2011. It mainly operates chartered flights from Heraklion to cities in France and Italy during the summer months.

 

Olympus airways

Olympus Airways offers chartered flights, and its fleet is notable, comprising 6 Airbus aircraft of the A319 & A320 type.

 

Aegean airlines

Aegean Airlines is now the largest airline in Greece and one of the best – in terms of service – in Europe.

It's no coincidence that it has been voted the best regional airline in Europe!

Aegean was founded in 1987, and its first flights began in 1994.

The company's initial destinations were exclusively within Greece to cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, and Heraklion.

It was the main competitor to the state-owned and all-powerful Olympic Airways.

Aegean was the first company to introduce e-tickets and allowed travellers to book their airline tickets online!

The company now operates flights exclusively with Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft for both domestic and international destinations.

 

Olympic air

The once state-owned Olympic Airways was founded by Aristotle Onassis in April 1957. Through difficult periods, large deficits, and unsuccessful tenders, in 2009, Olympic passed into the hands of MIG, which relaunched it as Olympic Air – having acquired all its flight operations, handling, and aircraft.

Subsequently, Olympic Air passed into the hands of Aegean Airlines, where it remains to this day.

Olympic Air has taken over domestic flights as well as some routes to remote areas.

It flies with ATR (turboprop) aircraft.

Olympic Air tickets are issued through Aegean, and many routes, such as Athens-Thessaloniki, appear on both companies' systems.

 

SkyExpress

Skyexpress was founded in 2005 by former executives and captains of Olympic Airways.

Based in Heraklion, Crete, it primarily operates flights to remote domestic routes or where Olympic Airlines does not have a presence.

The company's fleet consists exclusively of ATR42 aircraft.

 

Ellinair

Ellinair was created by the largest Balkan travel agent, the Mouzenidis Group, in 2013 and has been steadily growing.

It operates flights within Greece between the cities of Athens-Thessaloniki, Santorini, Rhodes, Zakynthos, Heraklion, and Mykonos.

Ellinair tickets, especially for domestic flights within Greece, are particularly affordable and offer travellers an easy, quick, and economical way to reach their destination.

Ellinair also operates international flights to cities in Germany and several cities in Russia – something that has been greatly aided by the connections and years of experience of the Mouzenidis travel group.

Ellinair's base is at Macedonia Airport.

It operates flights with Airbus 319, Boeing 737-300, and Avro RJ 85 aircraft.

Finally, Ellinair operates numerous charter flights from Belarus, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Ukraine, and Russia on behalf of Mouzenidis Travel clients.

 

Astra airlines

Another airline based at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. It was founded and has been operating flights since 2008.

The company's founder is Mr. Zirinis – a former senior executive of Olympic Airways.

Until 2010, Astra Airlines operated only chartered flights and the unprofitable Thessaloniki – Chios route.

From 2012, it took over another 5 remote routes and expanded its international routes to Russia and Ukraine.

Astra's fleet consists of 4 aircraft – 3 are ATR types and one is a Bae 146-300 with a capacity of 112 passengers.

Astra operates flights to and from Athens, Thessaloniki, Chios, Heraklion, Ikaria, Kastoria, Kos, Kozani, Lemnos, Milos, Mykonos, Mytilene, Paros, Samos, Santorini, and Syros.

Through our website, you can find Astra airline tickets at the best price and book them instantly online!

 

These were the largest and best-known airlines founded and based in Greece.

For all these airlines, as well as for all airlines operating commercial flights, you can find cheap airline tickets on our website with immediate booking at the best market prices.