Greece’s SKY Express has launched a new daily flight route from Athens to Istanbul, becoming the 110th airline to operate out of Türkiye’s largest airport.
The inaugural flight, carrying 137 passengers, landed at Istanbul Airport at 9:30 a.m., marking a milestone in the airport’s ongoing expansion of international connections.
A welcoming ceremony at Istanbul Airport’s international arrivals terminal celebrated the occasion, hosted by IGA (Istanbul Grand Airport), the airport’s operator.
Key attendees included IGA CEO Selahattin Bilgen and SKY Express Chairman Ioannis Grylos, who both underscored the significance of the new route for enhancing ties between Türkiye and Greece.
Bilgen expressed pride in Istanbul Airport’s achievement in reaching 110 airline partners, stating, “Welcoming SKY Express as our 110th airline is a great milestone.
This new route is expected to strengthen tourism and foster cultural and diplomatic connections between the two countries.
Bilgen highlighted how the connection will facilitate travel to popular Greek island destinations via SKY Express’s domestic network, benefiting both Greek and Turkish tourists.
SKY Express Chairman Ioannis Grylos shared his enthusiasm for the launch, expressing hopes that the new route would attract Greek travelers to Istanbul and encourage Turkish visitors to explore the Greek islands.
The addition of SKY Express’s route comes as Istanbul Airport continues to focus on growth and expanding its airline network despite industry challenges.
Bilgen acknowledged recent issues in the aviation sector, including Middle East conflicts and supply chain disruptions like the Boeing strike and engine supply constraints at Airbus, but emphasized that Istanbul Airport’s strong infrastructure and increased flight frequencies have kept it competitive.
Looking ahead, IGA anticipates serving approximately 81 million passengers by the end of 2024, up from last year’s 76 million.
Continued investments in expansion projects are poised to support future capacity growth, positioning Istanbul Airport as a major hub in the global aviation landscape.
