By Alexia Sotiriou

 

 

Athens International Airport SA announced total revenues and other income increased by 15.3 million euros, or 15.3%, to 114.6 million euros in the first quarter of 2024 from 99.4 million euros in the first quarter of 2023, with all revenue streams demonstrating substantial improvement.

 

More specifically, revenues and other income from air activities reached 86.3 million euros, marking an increase of 14.8% compared with the previous year. The main contributor of this growth derives from the performance of revenues from Aeronautical charges and ADF income, while the level of aeronautical charges remained stable in the first quarter. Moreover, revenues and other income from Non-Air Activities stood at 28.4 million euros, higher by 16.9% compared to the first quarter of 2023 mainly driven by retail concession activities and car parking services.

 

During the period January-March 2024, which is the lowest quarter of the year in terms of traffic, the airport’s passenger numbers totaled 5.2 million, above the 2023 levels by 16.5%. The strong growth trend observed in the last quarter of 2023, continued during the first quarter of 2024, with passenger traffic demonstrating high volumes, reflecting the resilience of air travel demand (especially of leisure traffic) despite macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, with consumers giving priority to travel over other forms of discretionary spending.

 

In more detail, domestic and international passengers surpassed the 2023 levels by 10.3% and 19.4%, respectively. As per the traffic evolution in each month, passengers witnessed a double-digit increase in all three months.

 

Profitability

 

Profit before Tax for the period January to March 2024 amounted to 37.0 million euros, better than prior year by 8.5 million euros. Profit after Tax for the first quarter of 2024 reached 28.5 million euros, i.e. 6.5 million euros higher than prior year Shanghai-

 

Athens direct flight: Fam trip of Chinese travel agents

 

 

A familiarization trip (fam trip) to Greece for 37 senior executives of leading travel agencies from eight provinces of Eastern China (Yangze Delta) took place recently.

 

It was organized by the Chinese airline Juneyao Air, the cruise company Celestyal Cruises and the Chinese agency HCG, with the cooperation of the Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO), in the context of the launch from April 2 of the new non-stop Shanghai-Athens intercontinental flight by Juneyao Air.

 

The aim of the trip was to familiarize the Chinese tourist agents with the Greek tourist product, in order to further strengthen the flow of visitors from Eastern China to Greece.

 

During their stay in Greece, the members of the Chinese delegation took a cruise to Mykonos, Santorini, Patmos, Crete and Rhodes, visited the most important attractions of Athens and Nafplio, while they had the opportunity to participate in the GNTO’s official dinner held in the area of the Acropolis.

 

Juneyao Air’s Shanghai-Athens flight is one of the company’s total of four intercontinental routes and will initially operate three times a week (every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).