Athens Airport Honors Airlines with Fastest Recovery in 2022
Airlines that recorded the most successful course of recovery and development at Athens International Airport (AIA) during the previous year were applauded at the 22nd Airline Marketing Workshop held recently in Athens.
AIA’s workshop, this year dubbed “2.2”, focused on the challenges that the next day holds for the field of aviation and the successive developments taking place in the international airport environment and in the world of technology.
On the sidelines of the workshop, AIA honored those airlines that recorded significant recovery rates and passenger traffic volumes on their scheduled operations to and out of Athens in 2022.
“Our two-way and rewarding relationship with our airline partners, and our common course, is distinguished by the energy and spirit of excellent cooperation and adaptability in the field of aviation and tourism,” said AIA Director of Communications & Marketing Ioanna Papadopoulou.
“We work closely together to compose and orchestrate the following day and, as we extend for yet another year our warmest thanks to the airlines, we remain true to the principles of meaningful cooperation and support that we have built,” she added.
Awards to airlines with fastest recovery in 2022
Following are the airlines that stood out for their successful course of recovery and development at AIA in 2022:
✈ SKY express was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the domestic market. AEGEAN was highly commended.
✈ Volotea was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Western Europe market. Wizz Air was highly commended.
✈ Tarom was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Eastern Europe market. Wizz Air was highly commended.
✈ Gulf Air (GSA in Greece: Gold Star Aviation) was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Middle East market. EL AL (GSA in Greece: TAL Aviation Hellas) was highly commended.
✈ EGYPTAIR (GSA in Greece: Goldair – Golemis Air Services) was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Africa market. AEGEAN was highly commended.
✈ Scoot (GSA in Greece: Asian Aviation) was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the Asia market. Air China was highly commended.
✈ Emirates was awarded for fastest recovery rates in the America market.
Fastest Recovered Airline Seasonal Route – America
✈ Delta Air Lines received the award for fastest recovery – seasonal route in the America market. Air Canada was highly commended.
Fastest Recovered Airline Seasonal Route – Europe
✈ Brussels Airlines received the award for fastest recovery – seasonal route in the Europe market. airBaltic was highly commended.
Overall traffic performance in 2022 – Growth
✈ SKY express was honored as the company with the highest growth rate at Athens International Airport in 2022.
Overall traffic performance in 2022 – Volumes
✈ AEGEAN was honored for recording the highest passenger traffic volume rates at Athens International Airport in 2022.
Special award: ‘You’re an AΘenian, too!’
The award ceremony this year, for the first time ever, added the special distinction for the “You’re An AΘenian, Too!” award, which was given to Angela Gittens, former Director General of the World Airport Council (ACI World), for her valuable and multi-year contribution to the promotion of Athens in particularly difficult times.
The name of the specific award has its origins in Athens International Airport’s successful “ΑΘenian” trilogy, an international campaign that promoted Athens to the traveling public worldwide, inviting them to visit the city and feel like citizens of Athens! The campaign included letters of the Greek alphabet mixed with English words.
2.2 Airline Marketing Workshop

“Accessing” Sustainable Aviation & Tourism: Panel discussion moderated by Greek journalist Thodoris Georgakopoulos. Panelists: Luigi Cabrini (standing), Chair of the BoD, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC); and from left, Maria Kapralou, Supervisor, Passengers & PRM Handling, AIA; and Alexia Panagiotopoulou, Head of Strategy, Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (ADDMA).
AIA’s Airline Marketing Workshop was held again as a face to face event, after three years, in the presence of more than 200 attendees.
With the inventive and symbolic title “Sounding the Future”, the “2.2” airline marketing annual gathering (22nd since airport launch) brought together AIA, the Athens airport community, distinguished speakers from the field of aviation and beyond, sustainable tourism, academia, as well as from the world of artificial intelligence and futurology, eyeing the future and sustainable development.
Among others, speakers included Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President, IATA; Jiri Marek, CEO, Air Serbia; Robert Chad, Area Manager for France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Southern Europe, IATA; and Arthur Snell, Former British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago & Former Assistant Director for Counter – Terrorism at Foreign and Commonwealth Office.