Aegean Airlines has inaugurated a new direct flight connecting the iconic island of Santorini with Istanbul, marking a strategic step in the company’s broader vision to enhance direct links between Greek destinations—especially islands—without routing through Athens. The move reflects the airline’s continued commitment to decentralizing travel and expanding regional accessibility.
As part of its overall network expansion this year, Aegean is introducing an additional 1.5 million seats in international markets, pushing its total seat capacity to over 21.5 million. Domestically, the airline is also increasing frequencies, aiming to stimulate passenger traffic and economic activity across Greek destinations.
Aegean’s Chairman, Eftichios Vassilakis, emphasized the launch of the Santorini–Istanbul route is particularly significant given the challenges the island has faced in recent months, including seismic activity earlier in the year. Despite these disruptions, Santorini is showing signs of a steady return to normalcy. Aegean’s decision to invest in a new international connection at this time underscores its confidence in the island’s resilience and its intention to support local recovery efforts.
This latest addition complements an already robust flight schedule to and from Santorini. The airline currently operates ten daily flights to Athens, one to Thessaloniki, and three to Rhodes. The new route to Istanbul not only diversifies Santorini’s international connections but also strengthens its positioning as a key tourism hub in the Aegean.
The new direct flight is expected to significantly enhance Santorini’s connectivity with major international hubs beyond Athens, facilitating easier access for travelers from key target markets. This strategic addition aligns with efforts to diversify the island’s travel network and expand its appeal to long-haul markets.
Vassilakis emphasized that Santorini continues to thrive thanks to its globally recognized brand and evolving high-quality tourism offering. With ongoing infrastructure improvements, the island is becoming an increasingly sustainable and premium destination—attractive and accessible for most of the year.
He expressed optimism that the joint efforts of Aegean and the wider tourism sector will help deliver another strong season, reinforcing Santorini’s status as a flagship destination for Greek tourism.
