SKY express: solid organic growth with new products & environmentally responsible proposals

SKY express and Athens International Airport “El. Venizelos” Airport welcomed their partners, marking the beginning of the new tourist season

At an event jointly organized by Athens International Airport and SKY express, on Wednesday, June 7, at the Arion Veranda of the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, representatives of the country’s largest travel agencies, the wider tourism industry and the media were welcomed to celebrate and discuss this summer’s prospects.

New approach to air travel with SKY express

SKY express has been operating and developing its business throughout its years of operation following the model of sustainable mobility. This is a strategic decision that puts environmental protection at the core of its operational action. At the same time, travelling with SKY express is not only a unique and personalised travel experience, but also an environmentally responsible choice for the passenger.

In the context of all the above, Ms. Eleanna Michalakopoulou, Revenue Products manager of SKY express presented for the first time new products and services that combine sustainability, comfort and the most refined experience that every traveller seeks.

DRINKS & BITES – PREORDER

Travelling with SKY express is an environmentally responsible choice for the passenger. Passengers are not obliged to eat food, but they are not charged for this cost in the price of their ticket, as they choose themselves what they want to eat during the flight. In fact, the meals available do not require heat treatment, further reducing energy needs and the associated footprint. The revamped list is to be launched in a few days along with the new Preorder service, which will eliminate food waste by allowing passengers to select and order their meal up to a few hours before the flight. The Preorder menu will be even more extensive and premium with special dishes and a wide variety of food and beverages that will cover all passengers’ needs and eating habits.

Bliss

Business class is different. It’s Bliss. The new service, which will start in July 2023 on international routes, will be gradually extended to most of SKY express’s network and will offer passengers priority access at every stage of the journey, free access to VIP Lounges, the possibility to carry extra baggage and kilos in them, fine dining options and in-flight entertainment.

SKY Forward

SKY Forward is the name of another new product available to passengers who want to earn a certain amount of money for their air travel over the course of a year with very high flexibility and no restrictions.

Through a very simple procedure the passenger can purchase a SKY Forward package for the entire SKY express network. For example, by buying a €1,000 package, you pay only €800 and redeem it wherever you want, whenever you want, on as many flights as you want and with whomever you want, just by paying the airport taxes.

It is worth noting that all new programmes implemented by SKY express will be linked to programmes carried out within the framework of its corporate social mission. For this reason, specific actions will always be related to a purpose to support targeted actions that respond to specific, mapped needs of society. Therefore, part of the proceeds from these actions will be earmarked for one purpose.

During the event, Mr Gerasimos Skaltsas, Chief Commercial Officer of SKY express, presented the key figures achieved by the company during the first quarter of 2023, following a dynamic course that creates value for both Athens International Airport and all its stakeholders.

In more detail:

Total flights increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2022, exceeding 10,000. Compared to the first quarter of 2019 (the period before the Covid-19 pandemic), the increase in flights reaches 69%

The airline’s passengers increased by 50%, compared to Q1 2022, to more than 730,000. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the increase is 390%.
Thecompany’s total revenues increased 73% (compared to Q1 2022) to €48 million, driven by higher growth in international flights. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the increase is 489%.
The company’s exponential organic growth was supported by strong job growth, which now exceeds 660, with 390 new hires in the four-year period 2019-2022, including the pandemic period.
The Green Fleet of the SKY express, which is the newest fleet in Greece and the most environmentally friendly in Europe, travels to the largest network of domestic destinations (34) and 29 international destinations in 12 countries. Of the domestic destinations, 27 are served via Athens International Airport with 5 of them being exclusively served from/to Athens International Airport. With regard to international destinations via “El. Venizelos” 9 destinations in 8 countries are served.

In addition, regarding the Athens International Airport “El. Venizelos”, SKY express:

is the fastest growing airline for the 5th consecutive year with a market share of 13.5% in 2023, compared to 2.5% in 2019.
records a 175% increase in the number of seats offered to/from “El. Venizelos” – compared to the corresponding summer period of 2019. This increase for the entire SKY express network corresponds to 200% .
It notes a 22% increase in estimated passengers at Athens International Airport in the 2023 summer season, from 1,910,000 in the 2022 summer season to 2,330,000 in the 2023 summer season.

FORECAST 2023

The data of the robust organic growth of the

SKY

express

predicts an upward trend for 2023 and the forecast is reflected in:

54,000 flights
4,400,000 passengers
More than 65 destinations
360 cm. estimated revenue

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AT LOCAL & GLOBAL LEVEL

These figures confirm the strong growth path of SKY express, which is now recognized abroad as one of the most dynamic organizations in the air transport sector:

It was named the European airline with the largest increase in flight operations, according to Eurocontrol.
It is the only Greek airline that became an international case study of Google. The use of the most advanced tools (travel insights), ranked SKY express in the top three of European airlines that increased their online traffic compared to 2019.

But also at the local level:

It won two more awards from Athens International Airport, “El. Venizelos”, the largest airport in the country:

Award for the fastest domestic market recovery in 2022
Award for the highest growth rate in 2022 (in percentage terms) for Athens International Airport

It took off at this year’s Ermis Awards, winning 12 awards and the highest distinction Brand and Client of the Year!
WON 10 AWARDS at PEAK AWARDS 2022 along with the top awards “PERFOMANCE BRAND OF THE YEAR” & Platinum award for GROWTH & INNOVATION IN PERFORMANCE MARKETING

THE JOURNEY OF THE SKY express IN THE CREATION OF SHARED VALUE:

In the context of the same event, Mr Pantelis Spagis, Head of Sustainability of SKY express, spoke about the care SKY express takes for the simultaneous sustainability of the environment and the well-being of society.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

In the context of creating shared value for all its stakeholders, SKY express, alongside the achievement of its commercial objectives, cares for the sustainability of the environment and the well-being of society as a whole.

Focusing on the fleet of , which now has 23 aircraft and is the largest fleet of the “greenest” fleet in Greece and one of the most environmentally friendly fleets in Europe and the green best practices it systematically applies achieved the reduction of CO2 emissions by 37,716 tonnes in 2022 and by 4,849 tonnes so far in 2023;a reduction corresponding to the annual emissions of 9,253 passenger vehicles.

In addition to protecting the sky, SKY express also takes care of protecting the ground and the sea. Therefore, it takes care of the recycling of waste and waste in accordance with the strict procedures defined by the Management System according to ISO 14001:2015. As a result of these processes in 2022, it achieved an increase in recycling of hazardous materials – indicatively engine lubricants, oil filters and their metal packaging – by 223% compared to 2021, and 65% recycling of non-hazardous materials such as paper, glass, plastic, tyres.

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE

At the event, the company once again declared its commitment to contribute to attracting more and more visitors to the country and to support with every available means the national efforts and campaigns for the promotion of Greece abroad and the establishment of the country as a 365-day destination.

With its modern and environmentally friendly fleet, SKY express becomes an ambassador of Greece and invites passengers to travel and experience its beauty, history and culture all year round, making a decisive contribution to boosting the country’s tourist traffic this summer with more than 3,800,000 seats offered, an increase of half a million compared to last year.

Furthermore, the sustainable development of the company through its digital transformation contributes to the enhancement of employment at local level, with typical examples being the operation of the Development Lab in Chania and the call centre in Thessaloniki.

As stated by MR. Gerasimos Skaltsas, Chief Commercial Officer of SKY express: “Our brand awareness has reached every home. Our numbers, awards, new products, initiatives and actions are the result of constant hard work. Most importantly, it is the result of our commitment to the vision we have for the company and the present and future of air transport, the country and our national tourism product. Challenges and difficulties exist, but they give us impetus and inspiration. Last summer, the SKY express recorded the fewest problems by comparison, in a period that was very demanding for all airports in Europe. We welcome the new tourist season with joy, optimism and a sense of responsibility. We could only welcome her together with all of you, our partners. Let me make a special mention of the people of Athens International Airport, our employees, our travel agents. You have all contributed to the effort of SKY express that has managed to satisfy the need for reliability and high quality on competitive terms and offers the magic of the travel experience.”

Η Director of Communication & Marketing of Athens International Airport, Ms. Ioanna Papadopoulou stated: “We are very happy that together with SKY express we hosted today at a very impressive spot on the Athens coastal front the tourism professionals and representatives of the media to… officially declare the start of the 2023 summer season. SKY express marks a unique success story for Athens International Airport. With a market share of just 2.5% in 2019, it now holds 13.5% of our market, thanks to an excellent and modern aviation product, the right strategy and a team of people who every day plan the next steps of the company with enthusiasm, care and professionalism. And this summer we are moving forward together with our airline partner and of course we are at his side as he continues to grow with the same success from the Athens market.”

About the

SKY

express

H SKY express, member of the Board of Directors of ERA, is the fastest growing European airline. It has the largest network of domestic destinations (34) and serves 24 international destinations. It has concluded important agreements interline with global carriers, such as Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, easy jet, Delta, Emirates, American Airlines, Air Transat, Condor etc.

In the last two years it has modernised its fleet with the acquisition of 8 new vessels. AIRBUS A320neo, a AIRBUS A320ceo and 6 ATR 72-600, making one of the world’s largest investments in aviation. With the addition in 2023 of two AIRBUS A321neo, the fleet of SKY express lists 23 aircraft, remaining the youngest and greenest fleet in Greece and one of the most environmentally friendly in Europe.