Greek domestic operators Aegean Airlines and Cronus Airlines, the country's two largest privately-owned carriers, have agreed a strategic alliance centring on a wide-ranging codeshare deal.
Aegean has captured more than a third of the domestic market after its takeover of Air Greece, and the Cronus move follows its abandonment of plans for co-operation with flag carrier Olympic Airways.
The two airlines operate 15 aircraft to 18 Greek destinations, offering 140 daily flights. They aim to carry over 300,000 passengers a month when the alliance is launched in May.
Aegean's expansion has been fuelled by the liberalisation of the Greek market. The airline is exploring global alliance possibilities and plans to launch international routes after the opening of Athens Spata Airport in March 2001.
Source: Flight International
