SKY Express (Greece) (GQ, Irakleion) has started hub operations at its Irakleion base with the addition of new direct flights to Germany, France, and The Netherlands, as well as four more domestic destinations, the airline announced. Before this, SKY had used Athens as its main connecting hub.
“Our goal for SKY Express is to launch communication channels laden with prospects and opportunities for the entire country," Vassilis Krasanakis, Manager (Network Planning & Pricing), said in a statement. "Constituting Heraklion as a hub that connects Crete not only with the rest of Greece as we have been doing so far but also with Central Europe is practical proof of our commitment to bolster Crete as an autonomous pole of touristic development. Taking into account our well-timed planning, we estimate that July and August will move at very good traffic levels, and we will achieve our goal of extending the season with the inflow of premium travellers".
The Greek carrier on June 22 began twice-weekly services from Crete to Hamburg Helmut Schmidt, Germany, using one of its five A320-200Ns. Flights to Dortmund will ensue next month. It will also launch direct services from Heraklion to Paris CDG on July 9, followed by flights to the French cities of Nantes, Lyon St. Exupéry, and Lille Lesquin.
The third new international route between Heraklion and Amsterdam Schiphol will start on July 11.
New domestic services from Crete inaugurated from June 15 include Volos, Athens, Rhodes, and Thessaloniki.
SKY Express now claims the largest network out of Heraklion in Greece and a growing international network with the new routes. In total, it serves 48 destinations in nine countries. It holds interline agreements with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Qatar Airways, MEA - Middle East Airlines, and Cyprus Airways.
The airline’s fleet comprises five active A320-200Ns leased from Aviation Capital Group and Griffin Global Asset Management respectively; five ATR42-500s, of which four are leased from BPCE Lease and Blue Lane Aircraft Leasing; and five ATR72-500s, of which three are leased from Blue Lane and Elix Aviation Capital.
SKY Express belongs to the IOGR Group of companies, founded and owned by Ioannis Grylos. Most of the group's operations are in the aviation industry, both as a flight operator with SKY Express and a ground handling service provider with Skyserv and Swissport SUD. The group is also active in tourism, logistics, and the olive oil export market.
