Members of the North East Greek community have welcomed the first-ever direct flights launched between Newcastle Airport and Athens.
AEGEAN, Greece's national airline, is now flying to the country capital every Wednesday and Sunday this summer. The airline has been named as the best regional airline in Europe for 11 consecutive years at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
As well as offering tourists the chance to visit one of Europe's most historic cities and sights such as the Acropolis, it allows the region's Greek community a link to the capital and onward connections to several Greek islands.
Read more: Everything you need to know if you're heading to Newcastle Airport for a holiday this summer
Dimtris Doumarapis, a member of the North East Greek community, said: "I am incredibly excited about the new direct flights from Newcastle to Athens. It is something that I and the Greek community in the North East have anticipated for years, and I am grateful to all the people involved that have made this possible. This bridge between two cities means my Nana can finally meet her great-grandchild for the first time."
Karen and Joani were flying from Newcastle to Greece to visit their family for six weeks, and said: "This flight means the world to us because we can now easily connect with our family who lives in Athens and the Greek island, Leros. We are firstly going to visit our sister who lives in the Greek capital, and after a few weeks, we have booked through AEGEAN to fly to Leros to watch our niece get married and the christening of her little boy."
The new airline was also welcomed by airport staff and regional travel agents. Passengers flying on the first flight were greeted with refreshments and a commemorative certificate to mark the launch of the new route.
Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at Newcastle International Airport, said: "A direct service to Athens has been an ambition for the team at Newcastle International Airport for a long time. It was fantastic to finally wave off the first flight to the Greek capital."
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