Association of European Airlines

The two victims of a plane crash on Nov. 19 have been found in Turkey's Aegean region, according to officials.

This file photo shows a Turkish rescue operation in July during which 34 migrants stranded on the Aegean Island of Boğaz were saved.

Greece's Alpha Bank has rescinded its decision to shut down its branches on the remote islands of Kassos, Lipsoi and Tilos, a Shipping Ministry statement said on Tuesday, according to the state-run ANA-MPA news agency.

Chairman of Aegean Airlines Eftichios Vassilakis (r), CEO of Aegean Airlines Dimitris Gerogiannis (l) and CEO of Airbus Dr Tom Enders (c) are seen signing a deal for the order of up to 42 aircraft to renew the Greek carrier's fleet of single-aisle planes, on Friday. [EPA]

Greece's largest carrier Aegean Airlines signed a $5 billion deal with Airbus for up to 42 aircraft to renew its fleet of single-aisle planes, stay competitive and add capacity for future expansion.

It is the largest order by a Greek carrier and third time Aegean has invested in new aircraft since launching operations 19 years ago.

The increase in passenger traffic and the strengthening of the seat occupancy rate during the traditionally weak first quarter of the year served to limit the Aegean Air group's losses.

The carrier's turnover grew 9 percent year-on-year in the January-March period to reach 165.4 million euros, while passenger traffic climbed 12 percent to 2.4 million.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Athens International Airport paid tribute to Theodoros Vassilakis, the founder of Aegean Airlines, who died last Thursday at the age of 78.

Cretan entrepreneur Theodoros Vassilakis, the founder of Aegean Airlines, died on Thursday, aged 78. He was also the man behind car rental company Autohellas-Hertz and car retailer Autotechnica Velmar.

A 25-year-old teacher in the Aegean province of Aydın's İncirliova district has committed suicide after being unemployed for the last four years, Doğan News Agency reported on April 16. 

Greece's largest carrier Aegean Airlines said on Thursday its passenger numbers rose 12 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2017, mostly on international routes where traffic rose by 16 percent.