INTRODUCTION
Aegean Airlines recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with a brand new look, marked by the introduction of the A320neo to their fleet.
The launch event in Athens was a grand ceremony, signaling the start of a fleet-wide upgrade as the A320neo gradually replaces their existing A320 aircraft over the coming years.
On a recent trip from Zurich to Athens, I was fortunate enough to fly on one of these new aircraft in business class, offering a firsthand look at the enhanced experience Aegean now provides.
THE EXPERIENCE
Before boarding, the cabin crew provided inflight menus and a choice of water, juice, or Greek sparkling wine.
Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the inflight service began. A few minutes later, I received my placemat followed by a hot towel service.
Aegeanโs โGastronomicsโ program features menus crafted by renowned Greek chefs Christofos Peskias, Stelios Parliaros, and Lefteris Lazarou, with wine selections curated by Konstantinos Lazarakis.
If youโre ever in Athens, a visit to Steliosโ dessert shop, Sweet Alchemy in Kolonaki, is highly recommended for a taste of his exquisite creations.
The well-designed printed menus take you on a journey through Greek cuisine, providing background on the inflight meal program.
The wine list includes at least two red and two white wine options, all sourced from Greece.
For this flight, the menu included:
Entrรฉe: Fresh Greek salad with delicious olive oil.
Main Course: A choice between chicken with quinoa or a Greek specialty.
Dessert: Cream of tahini tart.
My entrรฉe was served promptly, and the fresh salad drizzled with rich Greek olive oil was a delightful start.
After clearing my plate, the crew member presented the main meal choices.
I chose the chicken with quinoa, a unique inflight meal that impressed me with its quality and taste.
Once I finished my main course, the crew cleared my tray, leaving only the placemat.
Dessert was a cream of tahini tart, which was a revelation. The light, fluffy filling had the consistency of crรจme pรขtissiรจre, and the not-too-sweet crust made it an absolute pleasure to eat.
The entire inflight service took about 55 minutes, with the crew remaining attentive throughout the flight. Aegeanโs commitment to service excellence was evident, reinforcing why they are one of my favorite airlines in Europe.
ECONOMY CLASS
Aegean Airlines continues to offer plentiful and complimentary meals in economy class.
Here’s a look at some of my experiences during 2019. On shorter flights, passengers receive a small snack box containing a hot snack or meal, depending on the time of day.
On a flight from Athens to Cairo in June 2019, which lasted only 1.5 hours, there was no meal choice.
The snack box included a small hot meal of chicken with rice, breadsticks, and a digestive bar, which was more than sufficient for a flight departing just before midnight.
On another flight from Amman to Athens at 4 am, the cabin crew served a smaller snack box.
This included a warm cheese pie and a sesame bar, a typical simple Greek breakfast, which I found perfectly adequate given the early departure time.
CONCLUSION
Aegean Airlines consistently delivers exceptional service across both business and economy classes. From the upgraded fleet to the meticulously crafted inflight dining experiences and enhanced lounge offerings, Aegean remains one of my preferred airlines in Europe.
Their attention to detail and dedication to passenger comfort truly set them apart.
