“Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis”
From Thesis, where a new idea or strategy takes shape, to Antithesis, where challenges and alternative perspectives put it to the test, and finally to Synthesis, where different forces come together to create new equilibriums, the 2.4 Workshop highlighted the power of collaboration, the exchange of ideas, and adaptability in the ever-evolving universe of aviation and tourism.
Moreover, this year, the theme was further expanded to connect with “Cosmos – The Universe”, emphasizing that, just as in nature, elements—from the smallest to the largest—coexist in a constant state of harmony and interaction, so too in aviation, the synthesis of diverse forces is part of a dynamic, dialectical, and harmonious “Aviation Universe.”
" src="blob:https://webadmin.atn.aero/7f5d700c-6c66-4ebf-b639-5444031c9164" alt="A whistle with a black background AI-generated content may be incorrect." class="Apple-web-attachment" style="width: 0.2187in; height: 0.1354in; opacity: 1;"> A standout moment of the Workshop was the speech delivered by the legendary referee Pierluigi Collina, the iconic “Referee of the Stars,” who shared invaluable insights on the importance of preparation and the right perspective in making fair and sound decisions.
The “Synthesis” of Distinguished Speakers
The workshop featured an impressive lineup of esteemed speakers and engaging panel discussions, including:
Welcoming Remarks: Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis! Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, Athens International Airport
Opening Address Yiannis Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO), Athens International Airport
Athens’ Aviation Market Overview 2024 AIA’s Airline Marketing & Network Development Team
State of the European Airport Industry & beyond Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI Europe Moderator: Ioanna Papadopoulou
Europe as an Attractive Destination for Business & Tourism – The Airlines’ Perspective Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director, A4E
Dialogues on Architecture, Terminal Design & more….
Michael Wyetzner, MICHIELLI+WYETZNER ARCHITECTS
Charlie Luxton, CHARLIE LUXTON DESIGN
Andrew Thomas, Managing Partner, GRIMSHAW
Dialogues on Tourism
Christina Karampela, Sociologist, QED Orchestrator Facilitator: Theodoros Georgakopoulos
Harry Theocharis, Former Minister of Tourism; Member of the Hellenic Parliament; Candidate Secretary General of the UN Tourism
Miguel Angel Perez, Vice Deputy Director, Head of Markets, Connectivity and Major Projects Area– VISIT VALÈNCIA
Marko Halla, CEO-Redstone Aero;Former Mayor of Enontekiö Municipality; Former CEO/Enontekiö Arctic Airport
Dialogues on Aviation
Uri Sirkis, CEO – Israir
Lorenzo Lagorio, Country Manager Italy & Greece – easyJet
Gieri Hinnen, Head of Cargo Global Sales - Swiss WorldCargo
“Refereeing the Stars”
Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee
Closing Remarks
Michail Kefalogiannis, Chairman of the BoD, Athens International Airport |
Delivering the concluding remarks of the Workshop, Michail Kefalogiannis, Chairman of AIA, reflected on the outstanding achievements of the past year and the exceptional collaboration that defines the airport community:
“The 2.4 Airline Marketing Workshop once again showcased the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration in shaping the future of air transport. This past year was a milestone for Athens International Airport, marked by the successful listing in the Athens Stock Exchange and the continued growth of our airport. The expansion of connectivity and our strategic focus on tourism are driving benefits not only for the aviation sector but also for the broader Greek economy. We remain committed to strengthening our position as a global aviation hub. In a world that evolves at a rapid pace, ‘Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis’ is not just our conference theme—it is our philosophy: continuous progress, dialogue, and cooperation.”
Yiannis Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO) of AIA, stated during his opening speech:
“2024 was another dynamic year for Athens International Airport, with passenger traffic rising by 13% to a record-breaking 31.9 million passengers. Over this period, we announced the addition of exciting new destinations, expanding travel options for our passengers while remaining committed to providing high-quality, safe, and efficient services. With significant progress already underway in preparing for the next phase of our airport’s evolution and taking into account the momentum and trends in passenger traffic, we recently announced our decision to accelerate our expansion plans to accommodate 40 million passengers annually by 2032—an investment of nearly €1.3 billion.
I would like to extend my gratitude to Athens’ airline family for their collaboration, longstanding trust, and significant investment in our network, and I invite our airline partners to continue working on the “synthesis” of the future of our airport together.”
The Workshop included, as every year, the annual AIA awards presented to the airlines with the most successful development in 2024. Athens International Airport once again awarded the airlines that recorded the fastest growth during the previous year, recording significant growth rates and increased passenger traffic on their scheduled services to and from Athens.
The airlines’ awards for the 2024 performance, were:
- Fastest Growing Airline in the Domestic Market
Winner: AEGEAN
Highly Commended: SKY express
- Fastest Growing Airline in Western Europe
Winner: easyJet
Highly Commended: Ryanair
- Fastest Growing Airline in Eastern Europe
Winner: SKY express
Highly Commended: Ryanair
- Fastest Growing Airline in the Middle East
Winner: Israir Airlines
Highly Commended: Arkia
- Fastest Growing Airline in Africa
Winner: EGYPTAIR
- Fastest Growing Airline in Asia
Winner: Air China
- Fastest Growing Airline in America
Winner: Emirates
- Fastest Growing Airline on a seasonal route / Europe
Winner: airBaltic
Highly Commended: Brussels Airlines
- Fastest Growing Airline on a seasonal route / America
Winner: United Airlines
Highly Commended: Delta Air Lines
- “Best of the Top 10 Airlines” Award for 2024
Winner: easyJet
- Fastest Growing Airline – Thin Route
Winner: AEGEAN
- Best New Entrant Performance
Winner: LOT Polish Airlines.
- Overall Traffic Performance Award for 2024
Winner: AEGEAN
Highly Commended: SKY express
The special annual award “You’re An AΘenian, too!” was presented to Olivier Jankovec, Director General, Airports Council International – EUROPE (ACI EUROPE) in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the European airport sector, his emphasis on innovation and sustainability, and his strong ties with Greece—especially Athens. |
Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director, Communications & Marketing, AIA, the driving force behind the Workshop, stated:
“At this year’s 2.4 Workshop, we delved through our “airport dialogues” into the way ideas are born, challenged, and “synthesized” in a process of continuous evolution. The aviation and tourism ‘universe’ is shaped precisely through this dynamic interplay of Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis.
Once again, we had the privilege of hosting top-tier representatives from the aviation, travel, and tourism industries, as well as experts in research, airport architecture, innovation, and sustainability. And of course, a true highlight of this year’s event was the presence of the legendary Pierluigi Collina!
Furthermore, in a symbolic gesture through the global Star Register service, three stars in the night sky now bear the names of this year’s theme—Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis—representing our unwavering pursuit of balance, harmony, and innovation in our shared journey with our airline partners.
The future of our airport and Athens itself is built upon contrasting perspectives, with the goal of fostering meaningful and constructive collaborations.
We extend our gratitude to all those who participated and made this year’s Workshop a true journey into knowledge, innovation, and the future of aviation and tourism!”
Tags: Airport’s Airline Marketing Workshop, Athens International Airport
