Hundreds of thousands of Greek citizens survive on €720 per month,the lowest minimum wage in the European Union,struggling to cover rent, food, electricity, and basic necessities. And yet, when an emergency arises — a family issue, a medical appointment, an unexpected obligation — a Greek traveler may be forced to spend half of their monthly income for a 50‑minute domestic flight.
This is not an exaggeration.
It is the lived reality of millions.
€245 for a 50‑minute flight — an insult to the Greek public
Aegean Airlines and SKY express, the two dominant carriers in Greece, routinely charge prices that would be considered excessive even for long‑haul international routes.
A simple round‑trip economy ticket Athens–Heraklion–Athens, lasting 50 minutes each way, can cost:
€245 — Economy Class
For a country with the lowest wages in Europe, this pricing is not just unreasonable.
It is punitive.
During the summer months, when demand increases, the cost of a domestic ticket can easily reach — or even exceed — an entire monthly salary.
International comparison: Greece is an outlier
When we compare these prices with flights of far greater distance in the rest of Europe, the contrast is shocking.
London → Athens (3 hours 40 minutes)
On the same dates:
- Aegean Airlines: from €439
- SKY express: from €506
- British Airways: from €425
- KLM: from €395
- SWISS: from €349
These are long‑distance flights, crossing multiple countries and airspaces.
And yet, the Greek carriers — serving a country with the lowest wages in the EU — are among the most expensive.
Now compare this with similar‑distance flights within Western Europe:
London → Brussels (1 hour 20 minutes)
€175 on the same dates.
London → Manchester (longer distance than Athens–Manchester)
€138
How is it possible that a Greek domestic flight of 50 minutes costs more than a major international route in Western Europe?
How is it acceptable that a Greek worker must sacrifice half their salary for a basic necessity like travel?
A broken market with no protection for consumers
The Greek aviation market has effectively become a duopoly, where two carriers dominate domestic routes and set prices at levels completely disconnected from the economic reality of the country they serve.
This situation raises serious questions:
- Where is the regulatory oversight?
- How can domestic flights in the poorest EU economy be among the most expensive in Europe?
- Why are Greek consumers left unprotected from extreme pricing practices?
When a 50‑minute flight costs more than a 3‑hour international journey, something is fundamentally wrong.
A call for transparency, regulation, and fairness
Greece deserves better.
Greek citizens deserve better.
No airline should be allowed to operate in a way that makes domestic travel a luxury reserved only for those who can afford it.
It is time for:
- Transparent pricing policies
- Regulatory intervention
- Consumer protection measures
- Public scrutiny of airline pricing practices
Aegean Airlines and SKY express may be profitable, but profit cannot come at the expense of an entire nation’s dignity.
When a country’s lowest‑paid workers must spend half their salary for a 50‑minute flight, the issue is no longer commercial.
It is social, economic, and deeply political.
About the Author
Hotels and airlines that violate operating standards and provide poor-quality services