What Went Wrong? Do Airlines Ultimately Operate Under Monopoly Conditions?
Travel, beyond offering rest, often prompts reflection on what went wrong.
This is especially true when journeys involve travel to and from the islands, bringing to the surface questions about how air transport is organized and how it affects the quality of life of island residents. It is puzzling that our islands rank at the top of various surveys that seemingly fail to take transport and healthcare adequately into account.
During peak periods—and often in everyday life—the same picture repeats itself at island airports: a limited number of available seats, insufficient flight schedules, high costs in many cases, and choices that make life difficult for those who live and work permanently on the islands. For islanders, mobility is directly linked to work, health, family life, and access to services that are concentrated in major urban centers.
In 2013, following the acquisition of Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines spoke of benefits for passengers, improved connectivity, and a new pricing policy on unprofitable routes. The merger was approved at the European level under specific conditions, with the key argument being the safeguarding of market cohesion and the viability of air routes.
Twelve years later, the debate surrounding that decision has resurfaced through the everyday experience of island residents. Air connectivity has been maintained and, in several cases, enhanced. At the same time, significant needs remain unmet: greater flexibility in schedules, affordable fares for permanent residents, and better planning during periods of increased demand.
In this context, the role of the State becomes crucial. What is required is a stable and clear regulatory framework for air transport—one that has not yet been put in place—along with a national mobility plan that takes islandness into account, and policy tools that ensure that subsidized routes balance economic viability with the real needs of local communities.
The discussion must return to its essence. Mobility is a fundamental prerequisite for social cohesion and regional development. It should be treated as a public good.
Islandness can and must be addressed as an advantage for the country, through people-centered policies that ensure stable, reliable, and affordable connectivity throughout the year.
Dr. Katerina Gavala
Deputy Secretary for Island Policy, PASOK–KINAL
