The 28th May marked AEGEAN’s 25 years of dynamic growth and celebrates with its passengers, its people, and all those who have contributed to its successful journey while pursuing the vision of its founder Theodoros Vassilakis [pictured below receiving the 2015 CPG Special Recognition Award from CPG CEO, Ian Randell], to create a flag carrier that will travel Greek culture and passengers with safety, consistency, and quality across Greece and abroad.

Starting in 1999, with just two aircraft and with the vigorous effort of its people, the support of its shareholders and, above all, the trust and appreciation of its Greek and foreign passengers, AEGEAN is today one of the most consistently successful and steadily growing companies in the European aviation market, despite the consecutive crises and challenges that the industry has faced throughout the years.

During its 25 years of operation, several milestones significantly contributed to its development. Indicatively: AEGEAN’s listing on the Athens Stock Exchange, the Star Alliance membership, the acquisition of Olympic Air, the order of 46 Airbus A320 neo family aircraft, the largest private investment in Greece, which recently increased to 50 aircraft, and the creation of the first modern Flight Simulation and Crew Training Centre in Greece, in one of the first “green” hangars in Europe, at Athens International Airport. An investment with a positive impact on both the company and the country. While recently embarking on the next major growth cycle with the order of four new A321neo LR aircraft that will cover distances of up to 7,5 hours, from Greece to the Gulf regions, India, and Central Africa, allowing AEGEAN to offer passengers a new level of comfort and service to distant, non-EU destinations.

During this journey, AEGEAN has preserved the values and unique experience of the first generation of its people, while continuously investing in the development and perspective of the younger generation and all together in the sustainable future of the aviation industry in Greece.

Currently, AEGEAN employs more than 3,700 people and operates 76 aircraft to 156 destinations with 249 direct routes to 47 countries, constantly strengthening its network, both domestically and internationally, providing a unique travel experience to its passengers, inextricably linked to Greek hospitality. For 2023, AEGEAN, offered 18,5 million seats, increased by 3,1 million compared to 2022, while carrying 15,5 million passengers, 3,2 million more than the previous year, achieving a 26% increase, recording a new high record.

Mr. Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN [pictured above], said: “25 years since our first flight, the conditions, sizes and challenges in our industry are very different, but our goal remains the same. To keep working in order to offer every day, every year an enhanced, unique, new travel experience that will not only accelerate our passenger’s trip but also meet their expectations and needs while flying with AEGEAN. I strongly believe that Theodoros Vassilakis’ vision of quality and reliability is today deep in the culture of all our people. As we move towards our next growth cycle, the challenge for the new generation of our people, a significantly larger team with great potential, is to remain innovative, agile, and competitive in order to meet new challenges, to generate new, fresh ideas while preserving our core values and to remain committed to our growth strategy, that supports and contributes to the Greek tourism and brand name. Thank you for choosing AEGEAN”.

Mr. Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO [pictured above], said: “Thank you for your preference, trust, and appreciation to AEGEAN and its people over the past 25 years. Thank you for the warmth, respect, and recognition with which you greet our crews and staff on our aircraft, at our ticket counters, in our lounges, at our call center, in the airports—wherever you meet us on your journeys and enjoy our services. Since our first flight, we intend to offer you exceptionally services with the same passion, professionalism, quality, commitment to excellence, and hospitality. For 25 years, every day, on every flight, we have strived to deliver with safety and consistently a quality product that meets and exceeds your expectations embodying the culture of hospitality that is in our DNA. The main reason we achieved this, is entirely thanks to the dedication, consistency, ethos, and passion of our people—all those who have worked to bring AEGEAN to the heart of its passengers, and all those who are working today or will work tomorrow to plan and lead AEGEAN into the next growth cycle. We aim to design and offer an even better travel experience on an even larger network. In the competitive and ever-challenging environment of our industry, we remain focused standing firmly on our feet, yet always with the same enthusiasm, ambition, and vision as 25 years ago. Our goal is to take AEGEAN even further and remain your preferred choice.”

FIND OUT MORE AT AEGEANAIR.COM

Voted ‘2024 Golf Resort of the Year – Mediterranean’ by IAGTO

The lush landscape in Messinia, Greece, will provide the perfect backdrop for professionals and amateurs from around the world who will gather at Costa Navarino from November 20-24 to take part in the Aegean Messinia Pro-Am 2024.

Held across three of Costa Navarino’s four 18-hole signature golf courses – The Dunes Course, The Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course – the popular tournament will offer a unique golf experience. Participants will have the chance to reunite with old friends and embrace new, whilst enjoying a different challenge at each course, where the best environmental practices align with the destination’s long-term commitment to sustainable development.

Fresh from being voted ‘2024 Golf Resort of the Year – Mediterranean’ by IAGTO, Costa Navarino has unveiled entry details for this year’s Aegean Messinia Pro-Am – the finale to the destination’s annual golf calendar.

Players and guests can choose from a range of five and seven-night tournament options which include accommodation at the five-star The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, and participation in three themed social events during the tournament week, as well as enjoy an array of gastronomy and leisure activities. AEGEAN the title and main sponsor is offering special airline ticket conditions for the tournament’s participants and their companions, free golf bag carriage to participants and complimentary air tickets (except taxes) to participating professionals.

Last year’s Aegean Messinia Pro-Am featured competitors from 23 different countries, with PGA of Great Britain & Ireland professional Liam Bond taking the top professional honours in the 54-hole event with a winning score of 201 (13-under-par).

Sanctioned by the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] – and included within the CPG International Series 24/25 season schedule – and supported by the Hellenic Golf Federation and the PGA of Greece – this year’s event will feature a maximum of 70 teams. Each team will comprise of one professional and three amateurs, while the tournament’s total prize fund will reach up to €70,000. The leading professional will also receive an invitation to the CPG International Series Grand Finale, whilst all participating professionals will receive Order of Merit points.

Offering the opportunity to compete for an array of top individual and team prizes, the four-day event will also showcase a rich and engaging programme of social events, with the pro-am being brought to a spectacular conclusion with a gala dinner and prize-giving ceremony.

Team registration for the Aegean Messinia Pro-Am 2024 is now open and is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on packages and to book, please visit https://cp.golf/2024aegeanmessinia

The top two players on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) had a final day showdown in the sun over the Duchess Course with Popert’s closing two-over-par 74 securing a winning total of one-over 217.

Englishman Popert, who has cerebral palsy, was edged out by Lawlor in last year’s inaugural Championship but this time the 25-year-old prevailed to secure a tenth G4D Tour title.

Ireland’s Lawlor, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, put up a stout defence but was made to rue mistakes as he finished with a four-over 76 for 218.

Canadian Chris Willis was third on six-over 222 with the Australian pair of Wayne Perske and Lachlan Wood a stroke further back.

Lawlor, 27, held a slender one-shot lead overnight and doubled his advantage in the glorious conditions with a birdie at the opening hole. He found trouble on both par-3s on the front nine, taking a double bogey on the 2nd and the 7th, allowing Popert to lead by one after his birdie on the 8th.

But Popert had difficulties of his own on the demanding par-4 9th for a double bogey, with Lawlor also dropping a shot to leave them both at one-over heading into the back nine.

Popert’s birdie at the 10th and Lawlor’s back-to-back bogeys saw the world’s best player go three clear. A bogey from the leader at the next and brilliant birdies from Lawlor at the 15th and 16th suddenly brought the duo back level, before the world number two caught his approach shot heavy at the 17th which led to an untimely bogey. Popert coolly holed from two feet for a winning par at the last.

Established last year, the Championship – held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association) – is one of the most inclusive ever staged.

The G4D Open featured nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status, aged 15-68, representing 19 countries.

With Popert the Men’s Champion, Dutch player Daphne van Houten – the leading woman at 25th on the WR4GD – was crowned the Women’s Champion. Van Houten, 25, who suffers from scoliosis, finished 17 shots clear of England’s Aimi Bullock.

Both men’s and women’s winners were presented with new trophies to reflect the multiple threads woven among the players on their journeys to compete in The G4D Open.

A gross prize was also awarded in each sport class, covering various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.

The men’s gross prize winners were as follows:

• Intellectual 1: Cameron Pollard, Australia
• Intellectual 2: Thomas Blizzard, England
• Standing 1: Juan Postigo Arce, Spain
• Standing 2: Kipp Popert, England
• Standing 3: Brendan Lawlor, Ireland
• Sitting 1: Terry Kirby, England
• Sitting 2: Richard Kluwen, The Netherlands
• Visual 1: Paul O’Rahilly, Ireland
• Visual 2: John Eakin, England

The women’s gross prize winners were as follows:

• Intellectual 2: Erika Malmberg, Sweden
• Standing 1: Alessandra Donati, Italy
• Standing 2: Aimi Bullock, England
• Standing 3: Daphne van Houten, The Netherlands

Final scores from the sport classes can be viewed here.

Highlights from the Championship will be aired on Sky Sports Golf from Monday 27 May at 5pm and throughout that week.

The establishment of The G4D Open follows on from the inclusion of the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disability in the Rules of Golf and The R&A and USGA’s ongoing administration of the WR4GD.

Woburn continued its rich history of hosting amateur and professional championships with Final Qualifying for The Open from 2014 to 2017 and most recently the AIG Women’s Open in 2019, both played on the Marquess Course.

For more information please visit RANDA.ORG

Compiled by esteemed Member and 2024 CPG 5 Star Professional Award Winner, Iain Forrester, the book serves as a testament to the rich legacy and enduring spirit of PGA Holland.

Through meticulous research and dedication, Forrester discovered that in the span of 100 years, PGA Holland has been guided by only nine chairmen, with seven still among the living.

To honour their contributions, all seven former chairmen were invited to the festive presentation at Lauswolt. Regrettably, Eric Kruijning was unable to attend, yet the presence of the remaining six chairmen [pictured], alongside their partners and the current board of PGA Holland, made for a memorable evening filled with camaraderie and celebration.

The Century Book, a labor of love meticulously crafted by Forrester, is now available free of charge to all PGA Holland members. Its pages hold a wealth of history, offering insight into the evolution of PGA Holland over the past century.

In a symbolic gesture, the first copy of the Century Book was presented by Forrester to Alex Loesberg, one of the esteemed former chairmen.

Following this poignant moment, the board of PGA Holland had a special announcement to make. In recognition of their outstanding contributions and dedication to the organisation, Alex Loesberg, André Jeurissen, and Iain Forrester were bestowed with the title of honorary members of PGA Holland. This prestigious honour serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to the ideals and principles of PGA Holland, and their enduring legacy within the organisation.

The appointment of these three esteemed individuals as honorary members marks a proud moment in the history of PGA Holland, highlighting the continued dedication and passion of its members towards the advancement of the sport of golf.

For more information on the PGA of Holland visit PGAHolland.nl