Athens / Costa Navarino – November 28, 2025
Greece’s tourism and aviation ecosystem is in the spotlight today as Aegean Airlines reports strong fundamentals and fresh insider confidence, launches a major Black Friday sale, and long-time partner Costa Navarino celebrates an award‑winning staging of the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025 golf tournament.
Together, these developments highlight how airlines, destinations and major sporting events are working in tandem to extend Greece’s tourism season, attract higher‑spending visitors and reinforce the country’s global brand.
Insider buying puts Aegean Airlines (AEGN) back on investors’ radar
A new analysis published today by Simply Wall St shows that insiders at Aegean Airlines S.A. (ATSE: AEGN) have been net buyers over the last 12 months – meaning they bought more shares than they sold. [1]
The standout transaction came from Executive Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis, who purchased around €177,000 worth of stock at roughly €11.82 per share, accumulating 25,000 shares at an average price of €11.58. [2] With Aegean’s share price recently referenced around €14.36 in the same analysis, those purchases were made well below current trading levels – a potential signal of long‑term confidence from the company’s leadership. [3]
The report also highlights that insiders collectively hold shares worth about €98 million, equivalent to roughly 7.6% of the company’s equity – a sizeable stake that tends to align management’s interests with those of outside shareholders. [4] While the article notes there have been no very recent insider trades, the overall pattern for the past year is clearly skewed toward buying rather than selling. [5]
Strong fundamentals underpin the insider story
Today’s insider‑activity coverage lands just weeks after Aegean reported record nine‑month results. According to a November 11 trading update and accompanying Reuters report, the airline grew January–September 2025 revenue by 4% year‑on‑year to €1.43 billion, with net profit up 12% to €148 million and passenger numbers rising 5% to 13.2 million. [6]
Chief executive Dimitris Gerogiannis attributed the performance to robust demand from Greek travellers and rising international arrivals, even as the carrier faced higher regulatory costs. [7]
Operationally, Aegean still has challenges to manage:
- Mandatory early inspections of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines have temporarily grounded about 12 aircraft.
- The inspection cycle is expected to continue for roughly 30 more months, with a gradual easing anticipated from autumn 2026. [8]
- Despite this, Aegean plans to offer 4.9 million seats in Q4 2025, about 9% more than a year earlier, with capacity growth focused on routes to the Middle East. [9]
Against that backdrop, sustained insider ownership and net buying may reassure some investors that management believes the carrier can navigate short‑term constraints while benefiting from Greece’s broader tourism upswing.
Note: This article is for information only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed advisor before making financial decisions.
Aegean Airlines Black Friday Sale 2025: up to 70% off flights for today only
On the consumer side, Aegean is using Black Friday 2025 to stimulate future travel demand.
The airline’s official Black Friday Sales Festival offers up to 70% off fares across its network, valid for bookings made today, November 28, 2025 only. Travel under the promotion is available between January 12 and October 24, 2026, giving passengers a long window to plan both winter escapes and shoulder‑season trips. [10]
Key details from Aegean’s offer page include: [11]
- Discounts of up to 70% on flights across the network (exact reduction varies by route and fare class).
- Sale window: one day only – November 28, 2025.
- Travel period: January 12 – October 24, 2026.
- Additional 15% extra discount for travellers aged 18–25 who book through the airline’s genAIRation AEGEAN youth account.
The sale is heavily promoted around popular Greek destinations such as Santorini, Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Chania and Mykonos, reinforcing Aegean’s role as a key gateway to the country’s islands and regional cities. [12]
From a strategic standpoint, a discount campaign that stretches travel into the shoulder months aligns neatly with Greece’s push for year‑round tourism and more balanced visitor flows – themes echoed in the country’s new tourism strategy (more on that below).
Travellers should always check the full terms and conditions, including fare rules, change and cancellation policies, and any blackout dates, before booking.
Costa Navarino and the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025: golf, awards and global visibility
While Aegean works the numbers in the air, on the ground in Messinia the airline’s long‑standing partnership with Costa Navarino has just delivered another high‑profile showcase for Greek tourism: the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025.
A 54‑hole showcase in Greece’s southwest Peloponnese
The Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025 took place 19–23 November 2025 at Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese. [13] The 54‑hole tournament was contested across three of the destination’s four signature 18‑hole layouts:
- The Dunes Course
- The Hills Course
- The International Olympic Academy Golf Course [14]
According to Costa Navarino and media coverage, 27 teams from 14 countries took part, underlining the event’s increasingly global pull. [15] The Pro‑Am is sanctioned by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and supported by the Hellenic Golf Federation and PGA of Greece, further cementing its status on the international golf calendar. [16]
Liam Murray wins, Greek team triumphs in the team event
In the professional leaderboard, Liam Murray of the PGA of Spain claimed a popular victory, finishing two strokes clear of a tightly packed chasing group. [17]
The runners‑up – Federico Elli (PGA of Italy), Christos Nikopoulos (PGA of Greece), Alessandro Tadini (PGA of Italy) and Matyas Zapletal (PGA of Czech Republic) – shared second place after three days of competitive scoring across the three courses. [18]
Highlights included a hole‑in‑one by Greek professional Dimitros Vlachos on the eighth hole of the International Olympic Academy course during the second round, adding extra drama to the tournament. [19]
In the team competition, the quartet led by Adam Kritikos (PGA of Greece) secured victory with a strong Stableford total, reinforcing the home nation’s presence on the leaderboard. [20]
A total prize fund of €32,000 was on offer, reflecting the event’s continued growth in stature. [21]
Off the course, players, families and guests enjoyed a curated programme of social events, themed evenings and prize‑giving celebrations, many hosted at the recently refreshed Westin Resort Costa Navarino, which served as the main accommodation hub. [22]
AEGEAN as title sponsor and official air carrier
For Aegean Airlines, the tournament is more than a logo on a leaderboard. The airline served again as title sponsor and official air carrier of the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025, transporting many of the international participants and helping to connect golf tourism directly with air capacity into Greece. [23]
The event was further supported by a strong roster of partners, including Alpha Private Bank and Athens International Airport as gold sponsors, with brands such as Korres, Coca‑Cola Tria Epsilon, adidas, Cellier, Pratt & Whitney, Vodafone and Cenergy Holdings among the silver and bronze sponsors. [24]
This cross‑industry line‑up underscores how golf, aviation, hospitality, banking and consumer brands are increasingly collaborating around premium experiential events in Greece.
Looking ahead to the 20th‑anniversary edition in 2026
The Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am will return to Costa Navarino on 24–28 June 2026 for its 20th‑anniversary edition, with pre‑registration already open via the event’s official channels. [25]
By moving the Pro‑Am into late June next year, organizers will further support Greece’s goal of spreading tourism more evenly across the calendar, beyond the traditional late‑summer peak.
Costa Navarino’s award haul: “World’s Best Golf Venue 2025” and more
The success of the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025 comes as Costa Navarino enjoys a run of prestigious international accolades.
At the World Golf Awards 2025, the destination was named: [26]
- World’s Best Golf Venue 2025
- Europe’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue 2025
In addition, Costa Navarino – The Dunes Course was recognised as Greece’s Best Golf Course 2025, while The Westin Resort Costa Navarino received the title of Greece’s Best Golf Hotel 2025. [27]
Greek tourism media also note that Costa Navarino currently sits at No. 1 on the “Top 100 European Resorts” ranking of UK magazine National Club Golfer, reinforcing its reputation among serious golfers. [28]
These distinctions dovetail neatly with the images emerging from the Pro‑Am coverage: manicured fairways overlooking the Ionian Sea, three championship courses within a single resort, sustainable development credentials, and a luxury hospitality offer that appeals to affluent international travellers. [29]
For Aegean Airlines, having a flagship event at such a decorated venue strengthens its positioning as the carrier of choice for golf and premium leisure tourism into Greece.
Greece unveils culture‑driven tourism strategy – with Aegean at the table
Today’s micro‑stories about insider buying, golf tournaments and discount fares fit within a larger national narrative.
On November 28, 2025, Greek City Times reported on Greece’s new culture‑driven tourism strategy, presented during an event at the Acropolis Museum titled “Tourism is Changing – Greece is Leading the Way.” [30]
The high‑profile gathering brought together:
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
- EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas
- Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni
- Key industry stakeholders, including Aegean Airlines, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). [31]
The strategy emphasizes:
- Year‑round tourism development
- Special‑interest products (such as golf, gastronomy, culture and outdoor activities)
- Upgraded tourism education and training
- A new regulatory framework for short‑term rentals
- Sustainable hotel certification
- Simplified investment procedures [32]
Officials highlighted that Greece welcomed about 40 million visitors in 2024, generating €21.6 billion in tourism revenues, with the sector supporting nearly 10% of the national workforce. [33]
When viewed through this lens, Aegean’s:
- Record financial results, [34]
- Insider confidence, [35]
- Black Friday capacity‑filling strategy, [36]
- And deep partnership with Costa Navarino and the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am, [37]
all appear as different facets of the same broader goal: sustained, higher‑quality, more diversified tourism growth.
What it all means for investors, travellers and Greek tourism
Pulling today’s threads together, several themes emerge:
1. Investor sentiment: cautious optimism around Aegean
- Insider net buying, especially by the Executive Chairman, suggests management believes in the long‑term story, even as the airline works through engine‑related fleet constraints. [38]
- Record revenue and profits point to resilient demand and a successful capacity and network strategy. [39]
- That said, investors will be watching how Aegean manages operational disruptions and capital allocation before drawing firm conclusions.
2. Travellers: incentives to visit Greece outside the peak
- The Black Friday promotion, with travel valid through late October 2026, nudges travellers toward off‑peak and shoulder‑season trips, which often mean lower crowding and better value. [40]
- Young travellers aged 18–25 benefit from extra discounts via genAIRation AEGEAN, aligning with efforts to keep Greece attractive to budget‑conscious but experience‑hungry visitors. [41]
3. Destinations: Costa Navarino as a model of high‑end, sustainable growth
- The Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am 2025 and Costa Navarino’s award sweep show how special‑interest tourism (here, golf) can generate international media coverage, repeat visitation and long‑term real‑estate investment. [42]
- Awards such as World’s Best Golf Venue 2025 and Europe’s Best Golf Real Estate Venue 2025 solidify Costa Navarino’s place among the world’s leading golf resorts – a halo effect that benefits both the Peloponnese and Greece as a whole. [43]
4. National strategy: synchronising policy, airlines and events
The national tourism strategy presented in Athens this week explicitly calls for:
- More year‑round tourism
- Better distribution of visitors
- Stronger links between culture, transport and sustainable development [44]
Aegean’s capacity expansion, fare promotions and sponsorship of international events like the Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am fit neatly into that framework, suggesting a growing level of coordination between policy‑makers, carriers and flagship destinations.
Bottom line
On November 28, 2025, Aegean Airlines and Costa Navarino sit at the intersection of finance, sport and tourism strategy:
- Investors are digesting fresh data that insiders are buying, not selling, against a backdrop of record results. [45]
- Consumers are eyeing short‑lived Black Friday discounts that could shape their 2026 travel plans. [46]
- Golfers and tour operators are still talking about a sold‑out, award‑winning Aegean Messinia Pro‑Am at a resort now officially crowned the World’s Best Golf Venue 2025. [47]
For Greece, the message is clear: by aligning aviation capacity, premium events and a culture‑driven national strategy, the country is positioning itself not just as a summer destination, but as a year‑round, experience‑led tourism powerhouse.
References
1. simplywall.st, 2. simplywall.st, 3. simplywall.st, 4. simplywall.st, 5. simplywall.st, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. en.aegeanair.com, 11. en.aegeanair.com, 12. en.aegeanair.com, 13. www.aegeanmessiniaproam.com, 14. golfbusinessnews.com, 15. www.tornosnews.gr, 16. golfbusinessnews.com, 17. golfbusinessnews.com, 18. www.tornosnews.gr, 19. golfbusinessnews.com, 20. www.tornosnews.gr, 21. golfbusinessnews.com, 22. www.tornosnews.gr, 23. golfbusinessnews.com, 24. golfbusinessnews.com, 25. www.tornosnews.gr, 26. worldgolfawards.com, 27. worldgolfawards.com, 28. www.tornosnews.gr, 29. troon.com, 30. greekcitytimes.com, 31. greekcitytimes.com, 32. greekcitytimes.com, 33. greekcitytimes.com, 34. www.reuters.com, 35. simplywall.st, 36. en.aegeanair.com, 37. golfbusinessnews.com, 38. simplywall.st, 39. www.reuters.com, 40. en.aegeanair.com, 41. en.aegeanair.com, 42. www.tornosnews.gr, 43. worldgolfawards.com, 44. greekcitytimes.com, 45. simplywall.st, 46. en.aegeanair.com, 47. www.tornosnews.gr


