Greek airline Aegean has celebrated the start of its new service from Birmingham Airport to Athens.
The seasonal route will operate twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday until October 25 this year.
The airline will be using Airbus A320 168-seat aircraft, providing a full service offering to all passengers.
As well as offering Midland travellers direct access to the Greek capital, it will also enable people to continue their journey - with onward connections to more than 30 destinations in Greece.
The Birmingham route complements Aegean’s existing Athens services from Heathrow and Manchester.
An Aegean spokeswoman said the route was expected to prove popular with history lovers and holiday-makers alike.
She said: “Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning around 3,400 years and it is widely referred to as the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.
“Today a cosmopolitan metropolis, modern Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece.
“Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Acropolis and the Daphni Monastery - it is every history enthusiast’s dream.”
Aegean has expanded its operations since acquiring Olympic Air in October last year, offering more frequency on existing routes and an extended network with comprehensive access to Greece’s many islands.
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