Aegean Airlines has announced plans to strengthen its fleet and add more flights by the end of 2014, following the absorption of Olympic Air, which will lead to annual cost savings of €35 million, mostly from the merger of the two carriers’ administrative operations. The carrier’s plans for 2014 concern the addition of five new aircraft to its fleet, which will bring its total to 50, while its hubs in Greece will climb from seven to eight.

The company also plans the addition of 15 new destinations to Aegean’s flying schedule from Athens for 2014, taking its total number of destinations from Athens International Airport to 47.

The new services will include flights to Birmingham in Britain, Marseille and Nantes in France, Zurich in Switzerland, Hamburg, Hanover and Nuremberg in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, Catania in Italy, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Beirut, Lebanon and Paphos, Cyprus. In total, 45 to 50 new flights will be added to the 2014 schedule, taking Aegean and Olympics total services to over 250.