Shipowner Kostas Agapitos breathed his last at the age of 67, after an open heart operation, according to the first reports.
The Agapitos family began its activities with passenger Greek shipping in the early 1960s, with the establishment of AGAPITOS LINES. The company owned, operated and managed a fleet of ferry vessels. The business was greatly strengthened when Konstantinos and Antonis (respective sons of Giannis and Vassilis), joined the family business after completing their maritime studies.
From 1964 to 1992, the activities of the company’s shipping lines expanded to the Greek market, increasing the routes. Thus AGAPITOS LINES became, during these years, one of the main protagonists of the market.
Yiannis Agapitos and his son Konstantinos found AGAPITOS EXPRESS FERRIES ASSOCIATION (AEFA) with Konstantinos at the helm, as the managing director of the company. With the family’s long experience in the field, AEFA has focused on further quality improvement and innovative management to create a company capable of growing while, at the same time, being able to meet the demands of a rapidly changing market.
The impressive expansion and development of AEFA, within a short period of time, is a testament to the efforts of its people, to operate with its fleet emerging and profitable itineraries between Piraeus and the islands of Syros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini.
In 1998, AEFA also entered the Ro/Ro market with the acquisition of 4 vessels.
In 1999, the company was acquired by Minoan Flying Dolphins (later renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins and, today, known as Hellenic Seaways). Konstantinos Agapitos, being the sole shareholder of AEFA at the time of the acquisition, also becomes the largest individual shareholder in this new company.
The Agapitos family has traditionally been active in the field of coastal shipping since 1964.
The founder of the company was Vasilios A. Agapitos, a self-made businessman who was born in Athens in 1933 to refugee parents from Asia Minor. From its establishment until its merger with Minoan Flying Dolphins, the company was active mainly in the Cyclades lines but also in other areas such as the Adriatic, the Ionian, Ikaria-Samos and the Dodecanese.
After 2000 and until 2018, the family participated in the share capital of Hellenic Seaways, while at the same time Antonios Agapitos, who has been active in the field as a shipowner since 1983, was a member of its board of directors, he was vice president as well as managing director from 2013 until sale of the company to the Attica businesses in 2018. In 2019 Vassilis Agapitos, active in the field of coastal shipping since 2012, continues the tradition and founds ALPHA LINES, adding the modern passenger speedboat SPEEDCAT l to its force in 2020.
Latest News
Insights into Greece’s Real Estate Landscape; Consumer Expectations and Challenges
The study indicates that while 66% of Greeks find recent real estate price hikes concerning and liken them to a "bubble," over half (56%) still anticipate further increases.
Athens in Top 10 Best Value City Breaks
Every year, Post Office Travel Money compares the costs of short breaks in cities across Europe for UK holidaymakers
Athens Int’l Airport: Americans Lead Total Passenger Traffic in Q1
According to the data processed by AIA, the top 10 in foreign arrivals are dominated by Americans, followed by the British and Germans. Other top nationalities include Cypriots, Italians, French, Dutch, Israelis, Poles, and Turks.
Greek PM Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdogan Meet in Ankara Today
No major developments are expected, as the key aim of the meetings between the two leaders is to maintain positive diplomatic relations, but Greece is always vigilant for any surprises from the Turkish leader.
New Athens Metro Line Hopes to Alleviate Heavy City Traffic
The massive project is expected to be completed in 2029
National Intelligence Agency DG to Accompany Greek PM to Ankara
Prime Minister Mitsotakis also gave an interview to Turkish newspaper Milliyet regarding his upcoming visit
Draft Bill Eyes Detection of Uninsured, Poorly-Maintained Vehicles in Greece
According to reports, at least half a million vehicles in Greece are uninsured, while the number of those without inspections is unknown
AIA: Passenger Traffic Up by 16.3% in April
Passenger traffic at the Athens International Airport (AIA) amounted to 2.49 million during April 2024
Fitch Solutions: Greece Set to Welcome 40 Million Tourists Annually by 2028
However, Fitch Solutions highlights concerns about overtourism, cautioning that it could strain Greece's capacity to deliver quality services, potentially leading to neglect of popular destinations
ELSTAT: Q1 Exports Down 11% – Trade Deficit Up 8.7%
Amid international uncertainty and armed conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine in 2023, Greek exports continued to decline, ending the year with an 8.5% drop