Greek carrier Aegean to start flights to Turkey

ATHENS, June 17 (Reuters) - Greek carrier Aegean Airlines (AGNr.AT) said on Wednesday it will start a daily service to Istanbul, Turkey from Sept. 9, expanding its international routes.

Aegean, Greece's largest airline by passenger numbers in 2008, competes with recently privatised Olympic Airlines.

The airline has been steadily expanding its routes outside Greece, adding seven destinations since late 2008, including Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona, Venice and Paphos in Cyprus.

It will fly Airbus A320 aircraft on the Istanbul route.

"After five years of efforts Aegean can now link Athens with a city symbolising so much for Hellenism," chief executive Dimitris Gerogiannis said in a statement.

Last month, Aegean clinched a deal to join Star Alliance, which includes UAL Corp's United (UAUA.O), German Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), Air Canada ACa.TO., and Continental (CAL.N), eyeing access to many markets across the globe with large communities of Greek descendants. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Dan Lalor)