Greek airports are soaring to new heights in 2024, with passenger traffic showing impressive growth. The latest figures from the first seven months of the year indicate a potential record-breaking year for Greece’s aviation sector.
Between January and July 2024, a staggering 42,538,219 passengers passed through Greece’s 39 commercial airports, representing a 9.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw 38,833,074 passengers. This surge is setting the stage for what industry experts predict will be a historic year for Greek aviation.
August is expected to have further propelled this momentum, with preliminary reports indicating it was a particularly strong month for both passenger numbers and flights. Official statistics for August are anticipated soon, but industry insiders are already dubbing it a month of “take-off.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also highlighted Greece’s strong performance in the summer of 2024. According to IATA, around 9.4 million passengers traveled to Greece between June and September, marking a 9.5% increase from the previous year. This equates to an additional 812,000 air travelers flocking to Greece this summer, solidifying the country’s status as one of Europe’s top tourist destinations.
Adding to the record-breaking trends, the Greek Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) managed 4,944 flights within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) on Saturday, August 10, 2024. This figure, encompassing arrivals, departures, and overflights, set a new all-time high for the region.
Athens International Airport on Track for a Record Year
Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is also poised to set new records in 2024. The airport handled 17.62 million passengers in the first seven months of the year, reflecting a 14.6% increase from the same period in 2023. Both domestic and international passenger traffic experienced growth, with increases of 8.0% and 17.6%, respectively.
The total number of flights at Athens International during this period reached 150,344, representing a 12.4% rise compared to 2023. Domestic flights were up by 5.5%, while international flights surged by 17.8%.
Regional Airports Show Robust Growth
The 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece also demonstrated strong performance in the first seven months of 2024. More than 19 million passengers used these airports, underscoring their critical role in supporting Greece’s tourism and travel industries.
Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” airport emerged as the busiest among Fraport’s portfolio, welcoming 4.07 million passengers, a 5.2% increase from last year. The airports of Rhodes, Corfu, Chania, and Kos followed, each handling millions of passengers, with Rhodes seeing 3.62 million and Corfu 2.25 million.
In terms of international arrivals, the United Kingdom led the way, contributing 1.31 million passengers across the 14 regional airports, followed by Germany with 769,589 passengers, Italy with 636,027, Poland with 370,199, and the Netherlands with 221,553. Other key markets included France, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Sweden.
As Greece continues to break records in 2024, the country’s airports are proving to be vital gateways for the millions of visitors who contribute to the nation’s thriving tourism industry. With the summer season still in full swing, all eyes are on the final numbers, which could solidify 2024 as a landmark year in Greek aviation history.
