Germany and US have joined Italy, the UK, and other key markets in driving a remarkable surge in Greece’s travel growth, with Athens International Airport setting new passenger records in 2025. This impressive expansion can be attributed to a rise in international demand, supported by a boost in airline services from major carriers like Delta, Lufthansa, British Airways, and American Airlines. With Athens now offering more direct routes and increased frequencies, the city’s position as a leading Eastern Mediterranean aviation hub has been solidified, reflecting growing interest from travelers across the globe.

As we approach the end of 2025, Athens International Airport (AIA) is on track to set a new all-time record for passenger traffic, signaling a bright future for Greece’s aviation and tourism sectors. With a surge in both international and domestic traffic, AIA is experiencing significant growth, bolstered by expanded airline services, particularly from key markets such as the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The airport’s success reflects a broader trend in Greece’s tourism industry, which is rapidly gaining momentum as a major destination in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A Strong Performance: 2025 Passenger Growth at Athens International Airport

Athens International Airport has been experiencing an impressive upward trajectory in passenger traffic in 2025. As of November 2025, the airport has welcomed a staggering 31.68 million passengers during the first 11 months, edging ever closer to surpassing its record of 31.85 million set in 2024. This represents a 13.1% increase over 2023, demonstrating the ongoing growth in the region’s air traffic.

International demand has been the key driver of this growth, with 22.68 million international passengers passing through the airport in the first eleven months. This is supported by an 8.8% increase in international flights, further emphasizing Athens’ growing importance as a major international hub. The total number of flights at the airport increased by 5.6%, reaching 264,113 flights in the same period, solidifying AIA’s steady rise in global aviation traffic.

November 2025 Breaks Records

In addition to its strong performance in the first eleven months, November 2025 proved to be a record-breaking month for Athens International Airport. The airport recorded its highest-ever November traffic with 2.36 million passengers, marking an increase of 9.6% from November 2024. This was a result of both international and domestic traffic, with international passengers up by 11.5% and domestic traffic growing by 5% compared to the same month last year.

The airport’s strong November performance underscores a key trend: longer operating seasons and a boost in travel demand well beyond the traditional summer peak, suggesting that the aviation market in Greece is becoming increasingly year-round. This growth could also be attributed to the increased network expansion by airlines, offering more options for travelers to reach Greece at different times of the year.

Airline Response to Rising Demand

As Greece’s travel demand continues to rise, airlines are responding by expanding their networks to and from Athens. In particular, American Airlines is significantly increasing its presence in Greece, starting May 2026, with a new direct connection between Athens and Dallas/Fort Worth, its largest hub in the United States. This marks an exciting development, as American Airlines also plans to resume its route to Charlotte, while continuing to operate services to Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia.

Athens now offers direct flights to nine US cities, and the expansion in transatlantic traffic signals strong demand from the United States. The expanded US network includes Delta, United, Emirates, and Norse, with 103 weekly frequencies—nearly double the 2023 levels. This substantial increase reflects a growing interest in Greece from the US market, providing travelers with more convenient access to Athens and increasing the airport’s status as a key international gateway.

Athens Strengthens European Connectivity

In addition to its growing transatlantic services, Athens International Airport is also solidifying its position as one of Europe’s most connected airports. In 2025, the airport ranked as the eighth most connected hub in Europe, thanks to expanding links with European markets.

Germany continues to be one of Greece’s largest feeder markets, with Lufthansa expanding its services to Athens throughout the year. This has been a key factor contributing to AIA’s 8.8% increase in international flights in 2025. The United Kingdom also plays a critical role in Athens’ growth, as it remains one of Greece’s largest inbound markets. Notably, airlines like British Airways are increasing frequencies between Athens and major UK cities, driving up passenger numbers from this key European market.

Additionally, Italy has been another important contributor to the growth of Athens Airport, with strong leisure travel supporting overall growth. Italian travelers continue to favor Athens for both business and leisure trips, further solidifying the city as a hub for both regional and transatlantic traffic. With Aegean Airlines also increasing its flights, the Italy-Greece corridor remains one of the most important for Athens’ airport, especially for visitors traveling between two Mediterranean hotspots.

Greece’s Key Source Markets

The consistent growth in international traffic at Athens International Airport has been driven largely by key source markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, United States, and Italy. These countries have contributed significantly to the increased passenger flow to Greece, particularly via expanded airline services and rising demand for travel to the Eastern Mediterranean region.

• United Kingdom: The UK remains Greece’s largest inbound market outside Athens’ top airports, with British travelers contributing consistently to high volumes of international arrivals.
• Germany: Germany continues to be a major European feeder market, with Lufthansa expanding its year-round operations to Athens. This is a key factor in driving international traffic to the airport, supporting the growth of Greek tourism.
• United States: The rise in transatlantic demand has been especially notable, with Athens now offering direct routes to nine US cities. The introduction of new routes by American Airlines and continued services from Delta and United have driven growth from the US market, nearly doubling the 2023 levels of connectivity.
• Italy: Strong leisure travel from Italy continues to support Greece’s tourism sector, particularly with increased flight frequencies between Athens and major Italian cities, further bolstering the airport’s overall growth.

Athens’ Rising Role as an Aviation Gateway

Athens is steadily becoming one of the most important aviation hubs in the Eastern Mediterranean, thanks to its expanded international connections and year-round demand. The airport’s growth trajectory reflects the increasing importance of Greece as a gateway to Europe and beyond. With more airlines adding routes and services to Athens, the airport is playing a key role in supporting Greece’s robust tourism industry.

As the capital of Greece, Athens is uniquely positioned to continue attracting visitors from around the world, particularly from the US, Germany, Italy, and the UK, whose travelers are driving growth. The airport’s performance in 2025 is a strong indicator that Athens is set to remain a major player in the European aviation market, supporting not only tourism but also the country’s broader economic growth.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

As Athens International Airport prepares to close out 2025 with record traffic, the outlook for 2026 is equally optimistic. The continued expansion of airline services, particularly transatlantic routes, alongside a growing international network, positions Athens to maintain its upward momentum. New partnerships with airlines like American Airlines, Lufthansa, and British Airways, along with the expansion of services from Delta and other carriers, will likely sustain this growth well into the next decade.

Germany and US have joined Italy, the UK, and more in fueling Greece’s travel growth, as Athens International Airport sets new records in 2025. This surge is driven by expanded airline services from major carriers like Delta, Lufthansa, British Airways, and American Airlines, boosting international demand.

Athens International Airport’s remarkable performance in 2025 underscores the growing importance of Greece as a travel destination and transit hub. With record-breaking traffic, a surge in international services, and increasing connectivity with key source markets like the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, the airport is on track to maintain its status as a major global gateway. The expansion of airline networks, particularly transatlantic routes, will continue to drive Greece’s tourism growth in the years to come, ensuring that Athens remains at the forefront of Mediterranean and international travel.