Athens, Attica, Greece – In a significant development for Greek aviation, Athens ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ International Airport has officially entered the top ten European Union airports by passenger traffic in 2024. This achievement is largely attributed to the airport’s remarkable annual passenger growth of +19.6%, positioning it as the second-highest in this category across the EU, just behind Rome’s Fiumicino.
Athens Airport’s Ascent in EU Rankings
The impressive surge in passenger numbers allowed ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ to displace Paris Orly airport from the coveted top ten list. This milestone highlights Athens’ growing prominence as a key travel hub in Europe, attracting an increasing number of air travelers.
EU Air Travel Trends in 2024
According to data released by Eurostat, the total number of air passengers within the EU reached 1.1 billion in 2024. This represents a substantial increase of 8.3% compared to the 973 million passengers recorded in 2023, signaling a robust recovery and expansion in the European air travel sector.
A comprehensive analysis of the data reveals that all EU member states experienced an increase in air passenger numbers in 2024 compared to the previous year. The most significant increases were observed in Hungary (+19.2%), the Czech Republic (+18.9%), and Estonia (+17.8%). In contrast, countries like Sweden (+1.3%), Bulgaria (+3.8%), and France and Ireland (both +4.6%) recorded more modest growth.
Greece Among Top Performers in Air Freight and Mail Growth
Beyond passenger traffic, the EU also witnessed an overall increase in total freight and mail transported by air, with an 8.7% rise in 2024 compared to 2023. This growth was predominantly fueled by an increase in transport to and from non-EU countries, which saw a 10.8% increase. Intra-EU transport remained relatively stable with a marginal increase of 0.1%, while domestic transport experienced a slight decline of 4.3%.
At the national level, Greece emerged as one of the top three countries for growth in air freight and mail, recording an impressive +36.7% increase. This places Greece alongside Hungary (+65.9%) and the Czech Republic (+43.7%) as leading performers in this sector. Conversely, only Poland (-3.6%) and Latvia (-2.7%) reported decreases in air freight and mail transport.
The strong performance of Athens Airport in both passenger and freight traffic underscores its strategic importance and growing capacity within the European aviation landscape. The consistent growth figures reflect a positive trajectory for Greek air travel and its contribution to the broader EU aviation market.
Source: https://en.protothema.gr/2025/12/08/athens-airport-listed-in-the-eus-top-10-for-passenger-traffic-in-2024/
