Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” is on track to achieve a historic passenger traffic record in 2025, continuing one of the fastest recoveries in European aviation. This follows a strong performance in 2024, where the airport handled 31.85 million passengers, marking a 13.1% increase from 2023 and confirming a full rebound from the pandemic.
Strong Growth Propelled by International Demand
During the first eleven months of 2025, total passenger traffic reached 31.68 million, with November alone showing a significant 9.6% year-on-year increase. Current projections indicate that Athens Airport will close 2025 with an estimated 33.5-34 million passengers, surpassing the 2024 record and solidifying Athens’ position as a major regional hub in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The robust growth is primarily driven by international demand, which rose 11.5% in November. International flight operations also expanded by 8.8% in the January-November period. International passengers reached 22.68 million, compared with 20.89 million during the same period in 2024. This surge reflects a broadened network of airlines operating in Athens, new and enhanced long-haul routes, sustained high visitor demand for Greece, and Athens’ increasing prominence as a strategic aviation hub for the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
Total flight movements reached 264,113, an increase of 5.6%, while domestic traffic accounted for 9 million passengers, up 2% year-on-year.
Major Airline Expansions Planned for 2026
Airlines are preparing significant expansions for the coming years, further boosting Athens’ role as a long-haul gateway. These developments are expected to contribute to continued growth in passenger traffic.
American Airlines Expands U.S.-Greece Connections
Starting May 2026, American Airlines will launch a direct route between Athens and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), its largest hub in the United States. The carrier will also reinstate its Charlotte service and continue operating flights to Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. These expansions are set to strengthen Greece-U.S. connectivity and create new long-haul travel options for passengers.
Aegean Enters Indian Market with New Long-Haul Routes
Aegean Airlines is set to expand its network eastward by launching its first direct flights to New Delhi and Mumbai in March 2026. The airline will operate these routes using the new Airbus A321neo XLR, which is capable of non-stop flights of up to 10.5 hours.
Concurrently, India’s IndiGo will introduce six weekly flights from the two major Indian airports to Athens, further expanding bilateral travel and enhancing Greece’s appeal as a gateway to Europe.
Athens Strengthens Its Position as a Mediterranean Aviation Hub
With consecutive record-breaking years and the introduction of new long-haul routes from the U.S. and India, Athens International Airport is rapidly establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe. If current trends persist, 2025 is poised to become its strongest year on record, further enhancing Greece’s position on the global aviation map.
Source: https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/12/06/athens-airport-passenger-2025/
