Greece’s international air travel continues to surge, with 29.3 million international arrivals recorded in 2024, marking an impressive 9.7% increase from 2023.
The latest data from INSETE’s annual study on international air arrivals, based on figures from Athens International Airport (AIA), Fraport Greece, and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) airports, provides a clear picture of this growth.
Leading the charge is Athens International Airport (AIA), which handled 11.1 million international passengers—a 15.3% increase compared to 2023. Meanwhile, regional airports collectively recorded 15.8 million arrivals, a 7% increase, and Thessaloniki Airport saw a 3.9% rise, reaching 2.5 million passengers.
The Airports Driving Greece’s Travel Boom
Athens International Airport continues to be the country’s primary gateway, accounting for nearly 38% of all international arrivals in 2024. Its growth was fueled by an influx of travelers from Italy, Germany, the UK, France, and Cyprus—the airport’s top five international markets.
Heraklion followed with 3.8 million passengers, recording an increase of +235 thousand/+6.6%, while Rhodes ranked third with 3.0 million passengers, marking an increase of +366 thousand/+13.8%.
Thessaloniki Airport, Greece’s second-largest international hub, followed in fourth place with 2.5 million passengers. It also saw an increase in air traffic, driven primarily by passengers from Germany, the UK, Cyprus, Italy, and Poland.
But the real standout trend in 2024’s air travel growth has been the performance of Greece’s regional airports, which saw a combined 1 million more arrivals compared to the previous year. The top five busiest regional airports—Heraklion, Rhodes, Corfu, Chania, and Kos—accounted for 76% of all international arrivals in Greece. These destinations remain key entry points for tourists looking to explore Greece beyond Athens.
Where Are Greece’s Visitors Coming From?
The UK remains the largest source market, with 5.3 million passengers, a 7.2% increase from 2023. Germany follows closely with 4.8 million arrivals, showing the highest absolute growth, adding 389,000 passengers (+8.8%).
Among the fastest-growing markets, Turkey saw an astounding 25.3% increase in arrivals, followed by Hungary (+25%) and the USA (+24.2%). This suggests growing interest from North American and European travelers who are either revisiting Greece or discovering new destinations within the country.
An Expanding Tourist Season
While July remained the peak month for air arrivals, with 5 million passengers (16.9% of the total), an interesting shift is happening—Greece’s tourist season is expanding. There were single-digit increases in arrivals from June to September, but what stands out is the double-digit growth in off-peak months.
This trend suggests that Greece is successfully attracting visitors outside the traditional summer season, with more travelers choosing to explore the country’s islands and mainland during the spring and autumn months.
Outlook for Greek Tourism
With air arrivals continuing to climb, Greece’s tourism industry is adapting to rising demand, extended seasons, and new visitor markets.
The surge in arrivals at regional airports highlights the country’s growing appeal beyond Athens and Thessaloniki, making destinations like Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, and Kos even more accessible to international travelers.
Read the full study.
