2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Greek aviation, with Athens International Airport and the 14 regional airports operated by Fraport Greece moving steadily toward new all-time passenger traffic records.
Athens International Airport, “Eleftherios Venizelos,” has already handled 31.68 million passengers in the first eleven months of the year, recording growth rates that surpass previous highs.
Supported by strong international demand and the continuous expansion of airline networks, total passenger traffic for the full year is now estimated at between 33.5 and 34 million passengers.
Athens International Airport: sustained growth momentum
Passenger traffic data for January–November 2025 confirm the upward trajectory at Athens International Airport. Total passenger numbers reached 31.68 million, marking a 6.6% increase year-on-year, while flight movements rose to 264,113, up 5.6%.
During the eleven-month period, 22.68 million international passengers passed through the airport, compared with 20.89 million a year earlier. In November alone, international passenger traffic increased by 11.5%, while international flights rose by 8.8% over the eleven months.
Domestic traffic showed more moderate but still positive growth, with around 9 million passengers recorded in the first ten months of the year, up 2% year-on-year.
New long-haul routes strengthen global connectivity
From May 2026, American Airlines will launch a direct service between Athens and Dallas/Fort Worth, its largest U.S. hub. The carrier will also reinstate flights to Charlotte, while continuing services to Chicago, New York and Philadelphia, creating a dense Greece–U.S. air bridge.
Asia is also coming into focus. Aegean Airlines will enter the Indian market with direct flights to New Delhi and Mumbai from March 2026, enabled by its new Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft, capable of flights of up to 10.5 hours. At the same time, IndiGo is expected to complement the network with six weekly flights from India’s two major airports to Athens.
Fraport Greece airports already above 2024 levels
Equally strong is the performance of the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece. In the first eleven months of 2025, total passenger traffic reached 36.23 million, up 2.9% year-on-year and already surpassing the 36.03 million passengers recorded in the whole of 2024.
Flight movements increased from 268,668 to 274,944, representing a 2.3% rise. International traffic accounted for the bulk of growth, with 28.9 million international passengers, up 3.6% compared to the same period last year.
Rhodes and Thessaloniki stand out
Among the standout performers, Rhodes Airport exceeded 7 million passengers in the eleven-month period. Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport recorded an 8% increase in passenger traffic, reaching 7.4 million passengers since the beginning of the year. In Chania, international passenger numbers climbed to 3.17 million, up 4%, while total traffic reached 4.07 million.
