Greece’s tourism season is set for a solid start in 2026, with Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) planning 30.5 million international seats for the summer, up 8.3% from 2025 according to INSETE’s Airdata Tracker.
The U.S. remains Athens’ top long-haul market, with 1.18 million passengers in 2025, up 12% from 2024. Major carriers such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates and Norse Atlantic serve key hubs including New York (JFK and Newark), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington.
American travelers spend more than €1,000 per trip on average, take four trips a year and stay about 11 days in Greece, including three in Athens. That high-value profile keeps the U.S. as a pillar despite rising fuel costs.
Strong Asian push
China is showing the strongest growth, with 158,000 passengers in 2025, up 26% from 2024 and 42% in Q1 2026. Air China, Juneyao Air and Sichuan Airlines operate to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu via Istanbul, with frequencies rising to 5-7 weekly in summer. India is also entering the picture with IndiGo’s new Delhi and Mumbai routes, while South Korea returns via Korean Air charters from Seoul after a two-year gap.
