With their attention focused on Greece, Austrian and Swiss tour operators are designing their 2026 programs, which are being strengthened with numerous new flight connections to Greece and increased seat availability from the carriers of both countries.
Ideal Tours Tirol Brixlegg. From left: Ioannis Rafalias, GNTO Austria Office; Elisavet Kotsombassidou, Marbella Hotel; Inge Schwarzenauer, Ideal Marketing
The GNTO Austria Office participated in a roadshow of the tour operators Ideal Tours and Springer Reisen in the cities of Graz, Innsbruck, Brixlegg, Linz and Vienna, having the opportunity to present new destinations and to meet with hundreds of tourism professionals. It confirmed the excellent prospects shaping up for the upcoming tourism period, both from the Austrian market and from Switzerland.
Stavroula Skaltsi, Director of GNTO Austria
The successful performance of tourism flows in 2025 has led to the inclusion of new destinations and an increase in flights from the airports of both countries.
More specifically:
- Corfu is being added to the direct flights from Innsbruck by Skyalps of Ideal Tours, which already includes Preveza/Lefkada, Kefalonia, Kalamata and Halkidiki in its program.
- Springer Reisen is adding Chios from Vienna to its already extensive program, while from Graz and Klagenfurt it is connected directly (Avanti Air) with Paros/Naxos, Santorini (charter boat to Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos), Skiathos (Skopelos, Alonissos), Kos (Patmos) and Kefalonia.
Ioannis Rafalias, GNTO Austria Office
Airlines
Airlines, responding to the strong demand for Greek destinations, are increasing seat availability and extending the operational period of their flight schedules.
- Austrian Airlines: Lesvos is being added to the flight program of Austrian Airlines, while the flight to Lemnos continues for a second year. It is the only airline connecting Athens, Thessaloniki/Halkidiki, Skiathos, Kalamata, Heraklion, Chania, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos, Lemnos, Lesvos, Samos, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Preveza and Patras.
- Edelweiss/Swiss: The Swiss airline Edelweiss, from April to November, connects Zurich with 12 Greek destinations (Chania, Heraklion, Corfu, Kos, Kalamata, Mykonos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Zakynthos, Skiathos and Preveza).
Greece as the guest of honor in Switzerland
On November 8, an evening event was held in Sierre de Valais (French-speaking Switzerland) presenting regions with distinguished wine-making traditions and techniques, where Greece, represented by Santorini, was the guest of honor.
From left: Rachel Pralong, Head of Sports of the Municipality; David Slivaz, Head of Tourism; Nicolas Melly, Deputy Mayor of Finance; Delphine Niederberger, Director of the Museum; Joel Rey, Head of Culture; Niki Stefanidou, Director of Commercial and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Greece in Bern; Markos Kafouros, President of Santo Wines; Ioannis Rafalias, GNTO Austria/Switzerland; Stavroula Skaltsi, Head of GNTO Austria/Switzerland; Nektarios Bileris, Oenologist, Santo Wines; Matthaios Dimopoulos, Director of Santo Wines
The event was organized by the Wine Museum in collaboration with the Department of Commercial and Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Greece in Bern and with the support of the GNTO Austria/Switzerland Office. The exhibition hosted by the city’s Wine Museum will run until the end of November.
A particularly warm welcome was extended to the Greek delegation by members of the local authorities of Sierre at the City Hall.
Visitors were given a tour of Santorini through selected photographic and audiovisual material and enjoyed the exceptional wines and delicacies offered by the Santo Wines delegation.
