Demand for the festive period of Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany remains at particularly high levels across Aegean’s network, confirming the strong momentum of winter travel activity.
According to available data, demand on the international network is at the same levels as the corresponding period last year, while demand on the domestic network is slightly increased, reflecting the strong travel activity of Greek passengers during the holiday season.
On the international network, load factors to and from Athens and Thessaloniki throughout the festive period exceed 80% on average, with certain dates recording even higher figures.
Traffic is particularly strong on December 20 to and from Athens, with load factors reaching 85%, while on December 23 Thessaloniki records a peak with rates close to 90%. Similarly, on December 28, flights to and from Athens exceed 85%, while to and from Thessaloniki, both on December 28 and December 30, load factors stand at approximately 88%.
On Aegean’s domestic network, the picture remains equally dynamic. To and from Athens, average load factors for the holiday period reach around 70%, while to and from Thessaloniki they exceed 80%, with specific dates standing out.
On December 19 and 23, traffic peaks for Athens, with load factors reaching 90% and 85% respectively, while on December 28 they once again approach 85%.
On December 19, 21, and 22, as well as on December 26, load factors in Thessaloniki range between 85% and 90%. On December 28, they even exceed 90%, highlighting the strong demand for travel at the height of the festive season.
The Most Popular Domestic and International Destinations
The most popular international destinations from Athens are northern European cities, with Helsinki, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Oslo, and Stockholm ranking among the top choices. From Thessaloniki, international demand focuses mainly on Germany and Central Europe, with Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt attracting the greatest interest, while Barcelona also ranks high among passenger preferences.
Domestically, from Athens passengers mainly choose Sitia, Rhodes, Ioannina, Alexandroupoli, and Kos, while from Thessaloniki the leading destinations are Kos, Chios, Kalamata, Rhodes, and Heraklion, reflecting the steady appeal of both island and mainland destinations.
Less Popular Destinations on the Rise
At the same time, increased interest is being recorded for alternative, less mainstream international destinations, with travelers turning to cities and countries such as Tunis, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Zagreb, and Morocco, seeking different experiences away from the classic Christmas routes.
According to booking trends, for traditionally Christmas-focused destinations passengers tend to plan their trips well in advance of departure. However, last-minute opportunities still exist. From Athens, such options can be found for destinations such as Florence, Naples, Istanbul, Izmir, Rome, Venice, and Nice, while from Thessaloniki travelers can find available options to Istanbul, Milan, and Prague.
