Clear signs of an extended tourist season are reflected in the data on international air arrivals in the country in 2024, with the period of June-September recording a single-digit growth rate while the remaining months recorded a double-digit growth rate.
According to INSETE’s air arrivals data, in the period January-December 2024, the country recorded 29.3 million international air arrivals compared to 26.7 million in the period January-December 2023, showing an increase of +2.6 million or +9.7%.
However, the largest increases in 2024 were observed in the off-peak months, namely January (+67 thousand/+11.5%), February (+108 thousand/+19.5%), March (+176 thousand/+23%), April (+177 thousand/+11.4%), May (+325 thousand/+11.4%), October (+262 thousand/+11.5%), November (+121 thousand/+16.6%) and December (+116 thousand/+14.0%).
The main season also grew but at a slower pace and the peak month was July, which accounted for 16.9% of all international arrivals in 2024: June recorded 4.2 million. arrivals, recording an increase of +297 thousand/+7.7% while in July the increase was +288 thousand/+6.1% with a total of 5 million arrivals. In August, 4.7 million international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +285 thousand/+6.4%, and in September arrivals were 3.9 million showing an increase of +270 thousand/+7.4%.
5 airports account for more than 7 in 10 international arrivals
In parallel, Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, and Corfu account for the largest share of arrivals from abroad, as they are the top five airports and represent 76% of total international air arrivals in 2024.
Athens (38% share in incoming international air arrivals) remained in first place with 11.1 million passengers, showing an increase of +1.5 million/+15.3% compared to 2023, with main markets being Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Cyprus.
Heraklion followed (13% share) with 3.8 million passengers, recording an increase of +235 thousand/+6.6%, while Rhodes (10% share) was in third place with 3 million. passengers, recording an increase of +366 thousand/+13.8%.
In fourth place was Thessaloniki (share 8%) with 2.5 million passengers, recording an increase of +91 thousand/+3.9%, with main markets being Germany, the UK, Cyprus, Italy, and Poland.
The top five is completed by Corfu (share 7%) with 2 million passengers, which recorded an increase of +125 thousand/+6.8%.
Following in terms of share in total incoming air traffic are Chania (5%), Kos (5%), Zakynthos (4%), Santorini (3%), Mykonos (2%) and Aktion and Kefalonia (1%).
15.8 million international air arrivals were recorded at regional airports compared to 14.8 million in 2023, showing an increase of 1 million or 7% compared to 2023, with the main markets being the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland and France.
Britain & Germany are the main ones, Turkey, Hungary & USA are the most dynamic markets
The UK market remained in first place for passengers from abroad with 5.3 million arrivals, showing an increase of 7.2% or +351 thousand in absolute terms.
Germany remained in second place with 4.8 million passengers, showing the largest increase in absolute terms +389 thousand/+8.8%.
Turkey showed the largest percentage increase with +25.3%.
Hungary +25% and the USA +24.2% follow with a small difference.
The main markets for “El. Venizelos”
Regarding Athens Airport, five countries account for 42% of total passengers for 2024.
In detail, Italy remains in first place with 1.1 million passengers, recording an increase of +208 thousand/+22.4%. Germany rose to second place with 1.05 million passengers, recording an increase of +130 thousand/+14.0% while the United Kingdom fell to third place with 980 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +51 thousand/+5.5%.
France remains in fourth place with 760 thousand passengers recording an increase of +69 thousand/+9.9% while Cyprus maintains fifth place with 700 thousand passengers recording an increase of +82 thousand/+13.2%.
Great momentum for Athens from the USA, Turkey, Spain, Israel, UAE and Poland
The USA remains in sixth place with 610 thousand passengers recording an increase of +118 thousand/+24.2% and Turkey in seventh place with 590 thousand passengers recording an increase of +127 thousand/+27.4%.
Spain remained in eighth place with 513 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +72 thousand/+16.2% and Israel remained in ninth place with 477 thousand passengers recording an increase of +91 thousand/+23.5%. The top ten is completed by Switzerland, which remains in tenth place with 410 thousand passengers +36 thousand/+9.5%.
The Netherlands remained in 11th place with 341 thousand passengers, an increase of +43 thousand/+14.6%. The UAE gained two places in the ranking, reaching 12th place with 267 thousand passengers, an increase of +69 thousand/+35.1%. Austria remained in 13th place with 258 thousand passengers, an increase of +41 thousand/+18.8%.
Poland gained two places in the ranking and rose to 14th place with 257 thousand passengers, an increase of +71 thousand/+37.8%. On the contrary, Belgium fell 3 places in the ranking with 245 thousand arrivals, despite an increase of +12 thousand/+5%.
Canada dropped one place to 16th place with 210 thousand passengers but recorded an increase of +23 thousand/+12%. Egypt remained in 17th place with 163 thousand passengers, recording a decrease of -13 thousand/-7.9%. Romania remained in 18th place with 162 thousand passengers, recording a slight decrease of -4 thousand/-2.5%. Qatar with 152 thousand passengers, climbed one place, recording an increase of +24 thousand/+18.6%. Finally, Albania dropped to 20th place with 149 thousand passengers despite showing an increase of +15 thousand/+11.4%.
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