International air arrivals in the country increased by 9.7% or 2.6 million in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching a total of 29.3 million compared to 26.7 million in 2023. The majority of airports showed an increase. On the contrary, the airports of Mykonos, Kavala, Anchialos, and Chios showed a decrease.
The top five airports accounted for 76% of total international air arrivals in 2024.
In particular, as shown by INSETE data,
Athens remained in first place with 11.1 million passengers, showing an increase of +1.5 million/+15.3% compared to 2023 (9.7 million in 2023), and received 38% of the year’s incoming international air arrivals.
Heraklion had 3.8 million passengers, recording an increase of +235 thousand/+6.6%, with a share of 13% in total international arrivals,
Rhodes was in third place with 3 million passengers, recording an increase of +366 thousand/+13.8% and with a share of arrivals of 10%
Thessaloniki followed with 2.5 million passengers (compared to 2.4 million in 2023), recording an increase of +91 thousand/+3.9% and with a share of 8%.
Corfu had 2 million passengers and recorded an increase of +125 thousand/+6.8% and a 7% share in international air arrivals for the year.
International air arrivals at the top ten airports correspond to 94% of total international air arrivals in 2024.
The top ten “continues” with the following airports: In sixth place, Chania Airport with 1.5 million passengers (+117 thousand/+8.3%) and a 5% share, and in seventh place Kos Airport with 1.4 million and a 5% share, recording an increase of +47 thousand/+3.6%.
Zakynthos Airport maintained its eighth place with 1.1 million (+64 thousand/+6.4%) and a 4% share. Santorini airport remained in ninth place with 765 thousand, recording an increase of +13 thousand/+1.8% and a share of 3%, while Mykonos airport remained in tenth place, but recorded a decrease (-28 thousand/-4.9%) with 535 thousand passengers and a share of 2%.
Air arrivals from abroad at the remaining airports in the country were as follows…
Aktion airport remained in 11th place with 406 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +4 thousand/+1.0%, and Kefalonia airport in 12th place with 376 thousand arrivals (+4 thousand/+1.0%). Skiathos airport recorded 272 thousand arrivals, recording an increase of +25 thousand/+9.9%. Kalamata Airport gained one place, moving up to 14th place with 155 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +26 thousand/+20.1%. On the other hand, Samos Airport fell one place with 147 thousand, recording an increase of +6 thousand/+3.9%.
At Kavala Airport, international air arrivals decreased by -8 thousand/-6.6% and amounted to 115 thousand. Karpathos Airport, with 99 thousand passengers, showed an increase of +2 thousand/+1.8%. Finally, at Mytilene Airport, air arrivals amounted to 88 thousand and increased by +28 thousand/45.8 %. At the remaining airports, arrivals were less than 80 thousand, corresponding to just 0.4% of total international air arrivals in 2024.
Athens Airport | Great momentum from USA, Turkey, Spain, Israel, UAE, Poland
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%.
The USA remains in sixth place with 610 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +118 thousand/+24.2%, and Turkey is 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%.
In 11th place, the Netherlands remained with 341 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +43 thousand/+14.6%. The UAE gained two places in the ranking to reach 12th place with 267 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +69 thousand/+35.1%. Austria remained in 13th place with 258 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +41 thousand/+18.8%.
Poland gained two places in the ranking to rise to 14th place with 257 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +71 thousand/+37.8%. In contrast, Belgium fell 3 places in the ranking with 245 thousand arrivals, although it recorded an increase of +12 thousand/+5%.
Canada fell one place to 16th place with 210 thousand passengers, recording 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, moved up one place, recording an increase of +24 thousand/+18.6%. Finally, Albania fell to 20th place with 149 thousand passengers despite showing an increase of +15 thousand/+11.4%.
Thessaloniki Airport | Arrivals from Germany and Poland on the rise
At Thessaloniki Airport, Germany holds the first place with 808 thousand passengers, showing an increase of +53 thousand/+7.0%. The United Kingdom remains in second place with 240 thousand passengers, which however recorded a decrease of -38 thousand/-13.5%. Cyprus remained in third place with 220 thousand arrivals, also recording a decrease of -7 thousand/-3.2%. Italy remained in fourth place with 166 thousand arrivals, recording a decrease of -16 thousand/-8.6%. Poland moved up to fifth place, gaining a place in the ranking with 116 thousand, recording a significant increase of +31 thousand/+35.8%.
Austria fell to sixth place with 112 thousand arrivals (+2k/+1.7%) losing one place in the ranking while Switzerland moved up to seventh place with 83k, up +7k/+9.2%. The Netherlands also moved up one place in the ranking and found itself in eighth place with 81k arrivals, up +8k/+10.8%.
Romania moved up four places in the ranking with 76k passengers, up +30k/+65.2%. Turkey remained in tenth place with 74k arrivals, up +8k/+11.3%.
Belgium is ranked in 11th place, gaining one place in the ranking with 58k passengers, up +9k/+17.4%. Israel dropped to 12th place, losing five places in the ranking with 57 thousand arrivals, recording a decrease of -26 thousand/-30.9%. Hungary rose to 13th place, gaining one place, with 55 thousand arrivals, recording an increase of +10 thousand/+22.4%. France fell to 14th place with 47 thousand arrivals, losing three places in the ranking and recording a decrease of -5 thousand/-9.0%. Sweden remained in 15th place with 38 thousand arrivals, recording a decrease of -2 thousand/-5.1%.
Georgia remained in 16th place with 34 thousand passengers, recording a decrease of -1 thousand/-2.4%. Malta rose to 17th place with 33 thousand. arrivals, recording an increase of +4 thousand/+12.0%. Serbia rose to 18th place with 31 thousand arrivals, recording an increase of +8 thousand/+37.0%. Slovakia fell to 19th place with 28 thousand arrivals, losing two places in the ranking, recording a decrease of -4 thousand/-11.2%. Finally, Denmark remained in 20th place with 16 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +2 thousand/+10.3%.
The most important markets for regional airports
In 2024, 15.8 million international air arrivals were recorded at regional airports, showing an increase of +1 million/+7.0% compared to 2023, and 20 markets account for 97% of passengers.
In particular, the United Kingdom remains in first place with 4 million passengers, recording an increase of +338 thousand/+9.1%. Germany follows in second place with 2.9 million passengers, recording an increase of +207 thousand/+7.6%. In third place is Italy with 1.2 million passengers, recording an increase of +83 thousand/+7.8%. Poland remained in fourth place with 1.1 million passengers, recording a significant increase of +113 thousand/+12.0%. In fifth place is France with 938 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +21 thousand/+2.3%.
The Netherlands remains in sixth place with 805 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +29 thousand/+3.8%. Austria is in seventh place with 500 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +14 thousand/+3.0%. The Czech Republic remained in eighth place with 468 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +42 thousand/+9.9%. Denmark rose to ninth place, gaining one place in the ranking with 457 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +35 thousand/+8.4%. On the other hand, Sweden fell to tenth place with 450 thousand passengers, despite recording an increase of +25 thousand/+5.9%.
Belgium rose to 11th place, gaining one place in the ranking with 404 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +33 thousand/+8.8% and Switzerland also gained one place in the ranking and rose to 12th place with 397 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +50 thousand/+14.4%. Israel fell to 13th place with 360 thousand passengers, recording a decrease of -35 thousand/-8.9% and losing two places in the ranking. Norway is in 14th place with 330 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +24 thousand/+7.9%. Finland rose to 15th place with 287 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +15 thousand/+5.5%.
On the other hand, Romania fell to 16th place with 270 thousand, recording a small decrease of -2 thousand/-0.8% and losing one place in the ranking. Hungary remained in 17th place with 183 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +39 thousand/+27.0%. Ireland remained in 18th place with 116 thousand. passengers, recording an increase of +10 thousand/+9.5%. Slovakia rose to 19th place with 104 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +7 thousand/+7.6%. Finally, Cyprus fell to 20th place with 88 thousand passengers, recording a decrease of -11 thousand/-11.4%.
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