The European aviation market recorded strong growth in 2024, according to the most recent official Eurostat data. Air passengers traveling within the European Union reached 1.1 billion, marking an 8% increase compared to 2023. Europe appears to be returning to a sustained growth trajectory, while Greece reports one of the most notable positive performances.
At this point, it is worth noting that all EU countries recorded an increase in air passenger traffic. Leading the growth were Hungary with 19.2%, the Czech Republic with 18.9%, and Estonia with 17.8%. On the other hand, the mildest increases were seen in Sweden with 1.3%, Bulgaria with 3.8%, and France and Ireland with 4.6%.
At the same time, strong momentum was observed in air cargo and mail transport, with an 8.7% increase. The most significant growth was recorded in non-EU transport, up 10.8%, while intra-European transport remained practically flat. Greece achieved one of the highest increases in cargo, with a surge of 36.7%.
Meanwhile, activity at major European airports highlights the intensity of transport operations. London Heathrow, Istanbul Airport, ParisCharles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Madrid Barajas, and Frankfurt maintain the top positions in total traffic. Amsterdam Schiphol recorded approximately 484,000 commercial flights, while ParisCharles de Gaulle approached 463,000.
In line with these trends, Greece saw Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos enter the top ten European airports for the first time, with 31.85 million passengers in 2024. International arrivals increased by 15.7%, and domestic flights by 7.3%, confirming Athens emergence as a hub for the wider region.
It is worth noting that this growth creates new opportunities for Greek tourism and logistics, enhancing the countrys connectivity and providing prospects for further penetration into foreign markets.
In conclusion, air mobility is steadily strengthening, and Greece is at the center of this upward trend, with Athens moving up in ranking and air transport indicating that 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Mediterranean region.
