Athens International Airport Sets Sights On Record-Breaking Over Thirty-Three Million Passengers In 2025 Driving Greece’s Aviation Growth

Published on December 6, 2025

Athens International Airport is poised to achieve a historic milestone in 2025, surpassing thirty-three million passengers. This remarkable growth highlights Greece’s thriving aviation sector and strengthens its position as a key global travel hub. With an increasing number of international flights and robust demand from both leisure and business travelers, the airport’s continued expansion reflects Greece’s importance in the global aviation network, supporting its role as a central gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

Athens International Airport, also known as Eleftherios Venizelos, is on pace to achieve a historic milestone in passenger traffic in 2025, continuing its rapid recovery and cementing its position as a key aviation hub in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

As of November, passenger traffic at Athens Airport reached an impressive 31.68 million, marking a 9.6% year-on-year growth. Projections indicate the airport will close 2025 with around 33.5 to 34 million passengers, surpassing the previous record set in 2024 and further solidifying Athens’ status as one of Europe’s fastest-recovering airports.

A Record-Breaking 2024 and Strong Recovery
The success of 2025 follows a record-setting 2024, when Athens International Airport welcomed 31.85 million passengers, a 13.1% increase compared to 2023. This significant growth reflects the strength of Greece’s tourism sector, with international travel demand remaining robust. The airport’s performance is a testament to the country’s successful tourism-driven recovery following the pandemic, underscoring Athens as a prime destination for both leisure and business travelers.

International Traffic Fuels Expansion
Athens Airport’s growth is largely driven by strong international demand. In November 2025, international traffic rose by 11.5%, and the airport saw an 8.8% expansion in international flight operations between January and November. Over 22.68 million international passengers traveled through Athens during this period, a notable increase from 20.89 million in 2024.

This growth can be attributed to several key factors, including:

• A wider range of airlines now operating at Athens,
• New and expanded long-haul routes,
• A consistent high demand for travel to Greece,
• Athens’ increasing role as a strategic aviation hub for the Eastern Mediterranean region.

In addition to strong international growth, Athens has also seen a steady increase in domestic traffic, which reached 9 million passengers, a 2% rise from the previous year. Total flight movements at the airport grew by 5.6%, reaching 264,113 during the same period.

Expansion Plans and Airline Growth
Looking ahead, Athens International Airport is poised for even greater expansion, with several airlines planning to increase operations at the airport in 2026. Notably, American Airlines and Aegean Airlines are set to bolster Greece’s international connectivity and reinforce Athens’ status as a key gateway for long-haul travel.

• American Airlines’ New Routes: Beginning in May 2026, American Airlines will launch a new direct route between Athens and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), its largest hub in the U.S. The airline will also reinstate its Charlotte service and continue flights to Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, strengthening connections between Greece and the U.S. This expansion promises to offer new travel options for passengers heading to and from the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Aegean Airlines Enters the Indian Market: Aegean Airlines is set to enter the Indian market with its first direct flights to New Delhi and Mumbai in March 2026. The airline will operate these long-haul routes using its new Airbus A321neo XLR, which has a range of up to 10.5 hours, further improving Greece’s connectivity with Asia. Additionally, India’s IndiGo will begin six weekly flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens, helping boost bilateral travel between Greece and India.

Athens as a Mediterranean Aviation Hub
With a series of back-to-back record years and significant growth in long-haul routes, Athens International Airport is rapidly establishing itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing airports. Its growing network of international destinations, including expanded U.S. and Indian connections, is enhancing Greece’s position as a key player in the global aviation market.

If the current trends continue, 2025 will likely become Athens Airport’s strongest year yet. This success will not only boost Greece’s tourism sector but also reinforce Athens’ position as a major regional aviation hub, capable of attracting even more international airlines and passengers in the coming years.

As the airport continues to expand and evolve, its increasing importance in the global aviation landscape is undeniable. With major airline expansions and new long-haul routes on the horizon, Athens is set to remain a key player in both European and global air travel for the foreseeable future.