Published on
November 20, 2025
In October 2025, Greece’s air traffic exceeded expectations, reflecting a continued surge in travel demand and a robust tourism sector. This impressive performance highlights Greece’s enduring appeal as a top travel destination, with increased flight activity marking a peak period for both leisure and business travel. The country’s ability to maintain high traffic levels indicates not only a strong recovery post-pandemic but also the sustained popularity of its attractions. The extended demand suggests that Greece’s tourism industry is set for a prosperous period, with significant benefits for local economies and the aviation sector.
In October 2025, Greece’s air traffic demonstrated continued growth, marking the country’s expanding tourism season, which now stretches well beyond the traditional summer months. The data from 39 airports, including Athens International Airport, 24 state-run airports, and 14 airports operated by a major airport management group, reflected significant increases in both passenger traffic and aircraft movements, although regional variations remained.
At the national level, Greece’s aviation network saw a total of 76,238,091 passengers in the first ten months of 2025, an increase of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Aircraft movements also grew by 3.8%, reaching 570,508. In October alone, passenger traffic exceeded 8 million, up from 7.671 million in October 2024, a remarkable increase. This growth can be attributed to a combination of rising international demand and an extension of the tourism season, with many airlines maintaining or increasing their connections through the end of October.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported a 6.6% increase in passenger traffic across its network of 24 state airports for the January–October period, with 12,181,144 passengers handled, up from 11,422,374 in 2024. This reflects the steady strengthening of regional air connectivity and further bolsters Greece’s position as a key European air travel hub.
At the 14 airports operated by the major airport management group, passenger traffic in October 2025 grew by 3.7%, totaling 3.5 million passengers. This growth was primarily driven by regional hubs like Thessaloniki, Corfu, and Chania, which saw an increase in demand, particularly for destinations in the Mediterranean. However, certain islands like Mykonos and Santorini recorded declines in passenger numbers during this period, showing a more varied impact depending on the destination.
Athens International Airport also continued its upward trajectory in October, with passenger numbers rising by 4% to reach 3.13 million, compared with 3.02 million in October 2024. International traffic was the primary driver behind this growth, rising by 6.3%, while domestic traffic saw a slight decline of 1.6%. For the entire January–October period, Athens International Airport handled 29.33 million passengers, marking a 6.4% increase over the previous year. The growth was reflected in both international routes, which saw an 8.3% increase, and domestic routes, which grew by a modest 1.8%. This increase in passenger numbers was accompanied by a rise in flight activity, with a 5.4% increase in the total number of flights, reaching 244,500, compared to 232,000 in the same period last year. Notably, international flights grew by 8.6%, while domestic flights increased slightly by 0.9%. The continued growth at Athens International Airport highlights its role as Greece’s primary aviation hub and underscores its strong international connections, making it one of the most dynamic airports in Southeastern Europe.
Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” Airport achieved a historic record in October 2025, with passenger traffic reaching 1,172,533, marking a 10% increase from the same month in 2024. This brought its total for the first ten months of the year to 9,595,298 passengers, already surpassing its full-year total from 2024 by October. This record places Heraklion among Greece’s major regional airports and highlights its growth in line with European mid-size hubs. The airport’s performance underscores the continued importance of Crete as a key tourism destination in Greece, with increasing demand even toward the end of the high season.
Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport also saw strong growth in October 2025, with a 9.7% increase in passenger traffic. The airport handled an additional 67,018 passengers, bringing its total passenger numbers for the month to 756,228. International arrivals and departures were a significant contributor to this growth, rising by 13.1% to reach 534,628 passengers. Domestic traffic also increased by 2.4%, reinforcing Thessaloniki’s expanding appeal as both a domestic and international destination. For the January–October period, Thessaloniki saw 6.87 million passengers, a 7.9% increase from the previous year. International traffic surged by 9.9%, driven by new route expansions and airline capacity increases.
Thessaloniki’s growth is a direct result of several strategic airline expansions. Aegean Airlines, for example, has added new direct connections from Thessaloniki to cities like Milos, Zakynthos, Prague, Warsaw, Istanbul, and Dubrovnik. The airport is also seeing increased capacity from other airlines, such as SKY Express, which launched a new route to Dusseldorf, and EasyJet, which has reinforced its routes to Berlin and Chisinau. Thessaloniki’s available seat capacity is set to increase to 3.7 million in 2026, up from 2.3 million in 2013, further cementing its role as a growing international gateway.
Thessaloniki’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine is evident in the strong rebound of its air traffic and the continued expansion of international connections. The city’s internationalization process is fully underway, with the airport playing a central role in positioning Thessaloniki as a key player in European air travel once again.
In October 2025, Greece’s air traffic exceeded expectations, driven by sustained high demand and a strong tourism sector, indicating a continued period of growth and robust performance.
Overall, Greece’s aviation network in October 2025 showcased solid growth, with a notable expansion of international routes and continued strengthening of regional connectivity. As the country moves beyond its traditional peak tourism periods, the outlook for its aviation sector remains strong, driven by growing demand from international travelers and expanded airline capacity.
