Tourists Flock to Greece as Air Seat Capacity Rises for November

Compared to November 2024, Greece is seeing an increase in scheduled air seats of 11.2% in November 2025, an increase of 137,896. Greece is scheduled to have 1,357,189 seats in November 2023, an increase from 1,220,293 in November 2022. According to reports from INSETE, the research institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Greece is becoming a shoulder season destination, enabling access to Greece’s core cultural, historical, and natural attractions.

The increase in air service capacity strengthens SELECT’s forecast for 2025 and confirms Greece’s attractiveness and popularity as a tourism destination. The increased air capacity is an important indicator of Greece’s tourism performance, as it demonstrates travellers are seeking to visit Greece during the non-peak summer season.

The Most Popular City in Greece for Visitors

Travellers to Greece continue to pick Athens as their first destination. November 2025 is forecasted to hit 1.04 million seat bookings, an 11.8% yearly increase, reinforcing Athens’s status as one of the most important access points for overseas visitors to Greece. As the centre of ancient and modern Greek civilisation, Athens entices visitors with world-renowned sites, including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, and the National Archaeological Museum.

Strong seat forecast indicates that Athens’ tourism revenues to rise in 2025 and 2026, as Athens’ most-in-demand culture activities draw in additional tourists. Visitors should take advantage of the fall/winter/spring shoulder season to Athens in order to bypass the summer mass tourism overwhelmed sites, and, obtain a more meaningful and unforgettable travel opportunity.

Athens continues to be the first travel destination for tourists to Greece, with its historic and cultural sites, and year-round cultural and dining festivals and tours. It remains the main base for international travellers to Greece and its islands.

Thessaloniki: Increasing Interest Among Travellers

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, will see the most significant increase in the number of airline seats: expected to be 193,554 in November 2025, a projected increase of 11% over the prior year. Thessaloniki is in the northern part of Greece and has been attracting a growing number of visitors because of the city’s rich and diverse history, abundant festivals, and interesting and spirited food scene.

Thessaloniki is the hometown of a unique Byzantine history, coupled with the Ottoman architectural style, and modern city features. Visiting the top attractions, such as the White Tower, Arch of Galerius, and the city’s Archaeological Museum, incites interest among tourists who wish to learn about the rich history of Greece. Furthermore, the promenade adds seaside charm to the city, which, coupled with the local cuisine, consisting of a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, captures the interest of many food lovers. The city also attracts many cultural tourists.

There is little doubt that there is a growing Thessaloniki’s role in the tourism industry of Greece, especially because of the increasing number of travellers looking for less expensive travel alternatives to the tourist hotspots in the southern part of the country, as evidenced by the increasing number of airline seats heading to Thessaloniki.

Increasing Air Connectivity and Regional Tourist Activity

An increase in air seats and air travel potential has made new and new growth in regional tourist activity across Greece. Airline seats have increased travel from both Athens and Thessaloniki. Now, all of the cities and regions surrounding these and their respective areas are open and more easily travelable. On top of this, Greece’s air travel expansion in conjunction with the increased direct air travel to Greece’s islands and Greece’s historically significant locations, is now more frequented. This catalyst will deepen the tourism generated from all levels of Greece.

Eighteen internationally served cities in Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Aegean are now cities with new tourist potential thanks to recent air travel growth. Many travellers are exploring Greece, especially its islands in the Aegean, after visiting Athens and Thessaloniki. More seats on aircraft expand the potential for increased travel iii tourism expansion beyond just the summer, which Greece has long sought to accomplish.

The more Greece improves its air travel infrastructure, the more sought after Greece will become. This will, in turn, expand the diversity of Greece’s potential visitors.

Sustainable Travel: Emerging Priorities for Greece’s Tourism Industry

In Greece, the rise in airline seats coincides with the prioritisation of the tourism industry, as the government and local tourism stakeholders are committed to addressing global warming through eco-sensitive tourism and facilities. Greece’s tourism industry prioritises adaptive eco-tourism wherein mild forms of tourism are complemented with environmental restoration. Greece facilitates the expansion of tourism with electric and hybrid buses, eco-sensitive tourism packages, and restoration activities. Hence, tourism and environmental restoration activities are synergised for Greece’s expanding tourism sector.

Eco-sensitive tourism is Greece’s competitive tourism advantage, and the eco-sensitive travellers will find Greece’s tourism enticing based on the provision of eco-sensitive tourism facilities and Greece’s commitment towards eco-sensitive tourism. Furthermore, Greece’s tourism will attract eco-sensitive travellers through the provision of expansive, clean mobility options that will encourage effortless eco-sensitive countrywide travel.

Looking Ahead: Greece Tourism Future Outlook 2026

In November 2025, Greece will see an increase in air seat capacity, resulting in positive prognostication for Greece’s tourism sector for years to come. Tourism demand will keep Greece in high standing with prospective tourists, with the increasing demand for Athens and Thessaloniki in high standing among destinations. Greece’s landmarks, superb natural areas, and friendly environments will keep Greece in high standing with customers.

To support the growing travel market, Greece’s tourism sector will continue to improve and travel to Greece’s sites and be integrated with sustainable travel.