US Joins Canada, Turkey, Morocco, Czechia, Spain and More as Greece Unveils Massive Expansion of Air Travel Network with New International Routes to Key Markets

Greece is making a bold move to strengthen its air travel connections with the unveiling of new international routes to key markets. The United States joins a growing list of countries, including Canada, Turkey, Morocco, Czechia, and Spain, as part of Greece’s expanded network. This ambitious initiative aims to cater to the rising demand for travel and bolster Greece’s position as a major tourism hub. With these new routes, Greece is enhancing connectivity, attracting more international tourists, and further integrating into global travel networks, ensuring seamless access for travelers from a variety of global destinations.

In 2025, Greece’s airports achieved a remarkable feat, handling a record 83.33 million passengers, a 4.9% increase compared to the previous year. The growth in passenger traffic was mirrored by a rise in aircraft movements, which reached 629,633 flights—a 4.1% increase from 2024. This significant rise underscores the country’s growing appeal as a major global travel hub.

By January 2026, all 39 Greek airports, including Athens International Airport (AIA), 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece, and 24 airports under the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), recorded impressive passenger growth, further cementing Greece’s position as a leader in international tourism.

Athens International Airport Performance

January 2026 marked a strong start for Athens International Airport, with passenger numbers soaring to 1.99 million, an 8.6% increase compared to the same month in 2025. This boost was driven by both domestic and international travel, with domestic traffic up by 7.1%, while international travel increased by 9.2%. These gains are especially noteworthy considering the overall travel conditions in the global market.

The airport also saw a notable increase in flight operations. A total of 17,748 flights were recorded in January, marking a 7.3% rise from the previous year. Domestic flights rose by 7.6%, and international flights increased by 7.1%, indicating a growing demand for air travel from Athens to destinations both within Greece and abroad.

A number of new airline entries and route expansions also played a key role in Athens’ impressive performance. In early 2026, Indian carriers IndiGo and Aegean Airlines launched direct flights connecting Athens with New Delhi and Mumbai, establishing a new historic link between Greece and India. This marks a significant milestone in Athens’ global connectivity. Additionally, several new carriers started operations at Athens, including AnimaWings, TAP Air Portugal, and Korean Air, further diversifying the airport’s international network.

The North American market saw notable growth with American Airlines introducing a direct route to Dallas, its fifth U.S. destination from Athens, set to launch on May 21, 2026. Air Canada also extended its seasonal service by starting early flights from Montreal and Toronto on March 6, 2026. Meanwhile, Delta and United Airlines resumed services to cities like Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago earlier than expected, responding to the increasing demand for travel to and from the U.S.

Further expanding Athens’ connectivity, Korean Air plans to begin charter flights from Seoul to Athens in April 2026. Meanwhile, European connections also saw significant growth, with Wizz Air launching new services to Gdańsk in May, airBaltic adding flights to Tallinn in April, and TAP Air Portugal restarting Lisbon flights in July. AnimaWings also announced new services connecting Athens to Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara in March, adding to the range of European destinations accessible from Athens.

Aegean Airlines has ambitious plans for 2026, with a comprehensive network expansion across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The airline will offer a total of 22.5 million seats this year, with strategic expansions targeting countries such as Turkey, Morocco, Cyprus, Belgium, Spain, Albania, and Hungary, among others. This vast network expansion is set to further enhance Athens’ standing as a major gateway in the Mediterranean.

Fraport Greece Regional Airports

The 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece—including Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Chania, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, and Kos—also experienced robust growth in January 2026. These airports welcomed a total of 718,000 passengers, marking an 8.1% increase compared to January 2025. Domestic traffic saw a significant rise of 10.4%, reaching 441,786 passengers, which accounted for 62% of the total traffic. Meanwhile, international passenger numbers rose by 4.6% to 276,022, comprising 38% of the overall traffic.

The overall load factor at these airports improved to 76.6%, up from 75.5% in January 2025. This indicates better capacity utilization, reflecting the steady and sustained demand for air travel in the region. Thessaloniki led the growth, seeing an increase of 25,000 passengers (+5.8%), driven by both domestic and international traffic.

Notably, international traffic from countries such as Turkey, the UK, Sweden, France, and Germany continued to grow, contributing to the overall surge in passenger numbers. However, there was a decline in traffic from the Netherlands, Cyprus, and Austria. Temporary runway closures for ongoing infrastructure projects at airports like Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos did not hamper the overall growth, as passenger numbers continued to rise compared to the previous year. Additionally, Kavala Airport, now fully operational in January 2026, reported a staggering 396% increase in passenger traffic.

Traffic from Israel remained strong, especially at Thessaloniki, where passenger numbers surged by 49%, adding over 1,700 travelers compared to the previous year. Since Fraport Greece took over the management of these airports, they have collectively served approximately 252 million passengers.

YPA-Managed Airports

The 24 regional airports managed by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), including Heraklion, Kalamata, Alexandroupolis, and Milos, also posted growth. Heraklion Airport, a major hub on the island of Crete, recorded a 1.8% rise in passenger traffic in January 2026, reaching 138,993 passengers compared to 136,530 in the same month in 2025. Flight operations at Heraklion increased to 1,065, up from 882 the previous year.

Despite facing partial runway closures due to ongoing upgrades, Heraklion managed to maintain positive growth. The airport operated from its secondary runway with smaller aircraft during daytime periods, ensuring minimal disruption to flight operations. The overall positive performance of the YPA-managed airports highlights the ongoing recovery and growth of Greece’s regional airport network, providing an essential boost to the country’s tourism sector.

Greece is expanding its air travel network with new international routes to key markets, including the US, Canada, Turkey, Morocco, Czechia, and Spain, to meet growing demand and enhance its global tourism connections.

January 2026 marked a strong start for Greece’s aviation industry, with significant growth in both passenger traffic and flight operations across the country’s airports. Athens International Airport and regional airports managed by Fraport Greece and YPA demonstrated resilience and adaptability, positioning Greece as a key player in global tourism. With ongoing expansions and new routes, Greece is well on its way to solidifying its status as a leading European and international travel destination.