Increased Passenger Flows Expected at Greek Airports in 2025
The travel landscape for Greek airports is set to experience a significant boost in passenger traffic by 2025. Domestic and international airlines are responding to the heightened travel demand by offering additional flight routes and increased frequencies to major tourist destinations across the country. This surge is reflective of the rising interest in traveling to Greece, along with a reinforced demand for domestic flights.
Record-Breaking New Routes
According to exclusive data from Cirium, analyzed by Tornosnews.gr, a total of 36 new direct routes are slated to be integrated into the flight schedules of airlines serving eight major airports in Greece. These airports include Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Corfu, Kos, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini, culminating in an impressive 1,312 new direct flights for 2025.
Leading Airports by New Flights
The airport in Heraklion is set to host the highest number of new flights for 2025, with 343 new routes and 10 new connections. Following closely are Athens with 275 flights and four new connections, and Rhodes, boasting 223 flights and five new connections. Santorini will see 140 new flights and five connections, while Corfu will add 133 flights and four connections. Thessaloniki is set for 108 flights and five connections, and Mykonos and Kos will have 69 flights and three connections, and 21 flights and one connection, respectively.
Comprehensive Overview of New Direct Connections
The new direct connections to Heraklion will include routes from Istanbul (144 flights), Münster, Germany (76), Naxos (39), Corfu (30), and Lorraine, France, and Pardubice, Czech Republic (18 each). Additional routes are expected from Palermo (8), Strasbourg (80), Reykjavik, and Venice (1 each).
For Athens, 90 new flights will arrive from Erbil, 89 from Charlotte, 58 from Alicante, and 38 from Gran Canaria. In contrast, Thessaloniki will receive 52 flights from Syros and Gothenburg, two from Braunschweig, one from Erfurt, and another from Dresden.
Rhodes will welcome flights primarily from Chania (94 flights), Santorini (57), Istanbul (40), Iasi (17), and Brașov (15). In Santorini, newcomers will include Istanbul (60 flights), with additional routes from Nice (20), Braunschweig (2), and Dresden (1). Mykonos will introduce flights from Istanbul (35), Belgrade (34), and Riga (13), while Kos will have 21 flights from Linz.
Finally, Corfu will see 53 flights from Gothenburg, 30 from Heraklion, 30 from Timișoara, and 20 from Cork.
Investment in Infrastructure Improvements
To accommodate the anticipated surge in passenger traffic resulting from these new and expanded routes, Fraport Greece, the operator of 14 regional airports in key tourist destinations, is making significant investments in infrastructure. Each year, they allocate nearly €50 million for improvements. Additionally, €146 million has been earmarked for upgrading and reconstructing runways in alignment with a broader concession agreement, as well as complying with new EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) regulations.
Moreover, Fraport Greece has outlined plans for further investments of €200 million aimed at enhancing the capacity of Kos "Hippocrates", Corfu "Ioannis Kapodistrias", Mykonos, and Santorini airports. This is crucial since these airports are nearing operational capacity limits due to substantial increases in passenger traffic.
Rising Passenger Numbers
For the year 2024, Fraport Greece recorded an impressive 36 million passengers across the 14 regional airports, representing a 6.4% increase in traffic compared to 2023 and accounting for approximately 2.1 million additional passengers.
Concerns Around Mykonos and Santorini
Despite these promising figures, there are concerns regarding passenger traffic at Mykonos. In the past year, the island welcomed 1.6 million visitors solely from flights. However, data revealed a 2.7% decrease in total passenger numbers, with a 5.1% drop in international travelers—contrasting the upward trend at the other airports (with a 6.4% average increase across the board, excluding Kavala).
This decline raises questions about Mykonos’ ability to meet modern travelers’ evolving needs. The escalating prices might have diverted some visitors to alternative, more affordable destinations, thus affecting the overall experience offered on the island.
Nonetheless, Cirium’s findings indicate that 53 new flights have been added for Mykonos, totaling 6,367 flights, which could potentially boost passenger traffic to this popular destination.
Santorini’s Prospects Under Scrutiny
Santorini, a flagship in Greek tourism, concluded the previous year with 2.8 million passengers, reflecting a 3.7% increase. However, it appears to lag behind the growth trajectory of flights across Greece in 2025, with Cirium noting 28 fewer flights compared to 2024 (totaling 10,635 flights). This situation prompts discussions about overtourism, rising costs, and the strain on existing infrastructure.
Conclusion
As we look forward to 2025, the Greek aviation sector is gearing up for a transformative year, with increased routes and improved airport facilities promising to enhance travel experiences. However, challenges remain, particularly for high-demand islands like Mykonos and Santorini, prompting stakeholders to consider sustainable solutions to maintain Greece’s appeal as a premier travel destination. With ongoing investments and strategic planning, the hope is to meet future travel demands while preserving the unique charm and quality of experience that Greece offers to its visitors.
