For the first time in three years, passenger traffic in Athens International Airport but also the number of flights in January rose to a higher level than in 2019. H passenger traffic from abroad strengthened by 5%, and flying rose by 0.4%. If passenger traffic and domestic flights are included, the AIA showed improvements of 3.9% and 1.3%, respectively.

This momentum, combined with the fact that flights from 14 new destinations are already scheduled for this year, creates expectations for a significant improvement in the year from the record-breaking 2019. Recall that last year (2022) the passenger traffic of Athens Airport amounted to 22.73. million, showing an increase of 84.1% compared to 2021 and a decrease of 11.1% compared to 2019.

In practice, Greece now seems to be recovering the pace at which it started in 2020, i.e. before the start of the pandemic. That January 2020 remains, albeit marginally compared to this year (then 25,000 more passengers), the best for passenger traffic at Athens International Airport. However, the number of flights in January this year exceeds the number of flights in 2019.

In particular, the passenger traffic of Athens Airport in January 2023 amounted to 1.45 million passengers, which is 87.2% more compared to the level of January 2022 (the period when the negative impact of the pandemic was still strong), but also 3.9 % more than before the pandemic. COVID level in January 2019. Both domestic and international passenger traffic exceeded 2022 levels by 59.7% and 103.4%, respectively, while they also showed growth compared to 2019 by 1.8% and 5%, respectively.

Passenger traffic from abroad increased by 5%, and flights – by 0.4%.

At the same time, the number of flights in January this year reached 13,832, recording an increase of 26.6% compared to 2022 and 1.3% compared to the same month in 2019. Both domestic and international flights increased by 19.2% and 32.9%, respectively, compared to January 2022, while they also increased compared to 2019 by 2.6% and 0.4%, respectively.

The figures are expected to be even higher in the coming months as new companies such as Sun Expres, Play and Kuwait Airways include Athens in their flight schedules, while established airlines, led by Aegean, increase the number of flights abroad and from abroad.

As European aviation industry sources explain, “seat and flight levels for this summer, as they currently are, are expected to change in a positive direction compared to summer 2019, but final figures on the extent of the increase are not yet known.” finalized.”

At the same time, Greece ranks among the top destinations in a number of major long haul markets: According to the European Travel Commission’s long haul barometer, Greece is among the top ten travel destinations in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Japan markets. Specifically, it sits at number 7 in the US, number 6 in Japan, number 4 in Canada, number 7 in Brazil, and number 5 in Australia.