Greek airports have reported a significant surge in passenger traffic during the first seven months of 2024, continuing on with the country’s strong performance as one of Europe’s leading tourism destinations.
According to official data, passenger numbers rose by 9.5 percent compared to the same period in 2023, reflecting a sustained growth in the aviation sector.
From January to July 2024, a total of 42,538,219 passengers were recorded across all commercial airports in Greece, up from 38,833,074 in the corresponding period of last year. This increase of nearly four million passengers underscores the country’s ongoing appeal to international travelers.
Growth compared to the same period in 2023
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted this trend in a recent statement, noting that:
“Greece continues its positive trend in international air arrivals this summer, solidifying its position as one of Europe’s top tourism destinations.”
The peak summer months of June through September alone saw an estimated 9,401,000 passengers, marking a 9.5 percent increase over the same period in 2023. This translates to an additional 812,000 international air travelers visiting Greece this summer.
Aviation industry experts anticipate that August will set new records for both passenger traffic and flights, with official data expected to confirm this in the coming weeks.
Supporting this forecast, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported that on August 10, 2024, Air Traffic Control managed 4,944 flights within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), setting a new all-time record for aircraft arrivals, departures, and overflights at the airports in a single day.
On the same note, CAA Commander George Saounatsos stated that:
“The key players in supporting the rise recorded by the aviation indicators are the personnel of the Service. And the availability of air navigation systems throughout the summer season is significantly improved compared to the previous year. At the same time, an ambitious program of modernization of air navigation systems is underway, and the strengthening of human resources with a focus on Air Traffic Controllers and Electronics/ATSEP specializations, in order to meet the operational and technological challenges of the coming years.”
Greek airport traffic surge in July 2024
Passenger traffic at the 24 airports managed by the CAA increased by five percent during the same period of July 2023.
The most significant increases in passenger traffic at CAA’s airports in July 2024, compared to the previous year, were recorded at Kasos Airport (+89.8%), Milos Airport (+33%), Naxos Airport (+30%), and Sitia Airport (+27.7%).
Heraklion’s state airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis,” served 1,618,073 passengers in July this year, which is an increase of three percent compared to last year.
