29.3 million international air arrivals in 2024, with clear signs of an extended season

Clear signs of an extended tourist season are reflected in the data on international air arrivals in the country in 2024, with the period of June-September recording a single-digit growth rate while the remaining months recorded a double-digit growth rate.

According to INSETE's air arrivals data, in the period January-December 2024, the country recorded 29.3 million international air arrivals compared to 26.7 million in the period January-December 2023, showing an increase of +2.6 million or +9.7%.

However, the largest increases in 2024 were observed in the off-peak months, namely January (+67 thousand/+11.5%), February (+108 thousand/+19.5%), March (+176 thousand/+23%), April (+177 thousand/+11.4%), May (+325 thousand/+11.4%), October (+262 thousand/+11.5%), November (+121 thousand/+16.6%) and December (+116 thousand/+14.0%).

The main season also grew but at a slower pace and the peak month was July, which accounted for 16.9% of all international arrivals in 2024: June recorded 4.2 million. arrivals, recording an increase of +297 thousand/+7.7% while in July the increase was +288 thousand/+6.1% with a total of 5 million arrivals. In August, 4.7 million international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +285 thousand/+6.4%, and in September arrivals were 3.9 million showing an increase of +270 thousand/+7.4%.

5 airports account for more than 7 in 10 international arrivals

In parallel, Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, and Corfu account for the largest share of arrivals from abroad, as they are the top five airports and represent 76% of total international air arrivals in 2024.

Athens (38% share in incoming international air arrivals) remained in first place with 11.1 million passengers, showing an increase of +1.5 million/+15.3% compared to 2023, with main markets being Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Cyprus.

Heraklion followed (13% share) with 3.8 million passengers, recording an increase of +235 thousand/+6.6%, while Rhodes (10% share) was in third place with 3 million. passengers, recording an increase of +366 thousand/+13.8%.

In fourth place was Thessaloniki (share 8%) with 2.5 million passengers, recording an increase of +91 thousand/+3.9%, with main markets being Germany, the UK, Cyprus, Italy, and Poland.

The top five is completed by Corfu (share 7%) with 2 million passengers, which recorded an increase of +125 thousand/+6.8%.

Following in terms of share in total incoming air traffic are Chania (5%), Kos (5%), Zakynthos (4%), Santorini (3%), Mykonos (2%) and Aktion and Kefalonia (1%).

15.8 million international air arrivals were recorded at regional airports compared to 14.8 million in 2023, showing an increase of 1 million or 7% compared to 2023, with the main markets being the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland and France.

Britain & Germany are the main ones, Turkey, Hungary & USA are the most dynamic markets

The UK market remained in first place for passengers from abroad with 5.3 million arrivals, showing an increase of 7.2% or +351 thousand in absolute terms.

Germany remained in second place with 4.8 million passengers, showing the largest increase in absolute terms +389 thousand/+8.8%.

Turkey showed the largest percentage increase with +25.3%.

Hungary +25% and the USA +24.2% follow with a small difference.

The main markets for “El. Venizelos”

Regarding Athens Airport, five countries account for 42% of total passengers for 2024.

In detail, Italy remains in first place with 1.1 million passengers, recording an increase of +208 thousand/+22.4%. Germany rose to second place with 1.05 million passengers, recording an increase of +130 thousand/+14.0% while the United Kingdom fell to third place with 980 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +51 thousand/+5.5%.

France remains in fourth place with 760 thousand passengers recording an increase of +69 thousand/+9.9% while Cyprus maintains fifth place with 700 thousand passengers recording an increase of +82 thousand/+13.2%.

Great momentum for Athens from the USA, Turkey, Spain, Israel, UAE and Poland

The USA remains in sixth place with 610 thousand passengers recording an increase of +118 thousand/+24.2% and Turkey in seventh place with 590 thousand passengers recording an increase of +127 thousand/+27.4%.

Spain remained in eighth place with 513 thousand passengers, recording an increase of +72 thousand/+16.2% and Israel remained in ninth place with 477 thousand passengers recording an increase of +91 thousand/+23.5%. The top ten is completed by Switzerland, which remains in tenth place with 410 thousand passengers +36 thousand/+9.5%.

The Netherlands remained in 11th place with 341 thousand passengers, an increase of +43 thousand/+14.6%. The UAE gained two places in the ranking, reaching 12th place with 267 thousand passengers, an increase of +69 thousand/+35.1%. Austria remained in 13th place with 258 thousand passengers, an increase of +41 thousand/+18.8%.

Poland gained two places in the ranking and rose to 14th place with 257 thousand passengers, an increase of +71 thousand/+37.8%. On the contrary, Belgium fell 3 places in the ranking with 245 thousand arrivals, despite an increase of +12 thousand/+5%.

Canada dropped one place to 16th place with 210 thousand passengers but recorded an increase of +23 thousand/+12%. Egypt remained in 17th place with 163 thousand passengers, recording a decrease of -13 thousand/-7.9%. Romania remained in 18th place with 162 thousand passengers, recording a slight decrease of -4 thousand/-2.5%. Qatar with 152 thousand passengers, climbed one place, recording an increase of +24 thousand/+18.6%. Finally, Albania dropped to 20th place with 149 thousand passengers despite showing an increase of +15 thousand/+11.4%.

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