Greek Tourism: “Take-off” of flights from Germany in 2025

Our country’s air connectivity with German airports appears to have increased in 2025, indicative of Greece’s strong position as a holiday destination in this market.

Data from aviation data analytics company Cirium, which was obtained exclusively by Tornos News, shows 1,295 more flights than last year to the 8 largest Greek tourist destinations.

According to the same data, the total number of flights from Germany to Athens, Heraklion, Corfu, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, and Santorini this year amounted to 27,618 compared to 26,323 in 2024, demonstrating the steady confidence and growing preference of Germans for Greek destinations.

As the largest air hub and destination for short-term holidays, Athens occupies the largest share of flights, gathering a total of 7,021 flights from German airports in 2025. The second largest airport is "Nikos Kazantzakis" in Heraklion with a total of 6,538 flights, followed by Thessaloniki with 5,570 flights from Germany.

Corfu, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion are the most dynamic destinations

The largest absolute number of additional flights (414 new compared to 2024) is recorded in Corfu, where flights this year from Germany total 2,558.

This is followed by Thessaloniki, with 367 additional flights compared to 2024 and a total of 5,570 flights from German airports, and then Heraklion, with 309 additional flights from last year (from 6,229 last year to 6,538 flights from Germany in 2025).

Rhodes' connectivity with the German market has also been strengthened this year. Specifically, the number of flights amounts to 3,066 compared to 2,959 in 2024, an increase of 107% year-on-year.

Smaller increases in flights are recorded in Kos, Mykonos and Athens, where the additional flights amount to 85, 26 and 6 respectively.

Reduction for Santorini

An exception to the upward trajectory of air flights to Greek destinations is Santorini, where the high cost of holidays, the uncertainty that prevailed in February regarding seismic activity on the island and the negative publicity of recent years regarding the visitor rate, were some of the factors that potentially led to a small decrease in flights from the German market.

The airline's schedule for Santorini shows a decrease of 19 flights compared to last year. Thus, the total number of flights from German airports to the island is 349 compared to 368 in 2024.

Greece remains at the forefront for German travelers

The increase in flights from Germany reflects the steadily increasing demand of Germans for travel to Greece in recent years, as confirmed by the 41st annual report on German tourism by the German BAT Foundation.

The scientific director of the BAT Foundation, Dr. Ulrich Reinhardt, notes that classic destinations, such as Greece and Spain, are chosen by Germans for extended holidays, as they wish to compensate for the higher prices of these holidays compared to short getaways in their neighboring countries.

The report (February 2025) showed that 3.6% of respondents with firm travel intentions for the next 12 months are planning their main holiday trip to Greece. The top destination is Spain (8.1%), followed by Italy (5.9%), Turkey (4.5%), and Scandinavia (4.3%).

The following travel trends emerged from the 2024 data analysis in the German market.

• Despite geopolitical tensions and economic instability, two out of three Germans are confident that they will take at least one trip in 2025, up 20% from twenty years ago.
• In 2024, 63% of Germans took at least one trip lasting more than five days, a percentage approaching the historic high of 2006 (65%). This fact demonstrates that their desire to travel has not only not diminished but has been increasing year by year.
  The average duration of a holiday in 2024 reached 13 days – a return to levels seen two decades ago. If we exclude the pandemic period, this stability shows deep-rooted travel habits.
• The average cost of a holiday amounted to 1,544 euros, a price almost 50% higher than the long-term average. Escapes to classic destinations such as Spain (1,843 euros), Greece (1,701 euros), and Turkey (1,613 euros) are proving more expensive, while long-distance getaways remain luxurious and more expensive due to longer duration and high transport and accommodation costs.
• Spain remains the most popular European destination, albeit with lower rates than in 2014. Italy is holding steady, while Turkey is making a strong comeback. Greece is on the rise due to low daily costs, while Scandinavia remains a popular destination for travelers.
  Around one in ten Germans choose their holiday destination spontaneously and book at the last minute. Among them, young adults stand out, as they are most willing to take advantage of travel opportunities without much planning.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report