Aegean Airlines is heading back to Paphos this summer, reintroducing direct flights to Athens in a move that significantly strengthens connectivity between Cyprus and Greece and opens up a wider web of connections across Europe. For travelers, this is more than just another route on the map. It reshapes how residents, tourists, and business passengers move between two important Eastern Mediterranean hubs and beyond.
A Major Comeback for the Paphos–Athens Corridor
Aegean Airlines has confirmed that it will resume flights between Paphos and Athens from July 3, 2026, with three weekly services. The announcement followed meetings in Paphos between representatives of the airline and the local Tourism Development and Promotion Company, underscoring how strategically important the route is for both sides. After a hiatus that saw the link served only by other carriers and connections via Larnaca, the return of Greece’s flag carrier to Paphos marks a notable shift in regional air service.
The Paphos–Athens route was previously operated by Aegean until the spring of 2023 before being discontinued. In the intervening period, travelers relied primarily on low cost alternatives or connections via Larnaca, often facing less convenient schedules or the need to transit on the island. Bringing Aegean back into the picture reintroduces a full service option and adds capacity at a time when demand for travel between Cyprus and Greece is strong and still growing.
Crucially, the new flights are not being framed as a brief experiment. The way the airline and local stakeholders are speaking about the route points to a longer term strategy to rebuild and expand Aegean’s presence at Paphos International Airport. This reflects broader trends in Cyprus tourism, where regional airports and secondary cities are increasingly positioning themselves as gateways in their own right rather than just feeders to the capital.
What the New Flights Actually Offer Travelers
From July 3, the new connection will initially operate three times per week between Paphos and Athens, using Airbus aircraft configured for short haul European service. The timetable is designed so that passengers arriving in Athens have practical options to connect onward into Aegean’s domestic and international network, especially to northern and central Europe. For many travelers, this effectively turns Paphos into a secondary entry point into the airline’s wider system.
For residents of Paphos and the surrounding region, the immediate benefit is straightforward. Instead of driving several hours across Cyprus to Larnaca to access a broad range of connections or relying on a single low cost carrier schedule, they will once again have direct access to the Greek capital with a full service airline. That means more schedule choice, more booking flexibility, and the service standards that come with Aegean’s positioning as a network carrier and Star Alliance member.
Tourists planning holidays on the western side of Cyprus gain new options as well. Many visitors to Greece and Cyprus combine islands, cities, and beach resorts in a single trip. With Paphos linked directly to Athens on a full service basis, a traveler can now, for example, fly from northern Europe into Paphos for a week on the coast, then connect through Athens to a Greek island or mainland destination on the same ticket with through check of baggage and coordinated connections.
A Gateway to Aegean’s Growing European Network
The significance of the Paphos–Athens flights expands when viewed against Aegean’s broader network strategy. In recent seasons, the airline has been steadily adding new international routes from Athens, including destinations like Erbil, Baku, Las Palmas and a strengthened presence in key European capitals. At the same time, it has been boosting capacity from Cyprus, especially out of Larnaca, with a stated goal of making the island a well connected year round destination rather than a purely summer market.
By plugging Paphos directly into Athens again, Aegean is effectively offering western Cyprus a one stop link to this entire network. For travelers in markets such as Germany, Scandinavia and central Europe, that can mean easier two leg journeys to Paphos via Athens on a single carrier, with the reassurance of protected connections and the option to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.
The move also dovetails with Aegean’s strategy of building stronger links between Greece and neighboring countries, from the Middle East to the western Mediterranean, via its Athens hub. A Paphos resident with family in Italy or Germany, for example, may now compare a Paphos–Athens–Rome or Paphos–Athens–Berlin itinerary with existing options via other European hubs, potentially finding more competitive schedules and fares while staying within one airline group.
Boosting Paphos as a Tourism and Business Destination
For Paphos itself, the return of Aegean is more than a matter of aviation networks. It is a validation of the city’s efforts to position its airport and surrounding region as a serious player in Mediterranean tourism and investment. Local tourism bodies have been pushing to diversify source markets, extend the season, and attract more city break and cultural travelers in addition to traditional beach holidaymakers.
Direct connectivity to Athens supports these aims on several levels. It makes it easier for Greek travelers to consider weekend or short break trips to Paphos, and for visitors from further afield to combine archeological sites, wine routes, and coastal resorts in one itinerary. It also sends a signal to tour operators and travel agents that Aegean sees sufficient demand potential to justify committing aircraft and marketing resources to the corridor.
From a business standpoint, the flights enhance Paphos’s attractiveness for conferences, small corporate meetings, and investment related travel. Athens is a key financial and commercial center for the region. Quicker, more reliable access from Paphos can make it easier for companies operating in Cyprus to maintain relationships with partners and clients in Greece and beyond, particularly when they can connect on to other European business hubs with a single ticket.
Stronger Cyprus–Greece Links in a Competitive Market
The Cyprus–Greece air market has become increasingly competitive, with a mix of full service and low cost carriers fighting for passengers on routes linking Larnaca and Paphos with Athens and other Greek cities. Ryanair is currently the only airline operating non stop scheduled flights between Paphos and Athens, typically offering daily low cost services. By stepping back into this space, Aegean is signaling that it intends to contest a market that is strategically important both commercially and symbolically.
The addition of Aegean’s three weekly flights changes the dynamics for travelers. Rather than a single operator with a single service model, passengers will see a second brand offering a different value proposition. Aegean brings with it full service inclusions, alliance partnerships, and the ability to connect to a wider network on one booking. Travelers who prioritize price above all else may still choose a low cost carrier, but those looking at baggage allowances, schedule reliability, and onward connectivity will now have a compelling alternative.
At the same time, the move fits with Aegean’s broader reinforcement of its Cyprus operations. The airline has been increasing overall capacity to and from the island, launching new routes such as Larnaca–Rome and reinstating links like Larnaca–Tel Aviv, while investing in ground infrastructure including a business lounge at Larnaca Airport. The decision to reintroduce Paphos–Athens completes a more balanced Cyprus strategy that serves both main airports and acknowledges the growing importance of Paphos as a tourism gateway.
Practical Benefits for Different Types of Travelers
For leisure travelers, the most immediate edge of the new flights will be convenience. Families flying from Athens to Paphos for a beach holiday can now book direct with a full service carrier that includes cabin baggage and offers ancillary services like seat selection, in flight service, and loyalty program benefits. Those connecting from other Greek cities into Athens can often arrange a single itinerary with coordinated timings instead of piecing together separate tickets.
Business passengers may see even more tangible advantages. Same day trips between Paphos and Athens become more realistic when there is a choice of carriers and schedules. Corporate travelers who are members of Star Alliance frequent flyer programs gain another opportunity to earn and redeem miles, which can influence company travel policies and traveler preferences. For professionals commuting periodically between Cyprus and Greece, habit and perceived reliability matter almost as much as price.
For inbound tourists from further afield, the Paphos link slots into a wider tapestry of options. A traveler from northern Europe might arrive in Athens on one of Aegean’s or a partner airline’s flights, spend a city break, then connect to Paphos for a coastal interlude before returning home. The ability to build such multi stop trips on one ticket simplifies planning and reduces exposure to missed connections and baggage issues, factors that seasoned travelers pay close attention to when choosing airlines and routes.
Timing, Seasonality, and What to Expect Next
Launching the Paphos–Athens flights in early July is no accident. July through September is peak season for both inbound tourism to Cyprus and outbound holiday travel from Greece. By starting in the heart of the summer, Aegean can quickly gauge demand and adjust capacity as needed, while giving tour operators enough lead time to incorporate the new connection into late season packages and shoulder season offerings.
Historically, routes like Paphos–Athens have seen pronounced seasonal swings, with heavy demand in summer and significantly lower traffic in winter. A key question for travelers will be whether the three weekly flights become a year round fixture or remain confined to the high season. While there has been no formal commitment yet about winter operations, Aegean’s recent messaging about Cyprus emphasizes the goal of boosting all season connectivity rather than purely chasing summer traffic.
If the route performs well, travelers could see more frequencies, extended operating months, or even additional links from Paphos in future seasons. Regional tourism authorities have made clear that they hope Aegean will not only maintain but expand its Paphos presence, turning the airport into a more substantial base for network flights. That would further enhance choice for travelers and deepen the integration of Paphos into regional air traffic flows.
How Travelers Can Make the Most of the New Route
For those planning trips later in 2026 and beyond, the reintroduced Paphos–Athens connection is a new variable worth factoring into itineraries. Travelers based in or near Paphos should compare total journey time and cost when choosing between driving to Larnaca for a wider range of flights or flying directly from their local airport via Athens. When onward connections align well, the convenience of departing close to home on a through ticket can be hard to beat.
Visitors from Greece might consider using Paphos as a starting point for a different kind of Cyprus holiday. Rather than the more familiar Larnaca based itineraries, they can design trips that focus on the west coast’s beaches, archeological sites, and nearby mountain villages, flying straight into Paphos and returning via the same route. Multi city options that combine Athens, a Greek island, and Paphos in a single holiday will also become more practical.
Frequent flyers and travel planners should keep an eye on how Aegean schedules the services around key connection banks in Athens. Flights timed to feed into early morning or late evening waves of departures can unlock very efficient two leg journeys to and from cities across Europe and the Middle East. As with any new or renewed route, schedules may be refined over time, so checking for updates as travel dates approach will remain essential.