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Italy has emerged as the single most important foreign market for Athens International Airport, overtaking traditional powerhouses such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Turkey as record passenger numbers and a sharp rise in visitor arrivals reshaped the Greek capital’s air traffic last year.
Italy Takes the Lead in Athens’ Passenger Rankings
Fresh data from Athens International Airport and industry sources confirm that Italy is now the top international market feeding traffic into the Greek capital, ahead of Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, Hungary and other key European countries. In 2024, Italy already held first place among foreign markets for Athens with around 1.1 million passengers and a steep annual increase of more than 22 percent compared with 2023, consolidating a trend that carried into the most recent full-year statistics.
The airport’s latest breakdown of passenger traffic by country shows Italy at the top of the international league table, edging out Germany and the United Kingdom. Italian demand for Athens services grew almost twice as fast as many other mature European markets, turning Italy from a strong performer into the primary driver of foreign-origin traffic to the Greek capital.
This shift is particularly notable because Germany and the United Kingdom have long been viewed as Greece’s most reliable inbound tourism markets. Italy’s rise to the top spot at Athens Airport underscores how rapidly travel flows can change when new capacity, competitive fares and city-break demand converge on a destination that is expanding its appeal beyond the peak summer season.
Airport executives point to the broadening of Athens’ tourism profile, with Italians increasingly using the city both as a standalone urban destination and as a convenient gateway to the islands. The combination of short flight times, dense route networks and growing interest in culture-focused long weekends has made Athens an easy choice for Italian travelers.
Record Year for Athens Airport and Surge in International Traffic
Italy’s outperformance comes against the backdrop of an exceptional year for Athens International Airport as a whole. Passenger traffic in 2024 reached nearly 32 million travelers, according to figures released in early 2025, representing a double-digit increase on 2023 and setting an all-time record for the Greek capital’s main gateway.
The momentum did not stop there. Preliminary 2025 data published by the airport show that total passenger numbers climbed to about 34 million, with international traffic again driving most of the gains and accounting for roughly three quarters of all movements. Over the last three years, Athens has added more than 11 million passengers, a performance that has placed it among the fastest-growing capital-city airports in Europe compared with pre‑pandemic levels.
Within this expansion, Italy stands out as the largest origin and destination market by absolute passenger volume, growing faster than the overall international segment. Other markets such as the United States, Israel, Spain and Switzerland also posted strong double‑digit growth, but Italy’s combination of size and steady year‑on‑year increases has given it an outsized influence on the airport’s traffic profile.
The strong performance helped Athens climb into the top tier of European airports by traffic and flights. Industry reports show the Greek capital entering the continent’s top ten for flights in 2024 and accelerating infrastructure investment to accommodate rising demand. The prominence of Italy in the airport’s statistics is now a central part of that growth story.
How Italy Pulled Ahead of Germany, the UK and Turkey
Several factors explain how Italy has overtaken other large European markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Hungary, Denmark and Turkey as a driver of Athens traffic. Airline scheduling has played a major role, with Greek and Italian carriers adding frequencies and new city pairs that connect secondary Italian cities directly to Athens, reducing travel times and supporting weekend and short-break travel.
Low-cost operators have also stepped up their presence on Italy–Athens routes, injecting price competition that made spontaneous city trips more affordable for younger travelers and off‑season visitors. At the same time, Aegean Airlines and partner carriers strengthened their networks, using Athens as a mini‑hub and encouraging Italian passengers to connect onward to Greek islands or regional destinations, further inflating passenger volumes captured in the Italian market data.
By contrast, growth from more mature markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany, while solid, has been steadier and less explosive. Both countries continue to deliver large numbers of visitors to Greece overall, but their share of Athens-specific traffic has risen more moderately compared with Italy’s rapid surge. Turkey, Hungary and Denmark, meanwhile, posted very strong percentage increases in traffic to Athens, yet from a much smaller base, leaving them still well behind Italy in absolute passenger numbers.
Tourism analysts note that cultural proximity and strong city‑break appeal between Italy and Greece are reinforcing these trends. Similar Mediterranean lifestyles, shared interests in gastronomy and heritage tourism, and comparable price levels in both countries are encouraging frequent, repeat travel rather than one‑off, long‑haul style visits.
What the Shift Means for Travelers and the Greek Capital
For travelers, Italy’s rise as the leading foreign market at Athens Airport translates into more choice, denser schedules and often better fares on routes between the two countries. A wider selection of departure points in Italy and more frequent flights reduce the need for long connections through other European hubs, which can shorten journey times and increase flexibility for business passengers and leisure tourists alike.
The increased traffic also supports a broader travel season. Industry data for 2024 already indicated clear signs of an extended season for international arrivals to Greece, with strong shoulder‑month performance. Italian demand, in particular, appears less concentrated in the traditional July–August peak, as city breaks, cultural events and gastronomy-focused trips draw visitors to Athens in spring and autumn.
For the city itself, the strengthening Italian market presents opportunities and challenges. Local businesses from hotels and restaurants to tour operators are adapting their offerings, language services and marketing to capture more Italian visitors. At the same time, the sharp rise in arrivals adds pressure on urban infrastructure and key tourist sites, reinforcing the need for careful capacity management as Athens undertakes a significant airport expansion program.
Travelers connecting through Athens can also benefit from the airport’s growing role as a regional hub. Strong Italian flows help sustain year‑round connectivity to Greek islands and neighboring countries, improving options even for visitors from other markets who are able to route via Athens on competitive itineraries.
Key Takeaways for Planning Trips in the Year Ahead
For anyone planning travel between Italy and Greece in the coming months, the latest figures suggest this is an opportune moment to take advantage of expanded capacity. With Italy now the largest foreign market for Athens Airport and one of the fastest‑growing sources of passengers, airlines are likely to maintain or even push further into the route segment, especially during peak and shoulder seasons.
Travel experts advise that the denser schedule makes it easier to craft flexible itineraries that combine Athens with island hopping or visits to mainland archaeological sites. Frequent connections can support short breaks from Rome, Milan, Naples and other Italian cities, while competitive fares on low‑cost and full‑service airlines offer options across different budgets.
However, the same popularity that propels Italy to the top of Athens’ traffic rankings also means busier flights and airport terminals during peak periods. Early booking for summer and major holiday dates is likely to remain essential, and travelers should allow extra time at the airport, particularly as Athens continues work on expanding and upgrading its facilities to meet record demand.
With Italy now established as the leading international engine behind Athens Airport’s passenger growth, routes between the two Mediterranean neighbors are set to remain among the most dynamic and closely watched in Europe’s tourism and aviation landscape over the year ahead.