Athens International Airport: Setting Records and Winning Accolades

Athens International Airport (ATH) achieved a record-breaking 2023 and was honored with the Over 20 Million Passengers category award at the Routes Awards in Aarhus, Denmark, as shared during Routes Europe 2024.

In 2023, ATH welcomed over 28.1 million passengers, a remarkable 10.2% increase from 2019 figures, fueled by the introduction of 39 new destinations, 19 new airlines, and 68 additional services on existing routes. This milestone signifies ATH’s transition from recovery to robust growth and development.

The airport attributes much of its growth to expanding international markets, notably with North America seeing a 54% increase compared to 2019 and Western Europe recording a 9% rise. Key new services include Norse Atlantic’s nonstop flights between Athens and New York JFK, operating up to five times weekly during the summer season starting May 2024.

United Airlines initiated daily service between Chicago O’Hare and ATH in May, while Delta Air Lines resumed its Boston route in April with four weekly flights, responding to strong demand since its launch in May 2022.

In the China market, ATH is rapidly recovering with Juneyao Airlines launching direct flights from Shanghai, marking a significant milestone in city-to-city connectivity. Across Europe, ATH has seen increased frequencies, with easyJet adding five new routes for summer 2024, including Lyon, Bordeaux, Venice, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca.

Looking forward, ATH aims to further expand its reach in North America and the Far East, according to Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications and Marketing at ATH. Winning the Over 20 Million Passengers category at Routes Europe 2024 underscores ATH’s close collaboration with airlines and dedication to enhancing route marketing efforts.

“Winning this award is of prime importance to us. We have a very close cooperation with our airlines, and they appreciate our efforts to market their routes,” Papadopoulou emphasized during Routes Europe 2024, where ATH actively engaged in productive discussions to advance air connectivity.

Stay updated with ATH’s growth journey and latest developments in air connectivity by following Routes and ATH’s strategic initiatives.