Greek Airports Set to Smash 81 Million Passenger Record in 2025

The Greek aviation sector has achieved a new passenger traffic record in 2025. This historic high reflects the strength of Greek tourism. It also shows the increasing willingness of Greeks to travel by air. The new figures underscore a major challenge for airport infrastructure upgrades.

Data from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (YPA/HCAA) points to this growth. Combined with statements from Athens International Airport (AIA) leadership, the total is clear. Passenger traffic is estimated to exceed 81 million travelers for the full year 2025.

Record Traffic Driven by Tourism

Total commercial traffic reached 79.881 million travelers from January through November 2025. This covers all 39 airports in the country. This marks a significant 9.5% increase over the same period in 2024. Aircraft movements also rose by 9.3%.

This growth is a key indicator of the dynamic Greek tourism confederation (SETE). The sector continues its strong post-pandemic recovery. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) notes similar trends globally.

Athens and Regional Airport Performance

Athens International Airport (AIA), or Eleftherios Venizelos airport, leads the surge. The airport's CEO projected traffic will reach 34 million passengers in 2025. This is up from 31.8 million in 2024. This projection is in line with industry forecasts of 33.8 million travelers for the year.

Meanwhile, the 24 state airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) also saw strong growth. Passenger traffic at these state airports increased by 6.8% through November 2025. This totaled 12.5 million passengers, up from 11.74 million in 2024.

Separately, the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece airports are also seeing record numbers. This includes major island gateways vital for international arrivals. The overall growth demonstrates the need for more capacity across all Greek aviation hubs.

Infrastructure Challenges and Investment

The new passenger traffic record places a strain on existing facilities. This is especially true for the 22 older airports managed by the HCAA. Many of these hubs served their highest passenger volumes ever in 2025.

Modernization Efforts Underway

The HCAA is responding with a holistic modernization strategy. This plan targets maintenance and support for airport infrastructure. A key tender for facility management services is underway. This project is budgeted at approximately €20 million over four years.

These upgrades focus on improving operational efficiency and passenger experience. Targeted interventions are ongoing at several regional airports. This includes work at Heraklion, Milos, and Naxos.

Major hub expansion is also a priority. AIA has a €1.3 billion expansion plan underway. This aims to boost capacity to 40 million passengers by 2032. Manufacturers like Airbus and airlines such as Emirates benefit from this expansion. This ensures future demand can be met.

This sustained growth highlights the importance of timely investment. It is critical for the long-term success of the Greek aviation sector. For more commercial aviation news, visit our partners at flying.flights.