Airlines from the US Boost Link to Greece with 56 Weekly Flights

Tourist traffic from the US is expected to pick up in the coming months thanks to the launch of 56 direct flights a week to Athens, set to bring more than 1 million travelers to Greece and generate 1 billion euros in tourism revenue this year, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Friday.

“As the winter and spring progress, more flights will be added,” Kikilias said during an interview to state broadcaster ERT.

He added that the last direct flight to Greece from the US landed on January 10 this year. “This means that Athens now welcomes American travelers almost all year long,” the minister said.

According to Greek daily Kathimerini, the following airlines will be carrying out scheduled flights to Greece in 2023:

• Delta Air Lines from New York with five flights per week from March 11 and daily as of March 25
• United Airlines from New York with three flights a week from April 6 and daily as of May 6

• American Airlines from New York with daily flights starting on May 5
• American Airlines from Chicago with daily flights from June 1

• American Airlines from Philadelphia with daily flights from June 1
• Delta Air Lines from Boston with flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday as of May 8.
• Emirates from New York (Newark) with daily flights (all year round)

Additionally, direct flights are set to be announced from Washington and Atlanta to Greece operated by Delta.

Moreover, flights are expected from Canada as of late March. More specifically, two weekly flights to Athens from Montreal are expected to launch from March 31 and three weekly flights from Toronto to the Greek capital will begin from March 28

Last year, Kikilias had announced 63 direct flights per week from the US to Greece to meet the demand.

The Greek Tourism Ministry is counting on American travelers and has entered several agreements with airlines to either extend their route programs or add new flights beyond the traditional summer season.

“American travelers stay longer in Athens and are high spenders,” said Kikilias.

Looking ahead, the minister said pre-bookings are pointing to an “exceptional” year and that 2023 is set to outdo 2022, especially in the first months of the year.

In 2022, despite the unprecedented challenges, tourism-related revenue came close to 18 billion euros, he said.