Greece’s Airports Handle More Passengers in First Two Months of 2023

Greece’s airports, which include Athens International Airport (AIA), 24 regional airports managed by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority’s (HCAA) and 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece, handled over 4.2 million passengers during January-February, surpassing the corresponding two months of the previous year and 2019.

According to data released on Thursday by the HCAA, the total number of passengers (international and domestic arrivals and departures) in Greek airports during the first two months of 2023 reached 4,282,553, compared to 2,605,083 in the corresponding period of 2022 and 4,178,269 passengers in 2019.

The data shows a 64.4 percent rise in passenger traffic compared to January-February 2022 and an increase of 2.5 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

Broken down, during the first two months of 2023, Athens International Airport’s passenger traffic totaled 2.8 million, above 2022 levels by 74.3 percent and higher than the respective 2019 levels by 3.1 percent.

During January-February 2023, the number of passengers handled at the 14 airports managed by Fraport Greece doubled year-on-year (51 percent rise), reaching 1.15 million from 764,759 in 2022. However, the 14 airports’ passenger traffic was down by 4.3 percent compared to 2019 levels (over 1.2 million).

Flights during January-February 2023

With regard to flights (domestic and international) at Greek airports during the first two months of 2023 the HCAA recorded 41,933 flights, up by 15.8 percent compared to 2022 (36,211 flights) and down by 0.5 percent compared to 2019 (42,149 flights).

Athens International Airport’s number of flights during the first two months of 2023 amounted to 26,303, i.e. 24.8 percent above the respective 2022 levels and 1.7 percent over the corresponding 2019 levels.

Fraport Greece-managed airports recorded 12,199 flights, which shows a 12.5 percent increase compared to 2022 (10,845 flights) but also a 5.8 percent drop compared to 2019 (12,944 flights).

Passenger traffic in February 2023

In February alone the total of Greek airports recorded an increase in passenger traffic by 53.3 percent compared to 2022 and by 1.5 percent compared to 2019. This February 2,072,960 passengers traveled through Greek airports against 1,351,951 in 2022 and 2,042,595 in 2019.

During February 2023, Athens International Airport’s passenger traffic amounted to 1.36 million, i.e. 62.4 percent above February 2022 (which was still significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic), but also 2.3 percent higher than the pre-COVID February 2019.

Fraport Greece-managed airports in February saw a 42 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2022 (558,902 passengers against 393,678) but a 5 percent drop compared to 2019 (558,902 passengers against 588,585 in 2019).

Flights

Moreover, the total of Greek airports in February handled 19,605 flights, up by 12.4 percent compared to 17,445 in 2022 and slightly down by 1.6 percent compared to 19,930 flights in 2019.

Athens International Airport handled 12,470 flights, up 22.8 percent compared to 2022 and also up by 2.2 percent compared to 2019.

Fraport Greece-managed airports in February handled 5,845 flights, up 11.8 percent compared to 2022 (5,229 flights) but down 4.4 percent compared to 2019 (6,114 flights).

It is reminded that Fraport Greece handles the airports at three mainland gateways in Greece (Thessaloniki, Aktion, and Kavala) and on 11 Greek islands (Chania on Crete, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Lesvos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos and Zakynthos).