Strong Flight Activity in Fall Indicates Longer Tourism Season for Greece

Strong flight activity into fall indicates that the Greek Tourism Ministry’s strategy to extend the season is paying off.

More specifically, according to the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), the number of flights through Greece’s airports is expected to be higher in the August-October than during the same period a year ago.

Flight activity is forecast at being higher by up to 30 percent compared to the August-October period in 2022. At the same time, the number of flights in September are up 20 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

In Europe, flight activity is slower compared to 2022, but flight numbers are still higher by up to 14 percent.

Eurocontrol analysts attribute the rise in Greece to the extended tourism season, a Greek ministry priority, and to the emerging travel trend which sees all the more tourists choosing to go on holiday in the cooler, autumn months.

To meet the demand, Greece’s national carrier AEGEAN is offering up to 50 percent off on tickets to or from Greece for the September 18-March 31 period.

Ireland’s low cost carrier Ryanair is also increasing seats to Greek destinations from October to March by 1 million seats.

Earlier this summer, German leisure travel operator TUI announced that it would also be extending its season for Greece through to mid-November. “With our own TUI fly flights and with our partners, reservations can be made for Greek destinations until mid-November,” said TUI Germany CEO Stefan Baumert, adding that there was still time for last-minute bookings for TUI packages to the Greek islands.