Market Analysis IV: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – FRANCE

Athens in the Spotlight!

Welcome to GTP Headlines’ weekly feature, spotlighting the top markets of Greece’s largest and foremost gateway.
Each week, based on exclusive facts and data of Athens International Airport, we’ll explore the markets that bring travelers from around the world to Greece through this bustling hub.

With the unique memories and aura of the Paris Olympic Games still with us, we turn our attention to the France market, reflecting the significant role it plays in shaping Athens International Airport’s (AIA) international traffic.

One of the TOP markets for Athens Airport, the France market ranked 4th in terms of foreign arrivals and in direct traffic in 2023.

For the first half of 2024, the France market is now at the 5th position in foreigners’ arrivals (Tourism) and same for direct, recording significant growth compared to the same period 2023 with +4% and +9% respectively.

When compared to the pre-pandemic era, the growth of traffic from France is even more spectacular, with +24% in Direct traffic.

One element of traffic that is positively contributing to the growth in the direct traffic is the growth of connecting traffic via France reaching Athens as a final destination. Connecting traffic via France increased by 9% in 2023, when compared to 2019.

The additional direct capacity deployed at Athens on the France network increased by 9% in the first half of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023.

Compared to the pre-Pandemic era (2019), same period, direct capacity increased by 27%.

Network Developments: 168 weekly departures in 2024
French connections to/from Athens at their best!

For 2024, Athens is directly connected to 12 airport destinations with flights operated by 6 airlines – AEGEAN, Air France, easyJet Europe, SKY express, Transavia France & Volotea– resulting in 168 weekly departures, or 24 daily (peak Summer season).

Current Status – Summer 2024

Back in 2019, Athens was directly connected to 11 airport destinations with flights operated by 6 airlines, offering 144 weekly departures, or 20.6 daily.

The France network in peak summer:

The attractiveness of Athens to the French market is also evident in the stellar development of the network even during the pandemic years. 

• Athens network to France was enhanced in the pandemic period (2021) with the addition of 1 more airline, while number of destinations and services remained unchanged.
• Sky Express entered the French  market in June 2021, adding Paris (CDG) to its network. Volotea added services to Lyon and Marseille, while TUIfly Belgium restored a direct connection to Lille following a one year break.
• In 2022, the network was further enhanced with weekly departures increasing to 159 and services to 24. In the Summer of 2022, Volotea continued to invest in the French market, adding services to Bordeaux, Lille and Nantes.
• In the following Summer, the number of weekly departures reduced by 9, however the network gained 1 more service, increasing to 25. In terms of development, Aegean added a service to Lille and Volotea added a service to Toulouse.
• But, network is further enhanced in Summer 2024, reaching its highest size ever with 1 new destination, +3 services and a total of +18 weekly departures (compared to 2023).
• It is the time of easyJet now investing in the Athens market, adding services to Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice, increasing weekly frequencies to Paris (ORY), while Volotea inaugurated Athens 12^th direct destination to France with a direct route to Brest. Aegean increased weekly frequencies to Paris (CDG) and Bordeaux, followed by Air France with increased weekly frequencies to Marseille and Nice.

Passenger traffic evolution

Compared to pre-Pandemic (2019), direct passenger traffic grew by 15% in 2023 and is increasing further by 9% in 2024 (vs. 2023).

The enhancement of the direct network and increase in available capacity resulted in 21 thousand additional direct passengers, in the Winter months (November 2023 to March 2024 versus November 2022 to March 2023).

Paris is the dominant source of direct traffic to Athens, however this share is slightly reducing from 74% in 2019 (CDG & ORY) to 72% in 2023 and during the first half of 2024.

Furthermore, Lyon overtook the 3^rd position to Marseille in 2023 and Nice during the 1st half of 2024 overtook Marseille in the 4th position.

Based on global travel data (IATA) for destination Athens, Indirect traffic from France accounts for 9% of the market’s  total traffic, resulting in almost 55 thousand passengers (one-way) traveling via other airports to reach Athens. Munich is leading the way, followed by Paris (CDG), Frankfurt and Zurich, clearly demonstrating an opportunity for future network developments.

In addition, connecting traffic via the main HUBs in France to Athens grew by 9% when compared to pre-Pandemic era (2019), based on global travel data (IATA). Again, USA is the top origin for this traffic with more than 50% of the share.

Passenger demographics:
The French traveler for Athens

Travelers from France,  wish to get to know the hidden aspects of Greece and “live like Greeks”. They travel mainly as Couples, with friends or as Families with an average age of 42 years.

Main characteristics

Occupation: 70% in private sector, but with a notable share of employees in the public sector (9%)
Length of stay: 9 days in Greece, 3 of them in Athens
Trip purpose: Mostly for holidays (82%), in couples and friends and families (13%)
Stay: Less than 63% stay in hotels.  They do not prefer Airbnb’s, while they show greater preference in resorts (10%)
Activities: They participate in various organized activities, such as walks, gastronomy quests, while they wish more than anyone else to interact with the locals and get to know the Greek way of life. Particularly interested in visiting the marinas
Favorite destinations: Paros (21%), Santorini (14%), Crete (12%) and Corfu (7%)

Evaluation of Athens: 78% said that the city experience was above their expectations
Revisit Athens: 71% stated that they will revisit during 2024

Future opportunities: additional capacity & enhanced connecting options via Athens

(a) As the majority of the peripheral airports in France are served with a low number of weekly frequencies (2 to 4), there is a substantial opportunity for additional frequencies, which will offer better travel options to the local markets.
(b) Because of the high volume of indirect traffic, additional capacity at Athens existing network in needed. Even Paris can accommodate more capacity, which in turn will help to increase the volume of passengers transferring from North America to Athens.
(c) Furthermore, improved connecting offerings from Athens to the region will boost the connecting traffic flows further.
(d) Last but not least, a direct route to Corsica would be highly interesting, based on the successful outcome of Sardinia, or Palma de Mallorca from Athens.

View also:

Market Analysis I: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – UNITED STATES

Market Analysis II: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – UNITED KINGDOM

Market Analysis III: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – GERMANY