Market Analysis VII: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – POLAND

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.

This week, we return to Europe evaluating the spectacular growth in the Polish market, contributing to the international traffic growth at Athens International Airport (AIA).

The Polish market ranked 14th in terms of foreign arrivals and 16th in direct traffic in 2023.

Direct traffic for the first 7 months of 2024 is recording strong growth when compared to same period in 2023 at 44% and by 29% in terms of foreign arrivals (Tourism).

As with the majority of Athens international markets, the Polish market is growing above the pre-pandemic era (2019) with 17% in direct traffic and 28% in foreign arrivals, during the period January to July.

This strong growth is driven by significant network developments, resulting in increase of available capacity and connecting traffic from Poland via Athens to the region. Connecting traffic increased by 35% in 2023 when compared to the pre-Pandemic era (2019).

The additional direct capacity deployed at Athens on the Polish network increased by 58% in the first 7 months of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023.

Compared to the pre-Pandemic era (2019), same period, direct capacity increased by 23%.

Network Developments: 38 weekly departures in 2024
Restructure and Network organic growth

In 2024, Athens is directly connected to 5 airport destinations with flights operated by 5 airlines – AEGEAN, LOT, Ryanair, SKY express & WizzAir – resulting in 38 weekly departures (peak summer season).

Current Status – Summer 2024

Back in 2019, Athens was directly connected to 9 airport destinations with flights operated by 3 airlines, offering 28 weekly departures.

 The Polish network in peak summer

The network to/from Poland is benefiting from an “overall repositioning ” of the market due to more airlines having entered the market and more weekly frequencies being now on offer.

 In specific: 

• In November 2023, Sky Express added Warsaw to its network and in April 2024, LOT returned to Athens after a long pause, offering daily, year-round frequencies from Warsaw.
• The latest network developments by Sky Express and LOT enhanced Athens network in 2024, increasing weekly frequencies by +10 compared to pre-pandemic (2019) and number of airlines to 5 from 3.

Passenger traffic evolution

In 2023, direct passenger traffic recovered to 94% of pre-pandemic (2019), with traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels from October until the end of the year.

The enhancement of the direct network and increase in available capacity resulted in 59 thousand additional direct passengers, in the Winter months (November 2023 to March 2024 versus November 2022 to March 2023).

Warsaw accounts for half (51%) of the direct passenger traffic to Poland, same as pre-pandemic with Katowice improving its share to 23% in 2024 from 16% pre-pandemic. Kracow in the 3rd place, same as 2019, with 15% share in total polish traffic. Focusing on Warsaw, traffic share for Warsaw (WMI) dropped to 5% in 2024 from 26% in 2019 (having the TOP position at that time). However, with the additional capacity offered by AEGEAN and new services from Sky Express and LOT, Warsaw (WAW) improved its share from 25% in 2019 to 46% in 2024.

Market size, network coverage and available direct capacity increased over the years to Poland fueling the growth in traffic. Based on global travel data (IATA) for 2023 and 2013, share of indirect traffic dropped from 33% in 2013 to just 7% in 2023, however 13 thousand one-way passengers (2013) traveled via other airports to Athens. Munich was the TOP connecting point in 2023 accounting for 41% of the connecting traffic to Athens, followed by Frankfurt second and Vienna third.

In addition, connecting traffic from Poland via Athens to the region, significantly increased by 35% (vs. 2019), with intra Greece connections accounting for 64% of this market. For 2023 lack of available connections via Poland, Warsaw in specific, resulted in a very low volume of passengers traveling via Poland to Athens.

Passenger demographics:
The Polish traveler for Athens

Travelers from Poland are considering Athens as a must see destination with archeological interest. They travel mainly as Couples, or with friends with an average age of 39 years.

Main characteristics

Occupation: 85% in private sector.
Length of stay: 10 days in Greece with 3 days in Athens.
Trip purpose: Holidays (83%).
Stay: (34%) stay in hotels and resorts near the sea, while they have one of the highest percentage of city breakers (51%).
Activities: Most of them choose to explore the city, by organized walking tours and by visiting various neighborhoods. They also visit archeological sites and museums around Athens.
Favorite destinations: Santorini (30%), Crete (26%).

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

Future opportunities: New routes, additional capacity & enhancement in connections offered via Poland to Athens

(a) Due to the tremendous popularity of Athens to the Polish market and successful pre-pandemic operations, a number of destinations in Poland can be served directly. The cases of Poznan and Gdansk are of interest, as significant volume of passengers are traveling indirectly to Athens.
(b) Warsaw can further capitalize on the volumes of connecting traffic from Europe or North America to Athens.
(c) Furthermore, connecting traffic via Athens to the region can be enhanced further, offering more options to the traveler from Poland.

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

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

Market Analysis V: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – ITALY

Market Analysis VI: Athens Airport’s Top Markets – CHINA