Athens Airport Shatters Records in 2024 with Nearly 32 Million Passengers

Athens International Airport (AIA) achieved a record-breaking milestone in 2024, serving 31.85 million passengers. This represents a 13.1 percent increase compared to 2023 and solidifies AIA’s role as a critical global hub for airlines and travelers.

The airport’s 2024 performance surpasses its previous record of over 28 million passengers in 2023.

2024: A year of exceptional growth

Domestic and international passenger traffic during the January-December period grew by 7.3 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.

In December alone, AIA welcomed 2.13 million passengers, reflecting a 14.5 percent increase compared to December 2023. Domestic traffic rose by 6.2 percent, while international passengers surged by 18.1 percent.

Aircraft movements also experienced a significant boost in 2024, with a total of 268,301 flights—an 11 percent year-on-year increase. Both domestic and international flights exceeded 2023 volumes by 5.1 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively.

Key developments in 2024

AIA Director Communications and Marketing Ioanna Papadopoulou (third from right) and AIA Senior Developer, Airline Development, Ioannis Novas (left) with easyJet’s team.

The past year marked significant growth for AIA, driven by an improving economic landscape and a rising demand for Greek tourism. Airlines expanded operations, offering Greek and foreign passengers more affordable travel options and direct connections to major European and global destinations.

The airline milestones of Athens Airport in 2024 include:

– LOT Polish Airlines resumed year-round service to Warsaw.
– Air Arabia reintroduced direct flights from Sharjah.
– Juneyao Air launched the first direct Athens-Shanghai connection.
– Air China increased flights between Athens and Beijing.
– Norse Atlantic Airways began nonstop Athens-New York JFK flights.
– easyJet expanded its summer 2025 schedule with new routes and over 1.3 million seats, as part of the airline’s growth from summer 2024.

The American market played a pivotal role in Athens Airport’s international growth, with the Greek capital directly connected to seven U.S. airports. Five airlines — Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, Norse and Emirates — operated a combined 82 weekly departures at peak summer season.

Awards and recognition

AIA’s team on stage at the Routes 2024 Marketing Awards in Aarhus, Denmark.

Athens Airport also received prestigious accolades in 2024, reflecting its strong position in the global aviation industry.

At the Routes Europe Awards in Denmark, AIA won the “Over 20 Million Passengers” category, standing out among major competitors such as Istanbul IGA, Rome Fiumicino, Brussels Airport, and Vienna Airport.
AIA also earned a “Highly Commended” distinction from ACI Europe in the “25-40 million passengers” category for its outstanding achievements.
In addition, the airport was honored with the gold award for Best IPO Communications at the Corporate & Financial Awards 2024, organized by Communicate magazine.

Stock market debut

Athens International Airport CEO Yiannis Paraschis ringing the opening bell at the Athens Stock Exchange.

In 2024, Athens Airport reached another milestone with its successful stock market debut. Shares surged during the initial trading hours, showcasing investor confidence in the airport’s robust performance and strategic direction.

For more news on Athens International port, check out GTP Headlines’ “Athens in the Spotlight!” feature.