Cyclades Islands: Santorini Leads Air Traffic and Tourism in 2024

Santorini, Greece.

Santorini topped air traffic figures among Cyclades islands with airports in 2024, according to a detailed analysis by tourism consulting firm MTC Group.

Using data from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority and INSETE (the research institute of the SETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation), the report highlights the varying levels of tourist demand and the length of the tourist season across the popular Greek islands in the Cyclades.

Santorini leads in air traffic

Photo source: Shutterstock

The analysis confirmed Santorini’s position as the most visited Cycladic island by air travelers in 2024, followed by Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Milos. Despite fluctuations in monthly arrivals, these islands collectively demonstrated strong performance during the tourist season.

– Santorini: Welcomed 2,875,052 passengers, with a tourist season spanning from April to November.
– Mykonos: Received 1,609,445 passengers, primarily from April to October.
– Paros: Recorded 361,884 airline passengers, with high demand between May and October and a slight increase in March.
– Naxos: Attracted 195,129 passengers, with steady growth from April and strong arrivals through October.
– Milos: Registered 117,687 passengers, with consistent demand from May to October, similar to Naxos during peak summer months.

Seasonal trends in air traffic

The analysis of monthly performance shows that air traffic peaks during the summer months (June, July, and August), with Santorini maintaining the highest number of passengers throughout the year.
Monthly data highlighted the busiest travel periods and seasonal variations:

– April to May: Air traffic to Santorini and Mykonos surged, with Paros and Naxos also seeing significant increases.
– June to August: These peak summer months saw the highest air traffic across all islands.
– September to November: Santorini maintained strong arrival numbers, followed by Mykonos and Paros.
– December: Paros emerged as the standout destination for winter travelers.

Accommodation capacity highlights

The report also analyzed the accommodation infrastructure, showcasing differences in capacity across the islands:

– Santorini: Topped the list with 78,155 beds, including hotels and rooms to let.
– Mykonos: Led in short-term rental capacity, including furnished holiday homes, with 33,098 beds.
– Naxos: Ranked second in hotel bed numbers and exceeded Paros in rooms to let beds.
– Paros: Offered 52,458 beds across hotels and rooms to let.
– Milos: With 22,381 beds, it had the smallest capacity but demonstrated strong occupancy rates during the tourist season.

Insights into tourism trends

The data underscores the differentiation among the Cyclades islands in terms of visitor demand and the duration of their respective tourist seasons. Santorini, with its extended tourist period and higher air traffic, continues to be the most popular, while other islands like Paros and Naxos show steady growth in appeal.