Greece Secures Top 10 European Position as Air Traffic Recovers in 2025

• 5 February, 26

Air travel in Greece returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, placing the country eighth among European states for aviation recovery and reinforcing its role as a key tourism market in southern Europe.

EUROCONTROL data showed that Greece recorded an average of 1,549 daily flights, including arrivals and departures, representing a 4 percent increase compared to 2024 and a 23 percent rise compared to 2019.

According to the data, the country’s performance reflects the broader recovery of European air traffic to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, with southern countries benefiting most from tourism-driven demand.

Across the EUROCONTROL area, a total of 11.1 million flights were recorded in 2025, up 4 percent year-on-year. Overall traffic returned to pre-pandemic levels, with growth concentrated in leisure-oriented markets.

Athens Airport among Europe’s top 10 busiest

Athens International Airport (AIA) showed particularly strong momentum, entering the list of Europe’s ten busiest airports for the first time, according to EUROCONTROL. The airport handled an average of 762 daily flights in 2025, marking a 6 percent increase compared to 2024 and a 26 percent rise compared to 2019.

The increase in traffic placed pressure on infrastructure and air traffic services. Air traffic control operations in Athens recorded average delays of 0.8 minutes per flight, primarily due to staffing constraints. Athens Airport also recorded the highest level of air traffic flow management delays in 2025, linked to capacity constraints during the peak summer period and runway works carried out in winter.

Europe’s busiest aviation markets

Across Europe, the ten busiest states collectively recorded 4 percent more flights than in 2024.

The United Kingdom ranked first with an average of 5,609 daily flights, followed by Spain with 5,211 and Germany with 4,888 flights per day.

Poland entered the top ten in ninth place, posting the highest growth rate among leading markets at 9.1 percent, driven by increased traffic with Egypt, Italy and Spain.

The Netherlands recorded the weakest growth among the top ten, at 1.3 percent, with gains on Spanish routes offset by reduced volumes with the UK, Germany, Italy, and France.

Several major markets – including Türkiye, Poland, Spain, France, Switzerland and Italy – continued to record traffic levels above those seen in 2019.

Airline activity in 2025

The ten busiest aircraft operator groups recorded 4.8 percent more flights in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Ryanair retained its position as the busiest airline group for the eleventh consecutive year, operating an average of 3,184 flights per day, supported mainly by stronger domestic traffic in Italy and routes linking Italy with Spain, the UK and Poland.

SAS recorded the strongest growth among the top ten operators, at 14 percent, driven largely by increased domestic traffic in Sweden.

Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air both posted growth of 8.6 percent, supported by expanded domestic services and increased international connectivity across Europe and neighboring markets.

Cre: Greek Travel Pages