What’s On The Horizon For: Athens International Airport

Athens International Airport (ATH) welcomed a record 31.9 million passengers in 2024, representing a 25% increase over 2019 figures and a 13% rise year-over-year. The airport’s momentum has continued into 2025, with passenger traffic up 11% during the first two months of the year.

Much of ATH’s 2024 network expansion was driven by strong performance in the U.S. market, including the launch of new services to New York with Norse Atlantic and Chicago with United Airlines. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines also increased frequencies on existing routes to extend seasonal coverage.

The airport has carried its growth into 2025, marked by Norse Atlantic’s launch of the airport’s first direct connection to the U.S. West Coast with service to Los Angeles in June. By year’s end, ATH’s U.S. network is expected to expand to nine destinations. With the U.S. ranking as the top source market for international visitors to Athens, the airport plans to pursue further growth through new connectivity opportunities.

ATH’s Asian network continues to grow, with Sichuan Airlines launching service to Chengdu and Juneyao Air increasing frequency on its Shanghai route to five flights per week. The airport also sees India as a key target and hopes to celebrate an inaugural direct service from this market in 2026.

Meanwhile in Europe, easyJet added several new routes in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in passenger capacity. The LCC has further expanded its footprint with the addition of Alicante to its summer 2025 schedule.

Speaking at Routes Europe 2025, Ioanna Papadopoulou, ATH’s director of marketing and communications, shared insights into the airport’s strategy for sustained growth: “A strategic priority for us is to increase our long-haul network and identify new sources of growth in mature markets, particularly across Europe. We work very closely with airlines to meet these goals, tailoring competitive incentives and robust marketing support to meet their needs.”

To accommodate continued growth, the airport plans to expand its terminal infrastructure, increasing overall passenger capacity. While construction is already underway, the majority of the work will begin in 2026, with completion expected by 2032.

In the nearer term, ATH is on track to achieve net zero carbon emissions by October 2025. The airport has invested consistently in its sustainability strategy—especially during the pandemic—and is set to meet the aviation industry’s net zero target 25 years ahead of schedule.

Reflecting on the value of Routes Europe 2025, held in Seville, ATH director of marketing and communications Ioanna Papadopoulou said: “We are communicating with airline partners throughout the year, but it’s always good to be in person, exchange views and move one step forward with our development. It’s also very important for us to have the opportunity to thank our partners for their trust and confidence in the Athens market.”

As a Routes 360 member, ATH uses the platform year-round to engage with airline partners. Papadopoulou emphasized its value: “Communication is very important, and Routes 360 is one of the most important tools an airport has—not only to promote, but to share news. Very recently, we had a positive pricing development, and we found it extremely useful for communicating directly with all our airline partners.”