Passenger traffic at Athens International Airport rose sharply in January 2026, reinforcing the sustained momentum of Greek tourism and international travel demand.
Major European tourism markets continue to favor Greece for the year ahead, consistently ranking the country among their top Mediterranean travel choices over the next 12 months.
Greece has not only preserved the strong tourism brand it has built in Western Europe in recent years but has further enhanced its image. According to official figures released by Athens International Airport, passenger traffic reached 1.99 million in January 2026, marking an 8.6% increase compared with January 2025. Both domestic and international passenger flows exceeded last year’s levels, rising by 7.1% and 9.2% respectively.
Aircraft movements at the airport totaled 17,748 flights during the month, up 7.3% year-on-year. Domestic and international flights both posted gains, increasing by 7.6% and 7.1% respectively.
Meanwhile, Greece ranks third among preferred outbound travel destinations for the coming 12 months in both Germany and Italy, fourth in France and the United Kingdom, and sixth in Spain.
Compared with 2024, Greece climbed one position in both the UK and Spanish markets, while its ranking remained stable in the other major markets. The UK and Germany remain Greece’s two most important inbound tourism markets in terms of both arrivals and revenue.
These findings come from a recent study published in January 2026 by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE), titled “Brand Greece: How Attractive Is Greece as a Tourism Destination? A Comparison with Competing Mediterranean Destinations.”
