Air connectivity between Athens and the Middle East is steadily stabilizing, with most airlines reinstating their routes and early signs pointing to a broader recovery.

Speaking on Wednesday, April 1, on the sidelines of an event for AnimaWings, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at Athens International Airport, noted that the majority of carriers have already resumed operations. As an example, Gulf Air is set to restart flights on April 7. However, due to airspace restrictions over Bahrain, these flights will temporarily operate via Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

According to available data, nearly all airlines—except the two Greek carriers, Aegean Airlines and SKY express—are gradually restoring routes to and from Middle Eastern destinations. At present, Athens lacks only a direct connection with Iraq, previously served by Aegean, Papadopoulou added.

Traffic Trends Show Mixed Signals
Despite the resumption of services, passenger traffic to and from the Middle East remains somewhat subdued, with a slight dip in demand still evident. For now, however, other markets continue to perform normally, with no significant spillover effects observed.

At the same event, Diana Dima, Chief Commercial Officer of AnimaWings, highlighted that overall demand remains relatively stable, albeit with notable shifts in traveler preferences. Passengers who had initially planned trips to destinations such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi are increasingly opting for alternatives, including Greece and Turkey.