The 2024 tourist season is getting under way with increasing numbers of passengers apparently lining up to take the first flight to Greece.

Fourteen airports managed by Fraport Greece around the country posted a 12.2% increase in passenger traffic in March 2024, compared to the same month last year.

The German-Greek consortium manages the airports of Aktion, Chania, Corfu, Kavala, Cephalonia, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos, Kos, Mytilene, Mykonos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini and Skiathos.

Overall, the first quarter of 2024 closed with an increase of 11.2% in passenger traffic, which totaled over 2.09 million compared to 1.88 million in Q1 2023.

International traffic remained high, with a 16.1% increase (337,000 travelers). However, eight out of 14 airports recorded a decrease in international traffic in March 2024, compared to the same month in 2023, despite the overall increase. Kavala, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos, Kos and Rhodes were the airports that recorded an increase.

Domestic traffic also increased by 9.7%, reaching 483,000 passengers. Santorini recorded the highest percentage increase at 24.4%, while Mykonos followed in close second with 21.2%. Aktion also showed significant growth at 18.1% compared to last year’s numbers.

Regarding overall passenger traffic, Aktion and Cephalonia (-8%) recorded a decrease of 27.5% and 8%, respectively, compared to March of last year. Rhodes marked the highest percentage increase at 19.1%, followed by Kavala at 18.3% and Santorini at 18%. Thessaloniki achieved the best performance in absolute numbers, with 474,000 travelers.