Μake us preferred on Google With hotel occupancy running high, airline capacity expanding and demand holding firm well past the August peak, September is shaping up to be one of the most important months of this year’s tourist season, in Greece. From Rhodes and Crete to Corfu and Athens, industry data and the assessments of market professionals suggest that the long-discussed extension of the season is increasingly becoming a tangible reality.
September’s strong showing is already evident in air travel. According to OAG data, 6.15 million airline seats have been scheduled for Greece this month, up 4.9% from 5.86 million in September 2025, an increase of roughly 290,000 seats in a single year.
That places the country seventh among Europe’s ten largest markets by airline capacity. Across Europe as a whole, September capacity stands at 168.8 million seats, up 3.8%, meaning the Greek market is growing faster than the European average.
The signals from Rhodes are especially encouraging. September there is tracking close to last year’s high levels, with hotel occupancy exceeding 85%. Hoteliers remain upbeat about October as well, expecting occupancy to stay above 75%. Crete is painting a similar picture. In Rethymno, September delivered excellent occupancy rates, and the outlook for October remains positive.
Corfu is also enjoying a strong season. After a robust August, September has held at very healthy levels, while October continues to draw demand and benefits from expanded flight availability.
The upbeat trend is not confined to the islands. In Athens, hotel occupancy for September and October is running above 70%, and room rates are climbing as well.
