At Routes World 2025 in Hong Kong, Athens International Airport shared what it meant to be named the Overall Winner and take home the Over 20 Million Passengers category at the prestigious Routes Awards.
Athens International Airport (ATH) handled a record 31.9 million passengers in 2024, a 25% increase from 2019 levels and a 13% rise year over year. Growth has continued into 2025, with traffic up 6.9% in the first seven months of the year.
The increase has been fueled by stronger air connectivity across multiple markets, particularly in international segments, which have grown 8.9% so far in 2025. Transatlantic expansion has been a standout contributor: IATA AirportIS data shows U.S. connecting traffic through ATH rose 155% in 2024 compared with pre-pandemic levels and climbed another 45% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period a year earlier.
In 2024, United Airlines launched service from Chicago, while Norse Atlantic Airways added New York to its Athens schedule. By the summer of 2025, ATH had expanded its U.S. network to nine destinations, offering 103 weekly frequencies. A key milestone came in June with the long-awaited launch of nonstop service to Los Angeles. Norse Atlantic responded to demand on what had been Athens’ largest unserved route with a four-times-weekly operation.
The momentum is set to continue into 2026. American Airlines has announced new service from Dallas-Fort Worth beginning in May 2026. In South Asia, connectivity to India is strengthening as IndiGo becomes the first airline to offer direct flights between Athens and India. Aegean Airlines will follow, launching service to Delhi in March 2026 and to Mumbai in May 2026.
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Seasonality has also eased at Athens, with passenger volumes reaching 3 million to 4 million per month for six consecutive months — a first in the airport’s history. The airport team continues to drive tourism development through destination marketing campaigns and close collaboration with regional stakeholders, positioning Athens as a year-round travel destination.
Recognized for its commitment to route development and strong airline partnerships, ATH was named both the winner of the Over 20 Million Passengers category and the Overall Winner at the Routes Awards.
Speaking during Routes World 2025 in Hong Kong, Ioanna Papadopoulou, the airport’s director of communication and marketing, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the successful developments at Routes World. It’s a huge thank you to our airlines for the long-lasting partnerships we have created throughout the years and of course for their interest and confidence in the Athens market.”
Earlier in the year, ATH also received honors at the ACI Europe Best Airport Awards in the 25-40 million passengers category.
Following the announcement of its major expansion plan—which will increase passenger capacity by 60% by 2032—ATH utilize its Routes 360 membership to share latest developments, unserved route opportunities and incentive schemes.
