Greece Prepares For A Thriving Holiday Season With A Ten Point Seven Percent Increase In December Air Seats, Led By Strong Traffic From The UK, Germany, And China

Greece is gearing up for a vibrant holiday season as airlines boost December seat capacity by ten point seven percent, driven by a surge in traveller demand from key markets such as the UK, Germany and China. This rise in available seats reflects stronger winter interest in Greek destinations and renewed confidence in the country’s tourism appeal during the festive period.

Greece is experiencing a significant uptick in international air travel as it enters the holiday season, marking a strong start to the winter tourism period. According to INSETE, the research arm of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), international air seat capacity for December 2025 has surged by 10.7 percent compared to the previous year. The number of scheduled international seats has risen to 1,286,560, up from 1,166,525 in December 2024. This growth reflects both the country’s increasing appeal as a travel destination during the festive season and a broader global trend of heightened winter travel interest.

One of the key factors driving this surge is the continued strong demand from major European markets, which remain the backbone of Greece’s international tourism. Germany is once again the largest contributor, with 177,489 seats scheduled for December, a 10.4 percent increase over last year. This is followed by Italy, which has contributed 106,698 seats, marking a 1.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. The United Kingdom, another important source of inbound tourism, accounts for 101,920 seats, representing a 3.5 percent increase. Cyprus and Turkey round out the top five inbound markets, although their year-on-year performance varies. Cyprus has seen a slight decline of 1.7 percent, with 103,316 seats, while Turkey posted a solid 5.2 percent increase, reaching 80,635 seats.

The numbers from these core markets underscore Greece’s continued importance as a key destination within Europe, with these countries showing solid demand even during the winter months. However, the most remarkable growth is not limited to these traditional markets. A wave of new and emerging destinations, particularly in Northeast Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, has helped further boost Greece’s standing as a global travel hub.

Among these new markets, Moldova stands out with an extraordinary growth of 150.8 percent, reflecting a strong shift in travel patterns. Following Moldova is Slovakia, which has seen a 99.3 percent increase in air travel to Greece, a sign of the country’s growing interest in Greek tourism. Lebanon also posted strong growth of 89.4 percent, while China, Portugal, and Denmark saw significant increases in seat capacity as well, with growth rates of 85.6 percent, 80.4 percent, and 70.1 percent, respectively. This expansion into Northeast Europe, Asia, and the Middle East indicates a broader diversification of Greece’s international tourist base, which is important for maintaining sustained growth in the face of fluctuating market conditions.

On the other hand, some countries saw a decline in travel to Greece in 2025. Austria experienced a drop of 16.2 percent, while the UAE saw a more pronounced decrease of 32.9 percent. Armenia and Singapore also posted negative growth, with declines of 19.2 percent and 30.8 percent, respectively. Despite these downturns, Greece remains resilient, benefiting from its expanding reach in emerging markets, as well as its enduring appeal among traditional travelers.

Looking at the performance of individual airports, Athens International Airport (AIA) continues to dominate Greece’s air travel landscape. AIA will handle 1,057,725 seats in December, marking a 9.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. As the primary gateway to Greece, Athens remains a focal point for both international and domestic travel. The airport’s strong performance reflects both the country’s tourism strength and Athens’ position as a hub for European and international connections.

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest airport, also continues to show healthy growth. For December, the airport will handle 209,084 seats, an increase of 9.3 percent compared to last year. Thessaloniki has long been an important regional airport, serving as a key gateway to northern Greece and the broader Balkan region. This increase in seat capacity suggests that Thessaloniki’s popularity as a travel destination, especially for winter tourism, is on the rise.

Among Greece’s regional airports, Heraklion has seen the most striking growth. Located on the island of Crete, Heraklion’s air travel capacity has surged by 437.3 percent in December, a clear indicator of the growing demand for winter visits to Crete. This dramatic increase highlights Crete’s expanding reputation as a year-round destination, with travelers flocking to the island not only in the summer months but throughout the winter season. The surge in flights also suggests that Crete is successfully positioning itself as a destination that offers a diverse range of experiences beyond its popular summer season.

Domestic air travel within Greece also shows promising results, with several airports seeing strong performance for the winter months. Athens remains the leader in domestic travel, with 359,430 scheduled seats for December, contributing to a total of 1.78 million seats for the entire winter season. Thessaloniki follows with 123,018 seats in December, contributing to a total of 585,666 seats over the course of the season. Heraklion reports 92,724 seats for December, with a total of 425,810 seats for the winter months.

While some domestic routes, such as those to Chios, have seen a decline in seat capacity (down 15.6 percent), others are experiencing robust growth. Corfu, for example, has posted a strong increase in domestic seat capacity, with a 21.6 percent rise. This demonstrates the resilience of Greece’s domestic tourism sector, which continues to offer a variety of destinations that attract both Greek and international travelers during the winter season.

Greece is set for a thriving holiday season as December air seats rise by ten point seven percent, a boost powered by strong travel demand from the UK, Germany and China. This surge highlights growing winter interest in Greek destinations and renewed confidence in the country’s tourism appeal.

Overall, the data reflects a holiday season that is marked by strong international demand, steady domestic travel, and impressive growth in emerging markets. Greece’s growing appeal as a winter destination, combined with the expansion of key airports and increased flight availability, positions the country for another successful winter tourism season in 2025. With increasing interest from both traditional and new markets, Greece looks set to continue its upward trajectory as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for year-round travel.

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