The Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” has jumped from the 56th to the 9th spot among Europe’s top ten hub airports, showcasing resilience and growth after the pandemic.
The airport is estimated to serve around 43.7 million passengers by 2023, approaching its 50 million passenger capacity limits, with projections indicating an increase to 28.2 million passengers in 2023.
Positive signals from the tourism sector indicate a swift recovery, with the global tourism market expected to grow by 7.2% annually from 2022 to 2027, surpassing $1 trillion.
Tourism analysts foresee a 7% annual increase in tourist arrivals in Greece, translating to over 40 million tourists by 2027, with the airport serving as a vital hub, with 66% of international arrivals by air, 31% by road, and 3% by sea.
Of these arrivals, the overwhelming majority (92%) hail from Europe, while 5% come from North America, 1.5% from Asia, and 0.5% from Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
As analysts point out, despite the pandemic’s impact, 2024 is poised to mark a pivotal moment for global passenger traffic, with estimates reaching 9.4 billion passengers, surpassing 2019 levels.
While the recovery in Europe is expected to slow down in 2023 and 2024, Athens International Airport is positioned well, ranking 9th among the top ten European hubs.
Total revenues for the airport reached €476.9 million in 2022, up from €272.2 million in 2021. Profit after taxes rose to €168.0 million in 2022, with earnings per share reaching €0.56.
Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Ryanair collectively accounted for around 63% of the airport’s total traffic in 2022.
