Travel Demand Surge in Greek During Christmas Holidays

With Christmas and New Year holiday season approaching, the demand for international and domestic flights has been on rise in Greece with Greeks planning to visit various destinations such as Vienna, Paris, Geneva, as well as Krakow in Poland, Helsinki and Oslo, according to the booking data from Aegean airlines, the country’s flag carrier.

The demand for flights has peaked with occupancy rates on most of the 145 routes in Aegean’s network to 100 destinations exceeding 80%, 85% or in some cases even 90%, just 10 days before Christmas.

According to Aegean, traffic during the Christmas period is at higher levels compared with last year, which demonstrates the high demand of Greeks for leisure travel during the holiday season.

In fact, Aegean has increased the number of seats available during this year’s holiday season, by approximately 5%, both on the domestic and international networks, and always compared to the same period in 2023, seeking to maintain the strong desire to travel recorded in the last two years.

Occupancies High

A week before Christmas, occupancy rates in the international network from Aegean’s two largest bases, in Athens and Thessaloniki, are showing an increase compared to last year, with rates ranging from 80% to 86% or even 90% in some cases, depending on the destination.

In fact, according to the same data, Greeks are preferring to travel during the Christmas period, since occupancy rates for the New Year period appear slightly lower (from 78% to 83%).

December 21 presents the greatest potential in terms of the Christmas peak, with an average occupancy rate to and from Athens exceeding 85% and to and from Thessaloniki almost 90%, Aegean said.

Correspondingly, December 28 and 29, recorded the highest average occupancy from and to Athens (more than 80%) and from and to Thessaloniki (85%) for those who choose to welcome the New Year away from their place of residence.

Christmas Destinations Abroad

According to Aegean, the top five international destinations for Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025, according to Aegean’s bookings, are: from from Athens base: Lisbon, Geneva, Copenhagen, Vienna and, Paris; from Thessaloniki: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. Greeks’ choices continue to include destinations that are less traditional, but definitely winter, such as Krakow, Helsinki, and Oslo.

With European capitals such as Vienna, London, Paris, Switzerland, as well as major German cities being on the list of preference of Greeks, while distant destinations such as Vietnam, Japan, Cuba and Brazil are also of particular interest.

However, one can also find last-minute opportunities to destinations such as Istanbul, Naples, Rome, Amsterdam from Athens and Milan, Brussels, Amsterdam from Thessaloniki.

Domestic Destinations

The top five domestic destinations from Athens base for Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 are Heraklion, Alexandroupoli, Ioannina, Mytilene and Rhodes. From Thessaloniki base they are Rhodes, Chania, Mytilene, Heraklion and Chios.

Domestic travellers are departing on December 20 and 21, days indicating the greatest potential with the average occupancy from and to Athens starting at 80%, while from and to Thessaloniki, on December 20, 21, 23 and 24 recording an average occupancy of over 90%.

Occupancies on the domestic network from Aegean’s bases in Athens and Thessaloniki appear lower than those on the international network, with passenger traffic largely driven by students, as well as professionals who work in a different place from their place of origin.