2026 is expected to be a milestone year for Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, which continues to solidify its position as the top connectivity hub in Southeastern Europe. After a remarkable period of recovery and successive records in passenger traffic, Athens is making a dynamic leap: four new airlines, eight new destinations, and a historic shift towards India.
And all this, at a time when Greek Tourism has already surpassed the European market in growth rates.
2026: The year of India for Athens
For the first time in its history, Athens is gaining direct connections to India, one of the fastest-growing economic and travel destinations worldwide. The two companies expanding their operations to the Greek capital are:
- IndiGo – NEW airline for Athens
- Aegean Airlines
With direct flights to Delhi and Mumbai, the Greek market gains access to two huge urban centers, which are expected to boost not only tourism but also business travel, shipping, education, and conferences.
IndiGo started on January 23, 2026, essentially opening the season.
American market: Stronger than ever
The success of Greek tourism in recent years has also drawn in US and Canadian airlines, which are increasing their presence dynamically this year.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, from May 21, 2026
- American becomes the airline with the most direct connections from Athens to the US (5 in total).
- He will be the only operator on the line.
- Air Canada – Montreal & Toronto a month earlier
- Delta Air Lines – Atlanta 20 days earlier
- United Airlines – Chicago 2 weeks earlier
- Flights from Boston & Charlotte also resume earlier
New companies – New destinations that change the map
2026 brings four new airlines to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”:
- IndiGo
- AnimaWings
- TAP Air Portugal
- Korean Air
New routes 2026:
- Delhi – IndiGo
- Delhi – Aegean
- Mumbai – IndiGo
- Mumbai – Aegean
- Dallas – American Airlines (sole operator)
- Tallinn – airBaltic (unique operator)
- Gdańsk – Wizz Air (sole operator)
- Cluj – AnimaWings (new company, sole operator)
- Timișoara – AnimaWings
- Lisbon – TAP Air Portugal (return after 12 years)
- Seoul – Korean Air (charters from April 2026)
A step forward: Athens on the world map of mega-hubs
Eleftherios Venizelos is now able to function as a gateway to the East, Asia, North America, and South-Eastern Europe.
The strategic presentation of the new routes shows:
- shifting to markets with large economic footprint (India, South Korea)
- maintaining a strong relationship with the United States
- strengthening regional presence with markets such as the Baltic, Poland, and Romania
- the return of significant European players, such as TAP
Start dates
| Company | Destination | Start |
| IndiGo | Delhi / Mumbai | 23/01/2026 |
| AnimaWings | Cluj / Timișoara | 29/03/2026 |
| airBaltic | Tallinn | 29/04/2026 |
| WizzAir | Gdańsk | 01/05/2026 |
| American Airlines | Dallas | 21/05/2026 |
| TAP | Lisbon | 01/07/2026 |
| Korean Air | Seoul (charter) | April 2026 |
Athens stronger than ever
With the 2020s showcasing Athens as one of the fastest-growing European destinations, 2026 appears to be a major turning point.
The airline market is not just expanding — it’s transforming. And with her, the dynamics of Greek Tourism are transformed as well.
