A significant increase in passenger traffic at the 14 regional airports of Fraport Greece was recorded in the first quarter of 2026, confirming the dynamic start of the tourist season, as well as the differences between destinations.
According to official data, total passenger traffic (domestic and international) reached 2.33 million passengers in the period January–March 2026, marking a 7.9% increase compared to 2025.
The big view: International movement and dynamic start
The rise of the movement is mainly based on:
- in the increase of international demand (+7.1%)
- in the steady growth of the domestic market (+8.5%)
- in the increase of flights by 9.4% overall
Specifically in March, traffic increased by 6.9%, confirming that the season starts earlier.
Explosive growth at regional airports
Some destinations show impressive performance:
- Kavala: +68% passenger traffic
- Santorini: +26.3%
- Corfu: +21.9%
- Zakynthos: +17.9%
This image shows a strong recovery of smaller destinations, dynamic demand for island destinations and an increase in early bookings for the summer.
Major destinations with steady growth
The main tourist hubs continue to rise:
- Thessaloniki: 1.44 million passengers (+5.1%)
- Rhodes: +9.2%
- Chania: +10.8%
Thessaloniki remains the largest hub, functioning as the main gateway to Northern Greece and as a hub for the Balkans and international markets.
Who are lagging behind or showing weakness
Despite the overall increase, there are still those who do not benefit.
- Mytilene: just +3%
- Samos: +4%
- Kefalonia: +6.3%
The overview for March is even more characteristic:
- Mykonos: -5.4%
- Mytilene: -0.6%
Fraport data show fatigue in mature destinations, limited early-season demand and the need for product differentiation.
International traffic is the main driver of growth, with a significant increase in flights:
- +12.9% international flights in the quarter
The rise is particularly strong in:
- Chania (+66.7% international flights)
- Corfu (+78.5%)
- Rhodes (+25.8%)
Where do the tourists come from
According to the March data:
- Germany: 117,118 passengers
- United Kingdom: 37,761
- Cyprus: 33,396
- Italy: 28,734
Germany remains the strongest market, while the UK shows steady momentum, Central Europe strengthens its position, and new markets (Poland, Turkey) are on the rise.
What do the data for the 2026 season show
The picture of the first months leads to clear conclusions:
Positive points
- Strong start to the year
- Increased international demand
- Recovery of smaller destinations
Challenges
- Imbalance between destinations
- Delay of mature islands
- Dependence on a few key markets
The big challenge
This year will be judged not only by numbers, but by:
- the distribution of traffic
- during the season
- the quality of visitors
The current picture shows that Greece is gaining in volume, but it needs to better manage its geographical balance.
