This winter season is shaping up with two very different, yet equally dynamic images for the airports of Rhodes and Thessaloniki, as shown by the airline seat data for the 2025/26 period.
Rhodes shows spectacular growth, with a total increase of 41.9% compared to last year, while Thessaloniki not only maintains but also strengthens its already large volume of international positions, recording an annual increase of 9.2% that brings it to 951,112 positions for the entire period of November–March.
In Rhodes, the markets that are in demand during the winter period are clear. The United Kingdom jumps up 14,394 positions, a 37.8% increase from the 10,449 positions it held the previous year. Germany follows with an even greater rate, +66%, from 7,177 to 11,917 positions, confirming its return as a winter market in Rhodes, something that until a few years ago was not considered a given. Finland’s rise is also steady, reaching 1,632 positions (+31.4%), while France sees a 12.8% increase.
The most impressive rate is recorded in Israel, where the number of available positions doubles, from 567 to 1,169 (+106.2%). This is the largest percentage increase from all the island’s main markets. Austria is the only major market to decline, losing 5.1% compared to last year. Czechia, on the other hand, has seen a nearly 60% increase, reaching 905 positions, while Switzerland has seen a 32.6% increase. In Belgium, there is a spectacular increase of 103.2%, from 186 to 378 positions, indicating that even smaller markets are increasing their flow to Rhodes this year.
In total, Rhodes has gone from 24,851 spots last winter to 35,265 this year, one of the largest increases recorded this year in a Greek destination. Beyond volume, what stands out is the dispersion of markets: it’s not just the British market that dominates, but there’s also a clear boost from Central and Northern European markets, which is also linked to the expansion of city break and soft winter sun programs.
The overview of Thessaloniki is even more complex and far more voluminous. During the months of November–March, 951,112 available airline seats are offered, compared to 871,231 in the previous season. Germany remains the largest market, with 318,437 positions, showing a 6.5% increase. Cyprus follows with 94,923 positions, although with a 13.9% drop, while Italy remains one of the airport’s stable markets with 69,712 positions (+4.5%).
Turkey shows an impressive 48.7% jump, reaching 58,747 positions, with the increase coming from the strengthened connections of Istanbul and Izmir. The United Kingdom is also moving upward, with a 17.6% increase and 51,336 positions. Important is the rise of Poland (+46.6%), but also of Israel, which records the largest increase from all Thessaloniki markets: 129.3%, from 12,428 to 28,498 positions for the winter. In contrast, Austria and the Netherlands recorded a decline of 17.3% and 20.8%, respectively.
Sweden’s performance is steady but impressive, reaching 23,613 positions, an increase of 161.6%, while Belgium also shows a small increase of 2.8%.
Overall, Thessaloniki is strengthening its role as a central winter hub for Northern Greece, consistently attracting a high volume of seats and notable increases in many markets, particularly those related to city breaks and tech/business tourism.
The comparison between Rhodes and Thessaloniki reveals two different approaches to dynamic development: Rhodes strengthens its seasonal expansion by gaining significant shares from traditional summer markets, while Thessaloniki remains a consistently high-volume player with increasing connections and upgraded international demand.
