New services to India and Dallas/Fort Worth are strengthening Athens International Airport’s long-haul network, with further expansion planned for 2027 as it pursues opportunities across Asia and the Americas.
The airport welcomed four new airline partners and added 10 scheduled destinations in 2026, alongside charter services to Seoul and six additional services on existing routes, said Ioanna Papadopoulou, director of communications and marketing at Athens International Airport.
“The Americas remain a key priority,” Papadopoulou told Routes. “The U.S. has become one of Athens’ strongest long-haul markets … while additional U.S. gateways and further capacity growth still offer clear potential.”
Papadopoulou said the airport now has 103 weekly U.S. departures, compared with 46 in 2019. American Airlines’ Dallas/Fort Worth launch expanded Athens’ U.S. network in 2026, while Delta Air Lines will add flights from Detroit in summer 2027. Alaska Airlines is also opening a route from Seattle.
Elsewhere, Latin America is a longer-term target, with Papadopoulou identifying indirect demand from Brazil and Mexico as supporting potential future services.
Asia is another priority following IndiGo’s arrival with Delhi and Mumbai flights in January, which became the first nonstop connections between Greece and India. The airline deployed its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft on the Athens routes, while Aegean Airlines is expected to add its own India services in the second quarter of 2027.
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Papadopoulou also identified demand from Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manila and Hong Kong as underpinning Asian development opportunities.
“Australia remains one of Athens’ largest unserved markets and a strategic objective, supported by sizable traffic flows and the Greek diaspora, while Africa also offers future growth potential,” she said.
OAG Schedules Analyser data shows approximately 14.21 million scheduled departing seats from Athens in summer 2026, up 2.4% year over year. Winter 2026-27 departing capacity totals approximately 7.14 million seats, up 3.2% from winter 2025.
The airport is seeking to build on that winter expansion by encouraging airlines to extend operations beyond the peak tourism season. “Winter demand has grown strongly, but there remains scope to stimulate additional off-peak traffic, creating opportunities for both network and low-cost carriers while improving aircraft utilization and route sustainability,” Papadopoulou said.
European additions in 2026 included Tallinn with AirBaltic; Gdansk and Varna with Wizz Air; Barcelona with Sky Express; Rotterdam, Bari and Paphos with Aegean; and Verona with Volotea. AnimaWings added Timisoara and Cluj, while TAP Air Portugal returned after a 15-year absence. Air Cairo and Sky Express also introduced Cairo services.
Papadopoulou said new services added during 2026 generated approximately 175,500 passengers in the first eight months.
However, continued expansion is also increasing pressure on infrastructure. Athens is implementing a multibillion-euro investment program designed to progressively raise annual capacity beyond 40 million passengers, following traffic exceeding 34 million.
The program includes improvements to the main and satellite terminals, additional aircraft stands and a multistory parking facility. Terminal works will expand check-in, security, passport control, baggage, gate and commercial capacity.
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