New investment to boost infrastructure brings “take-off” of passenger traffic at the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece.

The high flights recorded in 2024 and the first two months of 2025 make it necessary for Fraport Greece management’s new investment plan to move forward.

“In order to continue the moving course of the tourism sector, it is considered imperative to put the infrastructure in focus, as it is subject to great pressures, especially during the peak period,” company management executives say.

Significant milestone in 2024 – positive signs for 2025

According to the data, 2024 closed for Fraport Greece with an all-time record passenger traffic, achieving a significant milestone by welcoming more than 36 million passengers at the 14 regional airports it operates.

Passenger traffic increased by 6.4% compared to 2023, handling approximately 2.1 million more passengers. The number of domestic flights increased by 4.7% (86,026) and international flights saw a corresponding increase of 4.2% (190,315), with a total increase of 4.4% in domestic and international flights.

The total number of flights increased by 4.023 million and by 4.023 million.

It is worth noting that in 2016 (the year the concession tender was completed), the 14 regional airports served a total of 25,008,965 passengers, while in 2024 this number reached 36,026,347 passengers, an increase of 44.1%, or 11,017,382 more passengers, compared to the year before the concession.

For 2025, based on the first two months’ data, although it is still early, a high flight year is predicted, according to aviation market players.

The data in the first two months for the 14 airports (Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Aktio, Zakynthos, Kavala, Chania, Rhodes, Samos, Skiathos, Mytilene, Mykonos, Santorini and Kos) are encouraging. 1,324,409 passengers traveled, an increase of 3.7% compared to the same period in 2024. Based on the above figures, it is now taken for granted that new investments are needed for airport expansions, especially where the highest traffic growth is identified. According to Fraport Greece’s management, the company is investing €50 million per year in the infrastructure of its 14 regional airports to upgrade and improve their facilities, while €146 million in funds have been committed for the overhaul and reconstruction of runways, as part of the strengthening of the security level.

In order to improve the safety of the infrastructure, 146 million euros will be made available in the form of a reinforcement of the security system.

In order to improve the safety of the infrastructure, 146 146 million euros have been allocated for the construction of new buildings.

These projects, which are included in the Concession Agreement, are part of a wider large-scale program being implemented by the company to comply with the new EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) safety regulations. At the same time, Fraport Greece is planning additional investments of €200 million to increase the carrying capacity at the airports of Kos “Hippocrates”, Corfu “Ioannis Kapodistrias”, Mykonos and Santorini.

These airports are approaching their capacity limits due to the significant increase in passenger traffic, which makes it necessary to further strengthen their infrastructure. In addition, other airports are being considered for further investment, such as Zakynthos airport.

“The increasing passenger traffic and the continuous investments in the infrastructure of the 14 regional airports further enhance Greece’s position as a top destination, strengthening local communities and their development prospects,” say Fraport Greece executives. To this end, close cooperation is required from all stakeholders.

Besides, as they say, “the ‘key’ for the further development of Greek tourism is the strengthening of the partnership between the private and public sectors.”

In the top of the list in terms of passenger traffic is the “Macedonia” airport of Thessaloniki. And in the first two months of 2025 it continues to record significant passenger growth, with an 8.8% increase due to increased international traffic and the continued success of key routes introduced last year. This is followed by Kos with 4.4% and Samos with 4.2%. In the top five of passengers moving through the 14 airports, apart from Greeks, are travellers from Germany, Cyprus, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands.