Photo source: AEGEAN
Air travel demand in Greece ahead of this year’s Easter holiday (April 20) is surging, with both domestic and international flights showing high occupancy levels.
Ranging from 75 to 95 percent, the surge is driven by the overlap of Orthodox and Catholic Easter, encouraging strong travel interest among Greek passengers and international visitors alike.
According to booking data from AEGEAN, Greece’s flagship carrier, travel activity already gained momentum in the days leading up to Holy Week, driven by families, expatriates, and leisure travelers taking advantage of early school breaks and flexible work-from-home options.
Travel trends driven by early departures and extended stays
Families with young children and Greek expatriates returning home began traveling as early as this past weekend, marking the beginning of the Easter travel wave.
Traffic is expected to peak on Holy Thursday (April 17), when most travelers depart urban centers such as Athens and Thessaloniki. Return journeys are projected between April 23 and 26, suggesting that many are extending their holiday stays beyond Easter Sunday (April 20).
Domestic favorites: Greek islands in high demand
Easter on Corfu. Photo source: Visit Greece
Popular Greek island destinations continue to dominate domestic travel. From Athens, this year’s top Easter destinations include Corfu, Santorini, Chania, Naxos, Rhodes, and Kos.
From Thessaloniki, top domestic getaways include Heraklion, Kos, Rhodes, Chios, Santorini, and Mytilini.
International preferences: Classic cities and emerging hotspots
Internationally, Greek travelers are favoring both well-known European cities and emerging destinations. Top picks from Athens include Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, Barcelona, and Amsterdam.
From Thessaloniki, the most in-demand international routes are to Dusseldorf, Larnaca, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Barcelona.
Emerging destinations gaining popularity this Easter include Marrakech, Porto, Krakow, Malta, and Edinburgh. There’s also a growing appetite for lesser-known destinations such as Chisinau, Ljubljana, Sofia, and Dubrovnik – a sign that Greek travelers are embracing more off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Last-minute seats still available
Despite the strong demand and early ticket sales – especially for peak days – AEGEAN’s data shows that there are still seats available for last-minute travelers.
On the international network, destinations such as Rome, Milan, Prague, Budapest, Catania, and Valencia still offer availability. Select domestic island routes also remain accessible.
From April 14 to 27, AEGEAN reports average flight occupancy across most routes exceeding 75 percent, with some destinations reaching or surpassing 85 to 90 percent – a notable increase compared to the same Easter period in 2024.
Inbound travel to Greece also rising
Photo source: AEGEAN
With Catholic and Orthodox Easter aligning this year, inbound travel from abroad has also increased. Visitors are arriving in greater numbers to Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as to the islands via connecting flights, confirming Greece’s enduring popularity as a springtime destination.
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