This summer, Athens has direct connections to nine US destinations, with 103 weekly flights operated by five airlines.
Around 700,000 American travelers passed through Athens International Airport from the beginning of the year through July, up 6% from the same period in 2025, according to official figures seen by Kathimerini. The increase highlights the continued momentum of the US market for Greek tourism.
US airlines appear to have anticipated the strong demand. Despite heightened tensions in the Middle East and sharply higher aviation fuel costs last March, carriers maintained their planned capacity for the summer season, with some even bringing forward the launch of routes to and from Greece. So far, both passenger demand and traffic figures appear to have validated that decision.
For most American visitors, Athens is the main gateway to Greece, as Eleftherios Venizelos is the country’s principal airport with direct connections to North America. Many spend one or two days in the capital before continuing to popular island destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini. Cretan destination Chania has also seen a growing number of American visitors in recent years.
The US market is particularly attractive because American tourists tend to have relatively high spending power. Bank of Greece data show that receipts from US travelers reached €797 million in the first half of 2026, up 10.8% from €719 million a year earlier.
