Athens airport to phase €950 million expansion as traffic rises

Athens International Airport is reshaping its major expansion programme after passenger traffic rose 4. 5 per cent in the first half of 2026, with the airport now planning a more phased approach that could eventually increase capacity beyond 40 million passengers a year. The airport handled 15. 75 million passengers between January and June, up from the same period last year, despite the impact of the conflict in the Middle East during the second quarter. The strong traffic performance led Athens International Airport to revise its full-year 2026 traffic guidance upwards, from low single-digit growth to mid-single-digit growth. The airport, which is an important aviation gateway for the wider eastern Mediterranean , reported the figures on September 9, 2026, as part of its financial results for the six months ended June 30. Domestic passenger traffic increased by 5.

1 per cent year-on-year during the first half, while international traffic rose by 4. 2 per cent. Traffic growth was particularly strong in the first quarter, when passenger numbers increased by 8. 1 per cent. Growth slowed to 2. 2 per cent in the second quarter as geopolitical developments in the Middle East affected aviation demand. Domestic traffic still increased by 3. 8 per cent during the April to June period, while international traffic rose by 1. 5 per cent. All three months of the second quarter recorded passenger numbers above the corresponding months of 2025 in both domestic and international markets, apart from international traffic in April. International traffic in April fell by a marginal 0. 9 per cent , mainly because of the suspension of services to and from the Middle East. Despite the traffic growth, total revenues and other income fell by 2. 8 per cent to €299. 60 million during the first half. The…