The Cypriot market ranks among the most strategic for Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos,” standing as its 6th-largest international market with more than 1.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025, sustaining strong, year-round flows between Cyprus and the Greek capital. “Cyprus is a very important market for Athens International Airport. In 2024 it set a new record with 1.4 million passengers, a 9% year-on-year increase,” said Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at AIA, during a presentation of Cyprus Airways’ plans for the Greek market.
Cyprus Airways’ Growth in Greece
Cyprus Airways is strengthening its Greek footprint. From January to September 2025, the airline carried 119,000 travelers to and from Athens, its second-best result on record and a 69% annual increase. The winter schedule prioritizes Larnaca–Athens, maintaining a double-daily service through the low season.
A new nonstop Larnaca-Heraklion route begins on 19 December with two weekly flights, initially operating on Mondays and Fridays. Local authorities and the airline are coordinating on a potential ramp-up for the summer season. The goal is to improve connectivity for residents and visitors while supporting tourism and business flows between Cyprus and Crete.
Beyond Athens and Heraklion, Cyprus Airways’ year-round network includes Paris, Milan, Beirut, Tel Aviv, and Dubai. Athens remains the “cornerstone” of the network, reflected in the winter plan and expanded partnerships in the Greek market. The Crete service acts as a natural extension of the core Larnaca-Athens corridor amid rising Cyprus–Greece demand.
Strategy and Outlook
The Greece investment is part of a broader regional scale-up, with the Heraklion launch and reinforced Athens frequencies ensuring seamless connectivity and additional capacity where demand is strongest. Given Cyprus’s position in AIA’s rankings, these moves are expected to further cement Larnaca’s role as a gateway to mainland Greece and support both seasonal and year-round traffic.