Fourteen years after its last flight from Athens International Airport, TAP Portugal is returning to the Greek capital, which, starting July 2, it will connect directly with Lisbon five times a week during the summer season.
However, beyond strengthening Athens’ connectivity with the Iberian Peninsula, TAP Air Portugal is expected to significantly boost traffic from the Americas, particularly Brazil, by integrating the Greek capital—and specifically Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (AIA) into a broader transatlantic network of connections.
Of particular significance is the fact that the Portuguese airline will operate the Athens–Lisbon route during the winter season as well, albeit with a smaller aircraft.
“We are very pleased that TAP Air Portugal will be flying from Athens again. Its last flight was in October 2012, and now, starting in July, it will connect the Greek capital with Portugal year-round.
There is further potential for the Athens-Portugal route. We anticipate that TAP will see significant growth in the Greek market. “It provides access to Latin American countries, where we currently have no direct airport connections, as well as to North America,” noted, among other things, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at AIA.
The resumption of the Athens-Lisbon route reflects the steadily growing momentum of travel flows between Greece and Portugal, as well as TAP’s broader strategy to leverage the Greek capital as a gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean.
In recent years, passenger traffic between the two countries has shown impressive growth. In 2025, direct traffic between Athens and Portugal reached a historic high, hitting 261,000 passengers, marking an 18% increase compared to 2024. Even more impressive are the figures for the first four months of 2026, as demand increased by 23% compared to the same period the previous year.
The Portuguese ambassador to Greece, Rui Macieira, spoke of a return to normalcy for both countries, given that TAP had suspended the Greece-Portugal route due to the economic crisis.
Transatlantic Boost
Lisbon is a key hub for TAP’s transatlantic flights, and the connection to Athens creates new opportunities for passengers traveling to the United States, Brazil, and other destinations in Latin America.
These markets are particularly important for Greek tourism. According to available data, passenger traffic between Athens and North America reached 2.4 million passengers in 2025, with 57% consisting of connecting passengers. Similarly, the Central and South American market is showing growing interest, with approximately 155,000 passengers traveling between Athens and these destinations.
Particular emphasis is placed on Brazil, which stands out as the largest market in South America for the Greek capital. Over 50% of total traffic between South America and Athens comes from the Brazilian market, a fact that creates significant opportunities for TAP Air Portugal, given its strong presence in Brazil.
It should be noted that passenger traffic between Athens and Brazil reached 60,000 last year, a 50% increase compared to 2024, figures that demonstrate the enormous growth potential of this market for Greece.
For its part, the Portuguese airline, which currently flies to 89 airports in 30 countries, has developed one of the strongest networks of connections between Europe and Brazil, serving destinations such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife, and Porto Alegre.
At the same time, TAP has a significant presence in North America, with flights to New York, Newark, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, Washington, Toronto, and Montreal. Via Lisbon, passengers from Athens now have more options for connecting to major business and tourist destinations on the American continent.
In this regard, the resumption of flights by TAP Air Portugal takes on particular significance, as travelers from Central and South American markets—led by Brazil—are considered high-spending and are expected to contribute substantially to Greek tourism revenue.
Overall, TAP is strengthening connectivity between Europe and South America, operating 103 weekly flights from Lisbon and Porto. It should be noted that the airline, which has a fleet of 99 aircraft, also has a strong presence in Africa.
TAP Air Portugal, Portugal’s national carrier and a member of Star Alliance since 2005, is based in Lisbon. According to company officials, it is the world’s leading airline for connections between Europe and Brazil.
The company offers more than 1,000 flights per week to 75 cities, serving 6 airports in Portugal, 10 in North America, 14 in Central and South America, 13 in Africa, and 38 in Europe (excluding Portugal).
Traveler Profile
Regarding the characteristics of travelers, the majority—79%—make bookings directly through airline websites, confirming the dominance of digital channels in air travel.
At the same time, a large percentage of trips, 81%, are for leisure travel, while a smaller but steady percentage are for business purposes (6%). Passengers plan their trips nearly two months before departure, a factor that provides greater predictability for airlines.
Both Greeks and Portuguese travel primarily as couples, with the latter staying in Greece for an average of 14 days, 3 of which are spent in Athens.