The main pillar of Greek tourism is Air France-KLM, the French-Dutch airline that has been measuring 92 years in our country, as Yiannis Pantazopoulos, Regional Director of the Airman for Greece, Cyprus and Cyprus, reports in an interview with newsit.gr.
“France, traditionally, along with Britain and Germany, is a tourist pillar for Greece,” he notes.
During this year’s tourist season, the airline connects Athens and four main island destinations – Heraklion, Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini – with the French market. The company has almost unchanged, compared to last year, its volatile work and, by extension, the number of positions available.
Last year, he adds, there was a record year not only for Air France-KLM, but also for the air industry and Greece.
As he estimates, in 2025 “it will be just as a good year for tourism”, with potentially better performance compared to 2024.
The profile of the French tourist
Sketching the profile of the French visitor, Mr. Pantazopoulos notes that his main priority is exploration. “Once he comes to Greece, he will travel, see other points. It is not the kind of tourist that will come and stay at the hotel apart, without doing anything. The wide variety of tourist destinations and points of interest attracts the French tourist, whom we consider a traveler. It is very reminiscent of the Greek, who wants to have a good time, to travel, to know things. In fact, we see him in islands that do not even have an airline, which means he likes to travel, “he commented.
But apart from the French, the Dutch, as Mr Pantazopoulos points out, are increasingly critical to Greek tourism, “showing significant interest in Greece”.
The fares
Concerning airline ticket prices, Mr. Pantazopoulos clarifies that “airline ticket is a stock market”. As he says, “price varies depending on demand and supply”, adding that “as competition increases, fare prices remain the same if they do not lower.”
The 3rd Marine Day
Since 2022, Air France-KLM has taken the initiative of Marine Day’s Athens, which takes place on Thursday, May 15th. “The idea was born to the Greek team of Air France-KLM at the time of the Coronovation. At that time, shipping was the only industry that had not suspended its activity. This event is a great opportunity for us, as an aviation, to hear what the people of shipping have to say and to better listen to their needs, ”says Pantazopoulos.