Syros: Rise in passengers at port and airport in 2026

Passenger traffic in Syros increased in 2026 both through the port and through the airport, according to data published by the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Syros–Hermoupoli. At the port, in the April–August 2026 period, 261,322 passengers were recorded, compared to 252,617 in the same period of 2025, that is, 8,705 more passengers, an increase of 3.45%. At the airport, with data from the Civil Aviation Authority for Syros State Airport, arrivals in the May–July 2026 period reached 5,482, compared to 4,071 in 2025, an increase of 1,411 passengers or 34.66%. Combined, port and airport recorded 266,804 passengers compared to 256,688 last year, an increase of 10,116 passengers or 3.94%, with the figures concerning the heart of the tourist season.

The monthly distribution at the port shows gradual increase during the period: 35,910 passengers in April, 33,255 in May, 44,395 in June, 68,631 in July and 79,131 in August, with the last month concentrating the largest part of summer traffic. At the airport the increase was more marked on a percentage basis: in May arrivals reached 1,123 compared to 601 in 2025, an increase of 86.86%, in June 1,923 compared to 1,600, an increase of 20.19%, and in July 2,436 compared to 1,870, an increase of 30.27%. The Tourism Department notes that the two sets concern different reference periods, as the port data cover the April–August period, while the airport data cover the May–July period, which is why they should not be compared as a single and directly comparable figure.

Deputy Mayor for Tourism Syros–Hermoupoli, Giannis Voutsinos, stressed that the increase should not be automatically interpreted as a sign of greater tourist traffic, as passenger traffic includes movements of permanent residents, professionals and other travellers, not just visitors. “The increase in passenger traffic is a positive message for Syros, but it is not a reason for complacency,” he said characteristically. According to him, businesses on the island, particularly in the catering sector, record reduced turnover despite the increase in traffic, something that highlights the distance between arrival numbers and actual economic benefit for local businesses and society on the island.

Voutsinos argued that the goal remains to broaden Syros’ international profile, approach new markets and extend the tourist season, so that the increase in traffic translates into real benefit for businesses and local society. The question remains open whether the coming months will confirm the continuation of the upward trend, as the published figures cover only the April to August period. The Tourism Department has not announced so far specific measures to support the catering sector or a timetable for the new markets mentioned, while full autumn reports have not yet been published.