Published on
October 23, 2025
Greek airline Sky Express has introduced a new direct connection linking Lisbon, Portugal to Athens, Greece, operating three flights weekly with modern Airbus A320neo aircraft boasting a one hundred eighty six-passenger capacity. This route strengthens the air link between Portugal and Greece, expanding access to thirty-three domestic destinations across Greece, as Sky Express holds the largest internal flight network from Athens International Airport, offering enhanced connectivity across the region.
The introduction of this route reflects growing travel demand between the two capitals, with Sky Express already considering frequency increases to facilitate more visitors exploring Greece’s extensive network and to encourage Greek travelers’ easier access to Portugal.
Modern Fleet and Enhanced Passenger Experience
The Lisbon-Athens connection is operated exclusively with Sky Express’s Airbus A320neo fleet, which is the youngest fleet in Greece, promising passengers modern comfort, environmental efficiency, and reliability. The A320neo features state-of-the-art engines that significantly reduce emissions and noise, reinforcing Sky Express’s commitment to sustainability and passenger well-being.
This aircraft choice elevates the passenger experience with quieter cabins and integrated technology, supporting seamless medium-haul European travel. The route’s launch symbolizes both countries’ desire to link vibrant cultural and business hubs with efficient and sustainable air services.
Strengthening Portugal-Greece Air Connectivity
Lisbon Airport representatives emphasized that this new route is a pivotal step in diversifying the airport’s connection offerings, bringing Greece’s rich cultural and tourism appeal closer to Portuguese travelers. The partnership between Lisbon Airport, Sky Express, and local stakeholders was vital in realizing this new route and reflects ongoing efforts to promote air connectivity that supports tourism and economic exchange.
By linking two historic capitals, the route fosters easier access for tourism, business, and cultural exchange between Portugal and Greece. Both countries anticipate that improved flight options will encourage growth in passenger traffic and tourism revenue, benefiting not only major cities but also supporting regional destinations within Greece accessible from its extensive domestic network.
Sky Express’s Expanding International Presence
This route is part of a wider strategy by Sky Express to expand its international footprint in Europe. In 2025, the airline launched five new direct flights from Athens to key hubs including Berlin, Hamburg, Madrid, and Lyon, exemplifying its ambition to strengthen Greece’s connectivity with major European cities.
By autumn 2025, Sky Express’s fleet will include up to twenty-nine aircraft, enhancing capacity and reach. This expansion is bolstered by the delivery of new Airbus A320neos and ATR 72-600 aircraft, furthering the airline’s commitment to eco-friendly aviation and innovation.
Tourism Impact and Future Growth Prospects
The new Lisbon-Athens service directly supports tourism growth on both sides by easing travel for culture, leisure, and business visitors. Greece’s diverse islands, ancient sites, and vibrant cities become more accessible to Portuguese tourists, while Greeks gain streamlined access to Portugal’s cultural attractions and gateway to Atlantic Europe.
This route also complements Sky Express’s domestic strength, providing smooth onward connections for travelers between Athens and htirty-three Greek destinations. Enhanced connectivity is expected to stimulate bilateral tourism flows, business travel, and regional development in both countries.
Strategic Importance for Airlines and Airports
For Sky Express, this new route underscores the airline’s strategy to leverage the youngest and most modern fleet within Greece to underpin service quality and environmental sustainability. Establishing connections with Lisbon aligns with broader European trends favoring direct, efficient air travel between dynamic capital cities.
Lisbon Airport’s leadership views this addition as integral to expanding the airport’s range of destinations and responding to passenger demand for diverse travel options. The collaboration signals a commitment to sustainable route development and multisector partnerships.
Looking Ahead
The promising start of the Lisbon-Athens route positions Sky Express to increase flight frequencies over time in response to demand, driving greater aviation links between Portugal and Greece in the coming years.
This route launch marks not just a new air service but a strengthening of historic, cultural, and economic ties between two Mediterranean nations. It stands as an example of post-pandemic European aviation recovery, blending technological advancement, sustainability, and tourism growth.
Travelers from both countries now benefit from more convenient, eco-conscious travel options that connect vibrant urban centers and extend reach across the Greek archipelago and beyond.
Image Credit: SKY express SA
