There may soon be a direct flight from Newark to Thessaloniki, with Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilas reportedly pressing Dubai-based airline Emirates for the new route.
Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate five years of direct Emirates flights between Athens and Newark, Kikilas invited the carrier to discuss the possibility of adding an additional Dubai to New York route, with a stopover at Makedonia Airport.
Kikalis said that Thessaloniki has potential to become the leading international hub for the Balkans.
The city’s Makedonia Airport currently connects to several cities in the region, including Belgrade, Zagreb, and Tirana, though a broader range of flight connections could bring additional traffic.
“Residents of Balkan countries prefer to travel abroad through Thessaloniki,” Kikilas told local media.
“Makedonia Airport has been significantly upgraded. Investments in the hotel industry are ongoing. The city’s port is connected to the airport for check-in and for the transportation of travelers’ luggage, while cruise travel, particularly for the port of Thessaloniki, is up by 250 percent this year, which demonstrates the city’s dynamics.”
Emirates has served Greece for 26 years, in that time connecting more than 4.5 million passengers on more than 15,000 flights between Athens and Dubai. In 2017, Emirates extended that service to New York, improving international connectivity in Greece.
