Public transport

Passenger traffic at the 24 airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority rose 5.4%, according to provisional statistics for the eight months January-August 2024.

Greece's airports have achieved notable growth in passenger traffic through the first seven months of 2024, showcasing a significant 9.5% increase over last year.

I am full of good memories from my recent holiday experience on the Aegean island of Skiathos, but there is one thing that really stood out: the public transportation.

With the situation in public transportation being what it is in most parts of Greece, any exception is worth mentioning.

The Sofia Municipality has reported an increase in public transport usage, with 19 million more passengers in 2024, translating to about 90,000 additional daily trips, reports Spasi (Save) Sofia. This growth is seen as a success of the municipality's transport policies, aimed at making public transport more appealing.

The 22 regional airports not yet privatized, and controlled by the Civil Aviation Authority, are in urgent need of repairs and expansion in order to accommodate increased demand: In the first half of 2024, traffic rose 6.34% to 4,032,909 passengers, testing the limits of the airports' capabilities.

When it comes to public transportation, Bulgarians show a strong preference for intercity buses, using them three times more frequently than their EU counterparts. A recent Eurobarometer study presented by the European Commission reveals that 42 percent of Bulgarians opt for intercity buses, while only 14 percent of other EU residents choose this mode of travel.

At this moment, the railway transport of goods is a fast and more reliable alternative to sea transport

The largest share of world trade is carried out by sea transport. It is this type of transport that has been subjected to a number of challenges since 2020 - the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of equipment and the congestion of the Suez Canal.

Illegal boarding, or ticket dodging, remains ever present on Athens' public transport, as there are currently only 38 inspectors for the entire Attica region. 

"They are a drop in the ocean compared to the number of lines," says Antonis Karagiannis, one of the 38 inspectors.

Although there are no official figures, professional drivers estimate illegal boarding reaches 40%.

Two hundred and fifty Chinese-manufactured electric Yutong buses hit the roads of Athens (140) and Thessaloniki (110) οn Thursday, as part of the government's plan for modern and sustainable urban mobility.

The integration of the electric bus fleet is part of a broader procurement drive in Greece.

The Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, unveiled plans for a comprehensive overhaul of urban transportation in the city, extending beyond the current municipal administration's tenure. Terziev announced the initiative during a briefing today, highlighting that the program's budget would exceed BGN 1 billion, with implementation spread out until 2030.