Flying to Greece? Here are the Non-Stop Flights from the US to Greece in 2023

In 2022, Greece had its biggest year of tourism – ever. More than 26 million tourists visited the southern European country and the money spent was more than $1.3 billion. This was in spite of a ban on tourists with Russian passports as other countries’ citizens helped with the uptick in overall numbers. For 2023, it looks like it will be as big of a tourist year so if you are wanting to go to Greece, here is the list of non-stop flights from the US to Greece to help you maximize every hour of vacation!

The Non-Stop Flights from the US to Greece in 2023

Gone are the Covid restrictions that had caused the nation of Greece to close up tight for a while. In fact, Greece was one of the last European countries to drop Covid restrictions like mask use onboard aircraft (this was dropped in early June of 2022). Greece does not require testing and they do not require vaccinations so the country is back to normal again!

Let’s jump to the list of non-stop flights from the US to Greece!

*Flight links: I am including links to Google Flights for each airline from the airports they are flying from. I have set the date at a 7 day trip, feel free to mess around with it to suit your schedule so you can find the best prices!

American Airlines

Link: Google Flights for American Airlines to Greece

American Airlines is throwing it in on travel to Greece in a big way – again!. For the third year in a row, they will be flying from Chicago, New York (JFK), and Philadelphia. However, this year, they are starting their flights to Greece later than in 2022.

Note that some flight schedules may shift slightly as it goes through the summer but these are the times for the beginning of these routes. Also note that all flight start dates are current as of January 26.

Philadelphia – Athens

The Philadelphia – Athens flight will begin June 1. This route will be operated on a Boeing 787 as flight AA 758 (or AA 759 on the return).

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Philadelphia – 6:30PM and arriving in Athens at 11:00AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 30 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 1:00PM and arriving in Philadelphia at 5:00PM the same day – an 11 hour journey

This flight will operate until September 6 and will operate daily until then.

Chicago – Athens

The Chicago – Athens flight will begin June 1. This route will be operated on a Boeing 787 as flight AA 160 (or AA 161 on the return).

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Chicago – 3:00PM and arriving in Athens at 9:25AM the next morning – a 10 hour and 25 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 12:20PM and arriving in Chicago at 4:05PM the same day – a 11 hour and 45 minute journey

This flight will operate until October 5 and will operate daily until then.

New York – Athens

The New York – Athens flight will begin May 5. This route will be operated on a Boeing 777 as flight AA 334 (or AA 333 on the return).

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Philadelphia – 5:50PM and arriving in Athens at 10:25AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 35 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 12:50PM and arriving in Philadelphia at 4:55PM the same day – an 11 hour and 5 minute journey

This flight will operate until October 28 and will operate daily until then.

Delta Air Lines

Link: Google Flights for Delta Air Lines to Greece

Delta has normally had the edge on other carriers with two flights to Athens during the peak summer months. Two years ago, they added Atlanta to Athens direct and last year, they added Boston to Athens direct.

They have two flights out of JFK operating throughout the summer so you can pick whether you want an earlier or later departure.

New York – Athens

And, they are the first American carrier with non-stop flights to Greece as they start flying to Greece out of JFK on March 9.

This New York – Athens flight will not be daily until March 23. Until then, they won’t be departing from JFK on Mondays and Wednesdays. This route is operated on a Boeing 767 as flight DL 202 (or DL 203 on the return).

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date until March 25:

• Departing New York (JFK) – 5:15PM and arriving in Athens at 10:10AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 55 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 12:25PM (on March 12, it changes to a 11:25AM departure)and arriving in New York at 4:35PM the same day – a 11 hour and 10 minute journey.

From March 25, the schedule will change to the following and will be operated on an Airbus A330:

• Departing New York (JFK) – 3:15PM and arriving in Athens at 8:05AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 50 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 10:20AM and arriving in New York at 2:20PM the same day – a 11 hour journey.

This flight will operate until December 21.

They also will begin a second flight from JFK with the following schedule (as flight DL 212 on the outbound and DL213 on the return). This flight will be operated by a Boeing 767. It will commence May 8 and will jump right into a daily flight.

• Departing New York (JFK) – 7:30PM and arriving in Athens at 12:30PM the next morning – a 10 hour journey
• Departing Athens – 3:30PM and arriving in New York at 7:25PM the same day – a 10 hour and 55 minute journey

This flight will operate until October 28.

Atlanta – Athens

The Atlanta – Athens flight will begin much earlier this year with a March 25 starting date. This route will be operated on an Airbus A330 as flight DL 222 (or DL 223 on the return). On April 11, it will begin operating with an Airbus A350 which will account for a few minute difference in the schedule. Note that, for some reason, Delta does not operate this flight from Athens to Atlanta on the Fridays of June 2, 9, 16 and July 1-2. The outbound from Atlanta is still operating on all days, however.

It will operate as a daily non-stop from the beginning. This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Atlanta – 4:55PM and arriving in Athens at 10:35AM the next morning – a 10 hour and 40 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 12:50PM and arriving in Atlanta at 5:45PM the same day – a 11 hour and 55 minute journey

This flight will operate daily until October 28.

Boston – Athens

A new one that Delta had added for 2023 is their Boston to Athens flight. This flight will begin May 8 and it is not a daily flight, operating out of Boston only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. It is operated on an Airbus A330-900neo as flight DL 240 (or DL 241 on the return).

• Departing Boston – 4:45PM and arriving in Athens at 8:55AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 10 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 11:10AM and arriving in Boston at 2:35PM the same day – a 10 hour and 25 minute journey

This flight actually is the shortest duration flight from the US to Greece.

Emirates

Link: Google Flights for Emirates Flight to Greece

Review of Emirates in Economy between Greece and the US

Now we get to the airline that the big three US airlines really do not like – Emirates! Not only do they typically offer a year-round schedule but they also do it with (normally) better service onboard as well as an actual first class cabin. Their business class is equipped with a slightly angled-lie flat seats (at the headrest) but is still very comfortable. Plus, I have found their economy class cabin to be better than the US airlines as well.

Also, Emirates will often have even better prices than the big three.

Newark – Athens

The Newark – Athens flight is currently operating and operates daily through the end of their schedule. The flight is operated on a Boeing 777 which means no shower for first class passengers (that is only on the A380). It is flight EK 210 from Newark and EK 209 on the return and is part of the route from Newark – Athens – Dubai.

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Newark – 11:55PM and arriving in Athens at 4:00PM the next morning – a 9 hour and 10 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 5:35PM and arriving in Newark at 9:20PM the same day – a 10 hour and 45 minute journey

Unless you are in the tri-state area, the arrival time in Newark will likely mean you have to stay the night. Still, with a late departure time on both ends, it gives Newark-area travelers a great opportunity to get a full-day of work in before leaving the US and to maximize time on the ground in Greece before returning.

United Airlines

Link: Google Flights for United Airlines to Greece

For the third year in a row, United will be operating two flights from the US to Greece. This gives them an opportunity to take advantage of their Washington, DC hub at Dulles as well as out of Newark. Plus, they have another huge advantage over the other airlines – they are alliance partners with Aegean, the national Greek carrier, which means that a single reservation could allow you to simply transit Athens and fly anywhere in Greece – on a single award/revenue ticket.

Newark – Athens

The Newark – Athens flight begins April 6, and operates out of Newark on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday until May 4 when it begins daily operation until October 28 . The flight is operated on a Boeing 787-10 and operates under flight number UA 124 from Newark and UA 125 on the return.

This flight will have the following schedule from:

• Departing Newark – 5:40PM and arriving in Athens at 10:10AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 30 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 12:25PM and arriving in Newark at 4:00PM the same day – a 10 hour and 35 minute journey

Washington, DC – Athens

The Washington, DC (IAD) – Athens flight begins much earlier this year on May 5 and operates daily until September 28 . The flight is operated on a Boeing 787 and operates under flight number UA 982 on the outbound and UA 983 on the return.

This flight will have the following schedule from the start date:

• Departing Washington, DC – 5:10PM and arriving in Athens at 9:55AM the next morning – a 9 hour and 45 minute journey
• Departing Athens – 11:45AM and arriving in Washington, DC at 3:45PM the same day – an 11 hour  journey

Why Consider Non-Stop Flights from the US to Greece?

There are a few obvious reasons you would want to pick non-stop flights from the US to Greece and those are things like:

• No connections in other European cities
• Fewer chances of having your luggage get misplaced/lost
• Quicker so you can start you vacation sooner!

With Covid restrictions behind us, this is not a reason to avoid connections but last year showed a great reason to fly non-stop as well – terrible baggage handling around Europe. For some travelers, it was weeks before they were reconnected with their luggage. While non-stop flights do not eliminate that potential problem (Emirates had lost a bag of mine on the Newark-Athens leg onetime and it took 5 weeks to reconnect with it!), it certainly lessens the likelihood of such a problem.

Bottom Line

Like never before, there are plenty of options if you want to fly direct to Greece from the US this summer! From Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, and Newark you can take your pick and airline!

I will have another post on award travel but, for now, here are all the schedules! I give United the best score if you want to book an award ticket to someplace in Greece other than Athens since you will have access to the entire Aegean network. However, Delta has partnered with Greek carrier Sky Express for flights around Greece also so that gives travelers yet another option. Lastly, Emirates is a connection partner with Aegean as well so this can be helpful if you want to travel around Greece.

If you want the best comfort in economy, I would give the nod to Emirates since they are far and away the best in economy.