ATHENS – The year 2022, even during the waning COVID-19 pandemic, has brought a summer of content for Greece, which essentially ended health restrictions and has been rewarded with the second most airline passengers in the European Union.

Spain led the way with more than 13 million arrivals followed by Greece more 4.6 million and Italy with 4.1 million, said the site Travel Weekly as international air traffic is booming again.

For Spain, the numbers were 86 percent of its highest before the Coronavirus struck early in 2020, the data coming from the Civil Aviation Authority for the months of June, July and August.

Greece’s performance was even more impressive, however, as the number of arrivals was 114 percent of the record summer of 2019 and it has continued into the autumn with Greece being touted as a year-round destination.

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) said revenues for 2022 surpassed the 18.2 billion euros ($18.76 billion) over 2019, hitting some 19 billion euros ($19.58 billion) on a path to break 20 billion euros ($20.61 billion.)

According to the agency, airline seat capacity for flights to Greece from Sept. 29-Oct. 2 were a staggering 708,929 and the rush kept coming through the month and now into October.