Routes / NEW YORK / ATHENS

New York Athens

2 nonstop pairs · 6 nonstop airlines · 76 nonstop flights/week

Three carriers fly nonstop from New York to Athens, and one of them is Emirates.

Delta flies daily from JFK on an A330-900neo. United flies daily from Newark on a 767-400. Both are overnight flights, about ten hours eastbound. Book Delta from JFK if you can get to either airport. The A330-900neo cabin is newer and more comfortable than United's 767. If Newark is closer, United works and saves you the trip across town.

Emirates flies Newark to Athens daily on a 777. This is a fifth-freedom route that continues to Dubai, so you get Emirates crew and catering on what looks like an ordinary transatlantic flight. In business class, Emirates is the clear pick over Delta and United. In economy, the difference is smaller, and Delta's newer cabin and JFK departure edge it out.

Most flights from New York land in Athens by mid-morning. The airport metro runs straight to Syntagma Square, 40 minutes, 9 euros. Tap in and sit down. You are in central Athens before noon.

Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in Athens.

Best Overall

JFK → ATH

1 airline 35/wk 9h 38m

72% on-time

Delta Air Lines. Also bookable via Norse, arkia, American Airlines. Delta from JFK for most of New York City and Long Island.

Explore JFK → ATH

Strong Alternative

EWR → ATH

2 airlines · 41/wk · 9h 10m

Emirates, United Airlines. United from Newark flies the same daily schedule but takes longer to reach from Manhattan and Brooklyn by public transit.

82%

Nearby cities with nonstop service

~60mi Philadelphia → Spata-Artemida 1 airline · 28/wk Nearby

Nearby cities · connections only

~30mi White Plains No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~37mi Islip No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~63mi New Haven No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~87mi Allentown/Bethlehem No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~92mi Atlantic City No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~106mi Hartford No nonstop to Athens Connecting ~112mi Wilkes-Barre/Scranton No nonstop to Athens Connecting

Decision Guide

Pick What Matters to You

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Best pair by where you're coming from

Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.

JFK via AirTrain and subway or LIRR from Jamaica, 60 to 75 minutes total. Newark is faster from Penn Station: NJ Transit takes around 25 minutes. Both airports have nonstop international service.

JFK is the closer airport. The drive is 30 to 50 minutes depending on Belt Parkway traffic. A train to Howard Beach, then AirTrain to the terminal. Newark adds a river crossing and at least 20 extra minutes.

JFK is in Queens. Depending on your neighborhood, the drive is 15 to 30 minutes. The easiest airport connection in the metro area.

Newark. No question. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on direction. No river crossings, no city traffic.

Both airports are roughly equidistant and neither is convenient. JFK requires subway transfers. Newark means getting to Penn Station first. Budget extra time from the Bronx either way.

Newark via I-287 avoids Manhattan entirely. JFK means driving through the Bronx or taking Metro-North to Penn for the subway connection. Newark is the better call from most of Westchester.

For most New York-area travelers, JFK → ATH is the default.4 airlines, 35 flights/wk.

Explore JFK → ATH

Best pair by where you're staying in Athens

Your Athens airport matters as much as your New York airport.

The old town at the foot of the Acropolis. Narrow streets, tavernas, souvenir shops, and the Monastiraki flea market. Walking distance to every major ancient site. Noisy and tourist-heavy in summer, but nothing else puts you this close to the history. Metro Line 3 from the airport stops at Monastiraki.

South of the Acropolis, quieter than Plaka but still walkable to everything. Good mix of local restaurants and short-term rentals. The Acropolis Museum sits at the north end of the neighborhood. A strong pick for stays longer than a few nights or for travelers visiting family in the area.

Upscale neighborhood on the slope of Lycabettus Hill. Higher-end restaurants, boutique shopping, and galleries. Less tourist traffic than the Acropolis area. Good for travelers who want a neighborhood feel and do not mind a 15-minute walk or short metro ride to the ancient sites.

The university district north of the center. Street art, independent bookshops, cheap meals, and late-night bars. Budget-friendly with character. Not polished, which is the point.

Beach suburbs about 10 miles south of central Athens along the Saronic coast. Many Greek-American families have roots in this stretch. Closer to the airport than the city center. The tram connects Glyfada to Syntagma, but the ride is slow.

The port city south of Athens where ferries leave for the islands. If you are catching an early morning ferry to Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete, staying near the port the night before saves a stressful morning. The neighborhood itself is working-class and practical, not a destination on its own.

ATH is the right Athens airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from ATH.

Explore JFK → ATH

Which pair your airline flies nonstop

Loyalty programs drive airport choice for frequent flyers. Here's where each airline operates.

Airline	JFK–ATH	EWR–ATH
Emirates	—	✓
Norse	✓	—
United Airlines	—	✓
Delta Air Lines	✓	—
arkia	✓	—
American Airlines	✓	—

Most airlines fly JFK → ATH.0 airlines serve multiple pairs.

Explore JFK → ATH

Ranked by on-time performance

On-time = departing within 15 min of schedule. Higher competition tends to keep airlines punctual.

72% on-time. 4 airlines competing.

82% on-time. 2 airlines competing.

JFK → ATH has a 72% on-time record.High competition keeps airlines punctual.

Explore JFK → ATH

Lounge access by airport and terminal

Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.

American Express Platinum or Centurion cardholders. Cocktail bar, sit-down dining, showers. One of the better Centurion locations. Access is card-based regardless of airline.

Large club with runway views, full bar, and hot food. Gets crowded during the evening international push. Delta One and SkyMiles status get you in; everyone else needs a same-day Delta boarding pass plus a qualifying credit card.

American and British Airways premium cabin passengers. Quieter than T4, with showers and a dining room. BA passengers flying Club Suite have access here before JFK to Heathrow flights.

Open to Mint passengers on JetBlue. Smaller than the legacy carrier clubs but less crowded. Food and drinks included. The terminal itself has decent food options if the lounge is full.

A collection of carrier-specific lounges including Turkish, Air France, and Korean Air. Quality varies. The Turkish lounge is a standout if you have access.

United Polaris passengers and Star Alliance business class. Full sit-down restaurant with table service, shower suites, daybeds, and a cocktail bar. One of the best airline lounges in North America. If you are flying United Polaris business class, arrive early and use it.

Standard United Club with hot food, bar, and seating. Multiple locations in Terminal C. Gets crowded during the evening departure wave. United Club membership, Star Alliance Gold, or certain credit cards get you in.

The rebuilt Terminal A has fresh lounge space. Carrier-specific lounges are still filling in. The terminal itself is well-designed with better food options than the old building.

The rebuilt Terminal B has airline club lounges with seating, Wi-Fi, drinks, and light food. Access through airline loyalty programs or eligible credit cards. The new terminal makes the lounge experience better than what LaGuardia used to offer, which was close to nothing.

Club lounges in Terminal C for eligible passengers. Same access rules: airline status, credit card membership, or a same-day qualifying ticket. Quality is standard domestic lounge level.

The rebuilt terminals have better gate seating, charging outlets, and food options than the old LaGuardia. On a short domestic flight, the gate area is fine. Spend the lounge walk-in fee on dinner at the destination instead.

Available in both the Schengen and non-Schengen departure areas. Open to business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members. Greek food and drinks, comfortable seating, and a calmer environment than the terminal. The non-Schengen side can fill up during evening departure clusters.

Several independent lounges accept Priority Pass and similar membership programs. Quality sits below the airline lounge but they offer a quieter seat, Wi-Fi, and light refreshments. Walk-in rates are available but not cheap.

Past security, the terminal has several Greek cafes and bakeries that outperform the usual airport standard. If lounge access is not an option, a coffee and a pastry at one of these is a better use of money than a walk-in lounge fee.

Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.

Explore JFK → ATH

Ranked by flights per week

More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.

35/wk (~5/day) — 4 airlines.

41/wk (~6/day) — 2 airlines.

JFK → ATH: 35 flights/week.5 departures per day.

Explore JFK → ATH

Getting to the airport

Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.

AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station in around 20 minutes. Faster and more comfortable than the subway, and you avoid dragging luggage underground. This is the best option for midtown Manhattan.

AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the E or A train into Manhattan. Total time is 60 to 75 minutes. Cheap but slow, and dragging luggage through the subway at rush hour is miserable.

Flat rate of around $110 from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, plus tolls and tip. Predictable pricing but travel time depends entirely on traffic. The Van Wyck Expressway can turn a 40-minute ride into 90 minutes during rush hour.

Pre-booked car services run around $70 to $100 depending on vehicle type. No flat-rate guarantee like yellow cabs, but you get a driver waiting at arrivals. Worth it if you are landing late or have a lot of luggage.

Train from New York Penn Station to Newark Airport station in around 25 minutes, then AirTrain to your terminal. Frequent service, cheap, and immune to tunnel traffic. The most reliable way to get to Newark from Manhattan.

No flat rate from Manhattan to Newark. Expect around $60 to $90 depending on traffic and tolls. The Lincoln Tunnel and NJ Turnpike can double your travel time during rush hour. Fine on weekends or off-peak.

Bus service from midtown Manhattan (Port Authority, Bryant Park, Grand Central) to all terminals. Takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Around $19 one way. A budget option if you are not in a rush.

If you live in northern New Jersey, the drive is straightforward. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on your direction. Parking is expensive long-term. Cell phone lots exist for pickup.

From midtown Manhattan, 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Around $30 to $40 by taxi. The Grand Central Parkway connects directly. Morning rush into the city and evening rush out are the times to avoid.

Runs from all LaGuardia terminals to the Jackson Heights subway hub in about 10 minutes. Transfer to the 7, E, F, M, or R train for Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. The cheapest way to the airport from anywhere with a subway connection.

Runs across 125th Street in Manhattan to LaGuardia, connecting to the A, B, C, and D trains and Metro-North at Harlem-125th Street. Useful from the Upper West Side, Harlem, or the Bronx. Around 40 to 50 minutes from the West Side.

No rail link to LaGuardia. If you drive, parking runs around $40 per day in the terminal garages. Cell phone lots are free for pickup. The airport is compact enough that the walk from parking to gates stays short.

Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.

Explore JFK → ATH

Red-eye vs daytime departures

Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.

Evening departures from New York land in Athens the next morning or early afternoon, depending on the carrier. The 7-hour time zone shift works in your favor: a 10-hour flight that leaves at dinnertime arrives around lunchtime Athens time. If you can sleep for five or six hours, you walk off the plane into a full day.

Athens airport is calm and well organized when New York flights arrive. Passport control moves quickly for US travelers. Metro Line 3 is running by the time you clear customs, so you can be at Syntagma Square by late morning. Count on 40 minutes from the airport platform to the city center.

Flights home leave Athens in the morning or around midday and land in New York the same afternoon or evening. You keep your last morning in Athens and arrive home the same day. No overnight flight, no lost day. The 11-to-12-hour westbound flight is long but lands at a reasonable hour.

JFK → ATH has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.

Explore JFK → ATH

Premium cabin options

Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.

Delta runs a widebody on this route with its Delta One cabin. Flat-bed seats with direct aisle access on a 10-hour overnight. One of the stronger transatlantic business class products from New York. If you fly Delta domestically and hold status, upgrade availability is worth watching.

United Polaris offers a flat bed with direct aisle access on the Newark route. The seat and service match Delta One. United also has a Polaris lounge at Newark, which is worth arriving early for on an evening departure.

Emirates business class on the Newark to Athens leg delivers the same product as a full Emirates long-haul flight. Business fares on Emirates can run below what Delta and United charge. The tradeoff is a single daily departure with no schedule flexibility.

Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.

Explore JFK → ATH

Connecting through New York from a domestic flight

With daily nonstops from both JFK and Newark, connecting through a European hub adds hours to a trip that already runs 10 hours direct. The only scenario where a connection works is a fare hundreds of dollars below the nonstop price, or routing through a specific hub to use airline miles. A typical connection via Istanbul, Frankfurt, or London turns a 10-hour trip into 15 hours or more.

Book JFK → ATH. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 4 airlines, 35/wk.

Book EWR → ATH. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 2 airlines, 41/wk.

LGA has no Athens nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.

Check which New York airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book Athens from that same airport.JFK arrivals → JFK–ATH · EWR arrivals → EWR–ATH

JFK → ATH

Know Your Airports

New York & Athens Airport Profiles

Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.

New York Metro

Newark Liberty has three terminals, and Terminal A opened as a full rebuild in 2023. The old Terminal A was demolished and replaced, and the difference is dramatic. Terminal C is United's hub, massive and busy, with most international flights departing from here. Terminal B handles most other carriers.

The AirTrain connects all three terminals and the NJ Transit / Amtrak rail station. Unlike JFK, the terminals are closer together and the AirTrain loop is faster. Security at Terminal C can back up during afternoon and evening international departures.

The airport sits in New Jersey, around 10 miles from Manhattan. That proximity is deceptive because the drive crosses the Hudson via the Newark Bay or Lincoln Tunnel, and both can be brutal during peak hours. NJ Transit from Penn Station is the more reliable option.

Athens Pairs

1

ATH

Airlines

2

Flights/Week

41

JFK spreads across four active passenger terminals connected by the AirTrain, and walking between them is not an option. Terminal 1 is the old international building. Terminal 4 is the largest, handling most international carriers. Terminal 5 is the former TWA terminal, now JetBlue's home, with the mid-century curves still intact. Terminal 8 belongs to American and British Airways.

The terminal you depart from depends entirely on your airline. Security wait times vary between them. Terminal 4 tends to be the slowest during evening international departures. Terminal 8 has improved since the co-location of its two main carriers. The TWA Hotel sits adjacent to Terminal 5 if you need to sleep before an early departure or after a late arrival.

JFK feels enormous because it is. Budget extra time for the AirTrain if you are connecting between terminals or arriving by subway. The AirTrain loop takes 10 to 15 minutes end to end.

Athens Pairs

1

ATH

Airlines

4

Flights/Week

35

Closest nonstop airport JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport) · 11mi from LGA

Or connect through ORD Chicago O'Hare International A... · 28/wk onward YYZ Toronto Pearson International... · 26/wk onward YUL Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trud... · 25/wk onward

Athens Metro

A single-terminal airport that opened in 2001, replacing the old Hellinikon closer to the coast. The building is modern, open, and easy to navigate. Arrivals on the ground floor, departures upstairs. International and domestic gates share the same terminal with a short walk between them.

Passport control and security tend to move faster than at comparable southern European airports. Past security, the terminal has a good selection of shops and restaurants. Several spots serve Greek food that is a cut above the usual airport standard. Free Wi-Fi covers the building.

The airport sits 20 miles east of central Athens in Spata. The surroundings are not much to look at, but the metro connection into the city is direct and reliable.

New York Pairs

2

JFK + EWR

Nonstop from New York

76/wk

Into Athens

40 min

Metro to Syntagma

All Pairs

Full Comparison

Every airport combination ranked by schedule depth. JFK–ATH carries 46% of weekly flights with the best on-time record. EWR–ATH adds another 54%.

Route	Airlines	Flights/Wk	Share	Duration	OTP
JFK → ATH	1	35		9h 38m	72%	Explore →
EWR → ATH	2	41		9h 10m	82%	Explore →

Coverage Matrix

Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs

Not all planes are the same size. The aircraft type below each checkmark tells you whether you are getting a widebody (777, 787, A350) with wider seats and a quieter ride, or a narrowbody (737, A321) with a single aisle. On flights over five hours, the difference is significant.

JFK–ATH

EWR–ATH

Delta Air Lines

✓
A330neo

—

Emirates

—

✓
777-300ER

United Airlines

—

✓
787-8

American Airlines (codeshare)

✓
777-200

—

arkia (codeshare)

✓
A330-200

—

Norse (codeshare)

✓
787-9

—

Quick Reference

Route Facts

Total Nonstops

76/wk

Across 2 pairs

Airlines

6

4 on JFK–ATH

Fastest Pair

9h 38m

JFK → ATH

Distance

4,929 mi

7,931 km

New York

3 airports

JFK, EWR, LGA

Athens

1 airports

ATH

Best OTP

82%

EWR → ATH

No Nonstop

LGA

No Athens nonstops

JFK → ATH EWR → ATH JFK Routes EWR Routes JFK Delays EWR Delays

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New York to Athens flights.

Only in terms of where you start. Both fly daily nonstops that take about 10 hours and land at the same terminal in Athens. If you live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, JFK is usually the shorter trip to the airport. If you live in North Jersey, Newark wins. The in-flight products are comparable for this route length.

Emirates flies a route that links Dubai, Athens, and Newark. You can book just the Newark-to-Athens leg as a regular ticket. You board at Newark and land in Athens while the aircraft carries on to Dubai. It is a standalone nonstop from Newark to Athens with full Emirates service. Fares can run below what United charges on the same route.

Yes. Metro Line 3 runs from the airport to Syntagma Square in about 40 minutes. Trains have open floor space for luggage near the doors, and the airport station connects to the terminal by a covered walkway with elevators. After an overnight flight, the walk to the platform and the 40-minute ride are a gentler start than sitting in traffic. The flat fare is around 9 euros per person.

About one to two hours longer. Eastbound flights to Athens run around 10 hours. Westbound flights back run 11 to 12 hours because of prevailing headwinds over the Atlantic. If you have a domestic connection at JFK or Newark, build in more buffer on the return than you needed on the way out.

If your flight arrives early in the morning and you move quickly, you can reach Piraeus port in time for a late-morning departure to closer islands. For popular destinations like Santorini or Mykonos, the ferry takes several hours, so plan to overnight in Athens or take a short domestic flight instead. Ferry schedules change by season and do not align with international flight arrivals.

Rarely. Nonstop service runs daily from both JFK and Newark, so adding a stop in Istanbul, Frankfurt, or London only makes sense if you find a fare hundreds of dollars below the nonstop price, or if you need to route through a specific hub for airline miles. A connection adds 4 to 8 hours to a trip that takes 10 hours nonstop.