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Athens International Airport

Coordinates: 37°56′11″N 23°56′50″E / 37.93639°N 23.94722°E / 37.93639; 23.94722
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Athens International Airport
"Eleftherios Venizelos"

Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών
«Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος»
Aerial view of Athens International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorAthens International Airport S.A.
ServesAthens
LocationSpata, Attica, Greece
Opened28 March 2001; 23 years ago (2001-03-28)
Hub for
Operating base for
BuiltHochtief, GEK Terna
Elevation AMSL308 ft / 94 m
Coordinates37°56′11″N 23°56′50″E / 37.93639°N 23.94722°E / 37.93639; 23.94722
Websitewww.aia.gr
Map
ATH is located in Greece
ATH
ATH
Location in Greece
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03R/21L 13,123 4,000 Asphalt
03L/21R 12,467 3,800 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers28,174,150
Passenger traffic changeIncrease 24.0%
Aircraft movements241,604
Aircraft movements changeIncrease 13.2%
Sources: AIA Statistics[1]

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV), commonly initialised as AIA, is the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and region of Attica. It began operation on 28 March 2001 (in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics) and is the main base of Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines. It replaced the old Ellinikon International Airport.[2]

Athens International Airport is currently a member of Group 1 of Airports Council International (over 25 million passengers).[3] As of 2023, it is the 18th-busiest airport in Europe and the second busiest and second largest in the Balkans, after Istanbul Airport.

The new Athens International Airport covers an expanse of 16,000 acres (25.0 sq mi; 64.7 km2), making the facility among the largest in Europe and in the world in terms of land area.[4]

History

[edit]

Development and ownership

[edit]
Terminal VOR/DME at Athens International Airport

AIA is located between the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa, about 20 km (12 mi) to the east of central Athens (30 km (19 mi) by road, due to intervening hills). The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, the prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece, who made a significant contribution to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s.[citation needed] As to-date, the airport is operated by AIA S.A. and ownership is divided between the Hellenic Republic (Greek State) and Private Sector in a 55%-45% stake following a PPP scheme for the airport company.[5] Currently, private investors include the Copelouzos Group (5%)[6] and PSP Investments of Canada (40%), following purchase of Hochtief's shares.[7]

The airport was constructed to replace the now-closed Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport, as the latter had reached its saturation point with no physical space for further growth.[8] Studies for a new airport had been carried out from as early as the 1970s, with as many as 19 different locations being looked at before an area close to the town of Spata was chosen as suitable.[8] Athens Airport SA, a state-owned company, was established in 1978 to proceed with the plans. However, after delays and slow development, the project was revived in 1991, approximately 1 year after the city lost the right to host the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta, USA and the possibility of submitting a bid for the 2000 Game was discussed. However, the city presented the project that was eventually the winner for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, with the then government launching an international tender for the selection of a build-own-operate-transfer partner for the airport project, with Hochtief of Germany being selected.[8]

In 1996, Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) was established as a Public–private partnership with a 30-year concession agreement.[1] That same year, the €2.1 billion development finally began with an estimated completion date of February 2001. The airport construction was completed five months before schedule, but was delayed opening a month due to surface connections to Attiki Odos not being completed.[8] The airport officially opened on 28 March 2001[9] Its major features include two parallel runways being 4 km (2.5 mi) and 3.8 km (2.4 mi) long respectively. The airport has received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency[10] and the Federal Aviation Administration[10] for take-offs and landings of the biggest passenger jet worldwide, the A380.[10] The first ever A380 to visit 'Eleftherios Venizelos' Athens International Airport made an emergency landing on 13 April 2011 for emergency medical reasons. The first scheduled A380 flight took place on 26 October 2012 by Emirates.[11]

Greek government debt-crisis impact (2009–2013)

[edit]

The Greek government-debt crisis reduced the overall passenger traffic of the airport for six consecutive years. Many long-haul airlines outright terminated service to the airport, while others chose to operate on a seasonal basis only, opting to terminate service during the winter months.[12] Moreover, these problems were further exacerbated by the closure of Olympic Airlines, which operated many long-haul flights to and from the airport. In 2013, the airport handled just above 12.5 million passengers, 3.2% fewer than in 2012 and lower by approximately 25% when compared to 2007's traffic, which was the all-time-high at that time.[1]

Recovery and new levels of passenger traffic (2014–2015)

[edit]

2014 signaled a strong recovery for the airport's passenger traffic and all statistical figures. More than ten new airlines started new flights to and from Athens. Aegean Airlines strengthened its network by 30% (with many more destinations scheduled for 2015) while Ryanair established a new base in the Athens Airport and added eight destinations. The airport company recorded an increase in passenger traffic in excess of 21% during 2014, reaching 15.1 million passengers, resulted both by new destinations but also by increased capacity offered on established ones. Characteristically, Singapore and Gulf Air resumed flights[13][14] while Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways fly more frequently to/from Athens.[15][16][17] Delta Air Line resumed their weekly flights and American Airlines retained their seasonal schedules to/from USA with even more frequent connectivity. From 2017 onwards, year-round services to Singapore were scheduled to resume after more than five years, with flights operated by Scoot.

According to AIA published statistics, total traffic for 2015 achieved an impressive performance reaching almost 18.1 million passengers, an all-time-record for the airport at that time, increased by 19% on year-over-year basis[18] and by 1.55 million (+9.4%) the previous best, which was the pre-crisis year 2007. In addition, over the same period, aircraft traffic exhibited a solid growth of 14% year-over-year.[19] Moreover, in 2015 a significant rise (+38%) was recorded by transfer passengers, with the international to international transfer traffic marking an impressive increase (+60%) demonstrating the significant enhancement of the Athens airport connectivity.

Exceeding twenty million passengers (2016–2023) and beyond

[edit]

2016 was a landmark year for the Athens International Airport, both for domestic and international destinations. Annual results reflected a solid performance for a third year in a row fueled by double-digit growth, this time passing the twenty million mark, increased by 10.7% on year-over-year basis.[20] Healthy growth continued in 2017 with the airport showing traffic increase of 8.6% to a total of 21.7 million passengers, yet another all-time record for the Athens airport.[21] During 2018, the airport achieved yet another record high, reporting increased passenger traffic by 11% to more than 24.1 million passengers.[22] Equally, aircraft traffic achieved a new record with a reported annual growth of 10.8% to 217,094 movements.[23]

For the first ten months of 2023, the airport traffic shows signs of further increase with passenger numbers up by 19.5%[24] to 24.4 million passengers and aircraft movements up by 15.2%. By the end of 2023, Athens saw about 28.17 million international and domestic passengers. This is a 10.2% increase from 2019.[25]

In the second half of June 2018 Emirates added an extra daily flight from its base in Dubai Airport using the Airbus A380 superjumbo,[26] marking the first time the "superjumbo" operated at the airport with a scheduled flight for a long period of time. The A380 service was continued until the end of August 2018.[27]

Terminals

[edit]
Check-in area
Waiting area

Overview

[edit]

The airport currently has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal accessible by an underground link from the main terminal. It is designed to be extended in a modular approach over the ensuing years in order to accommodate increases in air travel. These extensions are planned in a six-phase framework. The first (and current) phase allowed the airport to accommodate 26 million passengers per year. When the airport originally opened, the current phase called for a capacity of only 16 million passengers per year; however, the capacity was able to increase without progressing to the next phase thanks to advanced IT logistics.[28] The sixth and final expansion phase will allow the airport to accommodate an annual traffic of 50 million passengers, with the current layout leaving enough space for five more terminals to be added.[8] As such, the parallel runway system currently in place has been designed to accommodate flight traffic with this high equivalent annual passenger load upon completion of the final expansion phase.[28]

Main Terminal

[edit]

The main terminal building handles all intra-Schengen flights, as well as several non-Schengen flights. All of the airport's 144 check-in desks are located in the Main Terminal and it has three separate levels, one for arrivals, one for departures and a food court level complete with a view of the eastern runway. Finally, the terminal is equipped with fourteen jet bridges and eleven belt conveyors for luggage.

  • Hall A is used for flights to Non-schengen countries and Non-European countries.
  • Hall B handles flights to Intra-schengen countries as well as domestic services.

In March 2018, the Athens International Airport issued a tender for its first physical expansion, concerning the south wings of the main terminal.[29] The tender called for a building expansion with a total area of approximately 14,950 square meters over five levels (levels 0 to 4). The construction company to build the expansion was awarded in summer 2018, and the project was scheduled to be completed by mid-2019. It was to add 18 more counter check-in decks as well as additional space for arrivals, departures, security and an automated control gate. It also planned to add an expanded shopping area and new lounges by mid-2020.

Satellite Terminal

[edit]

The satellite terminal has two levels, one for arrivals and the other for departures.[28] It is easily accessible through an underground link complete with moving walkways. The terminal is equipped with ten jet bridges and is capable of handling annual traffic of six million passengers.

In recent years its parking stands were utilized for long-term storage of airliners, specifically two ex-Olympic Airways Airbus A340-300s (both aircraft were transferred to its new owner in February 2017)[30] and a Boeing 767-300ER of defunct Greek start-up carrier SkyGreece Airlines. However, as of June 2017, the parking space of the satellite terminal is in full use for both Schengen and non-Schengen area flights and to accommodate increased traffic. From June 2017 some low-cost carriers were using it. On 24 May 2018, the Satellite Terminal officially restarted full operations. The airlines using it are Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Eurowings, Norwegian, Transavia and Transavia France, TUIfly Belgium, Brussels Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Transat and Scoot.

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Athens Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Aegean Airlines Abu Dhabi,[31] Alexandroupoli, Amman–Queen Alia, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Beirut (suspended),[32] Belgrade, Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest–Otopeni, Budapest, Cairo, Chania,[33] Chios,[34] Chișinău,[35] Copenhagen, Corfu,[33] Dubai–International,[36] Dublin, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Gran Canaria (begins 13 February 2025),[31] Hamburg, Helsinki, Heraklion,[33] Ioannina, Istanbul, İzmir, Jeddah, Kavala,[34] Kefalonia,[34] Kos, Kraków, Larnaca,[33] Lemnos,[34] Lisbon, London–Heathrow,[37] Luxembourg, Madrid, Malta, Manchester, Marrakesh, Milan–Malpensa, Munich, Mykonos,[33] Mytilene, Naples, Nice, Oslo, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Rhodes,[33] Riyadh, Rome–Fiumicino, Samos,[34] Santorini,[33] Skopje, Sofia, Stockholm–Arlanda, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv (resumes 10 December 2024),[38] Thessaloniki,[33] Tirana, Tunis, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw–Chopin, Yerevan, Zagreb, Zurich
Seasonal: Alexandria, Basel/Mulhouse, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Bristol, Catania, Cologne/Bonn, Dubrovnik, Hannover, Ibiza, Innsbruck,[39] Kalamata,[40] Lille,[41] Ljubljana,[42] London–Gatwick,[43] Lyon, Málaga, Marseille, Nantes, Newcastle upon Tyne,[44] Nuremberg, Olbia,[45] Palermo,[46] Podgorica, Porto, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa,[47] Riga,[48] Sarajevo,[49] Seville,[50] Skiathos, Split,[50] Tallinn, Toulouse, Valencia, Vilnius[51]
Aer Lingus Dublin[52]
Air Arabia Sharjah[53]
airBaltic Riga
Air Canada Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Air China Beijing–Capital[54]
Air Europa Seasonal: Madrid
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle[55]
Seasonal: Marseille,[56] Nice,[56] Toulouse[56]
Air Mediterranean Seasonal charter: Benghazi,[57] Damascus[58]
Air Serbia Belgrade[59]
Seasonal: Niš
Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
American Airlines Seasonal: Charlotte (begins 5 June 2025),[60] Chicago–O'Hare, New York–JFK,[61] Philadelphia[61]
arkia Tel Aviv
Asiana Airlines Seasonal charter: Seoul–Incheon[62]
Austrian Airlines Vienna[63]
Bluebird Airways Tel Aviv[64]
British Airways London–Heathrow[65]
Brussels Airlines Brussels[66]
Bulgaria Air Sofia[67]
Croatia Airlines Seasonal: Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb
Cyprus Airways Larnaca[68]
Delta Air Lines New York–JFK
Seasonal: Atlanta, Boston
easyJet Basel/Mulhouse, Bordeaux,[69] Geneva, Lisbon,[70] London–Gatwick, Lyon,[69] Manchester, Milan–Malpensa, Naples, Venice[71]
Seasonal: Alicante (begins 31 March 2025),[72] Bristol, Edinburgh, London–Luton,[73] Málaga,[74] Nice,[75] Palma de Mallorca,[74] Paris–Orly
Egyptair Cairo
El Al Tel Aviv[76]
Emirates[77] Dubai–International, Newark
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa[78]
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi[79]
Eurowings Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Prague, Stuttgart
GoTo Fly Forlì[80]
Gulf Air Bahrain,[81] Larnaca
Iberia Madrid[82]
Israir Airlines Tel Aviv[83]
ITA Airways Rome–Fiumicino
Jet2.com Birmingham, London–Stansted,[84] Manchester[85]
Juneyao Air Shanghai–Pudong[86]
KLM Amsterdam[87]
Korean Air Seasonal charter: Seoul–Incheon[88]
Kuwait Airways Kuwait City[89]
LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw–Chopin[90]
Lufthansa Frankfurt, Munich
Middle East Airlines Beirut
Norse Atlantic Airways Seasonal: New York–JFK[91]
Norwegian Air Shuttle Seasonal: Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm–Arlanda
Olympic Air Ikaria, Karpathos, Kythira, Leros, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Sitia, Skiathos, Skyros, Zakynthos
Oman Air Muscat (resumes 1 September 2025)[92]
Pegasus Airlines Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen
Play Seasonal: Reykjavík–Keflavík[93][94]
Qatar Airways Doha
Royal Jordanian Amman–Queen Alia[95]
Ryanair Bari,[96] Bergamo, Bologna,[97] Budapest, Charleroi, Dublin, Katowice, Lemnos (begins 1 May 2025),[98] London–Stansted, Malta, Milan–Malpensa,[96] Paphos,[99] Rome–Fiumicino, Vienna
Seasonal: Berlin, Catania,[97] Chania,[100] Cologne/Bonn, Corfu,[101] Kraków, London–Luton, Santorini, Tel Aviv, Vilnius, Warsaw–Modlin, Wrocław
Saudia Seasonal: Jeddah, Riyadh[102]
Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen,[103] Stockholm–Arlanda
Seasonal: Gothenburg,[104] Oslo[105]
Scoot Berlin,[106] Singapore
Sky Express Alexandroupoli, Amsterdam,[107] Astypalaia, Brussels, Chania, Chios, Corfu, Düsseldorf,[108] Frankfurt,[108] Heraklion, Ikaria, Istanbul,[109] Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kastoria, Kefalonia, Kithira, Kos, Kozani, Larnaca, Lemnos, London–Gatwick, Milan–Malpensa,[110] Milos, Munich,[110] Mykonos, Mytilene, Naxos, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Paros, Prague (begins 2 December 2024),[111] Rhodes, Rome–Fiumicino, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Sofia, Syros, Tbilisi,[111] Thessaloniki, Tirana,[111] Vienna (begins 3 December 2024),[111] Warsaw–Chopin,[108] Yerevan,[111] Zakynthos
Smartwings Seasonal: Prague[112]
Swiss International Air Lines Geneva,[113] Zurich[113]
TAROM Bucharest–Otopeni[114]
Transavia Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Marseille (begins 3 April 2025),[115] Paris–Orly
Seasonal: Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes
Turkish Airlines Istanbul
United Airlines Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare,[116] Newark, Washington–Dulles
Universal Air Malta[117]
Volotea Bordeaux, Heraklion, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Naples,[118] Santorini, Venice
Seasonal: Ancona,[119] Bari, Bilbao, Brest,[120] Cagliari,[121] Dubrovnik, Lille, Mykonos, Palermo, Split,[122] Strasbourg, Toulouse,[123] Verona
Vueling Barcelona[124]
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Bucharest–Otopeni,[125] Budapest, Katowice, Kutaisi, Larnaca, London–Gatwick, London–Luton,[126] Milan–Malpensa, Tel Aviv,[127] Tirana[128]
World2Fly Seasonal charter: Madrid (begins 13 June 2025)[129]

Statistics

[edit]

Athens International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Greece. By the end of 2023, it was the 18th-busiest airport in Europe.[1]

Annual statistics

[edit]
Passenger, aircraft movement and cargo statistics at "El. Venizelos" airport: 2002–2023[1]
Year Passenger
traffic
Passenger
% change
Cargo
handled (kg.)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2002 11,827,448 n/a Steady 106,813,249 n/a Steady 159,467 n/a Steady
2003 12,252,394 3.6 Increase 109,741,122 2.7 Increase 170,129 6.7 Increase
2004 13,662,332 11.5 Increase 118,999,247 8.4 Increase 191,048 12.3 Increase
2005 14,281,020 4.5 Increase 115,942,974 2.6 Decrease 180,936 5.3 Decrease
2006 15,079,708 5.6 Increase 120,174,745 3.6 Increase 190,872 5.6 Increase
2007 16,538,403 9.7 Increase 118,972,376 1.0 Decrease 205,295 7.6 Increase
2008 16,466,491 0.4 Decrease 122,195,965 2.7 Increase 199,418 2.9 Decrease
2009 16,225,589 1.5 Decrease 104,520,932 10.5 Decrease 210,147 5.4 Increase
2010 15,411,099 5.0 Decrease 96,676,103 7.5 Decrease 191,766 8.7 Decrease
2011 14,446,971 6.3 Decrease 85,831,845 11.2 Decrease 173,296 9.6 Decrease
2012 12,944,041 10.4 Decrease 76,424,557 11.0 Decrease 153,295 11.5 Decrease
2013 12,536,057 3.2 Decrease 74,874,633 2.0 Decrease 140,448 8.4 Decrease
2014 15,196,369 21.2 Increase 77,337,956 3.3 Increase 154,530 10.0 Increase
2015 18,087,377 19.0 Increase 80,475,761 4.0 Increase 176,156 14.0 Increase
2016 20,016,998 10.7 Increase 88,477,196 9.9 Increase 189,137 7.4 Increase
2017 21,737,787 8.6 Increase 90,176,471 1.9 Increase 195,951 3.6 Increase
2018 24,135,736 11.0 Increase 92,573,026 3.1 Increase 217,094 10.8 Increase
2019 25,573,993 6.0 Increase 94,621,875 1.5 Increase 225,628 3.9 Increase
2020 8,078,394 68.4 Decrease 75,783,363 19.4 Decrease 112,415 50.2 Decrease
2021 12,345,786 52.8 Increase 96,907,000 27.9 Increase 158,950 41.4 Increase
2022 22,728,750 84.1 Increase 106,103,811 6.8 Increase 213,352 34.2 Increase
2023 28,174,150 24.0 Increase 94,000,348 7.4 Decrease 241,604 13.2 Increase
2024(Oct) 27,573,007 12.9 Increase -- n/a Steady 231,859 11.0 Increase

Busiest passenger routes by country

[edit]

The table below shows passenger totals at Athens International Airport by country destination during 2023, and changes compared to 2022.[130]

Passenger traffic per country destination (2023)
Rank Country destination Passengers Change %
GR Domestic 8,783,146 18.9 Increase
1 Germany 1,874,693 16.2 Increase
2 Italy 1,867,628 33.0 Increase
3 United Kingdom 1,858,384 24.2 Increase
4 France 1,393,015 12.1 Increase
5 Cyprus 1,236,156 18.6 Increase
6 United States 976,394 9.8 Increase
7 Turkey 925,468 27.4 Increase
8 Spain 889,463 43.0 Increase
9 Israel 777,364 31.1 Increase
10 Switzerland 758,325 15.2 Increase

Airline market share 2023

[edit]
Top airlines at Athens [130]
Rank Airline Market share
1 Aegean Airlines 45.8%
Olympic Air
2 Sky Express 12.0%
3 Ryanair 5.1%
4 Lufthansa 2.7%
5 Volotea 2.1%
6 Emirates 1.7%
7 Turkish Airlines 1.6%
8 Swiss 1.5%
9 Wizz Air 1.5%
10 Delta Air Lines 1.4%

Airline alliance market share 2023

[edit]
Top airlines alliances at Athens [130]
Rank Airline alliance Market Share
1 Star Alliance 52.1%
2 SkyTeam 5.0%
3 Oneworld 3.8%
4 Non-allied carriers 39.1%

Passengers 2023

[edit]
Busiest European destinations from Athens Airport [130]
Rank Destination Airport(s) Passengers Top carriers
1 London LHR, LGW, STN 1,545,653 Aegean Airlines, British Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, Sky Express, Wizz Air
2 Larnaca LCA 1,199,672 Aegean Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Gulf Air, Sky Express, Wizz Air
3 Paris CDG, ORY 999,542 Aegean Airlines, Air France, easyJet, Sky Express, Transavia France
4 Istanbul IST, SAW 886,934 Aegean Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sky Express, Turkish Airlines
5 Rome FCO, CIA 745,773 Aegean Airlines, ITA Airways, Ryanair, Sky Express
6 Munich MUC 667,849 Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, Sky Express
7 Milan MXP, BGY 646,373 Aegean Airlines, easyJet, Ryanair, Sky Express, Wizz Air
8 Frankfurt FRA 532,952 Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, Sky Express
9 Amsterdam AMS 508,294 Aegean Airlines, KLM, Sky Express, Transavia
10 Zürich ZRH 483,325 Aegean Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines
Busiest intercontinental destinations from Athens Airport [130]
Rank Destination Airport(s) Passengers Carriers
1 Tel Aviv TLV 767,327 Aegean Airlines, Arkia, Bluebird Airways, El Al, Israir, Ryanair, Tus Airways, Wizz Air
2 New York JFK, EWR 606,594 American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, United Airlines
3 Cairo CAI 346,362 Aegean Airlines, EgyptAir
4 Doha DOH 264,378 Qatar Airways
5 Dubai DXB 258,999 Aegean Airlines, Emirates
6 Toronto YYZ 200,407 Air Canada, Air Transat
7 Montreal YUL 185,344 Air Canada, Air Transat
8 Beirut BEY 146,351 Aegean Airlines, Middle East Airlines
9 Abu Dhabi AUH 143,215 Aegean Airlines, Etihad Airways, Wizz Air
10 Atlanta ATL 139,373 Delta Air Lines
Busiest domestic destinations from Athens Airport [130]
Rank Destination Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Thessaloniki SKG 1,475,010 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express
2 Heraklion HER 1,227,137 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, Volotea
3 Santorini JTR 1,215,699 Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Sky Express, Volotea
4 Chania CHQ 712,940 Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Sky Express
5 Rhodes RHO 689,047 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express
6 Mykonos JMK 503,107 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, Volotea
7 Corfu CFU 353,911 Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Sky Express
8 Mytilene MJT 306,685 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express
9 Paros PAS 305,342 Olympic Air, Sky Express
10 Kos KGS 272,676 Aegean Airlines, Sky Express

Ground transport

[edit]

Railway and Metro

[edit]
Metro station
Station's platforms

A railway station is immediately adjacent to the airport terminal, accessible by an elevated walkway. Athens Metro line 3 and the suburban railway service Proastiakos run trains to and from this station.[131]

Road

[edit]

The airport is accessible by the Attiki Odos toll highway from the centre and northern Athens, Varis-Koropiou Avenue from the western part, Laurio Ave. from the South, and Spata-Loutsa Avenue from the East. A variety of parking options are available on site at the airport in three different parking lots. Located at the arrivals level, opposite the airport terminal, the airport offers short-term parking for up to five hours with 1,357 parking spaces available in lots P1 and P2.[132] Long-term parking is located across the airport's main access road (Attiki Odos) with 5,802 parking spaces in lot P3.[133] A free shuttle bus is available to transport passengers, while the lots are also accessible by foot to the terminal. Premium valet service is also offered at the Departures level by Entrance 3.[134]

Taxi

[edit]

Taxis are available at the designated taxi waiting area located at exit 3 of the arrivals level.[135][136] Taxis from Athens International Airport to the city center have a flat rate of 40€ during the day (05:00-23:59) and 55€ at night (00:00-04:59).[137][138] Limousine service is also available upon request by the inner curbside of the arrivals level between exits 3 and 4.[135][139]

Bus

[edit]

Four bus lines (X93, X95, X96, X97)[140] connect directly to the Athens greater area, X95 starts from Syntagma square, X93 connects the airport to intercity bus stations (KTEL Kifissos Bus Terminal and Liosion bus terminal), X96 to Athens main port Piraeus and X97 to Elliniko metro station the Southern terminal of Line 2.[141] Buses disembark passengers at the departures level and depart from the arrivals level between exits 4 and 5.[141] Regional bus services by KTEL Express operate to the airport, currently connecting the airport to Rafina, Markopoulo, Lavrio, Kalyvia and Keratea.[141]

Other facilities

[edit]
Aerial view of the retail park
  • The Greek fast food company Goody's S.A. has its head office in Building 14B.[146]
  • Sofitel Hotel
  • Retail Park
  • Two robotic systems, named Hercules and Ulysses, are used by the airport for the handling of potentially dangerous materials. They were donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.[147]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Athens International Airport "El.Venizelos" Facts & Figures". aia.gr. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport - Airport Technology". Airport Technology.
  3. ^ "OP 30 European Airports". Aci-europe.org. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  4. ^ "About the new Athens Int'l Airport". Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ^ "The Airport Company". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Copelouzos Group – Athens International Airport". Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Hochtief sells airport unit to Canada's PSP Investments for $1.4 billion". Reuters. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e Dixon, Tony (February 2010). "Athens International Airport" (PDF). Airliner World. Athens, Greece: Key Publishing. pp. 91–92, 95–96. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Athens Airport History".
  10. ^ a b c "Athens International Airport: Diversion airport for A380 flight" (Press release). Athens International Airport. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008. On the occasion of the delivery of the first Airbus A380 for commercial services, Athens International Airport (AIA) announces that Airbus, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas have identified AIA as an en-route alternate airport for an A380 diversion.
  11. ^ "Στο "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος" το μεγαλύτερο και πιο χλιδάτο αεροπλάνο του κόσμου [εικόνες]". iefimerida.gr.
  12. ^ "A Greek island". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
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