Athens International Airport: A Gateway To Greece

what is the airport in athens

Athens International Airport, officially named 'El. Venizelos' and abbreviated as AIA, is the largest airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and the region of Attica. It is located 33km from the city centre and is the main base of Aegean Airlines. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece, who made significant contributions to the development of Greek aviation. Athens Airport has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal, which are connected through an underground link.

Characteristics Values
Airport Name Athens International Airport
Airport Code ATH
Location Spata, Attika, Greece
Elevation 303 feet
Coordinates 37°56'19"N 23°57'17"E
Ownership Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund
Operator Athens International Airport S.A.
Hub for Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Sky Express
Focus City for Ryanair
Number of Runways 2
Longest Runway 4,000 meters (13,123 feet)
Passenger Traffic 25.5 million (2019)
Website www.aia.gr

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Athens International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Greece

Athens International Airport, officially named "El. Venizelos" and abbreviated as AIA, is the largest and busiest airport in Greece. It is located 20-33km away from Athens city centre, in the Spata area. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece, who made significant contributions to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s.

Athens International Airport is a modern, multi-awarded, and passenger-friendly aviation hub. It offers a wide range of amenities and quick and effective services to its passengers. The airport is adequately connected to downtown Athens and various city districts. It is accessible by bus, suburban railway, or metro from the city centre. The airport is also eco-friendly and provides pleasant and smooth layovers.

The airport has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal, which are connected by an underground link. The main terminal has three levels: one for arrivals, one for departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. It has 153 check-in desks, fourteen jet bridges, and eleven belt conveyors for luggage. Hall A handles flights to non-Schengen and non-European countries, while Hall B handles flights to Intra-Schengen countries and domestic services.

Athens International Airport is the main base of Aegean Airlines and other smaller Greek airlines. It serves millions of locals and foreign visitors annually, receiving the majority of foreign visitors arriving in Greece. It is listed among the busiest airports in Europe, with over 25 million passengers as of 2024, making it the 16th busiest airport in Europe and the second busiest in the Balkans. The airport covers 16,000 acres of land, making it one of the largest airports in Europe and the world in terms of land area.

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The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure

Athens International Airport, officially named "El. Venizelos" and shortly known as AIA, is the biggest and most widely known airport in Greece. It is located 33km (20.5 miles) away from Athens city centre, in the Spata area. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece. Venizelos made a significant contribution to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s.

Elefthérios Venizélos played a key role in the modernisation of Greece. As Prime Minister, he had a huge impact on the country's modern history. The airport was constructed to replace the now-closed Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport, which had reached its saturation point with no physical space for further growth. Studies for a new airport had been carried out from as early as the 1970s, with as many as 19 different locations being considered before an area near Spata was chosen.

Athens International Airport is a modern, multi-awarded, and passenger-friendly aviation hub. It offers a wide range of amenities and quick and effective services. The airport houses cultural attractions such as the Acropolis Exhibition, a museum with exhibits found in the nearby area during the airport's construction, and an exhibition dedicated to El. Venizelos. Various art collections and events are also displayed and organised on its premises.

Athens International Airport is adequately connected to downtown and various city districts. It is accessible by public transportation, buses, taxis, private transfers, and car rentals. The airport is considered eco-friendly, and layovers are typically described as pleasant and smooth. It is also listed among the busiest airports in Europe, serving as a hub for major airlines as well as subsidiary and low-cost carriers.

As the largest airport in Greece, Athens International Airport receives the majority of foreign visitors arriving in the country. It is connected to all the airports of Greece and also receives direct flights from most European capitals and some smaller European cities. Intercontinental direct flights between Athens and the US, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are also available.

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It is located 20km from central Athens and covers 16,000 acres

Athens International Airport, officially named "El. Venizelos" and also known as AIA, is located 20km from central Athens, in the Spata area. It is the largest airport in Greece, covering 16,000 acres, and is listed among the busiest airports in Europe. The airport is easily accessible from the city centre by bus, suburban railway, or metro. It is also connected to all the other airports in Greece, and it receives direct flights from most European capitals and some smaller European cities. Intercontinental direct flights between Athens and the US, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are also available.

Athens International Airport is the main base of Aegean Airlines and other smaller, mostly budget, airlines. It has two terminals: the main terminal and the satellite terminal, which are connected by an underground link. The main terminal has three levels: one for arrivals, one for departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. The airport has 153 check-in desks, fourteen jet bridges, and eleven belt conveyors for luggage. Hall A handles flights to non-Schengen and non-European countries, while Hall B handles flights to Intra-Schengen countries and domestic services.

The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece who made significant contributions to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s. It replaced the now-closed Ellinikon International Airport, which had reached its saturation point with no physical space for further growth. The new airport was constructed in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics, and it has been accommodating the rising passenger traffic since then.

Athens International Airport is not just a transportation hub but also a cultural attraction. It hosts the Acropolis Exhibition, a museum featuring exhibits found in the nearby area during the airport's construction, and an exhibition dedicated to El. Venizelos. Various art collections and events are also displayed and organised on its premises from time to time. The airport offers a wide range of amenities and services, including short-term and long-term parking facilities, making it a modern and passenger-friendly aviation hub.

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The airport has two terminals, with 153 check-in desks and three levels

Athens International Airport, officially named "El. Venizelos" and also known as AIA, is the largest airport in Greece. It is located between the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa, about 20km (or 12 miles) from central Athens. The airport has two terminals, with 153 check-in desks and three levels. The main terminal is spread across three levels: one for arrivals, one for departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. The satellite terminal is accessible via an underground link from the main terminal.

The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece who made significant contributions to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s. Athens International Airport is the main base for Aegean Airlines and other smaller Greek airlines. It replaced the now-closed Ellinikon International Airport, which had reached its limit with no physical space for further expansion.

Athens International Airport is a major hub for travel to and from Greece, serving millions of locals and foreign visitors annually. It is easily accessible from the city centre by bus, suburban railway, or metro. The airport offers a wide range of amenities and services, including cultural attractions such as the Acropolis Exhibition and an exhibition dedicated to El. Venizelos.

The airport is designed for modular expansion to accommodate the increasing air travel demand. In 2018, a tender was issued for the first physical expansion of the south wings of the main terminal, with construction scheduled to be completed by mid-2019. Athens International Airport is listed among the busiest airports in Europe, handling a significant number of arrivals and departures daily, especially during peak travel seasons.

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It is easily accessible by bus, train, or metro from the city centre

Athens International Airport, officially named “El. Venizelos” and also known as AIA, is easily accessible by bus, train, or metro from the city centre. The airport is located 20-33km (12-20.5 miles) from central Athens, in the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa. It is well-connected to downtown Athens and various city districts, making it a convenient option for travellers.

There are several transport options available for those travelling to and from the airport. For those opting for public transportation, buses are a viable choice. Additionally, the suburban railway and metro provide efficient connections to the city centre. These options ensure that travellers can easily reach their desired destinations without hassle.

The airport itself is an impressive aviation hub, boasting two terminals: the main terminal and the satellite terminal. The main terminal is spread across three levels, with a dedicated level each for arrivals and departures, and a food court level offering a view of the eastern runway. The two terminals are conveniently connected through an underground link, making it easy for passengers to navigate between them.

Athens International Airport is not just a transportation hub but also a cultural gateway. It houses the Acropolis Exhibition, showcasing fascinating exhibits found in the nearby area during the airport's construction. The airport also hosts an exhibition dedicated to El. Venizelos, the prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece who made significant contributions to Greek aviation.

The airport is an award-winning, passenger-friendly facility, offering a wide range of amenities and quick, effective services. It is designed to accommodate the high volume of passenger traffic, with 153 check-in desks and efficient parking facilities. Athens International Airport is an accessible and eco-friendly gateway to the city of Athens, providing a pleasant and smooth experience for layovers and travellers alike.

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Frequently asked questions

The name of the airport in Athens is Athens International Airport, officially named El. Venizelos Airport, commonly initialised as AIA.

Athens International Airport is located about 20km (12 miles) to the east of central Athens, in the Spata area. It can be reached by bus, suburban railway, or metro from the city centre.

The airport's IATA code is ATH, and its ICAO code is LGAV.

Athens International Airport has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal, connected by an underground link. The main terminal has three levels: one for arrivals, one for departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. The airport also has short and long-term parking lots and a designated zone for motorcycles.

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