Athens International Airport: Location And Travel Guide

where is the airport in athens

Athens International Airport 'Eleftherios Venizelos' is the largest airport in Greece and the only international airport in Athens. It is located about 12 miles east of the city centre, between the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa. The airport is accessible by metro, suburban railway, bus, taxi, limousine, and car.

Characteristics Values
Name Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
IATA ATH
ICAO LGAV
Location Between the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa
Distance from Athens city centre 20 km (12 mi) to the east
Year of Operation 2001
Owner Hellenic Republic (Greek State) and Private Sector
Number of Terminals 2 (Main and Satellite)
Number of Check-in Desks 153
Number of Levels 3
Number of Jet Bridges 14
Number of Belt Conveyors for Luggage 11
Airlines Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Eurowings, Norwegian, Transavia, Transavia France, TUIfly Belgium, Wizz Air, Delta Air Lines, Air Transat, SkyGreece Airlines, Ellinair, Volotea
Ground Transportation Taxi, Limousine, Athens Metro, Suburban Trains, Local and Regional Buses, Rental Cars

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Athens International Airport is located 12 miles east of the city centre

Athens International Airport is the largest airport in Greece and the only international airport in Athens. It is located 12 miles east of the city centre, in the town of Spata. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and former Prime Minister of Greece. It is the main base for Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines.

Athens International Airport is easily accessible by car, with parking available for travellers. For those travelling to the airport by car, the trip from downtown Athens can be made via the Metro line 3 (Nikea – Douk. Plakentias – Airport) – the blue line. This trip takes around 40 minutes.

The airport is also well-connected by public transport. The airport's train station is located less than 5 minutes away from the main terminal, with a passageway and moving walkway connecting the two. The metro runs every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, from 6:32 am to 11:32 pm. For those travelling to the airport by bus, the Athens Transport authority operates four 24-hour express bus lines. Tickets for these buses can be purchased from the ticket booth next to the bus departure point, from any ticket machine or open ticket office, or from the bus driver for €6.

Athens International Airport has two terminals – the main terminal and the satellite terminal. The main terminal houses all 153 check-in desks, with three separate levels for arrivals, departures, and a food court with a view of the eastern runway. The satellite terminal is accessible by an underground link from the main terminal and is used by several low-cost carriers, including Ryanair, Easyjet, and Vueling.

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It is named after Cretan political figure, Elefthérios Venizélos

Athens International Airport, officially named “El. Venizelos” and commonly initialised as AIA, is the largest airport in Greece. It is located in Spata, about 20km (12 miles) to the east of central Athens. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece. Venizelos made significant contributions to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s.

Athens International Airport is the primary base for Aegean Airlines and a focus airport for several smaller airlines. It is a modern airport with two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal, which can be accessed via 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 a total of 144-153 check-in desks, fourteen jet bridges, and eleven belt conveyors for luggage.

Athens Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe, serving over 24 million passengers annually. It is known for its modern infrastructure, passenger-friendly design, and cultural attractions, such as the Acropolis Exhibition. The airport offers a wide range of amenities and services, including ATMs, car rentals, eSIMs, luggage storage, shopping, taxis, VIP lounges, and Wi-Fi.

The construction of Athens International Airport began in 1998 and was completed in just over two years, opening on March 28, 2001, in time for the 2004 Olympic Games. The airport replaced the old Ellinikon International Airport, which had been in operation since 1938 but could no longer handle the increased passenger traffic. The new airport was designed to accommodate up to 50 million passengers annually and has received acclaim for its modern design and facilities.

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The airport is the largest in Greece

Athens International Airport, officially named Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, is the largest airport in Greece. It is located about 12 miles (20 kilometres) east of central Athens, between the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa. The airport began operations on 28 March 2001, in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics. It replaced the old Ellinikon International Airport, which had reached its maximum capacity, with no space for further expansion.

Athens International Airport is the main base of Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines. It is currently a member of Group 1 of Airports Council International, which consists of airports with more than 25 million passengers. In 2023, the airport handled about 28.17 million international and domestic passengers, a 10.2% increase from 2019. The airport currently has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal, which is accessible by an underground link from the main terminal. The main terminal has three levels, one each for arrivals and departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. It also has 14 jet bridges and 11 belt conveyors for luggage.

Athens International Airport covers an area of 16,000 acres (25.0 sq mi; 64.7 sq km), making it one of the largest airports in Europe and the world in terms of land area. The airport is designed for modular expansion to accommodate the growth in air travel. In March 2018, the airport issued a tender for its first physical expansion, with a total area of approximately 14,950 square metres over five levels.

The airport is well-connected to downtown Athens and the surrounding areas by various transportation options. These include taxis, limousines, the Athens Metro, suburban trains, local and regional buses, and onsite rental cars. The airport's train station is conveniently located at the departures level, with a passageway connecting it to the main building. Buses and taxis are easily accessible, with bus tickets available for purchase at the airport.

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It has two terminals: the main terminal and the satellite terminal

Athens International Airport, located about 12 miles east of Athens city centre, is the largest airport in Greece. It is the main base of Aegean Airlines and other smaller Greek airlines. The airport has two terminals: the main terminal and the satellite terminal.

The main terminal is equipped with 153 check-in desks, fourteen jet bridges, and eleven belt conveyors for luggage. It has three levels: one for arrivals, one for departures, and a food court level with a view of the eastern runway. Hall A of the main terminal is used for flights to non-Schengen and non-European countries, while Hall B handles flights to Intra-Schengen countries and domestic services.

The satellite terminal, accessible by an underground link from the main terminal, accommodates Schengen and non-Schengen area flights. It is used by several low-cost carriers, including Ryanair, Easyjet, and Wizz Air.

The airport is designed for modular expansion to accommodate increases in air travel. For example, in March 2018, the airport issued a tender for its first physical expansion, concerning the south wings of the main terminal. The construction project was completed by mid-2019, adding five levels and approximately 14,950 square meters of space.

Athens International Airport offers various ground transportation options, including taxis, limousines, the Athens Metro, suburban trains, local and regional buses, and onsite rental cars. The airport train station is located less than 5 minutes away from the main terminal via a passageway with a moving walkway.

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Ground transportation options include the Athens Metro, taxis, and buses

Athens International Airport is located 33 kilometres southeast of Athens. It is easily accessible via the Athens ring road (Attiki Odos). The drive from downtown Athens takes around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

There are several ground transportation options available to get from Athens International Airport to the city centre. These include the Athens Metro, taxis, and buses.

The Metro Line 3 connects the airport to the city centre (Syntagma Square) in around 40 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes, seven days a week, from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm. Tickets cost €9 one way and €16 for a return. Children, teenagers, and those over 65 benefit from a discounted rate of €4.50 one way.

The suburban railway (Proastiakos) is another option, connecting Athens Airport with Larissis Station, the central Athens railway station, in approximately 45 minutes. Trains depart from Athens Airport every 15 to 25 minutes to Doukissis Plakentias station, where you can transfer to the Athens Metro network using the same ticket.

Taxis are available outside Exit 3 of the Arrivals Level. The rate is determined by the time of arrival at the destination and includes all applicable surcharges. A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs a flat rate of €40 from 5 am to midnight and €55 from midnight to 5 am. It is recommended to pre-book your taxi to avoid overcharging and waiting times of up to 40 minutes.

Buses offer a more affordable option, although the journey will take longer than a taxi. 24-hour express buses connect Athens International Airport with the port of Piraeus and the Intercity Bus Terminal (KTEL Kifissos). These non-stop services operate daily, including public holidays. Bus tickets are sold at the ticket booth outside the Arrivals hall (between Exits 4 and 5). One-way tickets cost €5.50, with discounted rates available for children, teenagers, and those over 65.

Frequently asked questions

Athens International Airport, also known as Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, is located about 12 miles east of the city centre.

The airport is easily accessible via the Athens Metro, suburban trains, local and regional buses, taxis, limousines, and onsite rental cars.

The airport is located about 20 kilometres or 12 miles from central Athens.

Athens International Airport is the main base of Aegean Airlines, as well as other smaller Greek airlines. such as Olympic Air, Ryanair, Easyjet, and SkyGreece Airlines.

Athens International Airport has two terminals, the main terminal and the satellite terminal. The main terminal has three levels for arrivals, departures, and a food court with a view of the eastern runway. The airport also has fourteen jet bridges and eleven belt conveyors for luggage.

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