Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport "Elefthérios Venizélos" Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος" | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Public/Private consortium[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Athens International Airport S.A | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Athens, Greece | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Spata, Greece | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 308 ft / 94 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°56′11″N 23°56′40″E / 37.93639°N 23.94444°E | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www.aia.gr | ||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2010) | |||||||||||||||
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Athens International Airport (Template:Lang-el) known as "Elefthérios Venizélos", Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος) (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV), which began operation on 29 March 2001, is the civilian airport that serves the city of Athens and the region of Attica. The airport is the major hub and base of Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air. The airport serves more than 15 million travellers annually and was named after the distinguished Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos. The airport has become increasingly popular as a gateway to Asia and the Middle East. It is also known for its continuous investment in pioneering technology, and is Airbus A380 ready, having been certified as such by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.[5] On the 13th April 2011, history in the airport was made as an Emirates Airbus A380 from Dubai en route to Manchester, had to make a landing at Athens as one of the passengers, a 49 year old woman on-board the flight suffered a heart attack in-flight over Turkey. Many people, such as aviation enthusiasts gathered to see the first ever A380 land at Athens Airport.
General information
The airport was opened in March 2001 to replace the now-closed Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport. The first arrival was an Olympic Airways flight from Montreal and the second one was an Olympic Aviation flight from Kythira. The first departure was a KLM flight to Amsterdam. The airport 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 an outstanding contribution to the development of Greek aviation and the Hellenic Air Force in the 1930s.
The airport currently has two terminals: the Main Terminal, and the Satellite Terminal accessible by a foot-tunnel from the Main Terminal. As of 2009, a new above ground link to the midfield satellite terminal is under construction with a completion date by the end of 2010.[6] Once completed, the complex will be used as a Schengen facility.[6] It has two runways that are each approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) long. The airport was developed by public-private partnership with Greece holding 55% of the shares.
The airport is designed to be upgraded over the ensuing years in order to accommodate the increase in air travel, and its upgrades are planned in a six-phase framework. The first (current) phase initially allowed the airport to accommodate 16 million passengers a year, but was upgraded to 21 million passengers a year with out progressing to the next phase thanks primarily to IT advances.[6] The sixth phase will allow the airport to accommodate as many as 50 million passengers a year. The current runways are designed to accommodate 50 million passengers a year with the completion of the sixth phase.[6] In 2010, the airport handled 15,411,952 passengers, 5% less than in 2009.[2]
It is also an airport that has received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency[5] and the Federal Aviation Administration[5] for take-offs and landings of the biggest passenger jet worldwide, the Airbus A380.[5]
The first Airbus A380 made an emergency landing at 'Eleftherios Venizelos' Athens International Airport on the 13th April 2011 as a passenger suffered a heart attack
It is also among the 30 busiest airports in Europe.
In 2005 and 2006, the Airport was awarded the Skytrax award for best airport in Southern Europe.
Terminals
- Main Terminal
The Main Terminal Building handles the all intra-Schengen flights, as well as several non-Schengen flights. All check-in desks are located in the Main Terminal. It has three separate levels, one for arrivals, one for departures and a food court level complete with a view of the eastern runway.
- Satellite Terminal
The Satellite Terminal handles non-Schengen flights only. It is easily accessible through an underground link complete with moving walkways. As of 2009, part of the Satellite Terminal is closed and a new above ground link to the midfield satellite terminal is under construction with a completion date by the end of 2010. Once completed, the complex will be used as a Schengen facility.[6] It has two levels, one for arrivals and the other for departures.
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations | Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Adria Airways | Seasonal: Ljubljana | B |
| Aegean Airlines | Istanbul-Atatürk, Larnaca, London-Heathrow, Moscow-Domodedovo [begins 29 April], Tel Aviv | A |
| Aegean Airlines | Alexandroupolis, Barcelona, Berlin-Tegel, Bologna, Brussels, Chania, Chios, Corfu, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Heraklion, Kalamata, Kos, Madrid, Milan-Malpensa, Munich, Mykonos, Mytilene, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rhodes, Rome-Fiumicino, Samos, Santorini, Sitia, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki Seasonal: Venice-Marco Polo | B |
| Aer Lingus | Seasonal: Dublin | A |
| Aeroflot | Moscow-Sheremetyevo | A |
| Aerosvit Airlines | Donetsk, Kiev-Boryspil, Odessa | A |
| Air Canada | Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson | A |
| Air China | Beijing-Capital [resumes 11 May], Munich [begins 11 May] | A |
| Air France | Paris-Charles de Gaulle | B |
| Air Malta | Malta, Sofia | B |
| Air Méditerranée | Paris-Charles de Gaulle | B |
| Air Moldova | Chişinău | A |
| Air One | Milan-Malpensa [begins 19 September], Pisa [begins 1 July] | B |
| Air Transat | Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson | A |
| AirBaltic | Seasonal: Riga | B |
| Alitalia | Naples, Rome-Fiumicino | B |
| Armavia | Yerevan | A |
| Austrian Airlines | Vienna | B |
| Austrian operated by Tyrolean Airways | Seasonal: Vienna | B |
| Belle Air | Tirana | A |
| Blue1 | Seasonal: Helsinki | B |
| British Airways | London-Heathrow | A |
| Brussels Airlines | Brussels | B |
| Bulgaria Air | Sofia | A |
| Carpatair | Timişoara | A |
| Cimber Sterling | Seasonal:Copenhagen | B |
| Continental Airlines | Seasonal: Newark | A |
| Croatia Airlines | Seasonal: Dubrovnik [begins 31 May], Zagreb | A |
| Cyprus Airways | Larnaca, Paphos | A |
| Czech Airlines | Prague | B |
| Darwin Airline | Seasonal: Geneva, Nice | B |
| Delta Air Lines | New York–JFK Seasonal: Atlanta | A |
| Donbassaero | Donetsk[7] | A |
| EasyJet | Edinburgh [begins 20 September], London-Gatwick, Manchester | A |
| EasyJet | Berlin-Schönefeld, Milan-Malpensa, Paris-Orly, Rome-Fiumicino | B |
| EgyptAir | Cairo | A |
| El Al | Tel Aviv | A |
| Emirates | Dubai | A |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi | A |
| Georgian Airways | Tbilisi | A |
| Germanwings | Seasonal: Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart | B |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain | A |
| Hellenic Imperial Airways | Seasonal: Johannesburg | A |
| Iberia | Madrid | B |
| Jat Airways | Belgrade | A |
| Jetairfly | Seasonal: Brussels-South Charleroi | B |
| KLM | Amsterdam | B |
| Libyan Airlines | Tripoli | A |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Warsaw Seasonal: Kraków | B |
| Lufthansa | Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich | B |
| Malév Hungarian Airlines | Budapest | B |
| Meridiana Fly | Seasonal: Milan-Malpensa, Verona | B |
| Middle East Airlines | Beirut | A |
| Norwegian Air Shuttle | Copenhagen, Oslo-Rygge, Stockholm-Arlanda | B |
| Olympic Air | Belgrade, Bucharest-Henri Coandă, Cairo, Istanbul-Atatürk, Larnaca, Sofia, Tirana | A |
| Olympic Air | Alexandroupolis, Amsterdam, Astypalaia, Chania, Chios, Corfu, Heraklion, Ikaria, Ioannina, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, Kythira, Lemnos, Leros, Milos, Mykonos, Mytilene, Naxos, Paris-Charles de Gaulle [ends 2 May], Paros, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Syros, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos | B |
| Pegasus Airlines operated by IZair | Izmir | A |
| Qatar Airways | Doha | A |
| Rossiya | Seasonal: St.Petesburg | A |
| Royal Jordanian | Amman-Queen Alia | A |
| Scandinavian Airlines | Copenhagen Seasonal: Stockholm-Arlanda | B |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | A |
| Sky Express | Heraklion, Kastoria, Kozani, Preveza [begins 14 June], Sitia, Skyros, Zakynthos [begins 6 June] | B |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Geneva, Zürich | B |
| Syrian Air | Aleppo, Damascus | A |
| TAP Portugal | Lisbon [begins 5 June] | B |
| TAROM | Bucharest-Henri Coandă | A |
| Thai Airways International | Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi | A |
| Transaero Airlines | St Petersburg | A |
| Transavia.com | Amsterdam | B |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul-Atatürk | A |
| Tunisair | Tunis | A |
| US Airways | Seasonal: Philadelphia | A |
| Uzbekistan Airways | Tashkent | A |
| Viking Hellas | Arbil, Baghdad, Manchester, Sulaymaniyah, Winter Seasonal:Frankfurt,Stockholm-Arlanda | A |
| Vueling Airlines | Barcelona | B |
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Cargo airlines
| Airlines | Destinations | Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Airgo Airlines | Alexandroupolis, Astypalaia, Chania, Chios, Corfu, Heraklion, Ikaria, Ioannina, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kavala, Kefalonia, Kos, Kythira, Lemnos, Leros, Milos, Mykonos, Mytilene, Naxos, Paros, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Syros, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos | Cargo |
| DHL | Leipzig/Halle | Cargo |
| DHL Aviation operated by DHL Air UK | Leipzig/Halle | Cargo |
| FedEx Express | Frankfurt, Newark, Memphis | Cargo |
| FedEx Feeder operated by Air Contractors | Dublin | Cargo |
| Lufthansa Cargo | Frankfurt | Cargo |
| Royal Jordanian Cargo | Amman, Cologne | Cargo |
| Star Air | Copenhagen | Cargo |
| TNT Airways | Liège, Milan-Orio al Serio | Cargo |
| UPS Airlines | Ljubljana, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle | Cargo |
Ground transport
Road
The airport is accessible by the Attiki Odos toll highway from the center 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.[8] Long-term parking is located across the airport's main access road (Attiki Odos) with 5,802 parking spaces in lot P3.[9] 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.[10]
Currently, all of the parking lots are exposed to the elements. As of 2009, a new 3,800 space multi-story parking structure is in the design phase and is expected to open in the summer of 2011.[6]
Taxi
Taxis are available at the designated Taxi waiting area located by exit 3 of the arrivals level.[11] Limousine service is also available upon request by the inner curbside of the arrivals level between exits 3 and 4.[11]
Rail
A rail station immediately adjacent to the airport terminal is accessible by an elevated walkway. The station is served by both the Athens Metro and Suburban rail service Proastiakos. The station is connected with line 3 of the Athens Metro,[12] while it is also connected to the Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis Station) and the port of Pireaus as well as to Corinth via Proastiakos.[13]
Bus
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Four bus lines (X93, X95, X96, X97) connect directly to the Athens greater area, the intercity bus stations (KTEL Kiffisos and Lionson Stations) and Piraeus.[14] Buses disembark passengers at the departures leveland depart from the arrivals levelbetween exits 4 and 5.[14]
Regional bus services by KTEL Express also operate to the airport, currently connecting the airport to Rafina, Markopoulo, Lavrio, Kalyvia, and Keratea.[14] Passengers disembark at the departures level, and depart from the arrivals level between exits 2 and 3.[14]
Awards
- European Airport of the Year - 2004
- Skytrax award for best Airport in Southern Europe - 2005,2006 and 2008[15]
- GreenBuilding Award for its exemplary energy saving figures reflected in the two previous years (2006, 2007) - 2008[16]
Airline lounges
Many airline users of Athens International Airport operate luxurious and modern passenger lounges. First and Business Class passengers of the respective airlines and partner alliances can enjoy lounge facilities at the airport. Airline lounges at the airport include:
- Aegean Airlines CIP Lounge
- British Airways 'Terraces' Lounge
- Goldair Handling CIP Lounge
- Lufthansa 'Senator' Lounge
- Olympic Air 'Melina Merkouri' Lounge
- Olympic Air 'Aristotelis Onassis' Lounge
- Swissport 'Executive' Lounge
Robotic security
The airport is equipped with two robotic systems (robots "Hercules" and "Ulysses") capable of handling suspect devices. They are designed to protect the lives of individuals as well as airport spaces by safely identifying and removing explosives.
Hercules was donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. It is a system capable of the safe collection and transportation of explosives for disposal. It is equipped with a spherical shaped tank with a diameter of 120 cm, and two robotic folding arms.
Ulysses is a system worth €94,000, donated by Soukos Robots ABEE. This system was manufactured in order to serve as a supplement to Hercules. It can access more difficult areas than Hercules such as toilets, buses or aircraft. It is a light but highly efficient robot, equipped with a shock-absorbing system allowing movements on rough surfaces.
References
- ^ Staff (2007). "AIA Shareholder Scheme". Aia.gr. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
- ^ a b http://www.aia.gr/UserFiles/File/trafficStatistics/2010/dec/164718_pax_dec_2010_EN.pdf
- ^ "Athens International Airport: Aircraft Movements Development 2010" (PDF). Athens International Airport. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
- ^ "Athens International Airport: Cargo in 2010" (PDF). Athens International Airport. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
- ^ a b c d "Athens International Airport: Diversion airport for A380 flight" (Press release). Athens International Airport. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
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.
- ^ a b c d e f Bates, Joe. "Positive Thinking" (PDF). Airport World. 14 (1). Airports Council International - www.aci.aero.
- ^ http://www.donbass.aero/m1/en/services/index
- ^ "Short Term Parking (P1 & P2)". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Long Term Parking (P3)". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Executive Valet Parking". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Taxi & Limo Service". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Metro". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Suburban Rail". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Bus Services". Athens International Airport. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ "Airport of the Year - Regional Results". Skytrax. www.worldairportawards.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "Athens International Airport - "GreenBuilding" Award for saving energy". Athens International Airport. www.aia.gr. May 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
External links
