Athens International Airport

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Athens International Airport
"Elefthérios Venizélos"
Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών
"Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος"


Athens International Airport logo
IATA: ATH – ICAO: LGAV
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Greek Government
Operator Athens International Airport S.A
Serves Athens, Greece
Location Spata, Greece
Elevation AMSL 308 ft / 94 m
Coordinates 37°56′11″N 23°56′40″E / 37.93639, 23.94444
Website www.aia.gr
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03R/21L 13,123 4,000 Asphalt
03L/21R 12,467 3,800 Asphalt
Statistics (2007)
Passengers 16,538,390
Aircraft operations 205,294
Cargo 118,972,376 kg (117,093 LT/131,145 ST)
Sources: Passengers[1] Flights[2] Cargo[3]

Athens International Airport (Greek: Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών, Diethnís Aeroliménas Athinón) 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 for Olympic Airlines, Greece's state-owned airline, as well as for Aegean Airlines. The airport serves more than 16 million travellers annually and was named after the Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos. The airport has become increasingly popular as a gateway to Southeast and East Asia, with flights to Bangkok, Doha, Singapore, and Beijing, and is the largest European gateway airport to the Middle East, due to its proximity to the region. It is known for its continual investment in pioneering technology. The airport is also A380 ready, having been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.[4]

Contents

[edit] General information

The airport was opened in 2001 to replace the now-closed Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport. 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 in the Cretan rising against the Ottoman occupation of Crete in 1896.

The airport currently has two terminals: the Main Terminal, and the Satellite Terminal accessible by a foot-tunnel from the Main Terminal. It has two runways that are each approximately 4 km (2 mi) in length. The airport was developed by public-private partnership with Greece holding 55% of the shares. It is regarded as one of Europe's most expensive airports, with restaurants and cafes paying very high rents, and airline companies paying very high landing fees.[citation needed] The airport was awarded "European Airport of the Year" in 2004, within the framework of the annual Institute of Transport Management (ITM) Awards, for its innovative entrepreneurial scheme and the airport's successful operation and achievements.

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 allows the airport to accommodate 16 million passengers a year; the sixth phase will allow the airport to accommodate as many as 50 million passengers a year. In 2007, the airport handled 16,538,645 passengers, 9.7% more than in 2006.[1]

It is also an airport that has received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency[4] and the Federal Aviation Administration[4] for take-offs and landings of the biggest passenger jet worldwide, the Airbus A380.[4]

Interchange at the Attiki Odos near the Athens International Airport.
Interchange at the Attiki Odos near the Athens International Airport.

In 2005 and 2006, the Airport was awarded the Skytrax award for best airport in Southern Europe.

[edit] Ground transport

[edit] Road

The airport is accessible by the Attiki Odos toll highway. The part of the highway which leads directly to the airport is toll free and is accessible through Koropi and Markopoulo Mesogaias. The cost of the toll is €2.70.

[edit] Taxi

Taxis don't have a fixed price to and from the airport. However, there is a standard airport fee (€3.20 to and from the airport), a standard luggage fee (€0.30 per luggage) and the cost of tolls if Attiki Odos is used. The average price from and to the city centre during the day is €25, and €40 during the night hours (00:00-05:00).

[edit] Rail

A rail station immediately adjacent to the airport terminal (and accessible by an elevated walkway) was completed in time for the 2004 Olympics. The station is served by line 3 of the Athens Metro and by the Proastiakos suburban train service. The metro ticket costs €6 for 1 person, €10 for 2 persons and €15 for 3 persons. Children pay 50% off the normal ticket. The average travel time from the airport to the city centre is 40 minutes.

[edit] Bus

Three bus lines are available 24/7 at the lower level of the terminal. During early morning hours, they leave and reach the airport every 30 minutes, whereas in the afternoon and evening hours, the frequency is 15 minutes. The bus ticket can be purchased onboard or at the ticket stand next to the station and costs €3.20.

[edit] Services and Facilities

Athens International Airport also boasts many services and facilities for the convenience of all passengers. Services and Facilities include:

  • Children's Creative Entertainment Centre (Free of charge supervised play area)
  • ATM's (Greek Alpha and Emporiki Banks)
  • Currency Exchange Outlets
  • WSW Skycap Services (Baggage Hauling and Porter Service)
  • Secure Bag Protection (Baggage Wrapping Service)
  • Massage Chairs
  • Hair Salon
  • Travel Agencies
  • Car Rentals (Avis, Budget Rent a Car, Europcar, Hertz, Alamo Rent A Car and Sixt)
  • Baggage storage service
  • Airport business centre
  • Airport Hotel (Sofitel Athens Airport)

[edit] Airport Hotel

The airport hotel, Sofitel Athens Airport is located adjacent to the Main Terminal outside the Extra/Intra Schengen Arrivals Hall. The 5-star hotel is complete with 345 rooms, 13 suites, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, 24-hour room service, conference and meeting rooms, indoor swimming pool, indoor sauna and a fitness centre.

[edit] Awards

  • European Airport of the Year - 2004
  • Skytrax award for best Airport in Southern Europe - 2005 and 2006[5]
  • GreenBuilding Award for its exemplary energy saving figures reflected in the two previous years (2006, 2007) - 2008[6]

[edit] 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:

  • Alitalia 'Donatello' Lounge
  • Goldair Handling CIP Lounge
  • Aegean Airlines CIP Lounge
  • Lufthansa 'Senator' Lounge
  • Olympic Airlines 'Melina Merkouri' Lounge
  • Olympic Airlines 'Aristotelis Onassis' Lounge
  • British Airways 'Terraces' Lounge
  • Swissport 'Executive' Lounge

[edit] Robotic security

Visual Communication
Visual Communication
Athens International Airport Main Terminal.
Athens International Airport Main Terminal.
Outside Elefthérios Venizélos Main Terminal
Outside Elefthérios Venizélos Main Terminal

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.

[edit] Terminals

Athens International Airport has two terminal buildings, the Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal. All check-in desks are located in the Main Terminal, and the Satellite terminal is easily accessible through an underground link complete with moving walkways.

[edit] Main Terminal

The Main Terminal Building handles the majority of Extra and Intra Schengen flights, it has three separate levels, one for arrivals, one for departures and a food court level complete with a view of the eastern runway.

[edit] Satellite Terminal

The Satellite Terminal handles Extra Schengen flights only. It has two levels, one for arrivals and the other for departures.

[edit] Airport Shopping Centre

For 6 consecutive years, the Shopping Centre of Athens International Airport has been ranked amongst the top Shopping Centres of the finest European Airports.[citation needed] Over 50 Greek and International stores, restaurants and cafes dominate the airports' terminals. Some include:

  • Swatch Watch
  • Tie Rack
  • Korres Natural Products
  • Accessorize
  • The Cartoon Store
  • Reebok
  • Metropolis
  • Esprit
  • Bvlgari
  • Hermes
  • Hugo Boss
  • Diesel
  • Burberry
  • Timberland
  • Nautica
  • Lacoste
  • Hellenic Duty Free and Travel Value
  • Germanos
  • Mc Donalds
  • Mc Cafe
  • The Olive Tree
  • Everest
  • Kafenio
  • Sbarro
  • Upper Crust

[edit] Incidents and accidents

[edit] Airlines and destinations

[edit] Cargo Airlines

[edit] Former Airlines and Destinations

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Athens International Airport: Passenger Traffic Development 2007. Athens International Airport. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  2. ^ Athens International Airport: Aircraft Movements Development 2007. Athens International Airport. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  3. ^ Athens International Airport: Cargo Uplift Development 2007. Athens International Airport. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  4. ^ a b c d Athens International Airport (2007-10-17). "Athens International Airport: Diversion airport for A380 flight". Press release. Retrieved on 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.”
  5. ^ Airport of the Year - Regional Results. Skytrax. www.worldairportawards.com (2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  6. ^ Athens International Airport - “GreenBuilding” Award for saving energy. Athens International Airport. www.aia.gr (May 08, 2008). Retrieved on May 14, 2008.

[edit] External links