The Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, common initialized as AIA and sometimes refered to its IATA code of ATH, is the main Greek airport serving Athens and the region of Attica. With 20 million passengers a year, the airport is the 25th busiest airport in Europe.
Athens International Airport opened in 2001 and replaced the now closed Athens Eilinikon Airport which was unable to grow anymore. Debate about a new airport started in the 1970s and finally in 1991 the decision was made to build the US$ 2 billion airport on this location. The Greek debt-crisis has also hit the airport: airlines cut their flights and passenger numbers were down by 25 % in 2013. Last years has seen a strong growth again with national carrier Aegean Air adding many destinations and also the decision of Ryanair to make Athens Airport a hub helped as well. Total passengers has recovered and reached pre-crisis levels again.
Most flights from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos are to Frankfurt and to Munich but there are many more flights to other destinations as well, most of them by Aegean Airlines. Every day there are flights to 15 destinations from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos. Here are the most popular destinations:
The airport has two terminals: the main and a satellite terminal which are connected to each other by underground link. All the check-in desks are in the main terminal. In summer when it is busy, the satellite terminal has the gates for non-Schengen flights while the main terminal has gates for Schengen only flights. In winter time the satellite terminal will be closed and all traffic will be handled in the main terminal.
Athens International Airport is located 25 km east of the city center.
Athens International Airport has excellent public transport option.
Just next to the terminal, reachable by walkway, is the Airport Railway station for trains and metro. Athens Metro line #3 is extended to the airport with regular twice-hourly departures. The metro will reach the downtown Syntagma and Manastiraki stations in about 45 minutes. Tickets can be bought at the vending machine, don't forget to validate your ticket later at the platform. One-way ticket cost 10 euro.
Alternatively you can take a train but to get to the city center you would need to transfer at Ano Liossia Station to Line 2 of the metro. Tickets are 10 euro as well.
Express buses operate 24 hours a day and run several time an hour. Several lines depart for destinations in Athens, a ticket is 6 euros.
Taxis are waiting outside exit number 3 and have a fixed-fee for a ride into the city depending on your destination. During the day it will cost 38 euro, in the night 54 euro, often excluding toll.
All prices quoted here were found in July 2017
