Athens International Airport (ATH)
History, Facts and Overview

(Athens, Greece)

A major airport for the city of Athens was planned for many years as a replacement for the 60-year-old Ellinikon International Airport. In 1997, the city's new airport moved a step further towards reality when Athens was announced to be the host of the 2004 Olympic Games. By March 2001, Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) was fully operational after just 51 weeks of construction work and at the cost of more than €2 billion.

Athens Airport was immediately heaving with passengers and quickly become one of the most important gateways into the south-eastern region of Europe. In 2002, the airport served almost 12 million passengers and began to win a series of prestigious awards. The airport is named after Elefthérios Kyriakos Venizélos, a famous Greek politician from the early 1900s.


The facilities at Athens Airport are a step up from most airports and travellers will find amenities and services to meet their every need. Essential financial services, such as banks and ATMs are available, as well as a wide range of shopping and dining options, designed to make your stay at the airport more comfortable. Airport shops number more than 50 and include designer fashion outlets such as Boss Hugo Boss, Diesel, Hermes, Massimo Dutti and Timberland, all of which are clustered together in departures.

In total there are around 15 eateries of various descriptions at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, serving everything from freshly made coffee to a feast of Mediterranean dishes. Fine dining is available at the Olive Tree restaurant on the second floor. The airport's business facilities are superb, with media and business centres offering comprehensive business services.