The Terminals at ATH Airport
Are you flying to Athens Airport? Although the airport has two terminal buildings, you’ll most likely land at the main terminal, as it serves the vast majority of flights. In fact, it is the only operating terminal for most of the year. The Satellite terminal operates only during the peak tourist season (approximately May to October), when the main terminal becomes congested. It is open seasonally, exclusively to ease the main terminal’s operations. The two terminals lie within walking distance, interconnected via an underground passageway. There are moving walkways in the underground link, and overall, passengers don’t need more than 15 minutes to travel between the two buildings.
The main terminal is divided into two sections: Hall A and Hall B. Non-Schengen flights are handled in Hall A, while Hall B is dedicated to Schengen and domestic flights. Arrivals are located on the Ground level. On the other hand, when the Satellite terminal is open, it serves low-cost and charter flights to and from Schengen countries. Its Ground level also houses Arrivals.
Airlines Present at Each Terminal
Main Terminal's Airlines
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Albania, Air Arabia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air Haifa, Air Serbia, Air Transat, American Airlines, Arkia Israeli Airlines, Austrian, Bluebird Airways, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Croatia Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Delta, easyJet, EgyptAir, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fly Play, Gulf Air, Iberia, ISRAIR Airlines, ITA Airways, Jet2, JUNEYAO Airlines, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MEA, Norse Atlantic Airways, Norwegian Air Intl, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Olympic Air, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, SAS, Saudia, Scoot, Sichuan Airlines, Sky Express, SKYUP Airlines, Swiss, TAROM, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, United, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air.
Satellite Terminal's Airlines
Air Transat, Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Eurowings, Norwegian, Transavia, Transavia France, TUIfly Belgium, Wizz Air, and Delta Air Lines. Please note that the Satellite terminal operates seasonally, and the airlines using it can vary from year to year.
Athens Airport Arrivals: Necessary Procedures
The airport procedures for arriving passengers vary based on the departure location. If you are an EU citizen traveling within the Schengen zone, your airport experience will be considerably quicker. The same applies if you are a national of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland traveling from a Schengen country to Athens. Once you disembark the plane, simply follow the signs toward the baggage claim area, collect your luggage from the belt assigned to your flight, and exit the airside area of El. Venizelos. Once you reach the pre-security area of Arrivals, you should head to the nearest exit doors to catch a taxi or meet your pickup, or go up to the Departures level to access the metro and railway station. The bus stop is located outside Exits 4 and 5, while the shuttle bus to the Long-Term and Economy Parking Lots departs from outside Exit 3. The short-term parking facilities are within walking distance.
Things are different if you hold an EU passport or ID, or are a citizen of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland, and you are flying to Athens Airport from a non-Schengen destination. In that case, you’ll need to go through passport control before reaching the baggage claim area. Passport control is operated by the Hellenic Police. However, if your passport is biometric, you can proceed directly to the e-Passport points. Overall, the self-service border checkpoints usually have much shorter waiting times. The service is available to passengers older than 12. Once you pass through passport control, you can proceed to the baggage reclaim area and retrieve your luggage. The next step is customs. Before exiting the baggage claim area, you must go through customs. The customs office oversees the import and transport of goods, ensuring that no prohibited items enter Greece and that quantity limits or certification requirements are respected. Are you carrying a large amount of cash? If you’re traveling with an amount of money exceeding 10.000€/11.685$, you must declare it. The customs office is your last stop. After that, you can reach the Arrivals Hall, exit the terminal, and make your way to Athens.
Are you a non-EU citizen? Do you not hold a Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic, or Liechtenstein passport? If you’re traveling from outside the Schengen zone, you’ll go through the same procedures as EU/EEA/Swiss nationals arriving from a non-Schengen country. You must go through passport control, retrieve your luggage, clear customs, and then you can exit the terminal and continue to your final destination in Athens. That being said, border control for non-EU travelers changed on October 12, 2025, making the procedure simpler and faster. The new EES (Entry/Exit System) allows non-EU passengers entering a Schengen destination for a short stay (up to 90 days within 180 days) to use biometric data instead of the traditional passport stamping. If you have a biometric passport, you can present your travel documents and biometric data (face scans, fingerprints, etc.) at the self-service points. The border guard will instantly verify them and either grant or deny access, while you may be asked additional questions. The system records all entries to and departures from the EU, as well as any refusals of entry or exit. This new procedure is considered highly efficient and is expected to significantly reduce waiting times at passport control.
The Baggage Claim Areas
Both terminals have their baggage claim areas on the Ground level. The main terminal features 11 baggage carousels spread across its two halls. Flight information monitors in the area display the belt number assigned to each flight. Baggage carousels 1–5 are located in Hall A, the extra-Schengen zone of the terminal. Once you exit that area, Exit Doors 1 and 2 are the closest to you. On the other hand, baggage belts 6-11 can be found at Hall B, the terminal’s zone dedicated to Schengen and domestic flights. Exit Doors 4 and 5 are the nearest to this area.
Luggage carts are available throughout the baggage claim areas. You can use them to carry your luggage up to your pick-up point, the airport’s taxi rank, the bus stop, or even the car parks and the railway station. The service isn’t complimentary, but it’s inexpensive. It costs just 1€/1.17$ to use one of the luggage trolleys, while you can pay the fee using cash (coins or banknotes), or via a credit card. Additionally, if you’re looking for a more convenient and relaxing option, the Facility Experts company provides porter services, operating 24 hours a day.
The Pick-Up Zones
If you plan to pick up someone from Athens International Airport, note that there are designated pick-up zones right outside the Arrivals area, separated by barriers. Motorists can park in the spaces on either side (left or right) for up to 10 minutes free of charge, with a maximum of two entries per day. Once the 10-minute time limit expires, a fee applies. Thus, if you stay at the pick-up area for 20 minutes in total, you’ll pay 5€/5.85$, while each additional minute is charged 1€/1.17$. Payments can be made at the automatic machines in cash or via cards. It’s important to remember that a total of 60 minutes is allowed. After that time, your car may be towed. Alternatively, all the airport’s parking lots allow 20 minutes of free parking.
Flight Delays and Cancellations
If you are picking up a passenger from the airport, keeping track of the flight schedule is crucial to make your own plans as well. Flight delays and cancellations may occur at any moment, anyway. For any information, you can call the ATH call center at +30 210 353000, and check the status of a flight by entering its number, or speak directly with a staff member. Information counters are also available landside in the main terminal’s Arrivals area near Exit 3. They are staffed around the clock. The Satellite terminal has only one information desk, located airside.
However, the easiest way to stay up-to-date is to check the flight status table above.
FAQs
How long does it take to get through Athens Airport Arrivals?
Overall, it doesn’t take long to go through Arrivals at Athens Airport. Still, if you’re traveling with hold luggage, you may stall at the baggage claim area, especially if numerous flights arrive simultaneously. Moreover, if you’re a non-EU citizen or arriving from a non-Schengen destination, you’ll need to go through passport control and clear customs. Therefore, the process is much more time-consuming. As a general guideline, you should expect to complete the relevant procedures in 20-40 minutes.
Do you have to go through customs at Athens Airport?
If you’re arriving at Athens Airport from a non-Schengen destination, you’ll need to go through passport control and clear customs. The customs office is located in the baggage claim area. Therefore, you must collect your luggage and pass through customs before exiting the baggage claim zone and the airside part of the terminal.
Where is the baggage claim area located?
The baggage claim area at Athens Airport (main terminal) is located on the Ground level and serves both Hall A (non-Schengen destinations) and Hall B (Schengen destinations), featuring a total of 11 baggage carousels. On the other hand, the baggage reclaim zone of the Satellite terminal can also be found on its Ground floor.