Athens International Airport
Athens Airport, known by the name El. Venizelos, after the prominent Greek prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos, who played a key role in shaping the country’s modern history, is the largest and busiest Greek airport. Moreover, it ranks among the twenty busiest airports in Europe as well as one of the main aviation hubs in the Balkans. Its passenger traffic rises significantly during the summer months, when millions of tourists choose Greece as their vacation destination to enjoy the sun, the crystal-clear beaches, and its numerous historic and cultural attractions. So, if you are departing from ATH Airport, you shouldn’t expect an empty airport. Especially during the peak tourist season, Athens Airport tends to get quite crowded.
Athens Airport Terminals
Athens Airport features two terminal buildings: the main terminal and the satellite terminal. The Satellite terminal isn’t open year-round but operates mainly during peak times to decongest the main terminal’s traffic. Overall, this means it’s mostly used in the summer months. So, if you’re flying from ATH Airport, chances are your departure will be from the main terminal. In any case, the two terminals are interconnected via an underground passage. Moving walkways are also available. Passengers generally don’t take more than 15 minutes to get from one terminal to the other.
Which Airlines Operate at Each Terminal
Airlines at the Main Terminal
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.
Airlines at the Satellite Terminal
Air Transat, Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Eurowings, Norwegian, Transavia, Transavia France, TUIfly Belgium, Wizz Air, and Delta Air Lines.
How Early to Get to the Airport
So, how early should you get to Athens Airport for your flight? If you are flying to a Schengen destination, including Greek cities, arriving at the airport around 2 hours before the flight’s departure should be enough to complete the relevant procedures. Some passengers opt for a 1-hour time frame before the flight when their destination is domestic. Still, if the airport is busy and you have checked luggage to drop off, a 1-hour time frame can be quite tight. On the other hand, if you are traveling to an international destination that isn’t part of the Schengen zone, you should allow 3 hours to go through airport procedures.
Departures from Athens Airport: The Airport Procedures
The first step toward an air journey is check-in. There are various check-in options for ATH passengers. Online check-in services are provided by the majority of airlines, available 24 to 48 hours before the flight. Alternatively, there are check-in counters in the Departures area of the airport. Information screens display the desk dedicated to each airline. Please note that not all airlines offer this option. Therefore, web check-in may be the only choice for some flights. Lastly, self-service kiosks (CUSS kiosks) can also be found inside the terminal building. That being said, the service is provided only by certain airlines. Do you have checked luggage? You’ll need to drop it off at the check-in desks. Some airlines allow luggage tag printing at self-service counters. If your airline provides this service, you can print the luggage tag and drop your baggage off at the designated counter without going to the check-in desks.
If you’re traveling only with hand luggage and have checked in online, you can proceed directly at the security screening area.
Security control is the next procedure in line. All passengers must go through security, passing through metal detectors and having their bags and personal items scanned by X-ray machines. Once you’ve passed through security control, you’ll reach the airside part of the terminal. Now, all you need to do is find your boarding gate and proceed there on time to have your passport/ID and boarding pass checked before boarding the plane. The boarding gates typically open 40-50 minutes before departure. The boarding gate for each flight appears on the flight information screens around 1-1.5 hours before the scheduled departure time. However, the departing gate may change unexpectedly. Therefore, you should always check the information monitors for any updates. Keep in mind that the main terminal houses Gates A and B, while Gates C are located in the Satellite terminal, 15 minutes away from the main building on foot.
That’s the departure procedure for travelers to domestic and Schengen destinations. If your destination is a non-Schengen country, you’ll also need to go through passport control once you complete the security screening procedure. You’ll spot two lines: one for EU citizens and one for all other passengers. If you hold a biometric passport issued by a member country of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, or Liechtenstein, you can also use the self-service gates. You’ll be asked to present your passport and boarding pass during passport control. Additionally, extra documents, such as a visa or vaccination certificates, may also be required depending on the destination. Thus, apart from check-in, baggage drop-off, and security screening, international passengers to non-Schengen destinations must also go through passport control. That’s why they are advised to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight.
What to Do While Waiting for Your Departure
Have you completed the departure procedures at Athens Airport quickly and have some time to spare in the airside zone? You’ll find several things to do during your free time. El. Venizelos houses a wide variety of shopping facilities, along with restaurants, bars, and cafes. Indulge yourself in a shopping spree or enjoy Mediterranean cuisine. Alternatively, beauty services are also available, while the main terminal features several cultural attractions, including the Eleftherios Venizelos at Athens International Airport exhibition, the Exhibition of Archaeological Findings, and the Acropolis Museum exhibition. Moreover, temporary exhibitions and cultural events also take place inside the terminal. Thus, every visit to Athens Airport is always an enriched experience. Finally, if you want to rest and relax in a cozy and luxurious environment before your flight, you can visit one of the lounges scattered around terminals.
How to Arrive at Athens International Airport
You can opt for a taxi ride or book a luxurious private airport transfer to get to Athens Airport. Moreover, four bus lines link Athens to El. Venizelos, traveling from Kifissos KTEL, Piraeus, Port, Syntagma Square (Athens downtown), and Elliniko Metro Station to the airport. Alternatively, travelers can use the Athens Airport Metro Line 3 to travel from Piraeus or the city center to Athens Airport. Finally, the Athens suburban railway (Proastiakos) also connects Athens downtown and Piraeus to ATH Airport.
Our Tip: Although the airport is a 40-minute ride from the city center, car journeys can be much more time-consuming during rush hours, when traffic levels rise abruptly. Therefore, you should schedule your ride to the airport carefully to avoid arriving at El. Venizelos at the last minute and rushing through airport procedures.
Where to Park your Vehicle
If you arrive at Athens Airport with your own vehicle, you’ll need to find a parking spot. ATH Airport features two short-term parking facilities near the main terminal (Short-Term Car Parks P1 and P2), along with long-term parking lots — the Long-Term Athens Airport Parking Lot and the Economy Athens Airport Parking Lots — connected to the terminal via a free airport shuttle bus. The short-term parking options are naturally the most convenient but also the most expensive, while the long-term parking lots are more affordable but require a bus ride to reach the terminal building.
The Drop-Off Zone
Drivers wishing to drop off passengers at Athens Airport can use the designated drop-off zones. These can be found outside the Departures level of the terminals, marked by barriers. Motorists can park their vehicles on both sides. The first 10 minutes are free of charge. However, each driver is allowed up to two entries per day without being charged. Overall, you can leave your vehicle there for up to 60 minutes. Avoid exceeding that time limit, as your car may be towed afterward. The first 10 minutes are free, while the subsequent 10-minute period (up to 20 minutes) is charged at €5/$5.85. After the first 20 minutes and up to one hour, each additional minute comes with a €1/$1.17 fee.
Our Tip: If you don’t want to use the drop-off zones or need more time without being charged, you should keep in mind that the first 20 minutes at all the parking lots at Athens Airport are complimentary.
Changes to Flight Departures and Cancellations
Changes in flight schedules are common. Flight cancellations and delays can throw off your plans and leave you waiting at the airport for hours. You can check our flight status table to stay updated on any changes and plan your journey to the airport accordingly. Alternatively, you can call the airport’s call center at +30 210 353000. If you are already at El. Venizelos, you’ll find numerous flight information screens in the Departure areas. For more information, you can visit the information counters in the main terminal’s departures between Entrances 2 and 3, in the pre-security zone. The Satellite Terminal also houses information counters, but airside.
You can easily find the status of your flight in our flight schedule by searching for the flight number, airline, destination, or departure time.
FAQs
How early should I arrive at Athens Airport?
If you’re flying to a domestic destination or a country member of the Schengen zone, you should arrive at Athens Airport about 2 hours before your flight. On the other hand, if you’re traveling to a non-Schengen destination, you should allow about 3 hours to complete the airport procedures smoothly and stress-free.
How busy is Athens Airport?
Athens International Airport is the main airport in Greece and one of the busiest air hubs in Europe. As a result, it often gets congested, especially during the summer months -the peak tourist season- when passenger traffic rises significantly.
Where are Departures at Athens Airport?
Athens Airport has two terminal buildings. The main terminal handles the majority of flights, whereas the Satellite terminal operates only during peak times to ease the main terminal’s congestion. Departures are located on the first and second floors of the main terminal. The Satellite Terminal houses departures on its first level.