Athens Airport Departures (ATH)

Flight Departures at Athens Airport

Athens International Airport is located nearby to the famous city of Athens, popular for its many historical attractions, and is also nearby to the towns of Markopoulo, Koropi, Spata and Loutsa. The airport is also known by its IATA code of ATH, and by the name of Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, which is in honour of a Prime Minister of Greece and a prominent Cretan political figure. Athens International Airport departure flights are offered by a large number of airline companies, and they fly to many local and international destinations. Passengers travelling through the airport have access to all the facilities they require, and will also be able to reach their departure flight by several forms of ground transport.

The airport of Athens is in the Attica area of Greece, and about 20 km east of the city center. Four public bus services that are operated by OASA run frequently to the airport. They are available every fifteen minutes to half an hour from various convenient locations. They are also one of the cheapest forms of ground transport to the airport. Airport trains are another way to reach a departure flight. The airport is connected to the city’s Metro Blue Line 3, and to the suburban railway system. If public transport is not preferred, a passengers can also hire a taxi, and travel more privately to the airport’s terminals. A taxi will also collect you from any location.

Passengers have a wide choice of airline companies at Athens Airport, of which four use the airport as a hub location. These companies are Aegean Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Hellenic Imperial Airways and Olympic Air, and a few of their destinations include Istanbul, London, Moscow, Tel Aviv, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Larnaca, Sofia, Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Milos and Rhodes. Athens International Airport is the thirtieth busiest airport in Europe, with over fourteen million passengers per annum, and a number of very popular international and domestic routes. The airport’s most popular international destinations include London, Larnaca, Paris, Rome, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Madrid, and the most popular domestic destinations include Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Chania, Corfu and Santorini.

Along with the four airline companies mentioned, the airport is also served by Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air Malta, Air Transat, Alitalia, Belle Air, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, EasyJet, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, US Airways, Vueling and many others. Passengers can purchase airline tickets for departure flights online, or from the ticket counters at the airport.

Online check-in options may be available to passengers as well, depending on with which airline company they are flying, or passengers may be able to use self-service check-in kiosks that are usually available for several airline companies. These options help to save time during departure proceedings, however, the conventional check-in counters are quite fine to use as well, and the airport is usually considered to be efficient in its operations. After check-in has been completed passengers can proceed to the security check-points which lead to the secure side of the airport complex and the boarding lounges.

Nowadays, all airports have very strict security procedures, and passengers are asked to cooperate in order to keep the line moving quickly and smoothly. The security checks may seem tedious, but they are in place for everyone’s safety. Passengers can help by removing their coats or jackets beforehand, and by ensuring that things like liquid items are correctly organized. European airports all conform to the new regulations that were passed in 2006 regarding the carrying of liquid items in hand luggage. They require all items to be placed in separate containers of no more than 100 ml, and all containers (a total of no more than one liter) should be placed in a re-sealable and transparent plastic bag. The bag will be inspected at the security control points. Baby foods and medicines are exceptions to this rule, however, medicines are recommended to be accompanied by a prescriptions, and parents may be asked to taste the baby milk or food to ensure that it is not tampered with in any way. Any amount of liquid substances may be carried in hold luggage.

Athens Airport consists of a main terminal building that is linked to a satellite terminal by two walkways. The first is an underground foot tunnel, and the second is a new addition to the airport, and an above-ground link. There are no people mover trains at the airport, as the terminals are within walking distance from one another. All facilities are within easy reach on foot as well. The above-ground walkway links the terminal from where all Schengen flights are now handles, while the other part of the satellite terminal is used for non-Schengen flights. The main terminal building handles a few non-Schengen flights and intra-Schengen flights as well.

Passengers on departure flights can arrive early and enjoy the wide range of shops and restaurants the airport has to offer. There are fashion and accessory shops such as Armani Jeans, electronic stores such as Germanos, book and gift shops such as The Cartoon Store and duty free and travel stores such as Hellenic Gourmet and Perfumes and Cosmetics. Restaurants and fast food outlets available include McDonald’s, Puro Gusto, Rockjuice!, Flocafe, Café Express and the Heineken Beer Restaurant. Additional facilities at the airport include a post office, a pharmacy, children’s entertainment areas, currency exchange services, a bank and ATM's, WiFi connections, a business center and a variety of airport VIP lounges operated by British Airways, Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.

Information regarding Athens International Airport departures is available from counters within the terminal and on flight information screens. The airport’s call center may also be contacted twenty-four hours a day at +30 210 3530000.