Editing Athens International Airport (section)

== History ==
=== Development and ownership ===
[[File:New Athens International Airport (juillet 2000) - 7.jpg|thumb|right|Terminal VOR/DME at Athens International Airport]]
AIA is located between the towns of [[Markopoulo Mesogaias|Markopoulo]], [[Koropi]], [[Spata]] and [[Artemida, Attica|Loutsa]], about {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the east of central Athens ({{convert|30|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} by road, due to intervening hills). The airport is named after [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Elefthérios Venizélos]], the prominent Cretan political figure and Prime Minister of Greece, who made a significant contribution to the development of Greek aviation and the [[Hellenic Air Force]] in the 1930s.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} As to-date, the airport is operated by [[Athens International Airport S.A.|AIA S.A.]] and ownership is divided between the Hellenic Republic (Greek State) and Private Sector in a 55%-45% stake following a [[Public-private partnership|PPP]] scheme for the airport company.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.aia.gr/company-and-business/the-company/the-airport-company/ |title=The Airport Company |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> Currently, private investors include the Copelouzos Group (5%)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.copelouzos.gr/en/services/consessions/airport/ | title=Copelouzos Group – Athens International Airport | access-date=4 January 2016 | archive-date=20 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120172128/http://www.copelouzos.gr/en/services/consessions/airport/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Public Sector Pension Investment Board|PSP Investments]] of Canada (40%), following purchase of [[Hochtief]]'s shares.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hochtief-airports-idUSBRE94604J20130507 |title=Hochtief sells airport unit to Canada's PSP Investments for $1.4 billion |newspaper=Reuters |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref>

The airport was constructed to replace the now-closed [[Ellinikon International Airport|Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport]], as the latter had reached its saturation point with no physical space for further growth.<ref name="AW2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.aia.gr/UserFiles/File/Press/ClippingsEn/2010/145453_ATHENS_AWFeb10.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626212721/http://www.aia.gr/UserFiles/File/Press/ClippingsEn/2010/145453_ATHENS_AWFeb10.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-26 |url-status=live|title=Athens International Airport|last=Dixon|first=Tony|date=February 2010|work=[[Airliner World]]|publisher=[[Key Publishing]]|pages=91–92, 95–96|language=en|access-date=30 January 2016|location=Athens, Greece}}</ref> Studies for a new airport had been carried out from as early as the 1970s, with as many as 19 different locations being looked at before an area close to the town of [[Spata]] was chosen as suitable.<ref name="AW2010"/> ''Athens Airport SA'', a state-owned company, was established in 1978 to proceed with the plans. However, after delays and slow development, the project was revived in 1991, approximately 1 year after the city lost the right to host the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] to Atlanta, USA and the possibility of submitting a bid for the 2000 Game was discussed. However, the city presented the project that was eventually the winner for the [[2004 Summer Olympic Games]], with the then government launching an international tender for the selection of a [[Build–operate–transfer#BOOT (build–own–operate–transfer)|build-own-operate-transfer]] partner for the airport project, with [[Hochtief]] of Germany being selected.<ref name="AW2010"/>

In 1996, ''Athens International Airport S.A.'' (AIA) was established as a [[Public–private partnership]] with a 30-year [[Concession (contract)|concession]] agreement.<ref name="AIA"/> That same year, the €2.1 billion development finally began with an estimated completion date of February 2001. The airport construction was completed five months before schedule, but was delayed opening a month due to surface connections to [[Attiki Odos]] not being completed.<ref name="AW2010"/> The airport officially opened on 28 March 2001<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.athens-airport.info/history.html | title=Athens Airport History }}</ref>
Its major features include two parallel runways being {{convert|4|km|mi|abbr=on}} and {{convert|3.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long respectively. The airport has received approval from the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]]<ref name="A380EASAFAA">{{cite press release |title=Athens International Airport: Diversion airport for A380 flight |publisher=Athens International Airport |date=17 October 2007|url=http://www.aia.gr/entry.asp?pageid=741&tablepageid=12&langid=2&entryID=207 |access-date=6 February 2008|quote=On the occasion of the delivery of the first Airbus A380 for commercial services, Athens International Airport (AIA) announces that Airbus, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas have identified AIA as an en-route alternate airport for an A380 diversion.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080219231559/http://www.aia.gr/entry.asp?pageid=741&tablepageid=12&langid=2&entryID=207| archive-date= 19 February 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> and the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="A380EASAFAA"/> for take-offs and landings of the biggest passenger jet worldwide, the [[Airbus A380|A380]].<ref name="A380EASAFAA"/> The first ever A380 to visit 'Eleftherios Venizelos' Athens International Airport made an emergency landing on 13 April 2011 for emergency medical reasons. The first scheduled A380 flight took place on 26 October 2012 by [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/73923/%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF-%C2%AB%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%B8%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B2%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82%C2%BB-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%8D%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%87%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%AC%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%82|title=Στο "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος" το μεγαλύτερο και πιο χλιδάτο αεροπλάνο του κόσμου [εικόνες]|work=iefimerida.gr}}</ref>

=== Greek government debt-crisis impact (2009–2013) ===
The [[Greek government-debt crisis]] reduced the overall passenger traffic of the airport for six consecutive years. Many long-haul airlines outright terminated service to the airport, while others chose to operate on a seasonal basis only, opting to terminate service during the winter months.<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Greek island|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2013/06/10/a-greek-island?fsrc=scn%252Ffb%252Fwl%252Fbl%252Fgreekisland|access-date=2022-12-27|issn=0013-0613}}</ref> Moreover, these problems were further exacerbated by the closure of [[Olympic Airlines]], which operated many long-haul flights to and from the airport. In 2013, the airport handled just above 12.5 million passengers, 3.2% fewer than in 2012 and lower by approximately 25% when compared to 2007's traffic, which was the all-time-high at that time.<ref name=AIA/>

=== Recovery and new levels of passenger traffic (2014–2015) ===
2014 signaled a strong recovery for the airport's passenger traffic and all statistical figures. More than ten new airlines started new flights to and from Athens. Aegean Airlines strengthened its network by 30% (with many more destinations scheduled for 2015) while Ryanair established a new base in the Athens Airport and added eight destinations. The airport company recorded an increase in passenger traffic in excess of 21% during 2014, reaching 15.1 million passengers, resulted both by new destinations but also by increased capacity offered on established ones. Characteristically, Singapore and Gulf Air resumed flights<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlineroute.net/2014/04/11/gf-ath-jun14/ |title=Gulf Air Resumes Athens Service from mid-June 2014 |publisher=Airlineroute.net |date=11 April 2014 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlineroute.net/2013/10/02/sq-ath-s14/ |title=Singapore Airlines Resumes Athens Service June – Oct 2014 |publisher=Airlineroute.net |date=2 October 2013 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref> while Emirates, [[Etihad Airways]] and [[Qatar Airways]] fly more frequently to/from Athens.<ref name="airlineroute.net">{{cite web|url=http://airlineroute.net/2014/03/28/ey-ath-jul14/ |title=ETIHAD Boosts Athens Frequencies from July 2014 |publisher=Airlineroute.net |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlineroute.net/2014/02/04/qr-ath-s14/ |title=QATAR Airways Increases Athens Capacity from late-March 2014 |publisher=Airlineroute.net |date=4 February 2014 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlineroute.net/2014/03/03/ek-s14update7/ |title=Emirates S14 Operation Changes as of 03MAR14 |publisher=Airlineroute.net |date=3 March 2014 |access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref> [[Delta Air Lines|Delta Air Line]] resumed their weekly flights and [[American Airlines]] retained their seasonal schedules to/from USA with even more frequent connectivity. From 2017 onwards, year-round services to Singapore were scheduled to resume after more than five years, with  flights operated by [[Scoot]].

According to AIA published statistics, total traffic for 2015 achieved an impressive performance reaching almost 18.1 million passengers, an all-time-record for the airport at that time, increased by 19% on year-over-year basis<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2015|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax2015_EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206063121/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref> and by 1.55 million (+9.4%) the previous best, which was the pre-crisis year 2007. In addition, over the same period, aircraft traffic exhibited a solid growth of 14% year-over-year.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Aircraft Movements Development 2015|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Flights2015_EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206063121/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Flights2015_EN.pdf |archive-date=2016-02-06 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref> Moreover, in 2015 a significant rise (+38%) was recorded by transfer passengers, with the international to international transfer traffic marking an impressive increase (+60%) demonstrating the significant enhancement of the Athens airport connectivity.

=== Exceeding twenty million passengers (2016–2023) and beyond ===
2016 was a landmark year for the Athens International Airport, both for domestic and international destinations. Annual results reflected a solid performance for a third year in a row fueled by double-digit growth, this time passing the twenty million mark, increased by 10.7% on year-over-year basis.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2016|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/passenger_traffic_2016_Dec_2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105180224/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/passenger_traffic_2016_Dec_2016.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-05 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref> Healthy growth continued in 2017 with the airport showing traffic increase of 8.6% to a total of 21.7 million passengers, yet another all-time record for the Athens airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2017|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax_EN-2017-12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011515/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax_EN-2017-12.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-05 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> During 2018, the airport achieved yet another record high, reporting increased passenger traffic by 11% to more than 24.1 million passengers.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2018|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/PassengerTraffic2018_December2018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107233258/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/PassengerTraffic2018_December2018.pdf |archive-date=2019-01-07 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> Equally, aircraft traffic achieved a new record with a reported annual growth of 10.8% to 217,094 movements.<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2018|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Flights2018_December2018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108045739/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/675393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Flights2018_December2018.pdf |archive-date=2019-01-08 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>

For the first ten months of 2023, the airport traffic shows signs of further increase with passenger numbers up by 19.5%<ref>{{cite web|title=AIA "El.Venizelos" Passenger Traffic Development 2019|url=https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/75393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax-2019-09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225141030/https://www.aia.gr/userfiles/75393df-ab1a-4b77-826c-f3096a3d7f12/Pax-2019-09.pdf |archive-date=2019-12-25 |url-status=live |website=aia.gr|access-date=2 October 2019}}</ref> to 24.4 million passengers and aircraft movements up by 15.2%. By the end of 2023, Athens saw about 28.17 million international and domestic passengers. This is a 10.2% increase from 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athens International Airport - Facts & Figures |url=https://www.aia.gr/company-and-business/the-company/facts-and-figures |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Athens International Airport |language=en}}</ref>

In the second half of June 2018 [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] added an extra daily flight from its base in [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai Airport]] using the [[Airbus A380]] superjumbo,<ref>{{cite web|title=Emirates Airlines adds A380 Athens service in June 2018|url=http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/transport/airlines/31381-emirates-airlines-adds-a380-athens-service-in-june-2018.html |website=tornosnews.gr|access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref> marking the first time the "superjumbo" operated at the airport with a scheduled flight for a long period of time. The A380 service was continued until the end of August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airbus A380: Στο "Ελ. Βενιζέλος" ο "βασιλιάς των αιθέρων" (greek) |url=http://www.kathimerini.gr/970257/gallery/epikairothta/ellada/airbus-a380-sto-el-venizelos-o-vasilias-twn-ai8erwn-vinteo |website=kathimerini.gr|date=19 June 2018 |access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref><!-- PLEASE KEEP UPDATING REFERENCES TOO, NOT ONLY FIGURES ON MONTHLY BASIS -->