The airport has undergone a massive improvement of £540 million and is inspired by the ancient city to welcome more customers.
Athens Airport first opened in 2001 and remains Greece's largest airport. However, to meet demand, they are currently considering increasing passenger capacity from 26 million to 40 million per year.
The plan will renovate and expand the main terminal building and overhaul the satellite terminal building. The Airside and Landside areas will be updated, adding aircraft stands, gate seats and commercial space.
The design aims to seamlessly integrate the expansion with existing airports, creating an environment that reflects Athens' historical and cultural identity.
The city's architectural heritage was a central influence, along with functional efficiency, intuitive navigation and improved passenger flow, as seen through dedicated Schengen area facilities.
The landscape and natural materials will also be highlighted to make the most of the sunlight of the huge open halls of the terminal and reflect the “rich landscaped Mediterranean garden” with lounges, shops and green spaces.
The project costs around £540 million and is expected to be completed by 2032. The airport hopes to accommodate 33 million passengers by 2028 and 40 million by 2032.
The expansion plans were designed by the group of construction companies Grimshaw, Haptic and K-Studio, along with engineering companies Arup, Leslie Jones and Triagonal.
This comes after Athens Riviera was selected as a popular destination for 2025 by Forbes. They write: “Traveling is booming among Greek islands where crowds are flocking to both famous (Santorini and Mykonos) and lesser known (Naxos and iOS) spots.
The coastline will transform into Elinikon after a £10 billion project. Elynikon promises to be a Greek “Postal Code Paradise.”
The eco-friendly 15-minute city features Greece's first skyscrapers and a gorgeous 100,000 square metre shopping mall.
Although LAMDA development, which manages the project, believes it will transform the economy, the forecast will attract 1 million foreign visitors each year and generate revenues of £11.7 billion (EUR 14 billion).
