During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Kalamaki airfield, as it was known then, was used as a Luftwaffe base. Still standing tall was the air traffic control tower, which once controlled the busy flow of aircraft departing and arriving at Hellinikon. Add to Plan. Playing next. The Old Athens Airport Is Now Home To Thousands Of Desperate Refugees. Follow. Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) was established in 1996 as a Public-Private Partnership with a 30-year concession agreement. © 2020 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. Now, the abandoned jets at the former Athens airport still wear the six Olympic rings in their full livery. Pre-registration for refugees starts at Athens old airport. Valuable aircraft parts, including the engines, were removed prior to storing at Hellinikon. The Olympic terminal still retained its original sign with 2001 — the year the airport closed its doors for the last time — still showing. Imagine living outdoors in a tent when it's 100 degrees. Parts of the airport could still be distinguished as— entrance to the facilities, luggage storage building and the departures door. We value your privacy To give you a personalised experience we (and the third parties we work … Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. If you're stuck at the Athens International Airport on one of those dreary layovers, there actually is plenty to do to occupy your time. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services. Its construction begun in 1938 but was cut short due to World War II. 9 February 2017. Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, is the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and region of Attica. In the summer of 1979, at the age of just 18 years, my aviation buddy Rob Hemelrijk and I travelled by train from Amsterdam to Athens, to spot and photograph the bustling aviation activity at old Ellinikon airport.I just had bought my first camara, a Fujica 605N plus a second hand tele-lens and made my first steps of photographing airliners. Also on display was signage about how to make it from the airport to the city. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. But this temporary use is supposed to change soon. The location was chosen early on but the construction begun only after Athens was given the 2004 Olympics. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Olympic Airways, which later became Olympic Airlines, was the Pan Am of Greece. Athens has, of course, a new airport, which retains the ATH three-letter code. It replaced the old Ellinikon International Airport. Report. In 1973, Onassis sold the airline to the Greek state. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Its construction begun in 1938 but was cut short due to World War II. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This is Hellinikon International Airport, the abandoned former airport of Athens, which is now frozen in time to almost two decades ago. The airline served international routes across the globe, including the important Greece-Australia market, beginning Boeing 707 operations between Athens and Sydney twice weekly via Bangkok and Singapore. Welcome to Athens International Airport Things to do near Athens Intl Airport, Athens on Tripadvisor: Read traveler reviews of the best places to visit & must-see attractions near Athens Intl Airport (ATH) in Athens, Greece. The Points Guy will not sell your email. Sadly, they’re far from being ready to fly and are sitting there, rotting, under the hot sun. Browse more videos. There was also a charter terminal for a few years where the old American military base used to be. Your flight tracker will remain visible throughout your visit in AIA website. Eleftherios Venizelos airport finally opened on March 27th 2001. The trip from/to the Airport to Syntagma station (Athens center) lasts 40 minutes. Its construction begun in 1938 but was cut short due to World War II. The new Athens airport is one terminal, no problemo.. You can find out of date references which are for the old airport at Elliniko, which was closer to Athens and in that case the Domestic terminal was the otherside of the runways from the International terminal and that did require a taxi. During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Kalamaki airfield, as it was known then, was used as a Luftwaffe base. But this temporary use is supposed to change soon. 5 years ago | 21 views. However, inside the terminal, original stickers for British Airways Euro Traveller and Club Europe check-in — economy and business class respectively — were still visible. On April 6, 1957, Olympic was born. Photo about View of the abandoned airport of Ellinikon, how was the international airport of Athens, Greece for sixty years up until 2001. From what I could see, the main terminal buildings were the most damaged areas of the airport site. Latest M&A news in Airlines. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. Brenna Edmonds. The old airport of Athens(LGAT) closed. Built in 1938, just 4 miles south of Athens, it was soon taken over by the Nazis only to serve as a Luftwaffe base from 1941. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. British Airways flew a variety of aircraft to Athens, including the now-retired Lockheed Tristar, which flew to Hellinikon during the late 1980s. Abandoned Athens airport to become Greece's largest coastal resort Save Hellenikon was once Athen's main airport Credit: Getty Hugh Morris, Travel news editor 27 July 2016 • 11:54am. Following the sale of the airline to the government, financials started to deteriorate. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Athens International Airport | 5214 seguidores en LinkedIn. As of 2019, it is the 26th-busiest airport in Europe. Mitsotakis inaugurated the start of construction work on a long-delayed major development project at the prime seaside site of the old Athens airport. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Compare prices from hundreds of major travel agents and airlines, all in one search. It was transferred over to Aerolineas Argentinas for a few years, before returning to Greece to continue flying for Olympic, bearing the name Olympic Eagle. Athens International Airport Athens airport opened in 1938 and closed in 2001 after a new airport was built for the Olympics. Athens’ former airport, converted into a sports park where the 2004 Summer Olympics venues for the canoe/kayak slalom, field hockey, baseball, and softball were housed, now serves as a major refugee camp. Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. What Will Become Of Athens' Old International Airport? ... Airport information Baggage Services Children Facilities Health … Activate by 12/31/21. In 1956, the Greek government sold the airline to Aristotle Onassis, the shipping tycoon and later husband of Jackie Kennedy, tce. Athens International Airport – For directions, airport location, local weather and the very latest information from Athens International airport with Skyscanner. The Athens International Airport at Spata is the gateway airport for most of Greece. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. On the same day, an Olympic Airways Boeing 737 bound for Thessaloniki was the last flight to depart Hellinikon. Like its 747 neighbor, the aircraft also had its engines and other valuable parts stripped from it. Those venues though were mostly left abandoned after the 2004 Olympics. Sorry to jump in, but we always had one airport. νών «Î•Î»ÎµÏ…Î¸Î­ÏÎ¹Î¿Ï‚ Βενιζέλος», Diethnís Aeroliménas Athinón "Elefthérios Venizélos"), commonly initialised as AIA (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV), is the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens … Much of the airport site is off limits to the public, but I was given special access to take a closer look at the former hub of Olympic Airways. Even from the 70’s it was obvious that the airport was nearing full capacity and Athens needed a newer airport, further away from the city center. The main terminal hall was designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen, who also designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, and the famed TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport. The old airport of Athens View on Google Maps Elliniko International Airport (also spelled Hellinikon) was the first, and for all its 60 years of operation, primary airport of the Greek capital. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Find the best deals on flights from Mehrabad International Airport (THR) to Athens International (ATH). At that time, the Greek government pledged to turn Hellinikon into the largest metropolitan park of Athens area, with a small portion only sold to private developers. This is Hellinikon International Airport, the abandoned former airport of Athens, which is now frozen in time to almost two decades ago. Plakentias - Athens International Airport), which connects the Athens airport with the city center. Despite the lack of care, the 747 still looks as impressive as ever — and its condition doesn’t appear too bad, despite the lack of any TLC. But no one is departing. And while the brand lives on as Olympic Air today, as a regional subsidiary of Aegean Airlines, the airline is no more. For tickets and cards check here. The approach to the terminal was eerie and resembled an apocalyptic movie set, with graffiti-emblazoned decrepit structures still standing. If you’re driving around this area south of Athens, you may be surprised to discover that the old terminal is still sign-posted, including for international, domestic and arrivals halls. Get to Athens International Airport from anywhere in the world by train, bus, car and more. Under the hot Mediterranean sun and behind an array of overgrown bushes, trees and tumbleweed, a sign written in both Greek and English points passengers of the past to “Departure Buildings”. Much of the airport site is off limits to the public, but I was given special access to take a closer look at the former hub of Olympic Airways. New Athens International Airport Michael Cook 2019-06-11T07:31:24+00:00 Project Description The development of the new Eleftherios Venizelos $2.8 billion “Greenfield” airport sited in the town of Spata, Greece (approximately 30km from Athens). Until then, Hellinikon airport will remain an abandoned site. On the taxiway, you could see remnants of what operations looked like when the airport closed. The “safe bag system” ad was still on display, showing pricing in Greek drachmas, which stopped circulating in 2002, replaced by the euro. Or arriving. You now can own your very own cruise ship, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Elliiniko International Airport was the first, and for all its 60 years of operation, primary airport of the Greek capital. For example, a stack of inflight magazines that were ready to be loaded on to an Olympic jet can be seen heat-worn on the tarmac. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. The old airport of Athens(LGAT) closed. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. 9 February 2017 - Ethel Dilouambaka Athens’ former airport, converted into a sports park where the 2004 Summer Olympics venues for the canoe/kayak slalom, field hockey, baseball, and softball were housed, now serves as a major refugee camp. Facing the Aegean sea, you can see an Olympic Airways Boeing 747-200, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Discover the best things to do and see was cut short due to management problems Hellinikon airport... 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