- 1.28 billion euro investment plan through 2032;
- Focused expansion of terminals, commercial areas, and parking—not runways;
- Target of 40 million passengers by 2032;
- Interest in new tourist markets, especially Asia and China;
- Current standing: 8th busiest airport in the EU, 9th in European connectivity.
1.28 Billion Euro: Isn’t That What Everyone Has in Their Wallet?
Yannis Paraschis, the person tasked with steering Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV) into an uncertain future, stood before a crowd—no doubt thrilled to hear about infrastructure funding. Unveiling the € 1.28 billion plan, he gave the airport expansion a makeover. Spoiler: there will be no new runways, as apparently, concrete is in short supply.
Does Athens Need More Passengers or Just Bigger Parking Lots?
Paraschis provided the kind of optimism usually reserved for weather reports. “We expect a single-digit growth rate for the full year and a correspondingly low single-digit growth rate in the medium term,” he declared, confirming everyone’s dream of moderate, stable traffic. It turns out that Eleftherios Venizelos handled 31.85 million passengers in 2024—outpacing both 2023 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Across Europe, average growth for 2024 limped to +1.8%. At Athens airport? A staggering +24.5%. Paraschis revealed, “This discrepancy cannot continue for a long time yet, so that is why we have these estimates of single-digit traffic growth.”
For fans of lists, let’s recap what’s actually getting built:
- New terminal expansions (for all those passengers who just can’t wait to queue);
- Aircraft parking apron with 32 new spaces (set to arrive stylishly late, in Q2 2027);
- Multi-level car park boasting 3,500 additional spaces (for every tourist who thinks driving in Athens is a good idea);
- Commercial space expansion to 34,000 sqm (so the obligatory duty-free trek can last even longer).
All of these improvements are supposedly tied to the airport’s “strategic review” for a capacity of 40 million passengers by 2032.
Whose Brilliant Idea Was the Asian Pivot?
In an era when new tourist markets are less of a choice and more of a survival tactic, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos is betting on Asia. “Given the geopolitical developments and the new US administration’s tariff policy, Athens Airport is turning its attention to the Asian market,” Paraschis revealed. In other words, when one door closes with a tariff, another opens with dim sum.
He noted that the Chinese market still hadn’t shaken off its pandemic slumber, but hope springs eternal. “The Chinese market and the Asian markets in general are an important target for us. We already have a direct connection to Shanghai and direct connections to Beijing and we have an additional air link that will start in the next period from China,” Paraschis stated. Plans are in motion. Recovery—or at least more connecting flights—will arrive, someday.
Is Expansion Just an Excuse for a 7-Story Car Park?
Airport plans often read like someone with a Lego addiction but no instruction manual. Here, the 1.28 billion euro investment doesn’t mean tearing up more land, but improving what’s already built. As Paraschis explained, “Athens International Airport does not need to expand runways or taxiways (they can handle a capacity of more than 50 million passengers), but the new investments will mainly concern the terminal areas, the aircraft parking apron and the multi-storey car park.”
The awards phase for new parking kicks off soon, with the first 32 spaces set to open in the northern part of the tarmac by 2027—presumably just in time for the rush. Meanwhile, the 7-story parking structure will offer 3,500 more spaces, helping solve that timeless Athens puzzle: where did I park my car, and will I ever see it again?
Commercial space will balloon from 13,500 to 34,000 square meters, apparently to ensure nobody leaves the airport without unnecessary souvenirs. This expansion is expected to boost non-aviation revenue, starting in late 2028, just after everyone’s forgotten about the 2027 upgrades.
Will Revenue Growth Follow All These Shiny New Projects?
The financial windfall from these investments will have to wait. The new parking structure, scheduled for the second half of 2027, will begin the expected uptick in income. Expanded retail will take even longer to provide that all-important boost—the one that ensures no Greek yogurt brand or travel charger goes unsold.
With both the new multi-level parking and the north-west apron currently in the tender phase, some might even believe that this is a story of progress and careful planning—not just construction dust and investor optimism.
A Final Boarding Call
Passengers using Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV) in the next decade can look forward to a future filled with more space to spend, park, and wait. If you hoped for new runways or less walking, manage those expectations accordingly.
The real winners here? Anyone with a commercial lease, a parking permit, or a vested interest in single-digit growth.
That’s Athens airport’s version of progress: a 1.28 billion euro investment, a dash of Asian ambition, and many more places for passengers to wander—literally and existentially—while waiting for their flight.
[…] The budget stands at a calm 1.28 billion euros; […]