The beginning of operation of Athens International Airport -Eleftherios Venizelos- on March 28th, 2001 marked the onset of a new era for air transport in Greece. The new airport changed radically the image of the Greek capital and quickly  developed into the most important air-hub in Southeastern Europe.Since the beginning of operations, the airport gained the trust of both passengers and airlines, while it soon earned a great number of key international awards. Today, it is regarded as one of the best and safest airports in the world and continues its steady development thanks to the constant improvement of its performance.

AIA OAG Airport Marketing Award Winner 2007 (October 2007) - For the third consecutive year, Athens International Airports airline-partners rewarded the airport with the 1st OAG Airport Marketing Award 2007 at the 13th World Route Development Forum -ROUTES 2007- in Stockholm. Praised for -maintaining its Olympic sparkleâ-, AIA was awarded for its airline developmental programme resulting in 2007 to attract 12 new airlines, and add 11 new destinations, to America, Asia and Europe.

ATRS Business Efficiency Excellence Runner-up Award - (May 2006): AIA was ranked second by the Air Transport Society (ATRS) following the 10th ATRS Conference in Nagoya, Japan.

Winner of OAG Airport Marketing Award for the best airline development programme - (October 2006): Thanks to the support of its major partners, the airlines, AIA  came out top of the list at -Routes-, the annual airline-airport summit meeting, and received the OAG Airport Marketing Award for its airline development programme in the 10-25 million passenger bracket.

Winner of the OAG Airport Marketing Awards - The  Airlines awarded Athens International Airport top marks for its support in route development - (October 2005): During the annual airport marketing awards ceremony  (OAG Airport Marketing Awards 2005), attended by 1,700 delegates and 300 airlines from all over the world, the airport was acclaimed by the international aviation community as the top-ranking airport worldwide in its category (10 - 25 million passengers) for its airline support programme and contribution to route development.

European Airport of the Year 2004 - (December 2003):  The successful implementation of its innovative business scheme earned AIA the title of the European Airport of the Year 2004, granted annually by the British Institute of Transport Management (ITM).

EAGLE Award - (June 2003): In recognition of its contribution to the aviation industry and airline support, AIA received the 2003 Eagle Award of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Airport Marketing Award for airline route development support - (September 2002): During the proceedings of the 8th World Route Development Forum -Routes, Athens 2002-, the airlines declared AIA the best airport in the world (in the 10 - 25 million passenger range) for its effectiveness in strategic marketing schemes for the development of new routes. In addition, the Athens airport marketing team was granted a special merit award for its efficiency in coping with the major challenges confronting the airport since its opening in March 2001.

GREENLIGHT Award in recognition of AIAs Energy and Environmental contribution - (November 2004): Athens International Airport is the first company in Greece to receive the European Commissions GreenLight Award for the development of a series of energy-efficient activities in lighting with the purpose of reducing emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Best Cargo Airport 2006 - (April 2006): AIA was honoured with the most prestigious international distinction in cargo air transport. The distiction was conferred at the Cargo Airline of the Year award ceremony, an annual event jointly organized by Air Cargo News Magazine and Airports Council International (ACI). AIA received international acclaim in the category of 100 - 500,000 metric tones annually in recognition of its successful programme in cargo development and overall contribution to the field over the last five years.

AETRA Awards - 2nd best airport in the world for 2004 (June 2005): For 2004, the International Aviation Community conferred the following distinctions on AIA: 2nd place in the world (airport size category 5 -15 million per annum), and 3rd place in Europe regardless of airport size category, in the Overall Passenger Satisfaction category.

AETRA Awards - 2nd best airport in Europe / 2nd best airport in the world for 2003 - (October 2004): According to the results of Global Airport Monitor, the annual independent survey by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for 2003, Eleftherios Venizelos Airport won, for the second year in succession, 2nd place in Europe for Overall Passenger Satisfaction regardless of airport size, and 2nd place in the world.

IATA Award (June 2002): 2nd place in Europe and 3rd place in the world for 2001 in the main category of "Overall Passenger Satisfaction" for airports handling up to 15 million passengers annually.

IATA "Global Airport Monitor" Award for Overall Passenger Satisfaction in 2002 (May 2003)
In the airport size category up to 15 million passengers per annum, "Eleftherios Venizelos" moved up to the 1st position in Europe, but also to the 1st position in the world, according to the annual results of IATA's independent survey "Global Airport Monitor" for 2002.
 

ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS

The most prominent Greek statesman was a realist and a visionary, intelligent, flexible and daring, possessing an impressive personal charm.

He was born in Ottoman ruled Crete in 1864. During his childhood years his family fled to Greece in consequence of his father's involvement in the Cretan insurrection of 1886. Following his graduation from the Law Faculty of Athens University he worked as a lawyer in Chania but soon he entered politics as a member of the liberal party of the island.

His political and leadership qualities were revealed during the revolutioin of 1897. During the period of Cretan State (1898-1912) Venizelos was actively involved in the drafting of the Cretan Constitution. He quallered with the High Commissioner Prince George on account of his liberal principles, he resorted to an armed rising at Therisso (1905) and secured the replacement of Prince George by the Greek politician Alexandros Zaimis. During his subsequent efforts for the unification of Crete with Greece Venizelos kept a skillful balance between daring and moderation.

In 1910 he put an end to his role as a politician in Crete and moved to mainland Greece, where he became Prime Minister and founded the "Liberal Party". He was the moving spirit in the political and economic progress of Greece and in the victorious outcome of the Balkan Wars (1912-13). During World War I he clashed with the Crown and, at the expense of the National Schism (1915-1917) he imposed his pro-Entente policy. Greece was rewarded for her contribution to the war by being given the High Commissionership of Smyrna (1919). In the vital elections of November 1920 Venizelos was defeated and he withdrew from politics to return after the Asia Minor disaster of 1922. With two of his radical initiatives (1923) - the mandatory exchange of Greek and Turkish populations and the Treaty of Lausanne which defined the boundaries between Greece and Turkey - he changed the orientation of Greek policy and laid the foundations for peaceful development.

His last term of office as Prime Minister (1928-1932) was a period of stability and creativity. His major achievement was the signature of the pact of friendship between Greek and Turkey (1930). The end of his career was marked by the attempt against his life (June 1933) and the failed venizelist coup of March 1935. He went into self-exile in Paris where he died on the 18th March 1936.

ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS