Athens International Airport known as 鈥楨lefth茅rios Veniz茅los' (IATA: ATH; 脢ICAO: began operation on 29 of March 2001 - primary civilian airport that serves Greece. Is base of Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air [at much hier operating cost!]. The airport serves more than 14 million travellers annually. As of late 2011; the airport is the thirtieth busiest airport in Europe. Replacing the old Athens (Ellinikon) International Airport. The airport is located between the towns of Markopoulo; Koropi; Spata and Loutsa; about 20脢km (12脢mi) to the east of central Athens (30脢km). The airport is named after Elefth茅rios Veniz茅los;The airport currently has two terminals: the Main Terminal; and the Satellite Terminal accessible by a foot-tunnel from the Main Terminal. Accommodating; increase in air travel the airport to take on as many as 50 million passengers a year; also the runways are designed to accommodate 50 million passengers. the airport handled 15;411;952 passengers anuallyIt has approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration for take-offs and landings of the biggest passenger jet worldwide; the Airbus A380.The first scheduled flight took place on October 26 from the Emirates Airline.Hochtief Aktiengesellschaft = HOCHTIEF / a German construction company based in Essen; North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany.[2] made by Hochtief Germany's largest construction company the new Athens International Airport which brings an income of 1.7% 0f the Greek GNP for HOCHTIEF