About Athens
Athens Airport is also the sixth busiest airport in Europe and the first in the European Union.
The airport features an operational distance of 41km from Athens city centre and therefore enables passengers to move between the city and the airport without having to cross any roads. The Airport is situated on the northern fringes of Athens City, due north of the city centre, close to the capital’s international railway station.
Today, Athens International Airport is the fastest growing airport in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. The number of passengers arriving at the airport has increased by 37% since the beginning of 2009, reaching over 11.1 million passengers in 2021, accounting for 42% of all aviation traffic in Greece.
About Athens International Airport
The Athens International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe with a single point of entry in both directions. Operating at full capacity, the Airport consists of nine passenger terminals, with over 4.2 million people passing through each year and approximately 150,000 flights per year.
The Airport has an operational distance of 41 km from the city centre and a main hub status in Athens-Damascus and Athens-Lisbon. From the Athens International Airport, passengers can transfer to five international airports, four domestic airports and eleven international destinations in Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Athens International Airport is also the seventh busiest airport in Europe and the first in the European Union.
Athens International Airport has the largest transportation hub within the area, with over 60 destinations in Greece and hundreds of flights and departures per day.
Athens International Airport is a highly modern, high-capacity and modern airport with the highest standards and modernised infrastructure.
Athens International Airport features over 250 shops, a pharmacy, café and restaurants. At the airport, passengers can purchase tickets to many of the most popular destinations around the world, as well as purchase railway tickets to the Greek capital.
Where to go if you need to check-in and get a boarding pass
If you’re trying to get to Athens from anywhere in the world, the best place to check-in and get a boarding pass is the Blue Tab Terminal in Athens Airport.
Why is the Blue Tab Terminal best?
Check-in in the Blue Tab Terminal in Athens Airport is faster and easier than anywhere else. You only have to show your passport and boarding pass and you are given a window seat to pass the time before your flight.
Other things you need to know about Athens Airport
Why the Blue Tab Terminal is best
Although the Blue Tab Terminal in Athens Airport is the first one in Greece, it is still the fastest check-in option. The Blue Tab Terminal provides quick service and a quick turnaround time for check-in and boarding passes. The ticket desks, the check-in desk and the baggage carousels are all within easy reach for your gate and transport.
You can travel to the Blue Tab Terminal faster by cab or bus than by driving. Athens Airport is served by three bus lines, and the Blue Tab Terminal is served by two bus routes. At times, there is a change in the transport system for the Blue Tab Terminal as the intercity buses from Athens to the Blue Tab Terminal usually go to the Airport’s International Terminal, although there is only one bus that goes directly to the Blue Tab Terminal.
It is a great idea to get your boarding pass, check-in and get a ticket at the Blue Tab Terminal as it is the cheapest and quickest option for checking in at Athens Airport. It will also save you the time and money of having to go to the Blue Tab Terminal every time you want to check in, buy a ticket or get a boarding pass for another destination.
The Blue Tab Terminal is far less crowded than the rest of the airport. If you need to get to a specific location, though, you should arrive early.
Also read: 37 Best Things to Do in Athens, Greece
Getting to Athens Airport from Athens City
Check-in at the Blue Tab Terminal in Athens Airport is the quickest way to get to the airport. There are two bus routes that go straight to the Blue Tab Terminal. The first bus route goes directly to the Blue Tab Terminal from Athens City Centre. However, when it is very busy, there is a change of the bus route as the bus goes to the International Terminal instead of the Blue Tab Terminal. It goes to the Blue Tab Terminal just in time for you to check-in and get a boarding pass.
However, the second bus route from Athens City Centre takes you to the Blue Tab Terminal, but only when the Blue Tab Terminal is very busy. The bus arrives at the Blue Tab Terminal and immediately departs. It doesn’t make any stops, only to drop passengers off at the Blue Tab Terminal. There is just one bus that stops at the Blue Tab Terminal if the bus is highly crowded.
But if the Blue Tab Terminal is not very busy, it can take you much longer than just one hour to get to the Blue Tab Terminal. You need to be at the Blue Tab Terminal when it is very busy.
When it is very busy, there is a change of buses, with the first bus taking you straight to the Blue Tab Terminal, and the second bus taking you to the Blue Tab Terminal and then leaving.
The bus stops at the Blue Tab Terminal only when there is a large queue of passengers who are getting to their flights.
Other things to know about Athens Airport
Check-in at Athens Airport is very convenient. It is a much faster option than anywhere else.
If you’re trying to get to Athens from anywhere in the world, the best place to check-in and get a boarding pass is the Blue Tab Terminal in Athens Airport.
If you are not sure of the airport for your destination, check-in online at one of the travel booking websites.
Johannesburg Airport
Johannesburg is split into a number of ‘clusters’. For an example of the difficulty of getting information in Johannesburg go here.
In an instance such as this it’s understandable that Johannesburg City Government will be far more likely to respond to a request from an airport than it would a request from the City of Johannesburg itself.
Regional City of Johannesburg
To go to the Johannesburg Regional City of Johannesburg (they must be regional though) you have to go to O. R. Tambo International Airport and go to the tourism counter in Terminal 2. Ask them for details and mention your flight number.
International City of Johannesburg
When you fly to Johannesburg International Airport you go through the City of Joburg’s city border. For international passengers travelling to the International City of Johannesburg (I.C.J.) you can travel to I.C.J via the O. R. Tambo International Airport.
We assume that if you are travelling for business you would likely want to fly into the International City of Johannesburg (I.C.J.) anyway to get to the International Business Centre.
To get to I.C.J., fly into Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo International Airport and check in for your international flight. Then inquire for information on the International City of Johannesburg at the international arrivals terminal (on the right hand side).
On the airport map of the International City of Johannesburg, it’s easier to just go to the City Centre Airport in O. R. Tambo Airport. There’s a number for the City Centre Airport and you can get details from there.
City of Joburg’s City Municipality
The City of Joburg’s City Municipality is split into a number of regions and each region has its own local authority.
To get information about the City of Joburg’s City Municipality just contact them. For a local authority, the City of Joburg seems to be the most likely.
City Region of Johannesburg
The City of Joburg’s City Region comprises the City of Joburg’s central city, parts of Braamfontein, Mitchells Plain, North West Province, Gauteng Province and parts of Soweto and Tembisa.
City Region of Joburg’s Local Authority
To get information about the City of Joburg’s City Region (City Region’s Local Authority) contact them at City Region’s Local Authority: Johannesburg Region.
We assume that if you are travelling for business you would likely want to fly into the City Region anyway to get to the International Business Centre.
City Region of Johannesburg Local Authority Map
International City of Joburg
To get information about the International City of Joburg’s International City you can contact City Region of Johannesburg Local Authority and ask them. For example, if you have flights in the International City you could contact the International City Local Authority.
This may be a bit easier than trying to get information from City Region’s Local Authority.
International City’s Local Authority Map
City Region of Joburg’s City Municipality
If you are flying into the City Region’s City Municipality you have to travel to the City Municipality’s city border and ask for city information. The City Region’s City Municipality is split up into three regions.
The City Region of Joburg’s City Municipality comprises the City of Johannesburg, City of West Gate, Johannesburg Central, City of Midrand, and Randburg.