The Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks with a decision that was published in the Government Gazette (the official journal of the Government of Greece) and at diavgeia.gov.gr (a site that contains every government decision) put an end to the Ellinikon International Airport, as an air facility.
The Ellinikon International Airport, sometimes spelled Hellinikon, was the international airport of Athens, Greece, for sixty years up until 2001, when it was replaced by the new Athens International Airport. The grounds of the airport are located seven kilometers south of Athens, and just west of Glyfada. It was named after the village of Elliniko, now a suburb of Athens.
The above mentioned decision bears the title “Abolishing of the State Airport in Elliniko, as air facility,” which put an end to its 68 years of history.
It is reminded that after its closure, the northwest section of the airport was redeveloped, converting runways into a sports park that housed the 2004 Summer Olympics venues for canoe/kayak slalom, field hockey, baseball, and softball.
However, today, twelve years after its closure and nine after the Olympic Games of Athens, most of the airport grounds have been abandoned.
The plan of “Ellinikon SA” for the future of the former airport, though not binding, provides a maximum of 3,600,000 m2 of building area, as well as the creation of a huge metropolitan park.
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