The International Council of Airports ACI Europe praised the efforts of El. Venizelos’ efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and increase the use of renewable energy sources.
Athens International Airport “El. Venizelos” was awarded as the top airport in the category of airports with 25-40 million passengers for 2021 for its overall operation during the pandemic period, as well as for the implementation of innovative digital services for the travelling public and its firm commitment to its environmental goals.
The Best Airport Awards of the International Council of Airports-ACI Europe annually honours European airports that stand out for the most outstanding performance and initiatives. This year’s assessment focused on innovation and digitisation of passenger services and airport sustainability objectives.
In particular, the jury, made up of personalities representing the European aviation industry in an institutional capacity, which this year included EASA Director General Patrick Ky, Eurocontrol Director General Eamonn Brennan and the Director General of the Directorate-General for Air Transport and the European Commission, was composed of a number of experts from the European aviation industry. European Commission’s Directorate General for Transport, Henrik Hololei, acknowledged in particular the way in which Athens International Airport, under unprecedented conditions due to the pandemic, has used modern technology and AI to provide innovative services to the travelling public, based on the basic principle of Greek hospitality.
The jury also highly praised Athens International Airport’s continued commitment to its carbon footprint reduction targets, maintaining a carbon neutral (Level 3+) balance despite the ongoing crisis. In addition, Athens International Airport’s commitment to achieve the goal of zero CO2 emissions by 2025 and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, as well as its efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, were evaluated very positively.
The Athens Airport award ceremony took place in Geneva, at the ACI Europe Annual Conference and General Assembly, which was the first to be physically present since 2019. The award also sealed AIA’s ongoing efforts in helping to address the global pandemic challenge.
Notably, in this context, since the beginning of June 2020, Athens International Airport has responded to the call of EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), acting as a pilot airport for the implementation and evaluation of new health and safety measures and procedures, with the aim of establishing European best practices and a framework that allows for the gradual restoration of interconnectivity and passenger confidence in air travel.