Athens International Airport – Certification at the final stage of “Airport Carbon Accreditation”: Transition

Yet another significant international acknowledgement of the environmental protection efforts of Athens International Airport (AIA) in the voluntary programme for the management and reduction of airport carbon emissions - Airport Carbon Accreditation - of Airports Council International Europe:

Specifically, following accreditation at the stages of "Mapping" (2009), "Reduction" (2011), "Optimization" (2014), and "Carbon Neutrality" (2016), AIA has been certified at the final and most demanding stage "Transition" of the programme, which it helped pioneer and has actively supported from its inception until today.

After a long-term efforts to reduce energy consumption in its facilities, including a series of interventions in its operations and investments in new, more energy-efficient equipment, AIA has managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 60% from 2005 to 2022.

In the "Transition" stage, AIA has taken another step, committing to net zero carbon emissions by 2025. This commitment aligns with AIA's commitment to a net zero carbon footprint by 2025 through its "Route 2025" roadmap. As part of Route 2025, AIA also aims to become the first airport operator to cover 100% of its electricity needs through self-production from renewable sources.

Since March 2023, as part of the first phase of Route 2025, a new 16 MWp photovoltaic park, which covers an area of 210,000 m2, was commissioned for self-consumption, in addition to the existing 8MWp park. The production of the new photovoltaic park corresponds to 45% of the electricity consumption needs of the Airport Company, leading to a corresponding carbon dioxide emission reduction. Following the completion of the next phase by 2025, the production of 100% of AIA's electricity will be ensured for the next two decades.

Additionally, AIA is gradually converting part of its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and is investigating the use of biofuels in heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. Finally, the replacement of natural gas for heating and producing hot water for everyday use with alternative solutions that do not produce carbon dioxide emissions is being examined.

With its certification at the "Transition" stage, Athens International Airport ranks among the top airports globally, once again demonstrating its commitment to the fight against climate change. The certification is valid until 2026.

In addition to its significant role as a lever for economic development, AIA continues to dramatically reduce its ecological footprint while also collaborating with all stakeholders in the airport community toward the same goal.