“ROUTE 2025”: Athens International Airport - Leading the way in sustainability

In December 2019, Athens International Airport made the bold decision to launch a highly ambitious project under the name “ROUTE 2025”, aiming to achieve by 2025 — well ahead of the 2050 target set by European airports and by the aviation industry — a net zero greenhouse-gas emissions balance, through self-generation, storage and self-consumption of clean, renewable electricity produced within the airport.

Six years later, the Airport Company has completed, within the set timeframe, the “Roadmap” of “ROUTE 2025” and puts into full operation the second — and largest in Greece — self-generation photovoltaic stationt an airport, with a capacity of 35.5 MWp, together with an 82 MWh energy storage facility. The total installed capacity of the airport’s self-generation photovoltaic plants now amounts to 51.5 MWp (16 MWp + 35.5 MWp). At the same time, the battery energy storage unit, with a usable capacity of 82 MWh, constitutes a key element of the architecture of the unified system, with a clear environmental purpose — maximising the consumption of the generated electricity for the company’s own needs, ensuring optimal energy autonomy.

“ROUTE 2025” is not a standalone project but rather a network of complementary projects and interventions that constitute a unified energy ecosystem, one of the most comprehensive among European airports. The total investment amounts to 70 million Euros, with a significant portion financed through loans from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

More specifically, the “ROUTE 2025” programme addresses the Airport Company’s emissions that fall within its direct control, namely:

• the direct emissions (Scope 1) from the consumption of fuels by the corporate fleet, boilers and other equipment
• the indirect emissions (Scope 2) arising from the purchase of electricity consumed by the buildings and other facilities of AIA

and has been designed so as to cover the needs that will arise from the airport’s future expansion plan up to 2046 (the end of the concession period), making Athens International Airport the only airport in Europe that covers 100% of its needs exclusively with clean energy produced within the airport fence. Despite the significant increase in passenger traffic from 2005 to 2024, AIA has already managed to reduce its footprint by more than 55% in total — from 67,001 tonnes of CO₂ to 29,209 tonnes of CO₂ — through a series of interventions in the airport’s operations and infrastructure. Since 2016, Athens Airport is the only carbon neutral airport in Greece — and is certified as such in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme of the Airports Council International–Europe (ACI-Europe).

From the very first day of 2026, all of the company’s electricity needs will be covered solely by clean, renewable electric energy produced within the airport’s premises for self-consumption. The key benefit of the programme is its aim of real decarbonisation, maximising additionality.

At the foundation of AIA’s unified energy ecosystem lie:

• the production of clean energy within the airport property
• its storage exclusively for self-consumption
• fleet electrification: 19 buses, 13 Follow-Me vehicles, 29 vans
• the development of an extensive network of chargers for operational and passenger electric vehicles
• heat pumps – elimination of the use of natural gas in AIA’s buildings (under normal winter climatic conditions)
• an innovative digital energy management system for the unified monitoring, optimisation and balancing of production–storage–consumption in real time.

Annual production of 88,000 megawatt-hours – roughly equivalent to the consumption of 22,000 households.

By the end of the concession period (2046), the operation of the entire PV installation will prevent CO₂ emissions equivalent to the planting of a forest 1.5 times the size of the entire airport property.

In addition, on top of the positive environmental footprint, the overall investment will also have a positive economic footprint (a positive business case), while at the same time contributing to the sustainability of the local communities and, of course, to the elevation of the status of the City of Athens as a leading sustainable destination.

Note: AIA’s measurement results for 2026 will be presented within 2027.

ROUTE 2025 & Quotes

The presentation of the completion of the “ROUTE 2025” programme took place on 12/12/2025 at Athens International Airport, at a special event set against the backdrop of the photovoltaic complex with a total capacity of 51.5 MWp, in the presence of the Commissioner for Transport & Sustainable Tourism, the Minister of Environment & Energy, the Minister of Infrastructure & Transport, the Minister of Tourism, representatives of the aviation and tourism sectors, the business community, institutions and partners within the airport community.

The event concluded with a talk by the Academic and Professor of Geography and Climatology, Christos Zerefos, entitled “Air Transport and Climate Change”.

The event was moderated by the journalist Sia Kosioni.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Athens International Airport, Michail Kefalogiannis, stated:

“Decarbonisation in the aviation sector is not a choice, but a necessity. Airports, as gateways to the world, have the responsibility and the capacity to become pioneers of change. With strategic planning, cooperation and innovation, we can achieve an aviation sector that will continue to connect us, while at the same time improving the conditions of everyday life for all of us. At Athens International Airport, we are very proud of the completion of ‘ROUTE 2025’, 25 years earlier than the target set by the aviation sector.”

The Managing Director (CEO) of Athens International Airport, Yiannis Paraschis, stated:

“Today is an important day — I would say a historic one — for our airport, but also for the city of Athens. In December 2019, we committed to undertake the bold project ‘ROUTE 2025’, with the objective of achieving a net zero greenhouse-gas emissions balance, 25 years earlier than 2050, the target set by Europe's airports.  Despite the extremely critical conditions faced by our sector over the past five years, we remained dedicated to the programme and completed, within the targeted timeframe, not only the largest self-generation unit in Greece, but also all the prerequisites defined in our ‘ROUTE 2025’ Roadmap. With the completion of the programme, Athens International Airport is now established as an international pioneer example of sustainable practice. At the same time, with the firm belief that innovation and consistency in the field of environmental sustainability constitute an important competitive advantage both for businesses and for travel destinations, we continue to serve the objective of highlighting Athens as a leading sustainable destination for its residents and its visitors.”

The Minister of Environment & Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, representing the Presidency of the Government, stated:

“The transition to a zero-emissions economy constitutes an opportunity for growth, competitiveness, technological leadership, and for a better future for the future generations. Congratulations are due for Athens International Airport on its technological pioneering, through which it succeeded in achieving a zero-carbon footprint, 25 years earlier. Athens International Airport is the only airport in Greece with Carbon Neutral status since 2016, with the production of clean energy within the airport, through photovoltaics and a battery storage system, for covering 100% of its electricity needs. The adoption of solutions such as the energy upgrading of infrastructure, the use of renewable energy sources, the electrification of ground-handling equipment, the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels, and the continuous monitoring and reduction of direct and indirect emissions, render our country a leader in the effort to achieve the goal of sustainable development.”

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, stated:

“ΑIA has developed, for almost 25 years, a culture of environmental transformation. Today, we congratulate this landmark step forward, as ‘ROUTE 2025’ transforms the airport into one of the very few, internationally, that achieves full energy autonomy from renewable sources produced within its premises. It constitutes a milestone in Greek aviation infrastructure and, overall, in our country’s vision for sustainable development. Projects such as ‘ROUTE 2025’ proceed in parallel with national actions in cooperation with the European Union, such as:

• The National Action Plan for the modernisation of air navigation, which includes technological upgrades and the administrative restructuring of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, and
• The implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, as of 1 January 2024, the new framework for the gradual increase in the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Greece is at the forefront of this transition, through the cooperation of fuel providers, airports and airlines.

The transition to a low-emissions economy is not a burden. It is an opportunity. And when this opportunity is tackled with seriousness, planning and foresight, it becomes a global example.”

The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, stated:

“Athens International Airport has consistently demonstrated that sustainability lies at the core of its strategy. Twenty-five years earlier than the European target for airports, Athens Airport leads developments with consistency, foresight and a clear commitment to the environment and society.  The ‘ROUTE 25’ initiative constitutes a milestone for the transformation of transport and tourism towards a sustainable, resilient and environmentally responsible development model.”

The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stated:

“Decarbonisation is not a step back. It is a leap forward. It opens new markets. It creates new jobs. It accelerates innovation. And it brings Europe one step closer to a development model that is stable and sustainable. The airports that will adapt first will be the airports that will lead tomorrow. The Member States that invest now will be those that produce the technology of the future. The businesses that dare will be the ones that will win the race. And today, Athens Airport shows us the way, as one of the most pioneering airports in Europe and as a guide in the new era of air transport.”

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of Airports Council International–Europe, stated:

“The achievement of the ROUTE 2025 objective with the delivery of net zero CO2 facilities is a major milestone which places Athens International Airport amongst the leading airports globally in terms of effective climate action and carbon management. This is something not just Greece should be proud about, but also Europe. Reducing and neutralizing our carbon footprint remains our industry’s top priority, as this is no longer only about our license to grow, but also about our license to keep operating. This is also about charting the evolution of the airports from being transport hubs to also potentially becoming energy hubs. I know this achievement represents years of very hard work, so  sincere “Συγχαρητήρια” (Congratulations) to all the teams involved!”