Athens Airport Wins 2014 Top European Efficiency Excellence Award

Athens International Airport (AIA) was recently deemed the most efficient airport in Europe in the small/medium-size airport category, according to the Global Annual Benchmarking Report of the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS).

AIA’s director of communications and marketing, Ioanna Papadopoulou, with the 2014 Top European Efficiency Excellence award. Photo © AIA

Based on a rigorous analysis of airport cost and revenue data, the ATRS benchmarking study assessed the productivity and efficiency of some 200 airports and selected the most efficient airports in each of the regions (Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and North America.).

In regards to receiving the 2014 Top European Efficiency Excellence award, AIA CEO Dr. Yiannis Paraschis said the distinction came during a challenging time marked by slow worldwide growth and a very critical economic and political situation in Greece.

“Thanks to its solid basis, AIA has managed, despite adversities, to address significant market challenges, protect its business model and continue to deliver substantial value to all stakeholders and the Greek economy,” Mr. Paraschis said.

AIA’s CEO added that through targeted efforts towards minimizing traffic losses and revenue streams, in combination with operating cost optimization, AIA managed to post healthy results without compromising its value-for-money services.

The winning airports of this year’s efficiency excellence award are the following:

• European airport in the over 20 million passengers category: Copenhagen International Airport
• European Airport in the small/med-size airport category: Athens International Airport
• North America category: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Asia category: Busan Gimhae International Airport in Korea
• Pacific category: Sydney Airport