Athens Airport Gives Travelers a Warm Welcome – Video

As Greece officially opened to travel on Monday, June 15, following three months of Covid-19 restrictions, Athens International Airport (AIA) began to receive more flights as well as an increased number passengers from abroad.

“Today was a very important and symbolic day for Athens Airport and for our tourism,” AIA’s management said in an announcement.

AIA welcomed its first international arrivals from a Larnaca flight in the morning. During the day, the airport also welcomed flights from other destinations including Amsterdam, Paris, Bucharest, Frankfurt, Brussels and Düsseldorf. By the end of the day AIA is expected to have welcomed a total of 28 flights.

Highlights of the day…

…on video

… in pictures

AIA Communications & Marketing Director Ioanna Papadopoulou; Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis and AIA’s robot, Pepper.

• On the occasion of of Greece restarting its tourism, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis visited the airport and welcomed passengers. “The message from Greek tourism’s opening is a hopeful message for the whole world… I hope that travelers will be activated by seeing how safe of a country we are and prefer us,” Theoharis said, adding that everyone must give the utmost importance to safety measures. “Individual responsibility continues to exist, it does not disappear,” he added.

• Between 12 noon and 4pm, AIA’s mascot Filos the Athenian, wearing a mask and accompanied by airport staff, welcomed passengers by offering them a safety kit with the essentials for a safe trip: the airport’s “Authentic Smiles” fabric mask (ATHENS is “hidden”, in capital letters, in AuTHENtic Smiles) and an individual hand antiseptic.

• Also, in the departures and arrivals areas at the airport, AIA’s “AuTHENtic Smiles” campaign “came to life” and welcomed passengers. Departing and arriving passengers suddenly saw “statues”, symbolizing travelers from the 5 continents (Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania), come to life as they passed in front of them.

• Pepper, the airport’s robot was present in the departures area, saying goodbye to departing passengers. In his own, robotic, way, Pepper also reminded travelers to follow personal hygiene measures for everyone’s protection.