AviAlliance becomes majority shareholder in Athens International Airport

Airport investor and manager AviAlliance has increased its stake in Athens International Airport by ten percent to just over 50 percent within the framework of the airport's IPO on 7 February 2024. The purchase price for the acquired shares amounts to EUR 293 million. 

Athens International Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe. In 2023, it recorded 28.2 million passengers, representing a growth of 24 percent compared to the previous year and an increase of ten percent compared to 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since it opened in March 2001, the airport has received over 120 awards, including most recently being named "Best Airport in Europe" at the prestigious ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards 2023 in the category of airports with 25 to 40 million passengers. 

"As a multiple award-winning airport, Athens International Airport is a valuable part of our airport portfolio. The airport is well-placed to build on its record of strong financial performance and capitalize on its leading position in an attractive market. We were thus very happy to take the opportunity to increase our stake," says Gerhard Schroeder, Managing Director of AviAlliance, explaining the purchase decision. 

In 1996, HOCHTIEF’s airport division, later rebranded to AviAlliance, was awarded alongside consortium partners, the 30-year concession for the construction, financing and operation of the Greek capital airport, which opened in 2001. In 2019, the concession was extended by 20 years until 2046.

AviAlliance is one of the world's leading private industrial airport investors. The Düsseldorf-based company participates in airport privatizations worldwide and acquires concessions. AviAlliance currently has an international airport network with interests in Athens, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and San Juan (Puerto Rico) airports, which together handled a total of 87.7 million passengers in 2023. Further information can be found at: https://www.avialliance.com  

Further information on Athens International Airport can be found here: https://www.aia.gr