Athens airport among most efficient in Europe

Athens International Airport has been rated among the most efficient small-sized airports in the world and first among European destinations with fewer than 15 mln passengers a year. Athens was the only one in Greece included in the survey of 200 airport and 26 airport groups in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania as part of the annual ATRS Global Airport Benchmarking Report that compares the operational and management efficiency, as well as cost competitiveness. Cyprus airports were not included in the survey. Atlanta International is the most efficient airport in the world according to the comprehensive ranking conducted by a team of international aviation academics at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. Copenhagen, Busan-Gimhae (South Korea) and Sydney led their respective continents in overall efficiency, while Vancouver International Airport was Canada’s top performer among airports serving more than 15 mln passengers per year. The next most efficient airports in Europe carrying more than 15 mln passengers a year were Zurich and Oslo, while following Athens with less than 15 mln passengers were Geneva and Basel. “Highly efficient airports are more likely to generate a large share of total revenues from concession and other retail activities in terminal buildings, as well as parking, office rentals, and real estate development on airport lands,” said UBC Sauder School of Business Prof. Tae Oum, who led the study. “We can also see that airports that outsource terminal services, ground handling and other services also achieve high efficiency.”

Oum said the benchmarking report shows that more efficient airports offer lower aircraft landing fees and passenger terminal charges, leaving more money in travellers’ pockets.