"ATHENS SPATA AIRPORT NOT READY TO BE OPENED", SAYS IATA DG

The new airport for Athens, 'Eleftherios Venizelos' at Spata, is scheduled to open on 1st March 2001 to replace the existing airport at Hellenikon.

The success of this opening is dependent on a range of associated infrastructure developments being completed and fully operational prior to this date.

"The road access to the new airport is of major concern", said IATA Director General Pierre Jeanniot today. "Safe and timely access is essential, otherwise planes will leave late and without passengers, and staff will be late for work".

An inspection by IATA and airline representatives earlier this week showed that progress on the road construction was significantly behind schedule.

"We have raised this matter with the Greek Government on a number of occasions over the last fifteen months, but primary and secondary road access has failed to materialise, as had been promised by 31st January 2001", said Jeanniot. "Clearly, the airport access tollway, 'Attiki Odos', which is planned to be the main passenger access to and from the new airport, will not be ready for opening.

Additionally, the southern access route to the prime staff housing areas surrounding the current Hellinikon airport has been upgraded only partially, and will not have sufficient capacity to handle the many employee car journeys".

Whilst the roads are a big concern, the problems don't stop there. IATA is also concerned that a number of very important support facilities at the airport, such as catering, cargo and aircraft maintenance, are still far from finished. "Even if the physical construction on these facilities was somehow to be completed by March 1st, sufficient time must still be invested in testing, commissioning and training", said Jeanniot.

Jeanniot noted also that information vital for airlines to plan their aircraft operations into the new airport had been provided late. "Our members are telling us that some information has been delivered to them only recently, and other important information still has not been received".

Recent major airport openings, such as Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport, were beset with multi-faceted problems. Subsequent government inquiries there had clearly shown that virtually all of those problems would have been avoided if the opening had been delayed. "Let's not repeat these bad experiences", concluded Jeanniot. "A new airport to replace Hellenikon is eagerly anticipated by both airlines and their passengers, and the actions of the Greek Government to achieve this are applauded. But let's get it right this time. We believe that until such time as all airport facilities, and the necessary road access, can be independently verified as operating properly, and with sufficient capacity, airline operations at Athens should remain at Hellenikon".