Athens International Airport (ATH) Slot Procurement & Infrastructure Access

Athens International Airport (ATH), also known as “Eleftherios Venizelos,” is the primary gateway to Greece and operates under Level 3 Coordination during the peak summer season (March to October). All operators (including Business Aviation (GA/BA) and commercial carriers) must obtain a confirmed slot from the Hellenic Slot Coordination Authority (HSCA) before flight plan activation.

Just Aviation offers specialized administrative support to navigate Athens’ evolving slot environment. Our services ensure compliance at a facility that handled a record 33.99 million passengers and 283,589 aircraft movements in 2025, representing a nearly 6% year-on-year increase in flight volume.

Slot Reservation & Strategy for Athens (ATH)

• Rigorous Slot Clearance & PPR Integration
  • Effective March 2025, any aircraft stay exceeding 120 minutes at ATH requires a mandatory Prior Permission Request (PPR) before a slot can be finalized.
  • We manage the dual-layer application process, securing the PPR from airport authorities first and then synchronizing it with the HSCA slot confirmation.
• Precision Timing for Level 3 Congestion
  • Athens enforces a strict ±20-minute slot tolerance; deviations beyond this window can result in flight plan suspension by Eurocontrol.
  • We analyze peak movement periods (typically 06:00Z, 09:00Z, 12:00Z, and 15:00Z) to secure viable windows that avoid peak-hour delays or diversions.

Strategic Operational Support for Greek Operations

• Live Monitoring & Flight Plan (FPL) Synchronization
  • We ensure your Slot ID is correctly formatted (e.g., ASL format in Field 18) to prevent automatic FPL suspension during the Greece Flight Plan Suspension (FLS) enforcement period.
  • Our team monitors real-time runway status to verify that your actual movement aligns with the confirmed timing to avoid Greek HCAA sanctions.
• Handling of Amendments & Ground Time Restrictions
  • Ground time for non-scheduled flights is strictly managed; we facilitate requests for stay extensions, which are only granted within 24 hours of operation during peak periods.
  • We manage rapid slot updates for fleet swaps or tail number changes, which require a full delete-and-replace (GCR) procedure under HSCA rules.
• Diversion & Irregular Operation Recovery
  • During summer disruptions or peak traffic saturation, we coordinate replacement slots and help secure repositioning to nearby airports like Thessaloniki (SKG) or Chania (CHQ) if parking is denied at ATH.
  • Our 24/7 desk manages technical stops and humanitarian exemptions as defined by the latest Greek aeronautical directives.

Managed Slot Designations for ATH Operators

• Business Aviation (GA/BA) Slots
  • Specialized support for aircraft over 5,700 kg MTOW, which are now subject to mandatory coordination even for VFR flights as of 2025.
• Scheduled Commercial & Seasonal Series
  • Full administration for Summer (S) and Winter (W) seasons, including usage monitoring to satisfy the 80/20 “Use-it-or-Lose-it” rule and protect historical rights.
• Quick-Turn (Drop-and-Go) Coordination
  • Management of rapid turnarounds (under 120 minutes) that do not require PPR but still demand precise runway slot allocations.

Regulatory Framework for Athens (ATH) Slot Usage

• Adherence to European & Hellenic Standards
  • Every mission is cleared in accordance with EU Regulation 95/93 and local Hellenic Law 4233/2014.
• Documented Audit Trail & Slot ID Verification
  • We maintain exhaustive records of HSCA communications and confirmation numbers to ensure your flight department is prepared for any regulatory review or audit.

Integration with Athens (ATH) Landing & Handling Services

At Athens, slot confirmation is the prerequisite for all ground-side authorizations. Our integrated approach ensures:

• Slot IDs are synchronized with mandatory ground handling contracts.
• PPR and slot timings match perfectly to avoid ground-handling conflicts.
• Real-time updates are pushed to both HSCA and airport authorities during schedule changes.
• Automatic verification of aircraft type and registration to prevent GCR rejection.

Why Choose Just Aviation for Athens (ATH) Slot Coordination

• Deep expertise in the specific Level 3 summer program for Greek airports.
• Unified management of PPR and slot clearance for complex high-density operations.
• Immediate 24/7 response for short-notice flight revisions and parking extensions.
• Proven record in protecting historic slot rights for long-term seasonal operators.

Contact Just Aviation today at [email protected] to coordinate your Athens International (ATH) slot requirements with absolute certainty and 24/7 expertise.