Athens International Airport participates in WWF’s “Earth Hour”

For the fourteenth year, Athens International Airport will join WWF's global initiative “Earth Hour” on Saturday, March 22nd. 

The airport will switch off the lighting of its western runway system (03L/21R), suspending its operation for one hour, between 20:30 – 21:30 (local time).
 
At the same time, lighting in the airport buildings, staff parking lots and other selected areas of the airport will be reduced. Aiming to contribute to public awareness regarding the issue of climate change, announcements in the airport’s terminal will be made, informing passengers and visitors about the WWF’s global mobilization and the active participation of Athens International Airport. The official Earth Hour video will also be played on displays in the main terminal. The Airport Company also encourages all its employees to participate from home, by dimming or shutting off their lights. Ikea, Kotsovolos, Factory Outlet and other members of the airport community will be participating in this symbolic action concerning climate change.

Since 2009, AIA has been participating in Airport Carbon Accreditation, a global, voluntary initiative of Airports Council International – Europe, for managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, AIA upgraded its certification to Level 4+ (Transition) of the program, strengthening cooperation with Third Parties and their commitment to emission reduction, as well as estimating emissions from additional sources.

Moreover, in the framework of AIA’s Route 2025 initiative for net zero emissions by 2025, construction works for a 35.5MWp PV station are in progress within the airport. In conjunction with the already operational 16MWp PV station, the new station will produce enough energy equivalent to meet AIA’s electricity needs. The degree of auto-consumption will be optimized with an 82MWh battery storage capacity system, which is also under construction. 

Works for the replacement of natural gas boilers with heat pumps are also being implemented while the gradual electrification of AIA’s fleet (excluding heavy-duty and special vehicles) and installation of the necessary charging infrastructure are also in progress.

Finally, since 2021, AIA has been participating in the EU-funded project STARGATE: SusTainable AiRports, the Green heArT of Europe, in cooperation with the airports of Brussels, Budapest and Toulouse. AIA has undertaken a series of projects addressing climate, mobility and circularity.