Connecting flights at Athens International Airport
If your itinerary includes a layover or connecting flight in Athens, AEGEAN is here to help you navigate the process with ease. Be sure to collect your boarding pass for the next leg of your journey at your departure airport, then follow our simple transfer guide to ensure a comfortable and timely connection.
Explore the tips below to make your flight connection at Athens Airport as effortless as possible.
Εasily find the gate for your next flight through:
Athens International Airport: terminal layout & arrival guidance
Athens International Airport (ATH) is designed for smooth travel connections, with two levels and two distinct areas, where gates are located based on your flight destination:Non-Schengen destinations (Area/Gates A)
AEGEAN and Olympic Air network flights to the following non-Schengen countries are handled through Area A: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.Schengen destinations (Area/Gates B)
AEGEAN and Olympic Air network flights to the following Schengen countries are handled through Area B:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
If you're arriving in Area B and departing from Area B on a Schengen area flight, follow the instructions below based on your disembarkation method and connecting gate number.
Arrival via Jet Bridge (Level 1)
If you disembark via a jet bridge on Level 1, proceed as follows:
- Connecting to Gates B1–B15:
Stay on Level 1 and follow the airport signage directly to your departure gate.
- Connecting to Gates B16–B31:
Take the stairs or elevator down to Level 0, then follow the signs to your gate.
Arrival via Bus (Level 0)
If your aircraft arrives via bus disembarkation, you will enter the terminal at Level 0. Follow these directions:
- Connecting to Gates B1–B15:
Go up to Level 1, then follow airport wayfinding signs to your gate.
- Connecting to Gates B16–B31:
Remain on Level 0 and continue to your departure gate by following airport signage.
You will not need to go through passport control or a security checkpoint.
If you’re arriving in Area B on a Schengen flight and departing from Area A on a non-Schengen flight, follow the instructions below based on how you disembark.
Arrival via Jet Bridge (Level 1)
- Disembark at Level 1
- Proceed down to Level 0
- Follow signs to Area A – Connecting Flights
- Continue through to Level 1 in Area A
Arrival via Bus (Level 0)
- Disembark directly at Level 0
- Follow signs to Area A – Connecting Flights
- Transit continues to Level 1 in Area A
In all cases, you will exit Area B completely and follow the clearly marked signage to Area A.
Important controls
- Passport Control is mandatory
- You will pass through Passport Control, followed by a Security Check
Area A departure gates
- Gates A1–A15 – Located on Level 1
- Gates A18–A23 – Located on Level 0
If you're arriving in Area A on a non-Schengen flight and connecting to a Schengen flight in Area B, follow these step-by-step instructions based on how you disembark.
Arrival via Jet Bridge (Level 1)
- Disembark at Level 1
- Proceed down to Level 0
- Follow signs for “Connecting Flights to Area B”
- Transition back to Level 1 in Area B for gate access
Arrival via Bus (Level 0)
- Disembark at Level 0
- Follow signs to “Connecting Flights to Area B”
- You will be routed to Level 1 in Area B to reach your departure gate
*In all cases, you will exit Area A completely and follow the clearly marked signage to Area B.
Border & Security Controls
- Mandatory Passport Control (Non-Schengen to Schengen entry)
- Mandatory Security Screening
- Customs Control applies for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area
Baggage & Customs Information
If your final destination does not offer Customs Control, your baggage must be delivered to Athens Airport’s customs office and you must:
- Collect your baggage at the baggage claim area
- Pass through Customs Control
- Check in again before proceeding to your connecting flight
Greek Airports with Customs Control (besides Athens):
Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu, Rhodes
Temporary Customs Control available from 1 April to 31 October 2025 at:
Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Samos, Kavala, Kos, Mytilini, Zakynthos, Skiathos, Kefalonia, Kalamata, Chios, Ioannina (only for flight A3160)
Area B Departure Gates
- Gates B1–B15: Located on Level 1
- Gates B16–B31: Located on Level 0
If you're arriving in Area A and departing again from Area A on a non-Schengen flight, follow the guidance below based on how you disembark.
Arrival via Jet Bridge (Level 1)
- You will disembark at Level 1 and descend to Level 0
- Follow airport signage to Gates A1–A23
Arrival via Bus (Level 0)
- You will disembark directly at Level 0
- Follow airport signage to Gates A1–A23
Border & Security Controls
- All passengers must go through Passport Control
- A mandatory Security Check follows Passport Control
Continue to Departure Gate
After completing all required checks, proceed according to your gate number:
- Gates A1–A15 – Located on Level 1
- Gates A18–A23 – Located on Level 0
Use airport wayfinding signs throughout your route for real-time gate directions.
Frequently asked questions
If your flights booked in separate bookings, please inform the airport staff when you check in your baggage so that they can manage it as a single reservation, if possible.
This way, you will receive your boarding pass for your final destination and your baggage will be transferred directly to your final destination, as long as it is not subject to customs control at Athens airport.
If you have completed your first flight and have not received your boarding pass for your next flight, you can perform a mobile or web check-in, visit the nearest Transfer Desk or pick it up directly at the departure gate.
If the desk is closed or unstaffed, you can make a mobile or web check-in to receive your boarding pass on your mobile phone in the form of an SMS or email.
To find out the departure gate of your flight at Athens International Airport, you can consult:
- Your boarding pass, if the gate has already been assigned at the time of its issuance*.
- The AEGEAN Portal during the flight, if the first leg is on a Wi-Fi equipped aircraft. In the category “Connecting passengers” you will find updated information on your departure gate.
- The flight information screens in the airport arrivals area, which always provide the latest information.
- The Transfer Desk, where qualified staff are on hand to direct you directly to the gate of your next flight and provide you with all the necessary information for your transfer.
- The “My Notifications” service, through which you receive automatic notifications of the departure gate of your upcoming flight. As long as you have checked-in via the Aegean App or provided your mobile phone or email during the check-in process, you will receive notifications of the gate number, any changes, gate opening time and possible delays.
*As the gate and departure time may change at any time, it is always recommended to consult the airport information screens.
The Minimum Connecting Time (MCT), the time between the arrival of the first flight and the departure of the next, is important to ensure that you and your luggage catch the connecting flight.
For connecting flights at Athens International Airport, the minimum connecting time varies depending on the flights and screening procedures required.
The reservation system takes these parameters into account and only offers available flight combinations that meet the minimum response time requirements.
If your all your flights have been booked in the same reservation* (i.e. all flights are included in the same ticket) and no customs check is required, then your baggage will be automatically transferred to your connecting flight - without you having to collect it.
However, if customs control is required at Athens International Airport, you will have to collect your baggage, go through the necessary check and check it again at check-in.
*If your flights have been booked in separate reservations, you can ask the staff at the airport of departure, when you check in your baggage, to manage the reservation as a single bag (where possible).
It depends on your final destination and the country of origin of your flight:
- If your connecting flight is within the Schengen area, you do not need to go through passport control in Athens.
- In all other cases you will need to go through passport control in Athens, either for entry or exit from the Schengen area.
