<strong>Hellenikon Airport:</strong> Once the main airport serving Athens, these photos from 2020 show Hellenikon abandoned and left to fall into disrepair.
Hellenikon Airport: Once the main airport serving Athens, these photos from 2020 show Hellenikon abandoned and left to fall into disrepair.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Two decades of decay:</strong> The airport closed in 2001, and while there are still old planes parked on its asphalt, it hasn't been used as an air terminal ever since.
Two decades of decay: The airport closed in 2001, and while there are still old planes parked on its asphalt, it hasn't been used as an air terminal ever since.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Wartime past: </strong>The former airport complex was originally built in the late 1930s. During World War II it was used by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe and became a target of Allied air raids.
Wartime past: The former airport complex was originally built in the late 1930s. During World War II it was used by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe and became a target of Allied air raids.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Vacation gateway: </strong>As Greece's tourism industry expanded over the decades, Hellenikon served as the gateway for millions of people arriving from all corners of the globe.<br />
Vacation gateway: As Greece's tourism industry expanded over the decades, Hellenikon served as the gateway for millions of people arriving from all corners of the globe.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Finnish architecture: </strong>While redevelopment work has commenced,<strong> </strong>some of the airport's buildings will be preserved from demolition, including the former East Terminal, designed in the 1960s by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen's firm.
Finnish architecture: While redevelopment work has commenced, some of the airport's buildings will be preserved from demolition, including the former East Terminal, designed in the 1960s by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen's firm.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Luxury resort: </strong>A $1 billion development deal to turn the area into a luxury coastal resort was agreed in 2014, but efforts to kick-start the project have been delayed due to political and bureaucratic obstacles.
Luxury resort: A $1 billion development deal to turn the area into a luxury coastal resort was agreed in 2014, but efforts to kick-start the project have been delayed due to political and bureaucratic obstacles.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Frozen in time:</strong> Photos from 2020 show once-bustling airport lounges in a state of decay, with collapsing ceilings and half-ruined walls.
Frozen in time: Photos from 2020 show once-bustling airport lounges in a state of decay, with collapsing ceilings and half-ruined walls.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Gloomy scene: </strong>A jumble of trash, broken glass and discarded record books reveals the daunting scale of decay, while faded tourism posters and torn maps add a note of gloom to the scene.
Gloomy scene: A jumble of trash, broken glass and discarded record books reveals the daunting scale of decay, while faded tourism posters and torn maps add a note of gloom to the scene.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Faded glamor:</strong> During its heyday, the airport's terminals saw jet setters including Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif pass through its corridors.
Faded glamor: During its heyday, the airport's terminals saw jet setters including Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif pass through its corridors.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Olympic Airways:</strong> A small fleet of decommissioned Boeing aircraft, including an imposing 747-200 alongside a Boeing 737 and Boeing 727, sit idle on the edge of the complex.
Olympic Airways: A small fleet of decommissioned Boeing aircraft, including an imposing 747-200 alongside a Boeing 737 and Boeing 727, sit idle on the edge of the complex.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Onassis' airline: </strong>The old jets belong to Olympic Airways, a now-defunct airline launched in the 1950s by Greek business magnate Aristotle Onassis.
Onassis' airline: The old jets belong to Olympic Airways, a now-defunct airline launched in the 1950s by Greek business magnate Aristotle Onassis.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Aristotle Onassis: </strong>Onassis is pictured after arriving into London's Gatwick Airport in 1959, having flown to the UK on Olympic Airways with Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.
Aristotle Onassis: Onassis is pictured after arriving into London's Gatwick Airport in 1959, having flown to the UK on Olympic Airways with Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<strong>Flight attendants: </strong>Racing driver and international playboy Porfirio Rubirosa poses with Olympic Airways flight attendants at Hellinikon Airport, circa 1965.
Flight attendants: Racing driver and international playboy Porfirio Rubirosa poses with Olympic Airways flight attendants at Hellinikon Airport, circa 1965.
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
<strong>End of an era: </strong>Onassis sold his airline to the Greek government in 1975, shortly before his death. The carrier was later renamed Olympic Airlines and ceased operations in 2009.
End of an era: Onassis sold his airline to the Greek government in 1975, shortly before his death. The carrier was later renamed Olympic Airlines and ceased operations in 2009.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Red tape: In recent times</strong>, Greece's government has pledged to speed up regulatory procedures to help remove hurdles to the airport's redevelopment.
Red tape: In recent times, Greece's government has pledged to speed up regulatory procedures to help remove hurdles to the airport's redevelopment.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Tough refuge: </strong>At the height of Europe's refugee crisis five years ago, the sprawling site became an informal settlement sheltering thousands of people living in harrowing conditions.
Tough refuge: At the height of Europe's refugee crisis five years ago, the sprawling site became an informal settlement sheltering thousands of people living in harrowing conditions.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Aviation history: </strong>Despite the planned redevelopment, the memory of both the abandoned airport and Olympic Airways will live on in a new museum that will be housed on the site, according to Vasilis Tsatsaragkos, president of the Olympic Airlines Workers' Cultural Center.
Aviation history: Despite the planned redevelopment, the memory of both the abandoned airport and Olympic Airways will live on in a new museum that will be housed on the site, according to Vasilis Tsatsaragkos, president of the Olympic Airlines Workers' Cultural Center.
Dimitris Sideridis