Private Jet Charter at Athen Helenikon (LGAT/HEW)

Athens' Closed Coastal Airfield and the Helenikon Redevelopment

Helenikon Airport ceased scheduled operations in 2001 when Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport opened ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games. The 620-hectare coastal site — stretching along the Saronic Gulf south of the city centre — has since been largely decommissioned. The site was used as an Olympic venue in 2004 and has remained subject to prolonged redevelopment negotiations for over two decades. Any operator planning a private jet movement under the HEW or LGAT identifiers must verify current airfield status directly with Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) before positioning an aircraft.

Operational Profile

As of the most recent available data, Helenikon does not support regular civil aviation movements. The runways — historically including a 3,200m primary strip capable of handling wide-body traffic — are no longer maintained to airworthy standards. No active FBO or ground handling provider operates on-site. Customs clearance is not available on the premises. Operators requiring Athens-area access should route through Athens Eleftherios Venizelos, which offers full H24 operations, on-site customs, and multiple handling providers including dedicated executive terminals.

Transfers & Connections

The Helenikon site is located approximately 9 km south of central Athens, adjacent to the Glyfada and Elliniko districts along the coastal highway (Poseidonos Avenue). Despite its proximity to the city, the absence of operational aviation infrastructure renders transfer planning moot for charter purposes. The nearby Greece destination network is fully accessible via Venizelos, with onward connections to island airfields including Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes. For Aegean island routing or Athenian Riviera access, the active Athens hub remains the operationally viable entry point.

Handling & Customs

No handling or customs infrastructure is currently active at HEW. The Helenikon redevelopment project — branded as the Ellinikon Project — is a large-scale mixed-use development involving residential, hospitality, and marina components, with no confirmed aviation component in the approved masterplan as of the latest publicly available documentation. Flight planners should not file HEW as a destination or alternate without direct HCAA confirmation. For executive charter operations into the Athens metropolitan area, Athens Eleftherios Venizelos remains the sole viable option, with Istanbul serving as a regional alternate for eastern Mediterranean routing.