An exploration of the former Ellinikon International Airport, south of Athens

@ElentirENG ES 7·28·2024 · 23:22 0

In 1938, a few kilometres south of Athens, the capital of Greece, the then called Kalamaki Aerodrome was opened.

Green Line, the no man's land that has separated the two halves of the island of Cyprus since 1974
Victorville aircraft boneyard, the place where hundreds of aviation giants rest

Its operations did not last long, as during the German invasion of Greece in World War II, it was converted into a base for the Luftwaffe, the German air force. After the war, Greece authorized the United States to use this facility for military purposes, becoming the Hassani Air Base, renamed Hellenikin in 1976 and operational until 1993.

In addition to serving as a military base, Ellinikon International Airport continued to operate as a civilian facility, serving as the base of operations for the Greek airline Olympic Airways since 1957. Ellinikon was a dangerous airport due to its short runway and surroundings, so plans were made for a new airport and part of the Ellinikon site to be repurposed for sports facilities in advance of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Ellinikon ceased operations on 28 March 2001, being replaced by Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.

Since then, Ellinikon has been abandoned but guarded. There are several abandoned aircraft on its apron, including an Olympic Airways Boeing 747-200, SX-OAB (MSN 20825), built in 1973 and operated by Aerolineas Argentinas for three months in 1996 and abandoned at Ellinikon since the airport's closure. Exploring the Unbeaten Path has published an interesting video today exploring this former airport:

You can see some screenshots from this video here. Here we can see some buildings and lighting towers from the old airport.

An aerial view of the Boeing 747-200 SX-OAB, named "Olympic Eagle." The aircraft does not retain its four engines.

The interior of the old airport facilities. Judging by the state of some rooms, it seems that the old airport was used to house Syrian refugees a few years ago.

In addition to the Boeing 747-200 we have already seen, this Boeing 737-284A from 1976, SX-BCA, is also abandoned at Ellinikon. It has no wings, no engines, no fins or stabilizers.