Connecting at Athens airport

Connection time calculator, immigration and security, and how to move between terminals at ATH.

How connections work at ATH

At Athens airport, passengers connecting between two international flights can usually stay in the transit area without going through immigration.

The airport has 3 terminals or concourses (Main Terminal (gates A, non-Schengen), Main Terminal (gates B, Schengen), Satellite (gates C)).

Connection time calculator

Is your layover at ATH long enough? Pick your connection and get an estimate with the times of this airport.

Terminals / concourses: Main Terminal (gates A, non-Schengen), Main Terminal (gates B, Schengen), Satellite (gates C)

Getting between them: Walking; 300 m underground tunnel with moving walkways between the main terminal and the satellite

One main terminal with gates A (non-Schengen) and B (Schengen); the satellite gates C (Schengen, mainly Ryanair, Wizz Air and Transavia) are reached through a 300 m underground tunnel with moving walkways. Schengen to Schengen needs no security or passport control; switching between Schengen and non-Schengen means passport control and security.

Official transfer times:

  • Main Terminal → Satellite (tunnel): up to 5 min walking

Passport control applies when connecting between Schengen (gates B and C) and non-Schengen (gates A) flights.

  • Schengen to Schengen connections take about 5 minutes on foot.
  • Schengen to non-Schengen: exit past the baggage belts, go up to departures and clear passport control and security (15 to 25 minutes depending on queues).
  • For connections to regional Greek destinations you may need to collect your bags and clear customs in Athens: check with your airline.

Estimate based on typical times at this airport, not your airline's official minimum connection time. Immigration and security lines change with the time of day and season. On a single ticket, the airline must rebook you if you miss the connection; on separate tickets, it does not.

Sources: cestee.com · aia.gr.

Times are estimates: always check with your airline.

More about ATH

Airport guide Departures Arrivals