newswatcher
28th Mar 2001, 15:53
Associated Press reports:
"Trucks began carrying tons of equipment from Athens' old airfields Wednesday in a round-the-clock operation coinciding with the first commercial flight to the city's new international airport.
The mammoth move to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, 18 miles east of Athens, involves more than 400 trucks and is expected to last until early Thursday.
The dlrs 2 billion airport replaces the outdated seaside terminals that feature buildings used since 1938. The old airport had been the target of frequent international complaints over lax security and poor standards such as stray dogs wandering amid passengers.
The first commercial flight at the new site was scheduled to land at about 3 p.m (1200 GMT) Wednesday. The first departure is set for Thursday.
More than 12 million tourists visit Greece every year. The government says the airport will help handle increased traffic during the 2004 Olympic games in Athens.
Construction of the airport was led by the German building giant Hochtief and was partly funded by the European Union. The project involved flattening a hill and moving a 15th Century Greek Orthodox Church.
The government pressed ahead with opening the new airport before the peak tourist season despite concern from airlines over high airport charges and poor access. Only a small portion of a beltway around traffic-clogged Athens is open. Rail access will not be ready until 2004.
The airport, named after a prominent 20th century Greek statesman, was inaugurated Tuesday by Premier Costas Simitis at a nationally televised ceremony.
But the celebrations were marred by bitter disputes over the closing of more than 20 private radio stations whose transmission towers are atop a ridge near the new airport. The government said their transmission signals could disrupt flight communications."
"Trucks began carrying tons of equipment from Athens' old airfields Wednesday in a round-the-clock operation coinciding with the first commercial flight to the city's new international airport.
The mammoth move to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, 18 miles east of Athens, involves more than 400 trucks and is expected to last until early Thursday.
The dlrs 2 billion airport replaces the outdated seaside terminals that feature buildings used since 1938. The old airport had been the target of frequent international complaints over lax security and poor standards such as stray dogs wandering amid passengers.
The first commercial flight at the new site was scheduled to land at about 3 p.m (1200 GMT) Wednesday. The first departure is set for Thursday.
More than 12 million tourists visit Greece every year. The government says the airport will help handle increased traffic during the 2004 Olympic games in Athens.
Construction of the airport was led by the German building giant Hochtief and was partly funded by the European Union. The project involved flattening a hill and moving a 15th Century Greek Orthodox Church.
The government pressed ahead with opening the new airport before the peak tourist season despite concern from airlines over high airport charges and poor access. Only a small portion of a beltway around traffic-clogged Athens is open. Rail access will not be ready until 2004.
The airport, named after a prominent 20th century Greek statesman, was inaugurated Tuesday by Premier Costas Simitis at a nationally televised ceremony.
But the celebrations were marred by bitter disputes over the closing of more than 20 private radio stations whose transmission towers are atop a ridge near the new airport. The government said their transmission signals could disrupt flight communications."