Guide · Greece · Airport Transfers
Athens Airport (ATH) Helicopter Transfer Guide 2026
Everything you actually need to know to fly out of Athens International (Eleftherios Venizelos, ATH) by helicopter — meeting point, luggage rules, costs to the most-requested islands, and how to time it against your inbound jet or commercial flight.
1. Where the helicopter actually picks you up
Helicopters do not depart from the main passenger terminal. Transfers leave from the dedicated General Aviation Terminal (GAT) on the southern side of the airfield, used for private jets and helicopters. After clearing immigration in the main terminal, a handler meets you airside or curbside and drives you the short distance to the GAT apron, where the helicopter is positioned and pre-flighted.
2. Luggage handling
Light twins like the AW109 or H135 typically allow ~10 kg per passenger in soft bags. Heavier or oversized luggage (hard cases, golf bags, dive gear) is usually moved separately by ground to the destination island, arriving the same day. Confirm bag count and dimensions at quote stage — it directly affects which aircraft is dispatched.
3. Typical flight times from ATH
- Mykonos — 35–40 min
- Santorini — 50–55 min
- Paros / Naxos — 35–40 min
- Spetses / Porto Heli — 25–30 min
- Hydra — 20–25 min
- Costa Navarino — 55–60 min
4. Indicative cost bands (2026)
One-way charter rates depend on aircraft class and repositioning. As an order of magnitude: ATH → Mykonos sits around €4,500–€6,500 in a light twin, ATH → Santorini around €5,500–€8,000, ATH → Spetses around €3,500–€4,800. Empty-leg returns can cut these significantly when timing aligns.
5. Connecting from a commercial or private jet
Plan ~45 minutes between wheels-down and helicopter departure for commercial arrivals (immigration, bag clearance, transfer to GAT). For private jets landing directly at the GAT, 15–20 minutes is realistic. Build in a buffer for late-summer slot congestion at Mykonos and Santorini.
6. Get a quote
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