Earth Time 2024: The airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” will close a corridor and lower the lights

He declares it for the thirteenth year “present ” in“, ” Saturday, March 23. For another year the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” participates in the WWF’s global initiative (World Wide Fund for Nature) “Earth Hour”. On Saturday, March 23rd, Athens Airport, in a symbolic move, will interrupt the operation of one of its two corridors (west corridor, 03L/21R and its wheels) from 20:30 to 21:30, turning off the lights. During the same period, lighting will be reduced in the airport buildings, staff car parks and other selected infrastructure areas. Announcements will be made at the central airport to inform the public about the global mobilisation of WWF and the active participation of Athens airport in an effort to raise public awareness of climate change. Finally, the official video of the Earth Hour initiative will be shown on screens at the main terminal. At the same time, AIA encourages all airport personnel to contribute individually to “Earth Time”, reducing or turning off the lights at home. In this symbolic move on climate change, the IKEA store, the Sofitel Hotel, and many other members of the airport community are also involved. It is noted that the shutdown of the western runway will not affect the operation of the airport and will take place following a specific operational planning allowed by the limited duration of the action. All scheduled flights will normally be operated from the eastern runway of the airport. Airport and climate change In 2023 AIA was certified for the 4+ ‘Transition’ stage of the voluntary programme for the Management and Reduction of Carbon Airport Emissions (Airport Carbon Accreditation) of the International Airport Council of Europe (ACI Europe) strengthening cooperation with the Third Parties and commitment to reduce their emissions, as well as calculating additional sources of indirect emissions. As part of the AIA’s commitment to zero greenhouse gas emissions balance by 2025, following the completion of the first phase of the 16 MW photovoltaic power park, plans to build the 35,5MW photovoltaic power park within the airport area, which will include an 82MWh battery energy storage system. The plans to replace gas consumption with heat pumps as well as the gradual withdrawal of the entire AIA fleet (in addition to heavy-duty vehicles) and to replace all corporate vehicles with electric vehicles – and of course the design of the necessary charging infrastructure.