Athens Airport introduces off-site check-in for cruise passengers

Passengers will be shuttled directly to and from the Port of Piraeus, skipping the lines at the airport

This Saturday, 7 September, a new cruise passenger processing system launches as a collaboration between Athens International Airport and the Port of Piraeus. The essence of the system is that the check-in procedure for these passengers will be done away from the airport, saving them unnecessary waiting times and giving them the chance to enjoy more of their vacation.

The new service between Athens Airport and the Piraeus Cruise Terminal also counts on the collaboration of ground service providers Skyserv and Swissport Greece. That partnership is essential because it concerns the handling of the transport and luggage of the cruise passengers.

Under the “off-airport check-in” system, arriving cruise passengers in Athens will be shuttled directly to their cruise ship, with Skyserv and Swissport Greece managing their luggage separately. The luggage will be transported via trucks to the airport’s apron for direct aircraft loading.

More time to explore Athens

The off-airport check-in provides even more benefits to cruise passengers departing from Athens at the end of their cruise journey. These passengers will receive their boarding passes already on the cruise ship when disembarking.

Similarly, their luggage will be taken separately to the airport. There it will undergo security X-ray screening before being loaded onto the aircraft. 

As for the actual passengers, they will get to enjoy more free time (thanks to the new procedure), which will be utilized for short tours within Attica, including visits to central Athens.

According to the latest data, Greece’s busiest port (Piraeus) notched up a historic high in 2023 for the total number of cruise passengers, serving approximately 1.5 million, compared with 880,000 in 2022.