Thessaloniki Airport
If you are planning on visiting Thessaloniki, then it’s likely that your journey will involve a flight either in or out of Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, which is sometimes just called Thessaloniki Airport or by its IATA code SKG.
A brief history of Thessaloniki Airport
The airport first began as a military airfield during World War I that took place from 1914 to 1918. Roughly two decades later, in 1938, Greek government officials oversaw the construction of a passenger airport facility that could handle flights for workers and tourists alike. But the outbreak of World War II, which began in 1939 and lasted until 1945, then delayed the opening of this civilian terminal. The airport finally opened its terminal for passengers in 1948.
Following the end of World War II, Thessaloniki Airport saw some development and expansion over the coming years, with a new terminal constructed and opened in 1965. Further efforts to make the airport more modern took place during the 1990s, and it was in 1993 that the airport added Makedonia – the Greek spelling of Macedonia – to its official title.
In 1978, there was an earthquake in Thessaloniki that 6.5 on what’s known as the measured moment magnitude scale, used to assess the severity of earthquakes. This natural disaster caused significant damage to the airport’s control tower and it had to be rebuilt.
Constant and always growing demand for flights to and from the airport led to the construction of a second terminal to allow for more flights, and that was completed in 2021.
The airport for many decades for publicly operated but in 2015 its main operating functions were made private following an agreement between Greece, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and the Copelouzos Group. This deal also saw the privatization of another 13 airports throughout Greece, with the companies committing to investing hundreds of millions in Euros to refurbish, expand and otherwise improve the airports that it now controls.
Top facts about Thessaloniki Airport
Thessaloniki airport is located within the suburban area of Thermi, which is about 13 kilometers (or roughly 8 miles) southeast from the center of the city of Thessaloniki.
Currently, Thessaloniki Airport ranks third in terms of size for Greece’s largest airport, with Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis ranked second and Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos the busiest. It’s also in third place for the most passengers that used a Greek airport, processing almost 7 million travelers in 2019. This dropped to just over 2.3 million travelers in 2020, but that reduction was due to coronavirus limits on flights.
Flights coming and going use one of the two asphalt runways at the airport; the first is 3,440 meters (or 11,286 feet) in length and the second is 2,410 meters (or 7,907) long.
Thessaloniki Airport Top Airlines
At present, some of the airlines that operate flights to and from Thessaloniki Airport include Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air Service, airBaltic, Airseven, Arkia, Austrian Airlines, Bluebird Airways, British Airways, Cyprus Airways, easyJet, El Al, Eurowings, Israir Airlines, Jet2.com, Lufthansa, Luxair, Marathon Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Olympic Air, Ryanair, Scandinavian Airlines, Sky Express, Smartwings, Sundair, Swiss International Air Lines, TAROM, Transavia, TUI Airways and TUI fly Belgium, Turkish Airlines, Tus Airways, Volotea and Wizz Air.
Thessaloniki Airport Terminals
Both of the two airport terminals are built in the shape of the letter T, with Terminal 1 compromising three separate floors. On the ground floor you’ll find the arrivals section, which includes domestic and international flights as well as flights to and from the Schengen Area of 27 European countries that have ended passport control for citizens from the region. On the second floor of Terminal 1 you will find the departures area and shops, restaurants, bars and more, while the third floor features loungers and food and drink options with runway views.
Terminal 2 is the newer of the two airport buildings for passengers traveling to domestic locations within Greece or to countries that are within the designated Schengen Area. You’ll also find services and amenities here such as shops, dining choices and more.
The airport is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so there should always be a member of staff available to assist you even if your flight is delayed and you land very late at night.
And whether you need to park a car at the airport for an extended number of days or weeks, or just need a parking space for a brief time to pick someone up or drop them off, there are several options available. Thessaloniki Airport has a total of four car park lots, which are located by the front of Terminal 1 and divided between spaces for short stays and for long stays.
In case of any emergencies, Thessaloniki Airport also has a fully equipped and functioning fire station which is located between the junction where the two runways meet.
Thessaloniki Airport Location
Transportation options from the airport to Thessaloniki
You can find the airport about 9.3 miles (or roughly 15 kilometers) to the southeast of Thessaloniki, in the suburb or Thermi, so there’s not far to go before you can get into the city. But the distance is too far to walk so you will need some type of transportation to make the trip, particularly given that you might be traveling with many potentially heavy suitcases.
There are a few different ways that you can make the trip and they will vary based on how long they take, how much they will cost and various other important factors. Browse these factors below in order to help you with making a decision on which of the transportation selections might the closest match to whatever you travel budget might be and your vacation needs.
Options for getting between Thessaloniki Airport and Thessaloniki
| Transportation method | Average cost of journey | Average time of journey |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car | €50 to €75 or more daily | 30 minutes |
| Taxi | About €30 | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Public bus | €2 or less | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Before making your decision based just on the cost and time of the ride between the airport and downtown Thessaloniki, it can also be helpful to know about other pros and cons of the choice.
Rental car: The exact price of this choice will depend on the model of car that you select and the number of days for which you want to rent it, and it will be the most expensive of the three transportation methods. But in exchange for the higher cost you will get total privacy as well as complete flexibility, along with knowing your luggage is safely secured inside the vehicle.
Taxi: This will cost less than renting a car but more than getting on the public bus, and there could be some waiting at the airport before a taxi is able to pick you up to take you into the city. But it still provides more privacy then getting on the bus as you won’t have to share the ride with strangers. Just remember to tip your driver a few Euros as a thank you for a safe journey.
Public bus: Easily the cheapest of the three options available for getting from the airport to downtown Thessaloniki, this method does, however, have some disadvantages. Space for seats and your luggage can be very limited, especially when you are traveling at daytime and in peak tourism months, and the journey will be more than double what it takes by rental car or taxi.
Thessaloniki Airport FAQ
What is the airport code for Thessaloniki Airport?
The airport code for Thessaloniki Airport is SKG. This code is used to identify the airport for baggage handling, airline reservations and flight schedules.
Where is Thessaloniki Airport located?
Thessaloniki Airport is located about 9 miles south of Thessaloniki city center in Central Macedonia, Greece. The full address is Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia”, Thessaloniki, Greece, 57300.
What airlines offer direct or one-stop flights to Thessaloniki Airport?
Some major airlines that offer direct or one-stop flights to Thessaloniki Airport include:
Aegean Airlines
Aeroflot
Air France
Alitalia
Austrian Airlines
British Airways
easyJet
Emirates
Etihad Airways
KLM
Lufthansa
Olympic Air
Pegasus Airlines
Qatar Airways
Ryanair
Swiss International Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
Are there any budget airlines that fly to Thessaloniki Airport?
Yes, there are several budget airlines that offer cheap flights to Thessaloniki Airport including:
easyJet
Pegasus Airlines
Ryanair
Wizz Air
These budget airlines offer direct and indirect routes to Thessaloniki from various European cities at lower fares.
How do I get from Thessaloniki Airport to the city center?
There are several options to get from Thessaloniki Airport to the city center:
Public Bus 78: Bus 78 departs from Thessaloniki Airport to the city center every 30 minutes. The bus ride takes about 50 minutes and costs 2 EUR.
Shuttle Bus: Private shuttle busses offer transfers between the airport and major hotels/destinations in Thessaloniki city center. The fare is around 10 EUR per person.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to Thessaloniki city center costs a flat rate of 30 EUR during the day and 38 EUR at night. The taxi ride takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Rental Car: There are many car rental companies at Thessaloniki Airport if you wish to rent a car to drive into the city center. The drive takes about 25 minutes.
Contact Details
- Official Name: Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia”
- Address: Airport – Thessaloniki National Road, Thessaloniki 55103, Greece
- Phone Number: (+30) 2310 985000
- E-mail: kacmtl@otenet.gr
- web: https://www.skg-airport.gr/