The airport has been closed since 2001, but the east terminal, for example, is completely legally accessible from the outside. There are no barriers or fences. Only a security guard is on site around the ear to prevent further vandalism. By the way: Another "garbage dump" seems to be the former gas station. Pretty much everything that could be bulky waste in households can be found there.

While the flair that you can perceive at the west terminal actually consists only of a parking lot, a huge mountain of rubble and signs indicating departures and arrivals, there is a lot more to see in the east. Depending on the position, you have a good or bad overview of the area. In places, bushes, small trees, grass and lots of weeds grow between the concrete slabs. Nature is reclaiming the former airfield. Unfortunately also paired with a lot of junk that was left behind or was disposed of by the population. Building rubble and other rubbish included, of course.

The feeling at the east terminal is a little "strange". Many signs are now very pale, but at first glance it would also pass as a check-in hall that is in Corona break. The closer you get, the clearer it becomes how desolate the buildings are. Entering without a helmet is very dangerous, say the employees of the owner company. It is expressly warned against "entering" the fenced areas or buildings without a helmet and being accompanied by a representative of the owner who is familiar with the area. It is relatively easy to get permission if you ask for it. If you fail to do this, however, the omnipresent securities will immediately call the police and in extreme cases there will even be an additional civil law suit. Why? Because vandals and illegal garbage collectors have littered and spoiled the area. Too much has happened that at some point the owners are fed up.

The former headquarters of Olympic Airways is only a few steps away from the east terminal. It is almost symbolic of the company's fate that the west terminal was primarily used and there were hangars and catering facilities nearby, but the administration was located a good 15 minutes by car on the other side of the area. The closure of the entire airport left the administrative staff of Olympic Airways indifferent, because only the aircraft - apart from those that were "disposed of" at Ellinikon - moved, the administration remained where it was before. Even after the “restart” as Olympic Airlines it stayed that way and when there was another “restart” as Olympic Air, nothing changed. Only after the takeover by Aegean Airlines did the last administrative employees move to the new owner's premises at the new airport. But that does not prevent the garbage disposal from continuing to set up garbage cans across the entire area and to drive to them regularly. Why there is so much rubbish lying around is simply incomprehensible.

It is not, however, that Ellinikon is completely extinct. For example, the meteorological service and other authorities still hold the position in an extremely shabby building. Basically, it doesn't matter where they do their job. It is unclear whether a move to other offices or even to the new airport will take place in the course of the demolition. Nobody knows what will happen to the listed East Terminal. It has been lounging since 2001, because there haven't been any events here for a long time. Due to the poor condition of the substance, it is not to be expected that there will be life here in the foreseeable future. Residents fear that at some point the demolition will simply begin in a night-and-fog operation. That wouldn't even bother the neighbors, because they are massively annoyed that the actually posh residential area is not exactly covered with fame due to the "eyesore of the former airport".

However, the former Olympic Airways employees were able to achieve a mini-success. In the long term, it is planned that their collection, to which they came due to a lack of other interested parties, may be made publicly accessible. The plans explicitly provide for a small aviation museum to be built on the site to commemorate Olympic Airways, the former airport and milestones in Greek aviation. Who has to pay for the costs is another piece of paper. One can only hope that the state, Elliniko, Athens or, best of all, all of them will finally support the voluntary project and thus secure a small part of Greek aviation history.

The former western area of ​​the Ellinikon can be reached with the X96 bus from Athens Airport. The fare is around 5,50 euros per direction. To get from there to the eastern area, you have the choice between a proverbial trip to the church around the cross by public transport or a longer walk. The latter should be more interesting, as you can walk directly on the fence in many places, see the former runway and other former facilities. Shortly before the east terminal, the aircraft collection can be seen as a “reward”. This is not only damn well visible, but the rusty fence now has a lot of holes through which souvenir photos can be taken.

Anyone who is in the publicly accessible area, just marveling at the Lostplace and possibly taking photos, has nothing to fear. On the contrary: The securities are sometimes boring and are happy to have a little small talk and are happy to give tips on what to see. If you want to experience the “Hellinikon” “formerly airside” before it is finally removed, there is no avoiding official permission from the owner. In no case just “get in”, that will not be tolerated and will be punished by legal means. However, if you ask in a friendly manner, you have a good chance of getting consent.

In general, only one hope remains that, after the corona pandemic, not many airports in the world will have a future similar to that of Ellinikon: Years of lumbering and then demolition.