Athens airport witnessed a modest increase in business and vip traffic of around 12 per cent this summer during the Special Olympics, reports Athens Executive Aviation.

The games are much smaller than the main Olympic event, but still attracted participation from 180 countries from all over the world with attendant arrivals of media, sponsors, donors, athletes, coaches and spectators.

Athens International Airport had established procedures that allowed a smooth flow of all arrivals through the main terminal building and the general aviation terminal.

At the GAT the airport, police, customs and handlers collaborated to welcome vips and sponsors, but because the majority of officials accompanied the athletes' delegations on scheduled commercial flights, the GA movement increase was not high and did not cause congestion problems.