Athens airport's profit falls 6.6% on passenger fee discount

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Athens International Airport (AIA) reported a 6.6% year-on-year drop in nine-month net profit to €173.5 million ($194 million) on Tuesday, as a temporary discount on passenger charges took its toll on aviation revenue.

The operator of Greece's main gateway said passenger numbers rose to 27.3 million in the nine months to September 30, up 4.3% from a year earlier, despite geopolitical tensions and a two-day runway closure in September for maintenance.

• Aviation revenue was down 1.0% to €393.6 million, hit by a 30% passenger fee discount from October 2025 to April 2026

• Non-aviation revenue was up 5.4% to €136.4 million, helped by retail and food and beverage

• Inflation, wage rises and staffing related to the EU Entry/Exit System lifted operating expenses 4.2% to €187.6 million

• AIA maintains its forecast for passenger growth of a mid-single-digit percentage in 2026

• The tender process for expanding the main terminal's south pier began in October, AIA said, with construction expected to start in the second half of 2027

($1 = 0.8961 euros)

(Reporting by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Alexander Smith)