Samos International Airport- SMI

Owned and operated by Fraport AG/Copelouzos Group joint venture, Samos International Airport is a civilian airfield found on the island of Samos, Greece. It is also referred to as Aristarchos Airport since its name was derived from Aristachos, an ancient astronomer native to the island. Samos International Airport primarily serves the town of Vathy, although it also accommodates passenger traffic from various areas on the island. The airfield’s IATA code goes by SMI, while its ICAO code goes by LGSM.

Best Time to Visit

The airport’s asphalt-paved runway spans to a length of only 2,100 meters, leaving almost no room for error on the pilot’s part since the end of the airstrip leads to the sea and mountains.SMI also features a lone terminal building with five boarding gates, two floors, and some amenities like a shop and a tiny café. The terminal underwent renovation in the latter part of 1990, the first-ever major development in the airport since its opening in 1976. Currently, there are twenty-three airlines serving SMI, twenty of which only offer seasonal flights. The airfield handled a total of 462,749 passengers in 2018, amounting to 6,203 aircraft movements. You can explore the towns of Akbuk and Didim while you’re in the area.

What to Do & Area Attractions

From the airport, you can easily reach the Hotel Apollon and the Fito Aqua Bleu Resort, which are both only a half mile away from the airport and offer a relaxing view of the sea.

Travelers can also fly into Greece through the Leros Island Municipal Airport, found to the south of Samos Island.