Athens International Airport (Greek: Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών, Diethnís Aeroliménas Athinón ) known as "Elefthérios Venizélos", Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος) (IATA: ATH , ICAO: LGAV ), which began operation on 29 March 2001, is the civilian airport that serves the city of Athens and the region of Attica. The airport is the major hub and base for Olympic Airlines, Greece's state-owned airline, as well as for Aegean Airlines. The airport serves more than 16 million travellers annually and was named after the Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos. The airport has become increasingly popular as a gateway to Southeast and East Asia, with flights to Bangkok, Singapore, and Beijing, and is the largest European gateway airport to the Middle East, due to its proximity to the region. It is known for its continual investment in pioneering technology. The airport is also A380 ready, having been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration.