The airport is named after Aristarchos of Samos, an ancient astronomer and mathematician, and lies within 5 km from the nearby town of Pythagorio.

The airport's surroundings leave little room for error or mistake on the behalf of the pilots – with nearby mountains and sea at the end of the short runway.

In summer there are often strong Meltemi winds from the north, which further contribute to the difficulty of the landing.

Passenger facilities are split across two floors and include a duty-free shop and a small café.

[5] "We signed the deal today," the head of Greece's privatisation agency HRADF, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters.