[12] The first international flight to Thessaloniki landed at the Little Mikra air field, and government efforts at encouraging the growth of civil aviation saw the start of construction of a purpose-built civilian airport at the present location in 1938.

[12] Works were temporarily abandoned due to the Second World War and the airport opened to civilian traffic in 1948.

The accession of Greece to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation saw NATO-funded investments such as the expansion of the 10/28 runway to 2,440 metres (8,010 ft) and the inauguration of a new terminal building in 1965.

[12] Modernisation works were undertaken in the late 1990s, as part of the celebrations for Thessaloniki being European Capital of Culture in 1997.

On this floor there are 16 check-in counters, waiting areas, bars, stores and various airlines' offices.

[20] It includes an additional 28 check in counters (bringing the airport total to 44), and twelve departure gates (numbered 01-12) for international (intra-Schengen) and domestic flights.

In both terminals, passengers can use the "Fraport-free" free Wi-Fi [21] and public mobile phone charging ports,[22] as well as luggage carrying trolleys, and receive information from two National Tourism Organization offices.

There are also ATM machines, postal service [23] and car rental offices [24] in the departure sections of both terminals.

[25] The airport is served by Thessaloniki Fire Station No 5, whose facility is located in the junction between runways 10/28 and 16/34.

Significant traffic increase took place during 2014, with the total number of passengers exceeding the five million mark for the first time.

[8] The table below shows passenger totals at Thessaloniki International Airport by country destination during 2023.

[96] This extension is not an immediate concern for the company, however, since the terminus of Line 2, Mikra, will be connected with the airport by a 10-minute shuttle bus.

[98] For now, the airport is connected with the Line 1 of the system at Nea Elvetia with a shuttle bus, with the number 02X.