Those who have been pleasantly surprised by the sleek efficacy of Athens' new metro , hope the city's new airport, opening in March 2001, will be another showcase of Greece's modern face. Named after the famous Greek statesman who modernized the country in the early 20th century, the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport will be the first truly international airport in Greece. Located in Spata in eastern Attica, a rural area famous for its vineyards, it is 23 km from Athens' centre. Luxurious hotels and shiny shopping malls are expected to emerge in what are now empty lots.

A symbolic gateway into 21st-century Greece, the airport will serve up to 16 million passengers in the first year of operation. Huge and spacious, it will provide a stark contrast to stereotypical postcard images of Greece. But don't expect grand architecture: functionality and simplicity are the architectural goals. Marble and granite will cover floors and walls, reflecting the famous Attica sunlight.

The Spata airport (as most Greeks call it) will also overturn the shabby impression left by the old Hellenikon Airport, which is still in use. First time visitors to Athens are often disappointed with the poor service and facilities at Hellenikon.

For many Greeks, the opening of Spata airport will mark the emergence of Greece as a regional leader in southeast Europe and the Middle East.

Imagine for a moment a map of Europe. Athens is the southernmost capital of Europe - often described as the cradle of Western civilisation, but most frequently associated with the Eastern influences that have shaped local culture for centuries. Athens is commonly viewed as a link between Mediterranean Europe and Near Eastern nonchalance. Greeks themselves often claim they can deal better with a Bulgarian, a Turk or an Israeli than any northern European could.

But rapid improvements in the Greek economy have changed the way Greeks view themselves, and the way Greece is being viewed abroad. Greece is no longer seen as the maverick of Europe, but as an emerging power in a new geopolitical context. The new Athens airport reflects this new pride and dynamism. It both adds a touch of glamour, and pays service to Greece's aim to upgrade its infrastructure .

The tourist industry will be one of the first sectors to reap direct benefits. Travel agents will be able to sell Athens as a destination in its own right, an ideal city break. People will still visit the city for the Parthenon , but also for its proximity to the Greek islands . The flow of tourists to the Aegean islands will be faster and smoother thanks to the upgrading of the neighbouring ports of Rafina and Lavrion . This will alleviate congestion at Athens' central port, Piraeus .

The city of Athens will itself benefit from its new airport. The new airport will be a symbol of Athens' increasing prosperity, but also of a new metropolitan multiculturalism. Modernisation will no doubt provoke chain reactions in this most ancient of modern capitals. This summer, millions of tourists will land at the tiny Hellenikon airport, in a densely populated suburb of Athens. Next summer, Spata Airport will welcome visitors to a Greece they may scarcely recognise.