Interplan Athens is looking forward with a mixture of hope and uncertainty to its impending move to new facilities at the new Athens International Airport in mid-2001. The move will be forced on all operators as the old Athens airport will close with the opening of the new city airport. The company's general manager of general aviation Nick Evlog told EBAN that he was not yet sure what effect this will have on the business. "From what I've read and been told the airport will be one of the most modern in Europe," he said. "I am hopeful that we will see an increase in business."\rA lot of the uncertainty centres around the fact that although construction on the new hub is well under way, little is known of the GA facilities that will be included. Evlog explained that he has not had a chance to see close up the plans for the new international airport. "I think the GA side is still under the microscope to assess what they are going to do," he said. The planners did briefly consult the company and other operators to receive feedback - a process which Evlog believes may still be continuing. "I am sure by the time they open the airport there will be a plan for GA aircraft," he confidently adds.\rA worst case scenario would be to have an airport where GA is excluded, as has happened at other major European hubs, points out Evlog. "Trying to do business out of an airport like Frankfurt is almost impossible if you do not have a dedicated area for GA." As to what would happen to the company if no GA facilities are forthcoming Evlog refused to be drawn, "I honestly don't know what we would do - I can't say unless it happens."\rOn a more positive note, the company has applied to the Greek CAA for a license to carry out supervisory work now that handling contracts at the new airport have been put out to tender. Evlog is confident that the license will be granted shortly and he believes that Interplan is the only company to have applied so far.\rThe construction company has announced that the work on Athens International Airport is on track to be finished as predicted by March 1, 2001. "I believe that as the first aircraft lands at the new airport the old one closes," said Evlog. "Though the move might straddle a month until things are sorted out."