Ten international investment schemes expressed interest in gaining a 30 per cent stake of the portion of Athens International Airport (AIA) owned by the Greek state privatisation fund, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRDAG).

Greece holds a 55 per cent stake in the airport, the German-based AviAllicance GmbH, owned by Canada’s pension investor PSP Investments, holds a 40 percent stake and the Copelouzos Group owns the remainder.

The ten schemes submitted their expressions of interest by closing time at 1500 GMT on 29 October.

Earlier this year, the public private partnership secured a 20-year extension to operate the airport until 2046.

READ MORE: Athens International Airport services all-time high of 24.1m passengers

The airport has proved very profitable since it opened in 2001. Last year it served 24 million passengers which was an 11 percent increase on the previous year. It raised €496 million in revenue.

The new government has pledged to speed up privatisations as a key part of the Greece’s post bail-out agreement. The process aims to attract investment and stimulate growth.