A licence was granted for the establishment of the Sitia Water Airport and the infrastructure will now enter the construction stage!

After some time, Crete is once again making headlines in the world of seaplanes with the establishment of a water airport in Sitia! Hellenic Seaplanes is leading developments on the eastern side of the island, with Sitia’s port now officially gaining its own seaplane station. The official establishment permit for the Sitia water airport has been granted through a Joint Ministerial Decision, bringing seaplanes one step closer to the island.

Along with the airport and ferry services, Sitia is preparing to welcome seaplanes, with the Lasithi region now gaining multiple transportation options. This is further enhanced by the already approved water field at Sitia water aerodrome, allowing for 6 round-trip flights per day with seaplanes.

The planned sea corridors in Sitia will enable connectivity with other locations, including Ierapetra and Kissamos. Additionally, the mobility for island-hopping routes in the Southern Aegean is expected to increase, specifically towards the Dodecanese islands and other Cycladic destinations, once the construction and certification of the Sitia water airport is completed.

Sitia is set to become a hub for seaplanes!

In statements, Nicolas Charalambous, President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, remarked on the approved Sitia water airport: “The water airport in Sitia has been licensed, and Crete is once again picking up momentum regarding the arrival of seaplanes on the island. With the licensing of water airports and water fields, we are building a nationwide network that will initially be sustainable, offering passengers the ability to travel to areas that are either very difficult to reach by road or are too time-consuming by ferry…”

On the advantages brought by the creation of the water airport, the President of the Sitia Port Authority, Manolis Ailamakis, stated: “We are pleased to inform our citizens and beyond that today, the water airport permit has been secured in Sitia. With proper organization and planning, we will soon be able to fly to water fields and other water airports in Crete and the South Aegean, without restrictions on the number of daily flights. Additionally, side activities related to seaplanes, such as aircraft parking and refueling, will be allowed, enabling us to reach destinations that were previously difficult to access. The easternmost city of Crete, Sitia, has secured a landmark position in the tourism landscape.”