A series of meetings for the water airports in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Gazi, Rethymno, Chania, and Platanias.

Intense activity has been observed recently regarding the water airport network in Crete! The municipal and port authorities of key areas on the island such as Hersonissos, Heraklion, Gazi of Malevizi, Chania, and Platanias are beginning procedures to establish their own water airport/water field, following in the footsteps of Rethymno, Kissamos, Ierapetra, and Sitia, which have already taken decisive steps in this direction!

The hands-on effort to bring seaplanes to Crete as quickly as possible is confirmed with the three-day visit of the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, to the island.

The company’s CEO met with representatives from the municipal and port authorities of the island to analyze and update the necessary actions to be taken by all parties in order for the water airports to proceed with coordinated steps toward licensing, construction, and operation.

At the same time, he presented to all interested parties the flight plans for the seaplanes and the connections they can offer, not only between the water airports, linking the island by air, but also flying to destinations such as Southern Peloponnese, the South Aegean, including the Cyclades and Southern Dodecanese islands.

So far, in Crete, the Port Authority of Rethymno has received the license to establish the Rethymno water airport, Sitia is moving forward with a private initiative (Sitia Water Airport IKE) to license and construct the Sitia water airport, while the Regional Port Authority of Chania and the Municipal Port Authority of Ierapetra have begun the licensing process to receive the approval for the water airports of Kissamos and Ierapetra respectively.

Discussions for water airports in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Gazi of Malevizi, Rethymno, Chania, and Platanias have started!

Mr. Charalambous was in the capital of Crete, Heraklion, as well as Hersonissos, Heraklion, Gazi of Malevizi, Rethymno, Chania, and Platanias to personally meet with the municipal and port authorities to discuss the prospects of licensing and financing the construction of the water airports with private capital. In these meetings, he conveyed the investment proposals of Hellenic Seaplanes, which include, among other things, securing the licenses for the establishment and operation of the water airports, the construction of the projects with private capital, and their operation through local subsidiaries of the company.

Heraklion Port Authority – OLH:
At the Heraklion Port Authority, Mr. Charalambous met with the CEO of OLH, Mr. Minos Papadakis, and the Director of Development, Mr. Stavros Lyrintzakis, where after expressing the company’s interest, they discussed all the possible synergies that could be made for the city of Heraklion to acquire a water airport or water field, taking into account the upcoming privatization of the port.

Mr. Papadakis stated that there is strong interest from Heraklion’s port to create seaplane infrastructure and that he will review the company’s investment proposal. The dialogue and meetings will continue until this effort is completed. Regarding the project, he said, “Our goal is the upgrading of the port and the city of Heraklion. A new transportation but also tourist product like the seaplane will give a boost and dynamics to our city…”

Hersonissos Municipality:
Mr. Charalambous had a meeting with the Mayor of Hersonissos, Mr. Ioannis Segkos, where they discussed the company’s investment proposal for the port of Hersonissos and the creation of a water airport, along with the new expansion and redevelopment of the port.

Specifically, Mayor Segkos said, “This initiative is expected to enhance the overall strategic plan for Crete to support and further develop tourism on the island. Therefore, the establishment of a water airport at the port of Hersonissos, which is already undergoing an expansion process, creates a significant developmental prospect, as it strengthens the tourism sector, which is a key pillar of development for our municipality…”

Gazi Malevizi Municipality:
Alongside Heraklion, the President of the company met with the President of the Malevizi Municipal Port Fund, Mr. Emmanouil Gennarakis, with the goal of examining the port of Pantanassa, located just 5 minutes from Heraklion city, to conduct an on-site survey for the potential location of a water airport.

Regarding the meeting, Mr. Gennarakis, President of the Malevizi Municipal Port Fund, referred to the prospects brought by the creation of a water airport at the Pantanassa port and how the area of Gazi Malevizi Municipality could be developed. He said, “I will convey the company’s investment intention to the Mayor and the Municipal Council for further decisions on this investment. I am awaiting the company’s investment proposal with the details of the development of the water airport to proceed with the procedures…”

Rethymno in the spotlight of the water airport network!
During his visit to Crete, Mr. Charalambous met with the President of the Rethymno Port Fund, Ms. Koutsaledaki. The Rethymno Port Fund has already entered the process of establishing a water airport after receiving the license to establish the Rethymno water airport in May 2021, based on the updated legislative framework 4663/2020. The company’s proposal, which was tabled, was to finance, construct, and operate the water airport by Hellenic Seaplanes. Specifically, through a tender procedure for the concession of the designated water airport, the winning company will proceed with the construction and obtain the operating license for the water airport using private funds, with no burden on the Port Fund.

After the meeting, Ms. Koutsaledaki, President of the Port Fund, stated: “We are satisfied that we have received the license to establish the water airport. We hope that the project will be completed soon and that the first seaplane flights in Crete will take place by the end of 2023… Following the proposal submitted, we will inform the relevant authorities and convene the Port Fund’s board to discuss Hellenic Seaplanes’ proposal.”

Chania Municipality – Platanias Municipality:
Meanwhile, during their visit to the island, the company officially expressed its interest in taking over the construction and operation of a water airport in Chania. The head of the company will visit Chania Municipality again soon to discuss the possible locations for the creation of the water airport.

Hellenic Seaplanes also held a meeting with the Platanias Municipality, located next to Chania, where Mr. Charalambous met with Mayor Mr. Ioannis Malandrakis, and they discussed all the benefits that the municipality will gain from developing seaplane infrastructure.

Specifically, Mayor Malandrakis of Platanias stated: “We are ready to integrate our municipality into the water airport network with infrastructure that will include, in the first phase, chartered flights, but later, tourist-excursion flights, thus upgrading our tourism product.”

After the flurry of meetings that Mr. Charalambous conducted in Crete, he provided a comprehensive statement, with the conclusions being particularly encouraging for the development of water airports in Crete:

“The countdown for the creation of water airports in Crete has begun! The meetings that took place with both the municipal and port authorities show the willingness and enthusiasm to move forward together in a coordinated and decisive manner to complete the necessary steps for the construction of the water airports. The immediate, effective, and coordinated development of seaplanes in our country is a government priority. The creation of sufficient infrastructure for the network of water airports and seaplanes is deemed very important for further strengthening the tourism potential of our country and complementing the transport network. To make the development of this activity sustainable with significant benefits at both the national and local levels, initiative is required from both the public and private sectors. The private investments of Hellenic Seaplanes are here, strengthening the network of water airports in the island and aim to make Crete’s tourism and transport strength even more powerful through the seaplanes!”