Contractor company: Hellenic Seaplanes subsidiary “Water Airport of Sifnos IKE.”
The competitive process to select the company that will undertake the construction and operation of the water airport in Sifnos, located within the port zone at Platy Gialos, has been successfully completed. Following the competitive process, the competent committee, established by the Sifnos Municipal Port Fund, selected Hellenic Seaplanes as the successful investor. Through its subsidiary, “Water Airport of Sifnos IKE,” Hellenic Seaplanes will assume responsibility for the construction and operation of the water airport.
A key role in ensuring that this project moves from the planning stage to implementation has been played by both the municipal and port authorities. The Mayor of Sifnos, Ms. Maria Nadali, and the President of the Municipal Port Fund, Mr. Apostolos Diamantis, have started, immediately after the completion of the tender process, joint planning with the contractor company for all the steps required to build and manage the water airport.
Following the completion of the tender process, the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, stated:
“It is a very good day, a historic day for the island of Sifnos. A very important project for the island’s air connection is moving forward, and its completion is scheduled for 2022. The first network in the Cyclades—Athens, Tinos, Patmos—and the expansion to Sifnos will be operational soon, significantly improving access for both residents and visitors to our islands. After years of effort, through many challenges and unprecedented conditions for Greece, we have gained the experience to lead the process at an accelerated pace and integrate the island of Sifnos into the flight program of the South Aegean. I must mention and thank all those who contributed to get us to this day and the start of the water airport completion process: the island’s authorities, the Mayor, the President of the Municipal Port Fund, the South Aegean Region, and the Regional Governor, who has paved the way for the water airport network in the South Aegean. It is also important to mention the contribution of the current government, which has steadfastly helped resolve existing problems and address them with a commitment to complete the water airport network project in Greece.”
Hellenic Seaplanes Launches Flights in the Aegean!
The airline aims to be the first to launch sea plane journeys in the Aegean Sea, creating the first network of water airports with destinations in both the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
Specifically, the flight plan of Hellenic Seaplanes includes, in the first phase, Tinos, where the water airport infrastructure is under construction, Patmos, where the works will be completed very soon, and now Sifnos, with the completion of the tender process for the construction of the water airport, which will begin immediately.
Against the backdrop of starting flights within the year, the initiative of the South Aegean Region and Regional Governor Mr. Giorgos Hatzimarkos is progressing steadily. This initiative involves the licensing of 30 water airports in the islands of Rhodes (2 water airports), Kos (2 water airports), Paros, Naxos, Milos, Syros, Amorgos, Kalymnos, Lipsi, Leros, Halki, Symi, Tilos, Karapathos, Kastellorizo, Agathonisi, Nisyros, Astypalaia, Kasos, Mykonos, Santorini, Kythnos, Kea, Andros, Sikinos, Serifos, Donousa, and Anafi. Despite delays and obstacles caused by COVID-19, the ultimate goal is to create a strong network of water airports that will highlight the diverse capabilities of sea planes as a means of transportation, as well as the ease of movement for both local islanders and tourists.
Discussion on All Aspects Between Involved Parties and Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Michalis Papadopoulos
At the agenda of the topics discussed by the involved parties, with the participation of Hellenic Seaplanes and the Deputy Minister responsible for water airports and sea planes, Mr. Michalis Papadopoulos, at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, were:
- Acceleration of licensing and construction of water airports
- Simplification of environmental licensing procedures
- Fuel framework and creation of a sea plane refueling network
Regarding the network of water airports being developed in Greece, the discussion focused on the current status of completed and potential water airports in the country, particularly in the South Aegean, Ionian, and Sporades regions, their readiness level, and pending issues that need to be addressed, such as resolving key issues related to existing water airport files, accelerating the issuance of operating licenses, and more.
The CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, stated:
“The meeting with Deputy Minister Mr. Papadopoulos was particularly constructive, as we had the opportunity to discuss many important issues regarding the development of the sea plane and water airport project in our country. With the substantial support of the government, and the good cooperation of the public authorities, we can confidently expect that this year will be a pivotal year, where we will see sea planes flying in Greek skies. There are some issues that need to be resolved, but with the essential interventions and actions of all competent authorities, we can look to the future with optimism and determination.”
