In 2024, our country enters a new era with the launch of seaplanes, water airports, and water fields in the national transportation system!

The time for seaplanes and water airports has come! The new year begins on a positive note for the aviation industry and its infrastructure, as efforts intensify to activate seaplane operations immediately. 

With the aim to commence flights in the Spring of 2024, seaplanes are expected to become the “smart” solution, bringing effective changes to passenger transportation and a breath of renewal to the offered tourism products.

Hellenic Seaplanes, having already established an extensive network of water airports and water fields, with each infrastructure project at a different stage of readiness, is accelerating the necessary steps to launch its seaplane, with trial flights just around the corner. The test flights will be the first step in returning seaplanes to the skies, via organized and charter flights from the water airport in Corfu to Paxos and other collaborating airports and water airports.

Alongside passenger air transport flights, sightseeing flights will begin, offering aerial tours over the sights of Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, and the Diapontian Islands (Othonoi), providing new tourism experiences to visitors of the Northern Ionian and Western Greece.

Details on the announcement of new licensed water airports!
The commencement of flights in the Ionian Islands will trigger a domino effect, with the nearest water airports taking priority for rapid activation. The water airport in Patras, already holding an operating license, is leading the way, while the water airports in Kyllini and Kalamata, which recently acquired land facilities, are the next stops that will bring seaplanes to the Peloponnese. The network will soon expand to include the ports of Ermionida, Monemvasia, Nafplio, Nea Kios, and Gythio, making it viable and offering multiple air transport options.

In the Sporades and Central Greece, the plan is steadily progressing, with the water airports in Skyros, with completed land and water facilities, as well as those in Skopelos and Alonissos, set to be licensed soon. Tinos and Patmos are following the same path.

In the portfolio of licensing projects undertaken by Hellenic Seaplanes, following the licensing of Volos, Kymi, Aliveri and Aidipso, the water fields in Sitia, Amphilochia, Chios, Psara are taking their place, Oinousses, Karystos and Chalkida, for which the only outstanding matter is the drafting of the Joint Ministerial Decision by the relevant ministries. The case of Sifnos remains unresolved.

Water Fields Everywhere!
The infrastructure of water fields enables seaplanes to fly in areas without water airports, using approved sea lanes and expanding the number of air routes and connection opportunities between destinations. 

Hellenic Seaplanes has recently included in its portfolio the water fields in Sitia, Psara, Petra Lesvos, and Chios in the Northern Aegean Islands. Particularly enhanced is its presence in the Sporades, with licensed seaplane stations in Skopelos and Alonissos, positioning them as strong contenders to host the first organized flights in the Aegean!

At the same time, for the company, Patmos is the first approved water field in the Dodecanese, while the corresponding infrastructure in Amfilochia has long been ready to support connections with Patras and the Ionian Islands.

The Cyclades once again make their presence felt in the Aegean, with Tinos officially acquiring a water field. Specifically, the approval of the infrastructure is a significant milestone for Hellenic Seaplanes, as the opinion activates the seaplane operations on the island, a destination without an airport, where passenger requests for air transport are already in the hundreds!

Among the water fields already greenlit for use, there are also other destination files for which Hellenic Seaplanes is moving forward with the licensing process. This list includes ports in Oinousses, Tinos, Sifnos, Alimos, Plomari Lesvos, Eretria, Kymi, Halkida, Karystos, and Aidipsos in Evia, and Sami in Kefalonia.

In Eastern Crete, the approval of the water field in Sitia has provided the necessary boost for the network of water airports on the large island, enabling it to eventually support seaplane flights

. The designation of sea lanes in Sitia allows for connections with other facilities, including Ierápetra and Kissamos, and will likely increase traffic to destinations such as the Dodecanese and other Aegean destinations, once the Sitia water airport is completed.

Strong Foundations for the Future of Seaplanes!
From the new offices of Hellenic Seaplanes, the company’s President and CEO, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, stated: “With the licensing of water airports and water fields, the foundations have been laid for the era of seaplanes to begin this year, flying in a network that will initially be sustainable, allowing passengers to travel to areas that are either very difficult to reach by road or very time-consuming by ferry. As Hellenic Seaplanes, we have all the capabilities to provide a reliable outcome, flying from port to port, offering a high-quality travel experience that will encourage both locals and tourists to support the potential of aviation in our country. 2024 is the year when seaplanes in Greece will receive the recognition they deserve, in a project that has much to offer to the country and its passengers.”