The construction of the Kalamata Water Airport is ready to begin and to be integrated into the country’s water airport network!

The licensing of the Kalamata Water Airport is the result of several years of effort, initially started during the previous term of Mayor Nikas, the current Governor of the Peloponnese Region, and now taking shape during Mayor Vassilopoulos’ term, aiming to connect the islands of Greece with the city of Kalamata. A network of dozens of water airports will connect mainland Greece, lakes, and ports, the Aegean Islands, the Ionian Islands, and reach the southern Peloponnese, to Kalamata.

Undoubtedly, this is a monumental project that will connect Greece with all its ports and lakes, functioning complementarily with the country’s other transportation networks, soon connecting it with neighboring countries.

The approval of the Kalamata Water Airport license and its co-signature by all relevant Ministries strengthens the positive climate that has been created, especially following the simplification of procedures for water airports through a recent amendment by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

With the official announcement of the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD), the establishment of the Kalamata Water Airport is finalized, meaning that it can now proceed to the next stage of construction.

Hellenic Seaplanes, the company responsible for licensing the water airport, now has the opportunity to significantly strengthen the water airport network in Greece by adding the Kalamata Water Airport and revitalizing the water airport network in the Peloponnese, which already includes the corresponding facilities in Patras.

Regional and Municipal Authorities Share in the Success!
The journey to reach the licensing phase for Kalamata’s water airport is undoubtedly the result of the good cooperation and coordinated actions of the Kalamata Municipal Port Fund, the Municipal Authority of Kalamata, the Peloponnese Region, and Hellenic Seaplanes.

Specifically, the implementation of the Kalamata Water Airport bears the seal of the Governor of the Peloponnese, Mr. Panagiotis Nikas, who started the process of creating a water airport when he was Mayor of the city, as well as the current Mayor, Mr. Thanasis Vassilopoulos, who, together with the Kalamata Port Fund, are consistently ensuring that seaplanes will soon be operating in the Messinian Gulf.

Starting the Planning for Seaplane Flight Schedules
In parallel with the approval of the Kalamata Water Airport license, Hellenic Seaplanes is preparing the flight schedule plan for seaplane trips to the Messinian city, as well as the potential connection to Ionian islands, Kythira, and neighboring destinations such as Patras, Lake Taka, Kyllini, and the Laconian Mani.

The goal is to create routes that will initially include organized air travel, chartered flights, and later on, tourist and sightseeing trips. More developments regarding the first seaplane trips to and from Kalamata will be announced once the construction of the land facilities at the water airport begins.

In a relevant statement, the Governor, Mr. Nikas, stated: “This initiative is expected to significantly support the overall strategic plan of the Region for supporting and further developing tourism in Kalamata and the Peloponnese. Therefore, the establishment of a water airport in Kalamata creates an important developmental prospect, as it strengthens the tourism sector, which is a key pillar of development for Greece, while creating a significant investment field with considerable benefits. Furthermore, the utilization of seaplanes is expected to enhance efforts to meet the growing transportation demands, given that seaplanes can perform flights for passenger and cargo transport, while also creating hundreds of new jobs…”

Immediately following the signing of the license, Kalamata’s Mayor, Thanasis Vassilopoulos, stated: “As the Municipality of Kalamata, we have perhaps taken the most important step in the development of water airports in southern Greece, and we are particularly pleased that the implementation of the water airport in our city is finally beginning. This is a significant project that will meet the needs of passengers while complementing existing transportation systems. We are satisfied that after a long period of effort, we have received the license for the establishment of the water airport. We hope that the project will be completed soon, and that by the end of 2022, the first seaplane flights will operate in Kalamata… From today, Kalamata joins the national network of water airports and enters a new era of developing new tourist products, new transportation services, and new options for Kalamata’s residents and visitors…”

The private entity responsible for operating the water airport will also be required to obtain an operating license, and we hope that more establishment licenses will soon be granted in our country so that a suitable network can be created, making the operation of seaplanes in our country viable, and providing our city with another mode of transportation. I have informed the President of the Municipal Port Fund to expedite the process.”

Kalamata, as it seems, will acquire the first water airport in the Peloponnese Region, creating the central base of the network in Southern Greece, from which dozens of destinations will operate.

The President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, commented on the forthcoming licensing of the Kalamata Water Airport:
“At Hellenic Seaplanes, we are determined to create a strong network of water airports and to connect all of Greece with fast, safe, and cost-effective flights using our seaplanes! This ambition is now further strengthened with the news that the Kalamata Water Airport is joining the club of licensed destinations. We are now proceeding with even more determination in its construction and the design of flight plans. With the presence of the water airport, Kalamata has everything it needs to further strengthen its position on Greece’s tourism map, welcoming thousands of tourists and also serving the locals and their commercial activities.”