A comprehensive meeting with the aim of operating the water airports and planning the seaplane flights in the coming months!

The future of seaplanes and the upward trajectory in the development of the water airport network in Greece were the topics discussed in a meeting between the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, and the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

During the meeting, the discussion focused on informing the Deputy Minister about all the new developments regarding the airline’s preparation, as it is one step away from starting its flight operations.

In particular, the CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes briefed Mr. Kefalogiannis on the company’s flight schedule for this year, the new seaplanes that will arrive in Greece, the reservation system that will be announced and available to the public in the coming days, as well as all the issues that need to be addressed for the operation of the water airports.

The strategic partnership the company has formed with IFLY includes, among other things, the utilization of IFLY’s facilities at Megara Airport for the operation and maintenance of Hellenic Seaplanes’ seaplanes, the provision of combined services in the field of leasing airplanes, helicopters, and seaplanes, and jointly developing complete tourism products and tour packages.

Regarding the network of water airports being created in our country, the discussion turned to the new developments brought about by the Deputy Minister’s recent trip to Western Macedonia and the new “transportation map” being structured with the addition of five new water airports to be constructed at lakes, an initiative of the Western Macedonia Region and the local municipalities of Amyntaio and Kastoria.

This was preceded by the meeting of the Western Macedonia Regional Governor, Mr. Giorgos Kasapidis, in Athens with Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, during which the licensing procedures for the water airports in Western Macedonia were discussed.

At the same time, the readiness of the water airports that already have operating licenses (Corfu, Paxos, and Patras) was discussed, as well as the water airports that are close to obtaining their licenses (Volos, Rethymno, Patmos, Tinos, Sifnos, Ios, Skyros, Ereikoussa, Othonoi, Mathraki, Kalamata, Skopelos, Alonissos, Kyllini, Ioannina, Sitia, Loutraki, Kavala, and Amfilochia), the 30 water airports across the Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands that the South Aegean Region has taken responsibility for completing (except for Folegandros), the five water airports in Evia in collaboration with OLNE, which are in the final stages of the licensing process, and the water airports of Chios, Psara, and Oinousses, which have re-entered the licensing process.

There was mention of the Ionian Islands’ water airports (Zakynthos, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Lefkada, and Meganisi), which seem to be progressing and are expected to be licensed with the initiative of the Ionian Islands Region and DEPAΝ. Furthermore, the Peloponnese Region has begun the creation of a water airport at Lake Taka, while water airports like Katakolo, Nafplio, and Nea Kios in the Peloponnese, which had been ahead in the licensing process, seem to have stalled.

The process of creating a water airport has also begun in the municipalities of Agios Konstantinos – Kamena Vourla, Kissamos, Ierapetra, while a new water airport is appearing along the coastal front of Attica, further increasing the momentum of the national network of water airports in Greece.

Discussions for the initiation of water airport licensing have started with the municipalities of Abdera, Agios Efstratios, Agrinio at Lake Lysimachia, Vonitsa for a water airport at Aktio, Alexandroupolis, Amphipolis, Nafpaktos, Eastern Mani, Western Mani, Aristotelis, Arachova & Antikyra, Meteora, Elafonisos, Ermionida, Zacharos, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lokroi, Parga, Hydra, Spetses, Troizinia Methana, Pylaia Chortiatis, Lake Plastira, Megara, Katerini, and many others…

In a relevant statement, the Deputy Minister, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, said:
“The development of the water airport network constitutes a crucial investment for the Greek economy and the national transport infrastructure network. The Government and the Ministry of Transport are supporters of the vision of creating a strong network that will truly and substantially support the development of the seaplane sector, offering an extra competitive advantage to our citizens’ transportation methods and to our tourism. Island Greece is a priority, and our goal is to start seaplane flights across the country… Along with the development of the network, our lakes are gaining the ability to connect via air transport.”

In his statement, the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, said:
“With the visible and substantial support of the current government, professionals in the seaplane sector find themselves in the fortunate position of clearly recognizing the great goal—the operation of the water airports and the imminent flights of amphibious airplanes! The licensing process for water airports has been simplified, and despite the obstacles brought by the coronavirus, we have seen an increase in interest regarding the creation of water airports and the arrival of seaplanes! The good collaboration between public authorities and business and investment initiatives is the key to intensifying collective efforts so that the water airport network takes shape, turning Greece into the Maldives of Europe…”