The capital of Epirus will be the first to bring seaplanes to the region!

Everything is progressing well for the Ioannina water airport following the positive developments brought by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the creation of the Ioannina water airport at Lake Pamvotida.

Based on the environmental approval, it is confirmed by the competent authorities that the land facilities for passenger service and the floating installations for the docking of seaplanes will not have any adverse effects on both the water surface of the lake, which will accommodate the aircraft, and the surrounding area of the water airport.

With the approval of the environmental terms, the responsible authorities for the Environment and Spatial Planning have given a positive opinion on the ecological practices used by the consortium that has undertaken the project in Ioannina, which includes Hellenic Seaplanes. According to their plan, the main concern is the protection of the flora, fauna, and natural beauty of the lake, and its enhancement, by bringing seaplanes to Ioannina and into the lives of both locals and tourists.

The water airport is planned to be installed on the northwestern shore of the lake, next to the Perama settlement, covering a total area of 3,774 square meters.

Regarding the approval of the environmental terms, the President and CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicolas Charalambous, commented:
“The Lake of Ioannina and its water airport represent a strategic location for us that will serve the water airport networks of Western Greece, the Ionian Islands, Macedonia, and Thessaly, and is intended to be a hub for flights to international destinations. Ioannina deserves to be the first city with a lake to have a water airport, and in collaboration with the municipal authorities, we are moving towards this direction in a coordinated manner. We aim to combine the operation of water airports with airports and ports so that a complete network exists.”

The already licensed water airports in Corfu and Paxos, operated by the Ionian Seaplane Airports company, are perfectly integrated with the Ioannina water airport, and a flight program will be developed soon.

In his statement, the Mayor of Ioannina, Mr. Moses Elisaf, spoke about the significance of the water airport in the city:
“The operation of our water airport is a vital intervention for the city’s tourism development.”

While waiting for the immediate developments concerning the initiation of the construction and operation of the first water airport in a lake in Greece, Hellenic Seaplanes S.A. is strengthening its portfolio with the water airports it will serve with its seaplanes, including key destinations like Ioannina and Lake Pamvotida.