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Ionian islands to welcome seaplanes in the summerThe Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) in cooperation with the Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Ministry and the Shipping and Island Policy Ministry are planning to grant immediately licences for the construction of waterways on the islands of Paxoi, Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Lefkada as well as in Patras aiming to create the first network of waterways in Greece.
AirSea Lines was an airline based in Gouvia, Corfu, Greece. It was the first scheduled services seaplane operator in Greece in recent years... The airline ceased operations in 2008, citing bureaucratic and infrastructure hurdles. From May 2010 AirSea Lines will also operate in Kefalonia, Greece in a new route Poros, Kefalonia, Greece -> Patras, Greece
Tasos Govas, the president of Water Airports, the company which operates the waterway on Corfu, said that the goal is to have five to six licensed waterways in the Ionian in order for a fully operational network to function in Greece for seaplane companies to be able to form flight programs.Over the next two months, the waterway in Patra, which has a strategic importance for the wider region of Western Greece, is expected to receive its license for operation.According to Mr Govas, the waterways on the other Ionian islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Lefkada should be licensed within the next three months.
Ionian Islands plan first water airport network in GreeceIonian Islands Regional Authority plans to spend around 200,000 euros to build the necessary infrastructure in ports and to approve licensing of four new water airports in Cephalonia, Ithaka, Lefkada and Meganisi, after approving licenses for Corfu and Paxi islands.Theodore Galiatsatos, regional authority in Ionian Islands, speaking to ANA-MPA said the Ionian Islands Regional Authority will soon have the first water airports network in Greece.
Still No Progress in Greek Waterway SagaWaterway plans and projects across Greece are still up in the air with leading investor Hellenic Seaplanes warning that if a sufficient number of waterways is not licensed in the upcoming summer season then “hydroplanes will never make it to Greece”.
Ionian water airports closer to takeoffDeputy Minister for Shipping and island Policy Nektarios Santorinios informed the Hellenic Union of Heptanisians on Monday that following the issuing of operating licenses for the water airports on Corfu and Paxi, the licensing process for the Patra water aerodrome has advanced considerably.He added that his ministry is about to propose legislation regarding seaplane ports on the other Ionian islands too.
Patra Waterway Gets Go-ahead, Seeking OperatorThe waterway in Patra is now the third to receive approval, paving the way for the launch of an invitation of interest in order to find the contractor who will take over its operation as well as the entity which will oversee the completion of the work.The Patra waterway is the third to get the go-ahead following a ministerial decision this week and comes after Corfu and Paxi.
QuotePatra Waterway Gets Go-ahead, Seeking Operator...No more news of a Kef connection, but if ever it does get off the ground, er, the water, at least the service has somewhere to go.
Patra Waterway Gets Go-ahead, Seeking Operator...
Seaplane routes to Greek isles, coastal resorts again resurfacesA decades-old idea to commence regular seaplane routes towards Greece's numerous islands and even coastal resorts appears to have resurfaced over the recent period, with nascent operators reportedly in talks with a commercial carrier to offer supplementary air travel to the latter's passengers.Linking islands and coastal cities without commercial airports via seaplanes has been a recurring prospect over the past 15 years or so, although red tape - initially - combined with non-viable operating costs prevented the idea from taking off.The reported talks come ahead of the tabling of yet another bill allowing for the operation of seaplane facilities and corridors in the country.According to sources close to the talks, the idea is to establish a "feeder line" between the commercial airline and seaplane operators.
Four years and three months after a law was passed regarding strategic and private investments to accelerate licensing for seaplane bases, this market remains on paper.However, government sources say that in the coming months the final draft of the bill regarding seaplane airports will be tabled in Parliament.
Mitsui to launch seaplane services in western GreeceJapanese conglomerate Mitsui intends to create an extensive network of seaplane services in western Greece in cooperation with Hellenic Water Airports, starting in the spring, following test flights in the last few days off between Corfu and nearby Ionian islands.Besides the already licensed water airports of Corfu, Paxi and Patra, among the other destinations being considered are Lefkada, Meganissi, Ioannina and Igoumenitsa.
Fund eyes up to 250 mln€ investment for long-elusive seaplane network in GreecePetrichor Capital Partners this week announced that it is considering an investment of up to 250 million euros in Greece over the next two years in order to develop a seaplane network, especially towards islands without airports.
Greece’s Seaplanes Network Still in ‘Planning’ PhaseFor almost a decade, an ambitious plan to connect the Greek islands by seaplanes has failed to take off due to red tape and government foot-dragging.According to reports, of the 25 applications for waterway projects only three have moved ahead to the next phase (on Corfu, Paxi and Patra) despite the implementation of the relevant legal framework five years ago.Meanwhile, a draft bill covering license procedures, construction and operation of waterways is still on the drawing board putting off any potential investments in the sector. According to experts, in order for a hydroplane operation to be viable, at least five hourly flights must be carried out per day, which is currently not possible as there is no network in place.In the meantime, waterways on the islands of Corfu and Paxi to be linked with mainland Patra, scheduled to operate some two years ago, will not run this summer despite receiving licensing.
Waterways company Water Airports SA submitted this week to the transport ministry the relevant documentation for the management of waterways on Lefkada and Meganissi.The plans drawn up by Water Airports include operation, security and emergency action details as well as a business outline, maps and charts. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Ionian Islands Region.Ionian Islands Regional Governor Theodoros Galiatsatos said he also expected documentation would soon be submitted for facilities on the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaki.
Ministry finally tabled draft bill establishing legal framework for seaplane routes in GreeceDestinations in the Ionian Sea, off the western coast of mainland Greece, are expected to commence next May.
Funding approved for four new Ionian island water airports in GreeceThe Ionian Islands Regional Council approved funding amounting to 560,000 euros for the construction of water airports in Lefkada, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaca, during an extraordinary meeting that took place on Monday, according to ANA.The approval came after a central decision to increase regional funds destined for infrastructure projects.
Minister pledges seaplane flights by next summerDevelopment Minister Adonis Georgiadis has expressed certainty that Greece will have an operational fleet of seaplanes by next summer.Speaking to Skai TV on Saturday, Georgiadis insisted that “at this time next year we will be flying seaplanes – this is final.”
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Topic: Kef seaplane summer service? (Read 9904 times)
