The conditions for including a direct air connection between the airports of Chania and Volos in the 2026 flight schedule were examined during a working meeting held yesterday at the Chania Chamber of Commerce. The meeting brought together senior representatives of institutional bodies from Crete and Thessaly, as well as executives from Sky Express management.
The international airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” serves the majority of passengers in Western Crete. Combined with the fact that Chania is a top destination among Greek travelers, as highlighted by tourism industry stakeholders, strong incentives exist for effectively attracting new domestic flight routes.
At the same time, representatives of the business community in Thessaly emphasized that Nea Anchialos is the only airport in the region and serves a dynamic passenger base from wider Central Greece—including cities like Lamia—with a potential reach of up to 1,000,000 residents. Business representatives requested that the Chania–Volos route operate year-round, as it would serve diverse passenger groups such as winter tourists, school excursions, workers, and students.
In recent years, with the support of the Chambers of Commerce in Thessaly, Sky Express has successfully operated a seasonal Volos–Heraklion route during the summer with high occupancy rates—offering two flights per week. For this reason, following the meeting, the presidents of the Thessalian Chambers publicly thanked the airline for its developmental contribution with the symbolic presentation of an honorary plaque, which was received by Mr. Alexandros Michalopoulos, Key Accounts Project Manager, and Ms. Magda Karanikola, Sales Manager of Sky Express.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, the President of the Chania Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece (C.E.C.C.G.), Mr. Antonis Rokakis, stated:
“At a critical juncture for the domestic tourism market, what is needed is strategy, boldness, and collaboration. The business communities of Crete and Thessaly, with the support of local government, took a significant first step during today’s meeting with Sky Express executives in the joint effort to enhance our tourism product within the domestic market.
We agreed that there remains considerable work in terms of study and operational preparation for what would be the first-ever direct air route between Western Crete and Thessaly. The broad participation in the meeting by many institutional representatives from the business and local government sectors sent a clear message to Sky Express—a company with deep roots on our island—regarding our collective determination to actively support the inclusion of this new connection in the airline’s strengthened flight schedule for next year.”
Mr. Alexandros Michalopoulos, Key Accounts Project Manager at Sky Express, commented:
“We would like to warmly thank the Presidents of the Chambers of Magnesia, Mr. Aristotelis Basdanis, and of Chania, Mr. Antonis Rokakis, for recognizing our company’s contribution to improving connectivity between Crete and Thessaly. Chania plays a key role in our strategic growth, as reflected by the significant 9% increase in available seats compared to 2024. With a constant focus on serving our passengers better, we continue to explore and evaluate all opportunities for expanding our network and meaningfully connecting the regions of Greece.”
Also actively participating in the working meeting were:
Mr. Giorgos Giakoumakis, President of the Regional Chamber Council of Crete and the Rethymno Chamber,
Mr. Christos Giakouvis, President of the Larissa Chamber,
Mr. Aristotelis Basdanis, President of the Magnesia Chamber,
numerous board members of the Chambers of Commerce,
Mr. Spyros Balantinos, Regional Councillor for Tourism–Primary Sector Linkages in the Region of Crete,
Mr. Nektarios Psaroudakis, Deputy Mayor of Tourism for the Municipality of Chania,
Mr. Efstratios Flemetakis, President of the Regional Development Company of Crete,
Mr. Manolis Stamatakis, President of the Hotel Association of Crete and the Hotel Owners’ Association of Chania,
Mr. Manolis Tsakalakis, President of the Rethymno Hotel Owners’ Association,
Mr. Ioannis Pavlakis, President of O.E.V.E.N.H./Chania Accommodation Owners’ Union,
Ms. Dora Kyriakaki, President of the Chania Commercial Association,
Mr. Michalis Kyriakakis, President of the Association of Travel Agencies of Western Crete,
Mr. Leonidas Bampanis, President of the Greece and Cyprus Chapter of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors),
and many others.
