Greece Welcomes the Wings of Europe
From October 7 to 11, 2025, the airports of Ioannina, Sitia and Paros hosted twelve (12) light General Aviation aircraft from various European countries — Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia and Austria — as part of a unique air tourism and cross-border cooperation initiative.
Pilots and passengers had the opportunity to experience Greek hospitality up close, discover the natural beauty and local culture of each region, while promoting the idea of ??small-scale air connectivity, beyond large urban centers.
This action highlighted the potential of the country’s regional airports as gateways to high-level tourism, reinforcing the image of Greece as a friendly and safe destination for General Aviation enthusiasts.
The participating aircraft transported 30 high-income visitors, who stayed in hotels in the destination areas, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
The mission was accompanied by Thomas Borchert, Editor-in-chief (Chefredakteur Luftfahrt / Editor-in-chief Aviation) of the German specialized magazines AERO INTERNATIONAL and Fliegermagazin, which will host an extensive report on the visit to Greece.
Aero International, based in Hamburg, is one of the most important European civil aviation magazines, while Fliegermagazin is aimed at active private pilots and aircraft owners.
This specific visit contributes substantially to establishing Greece among the emerging air tourism destinations, a sector that is directly linked to the country’s regional development and economic extroversion.
The Hellenic Pilots Association hopes that this initiative will be the beginning of more similar flights.
At the same time, it expresses its special thanks to:
The Governor of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. George Saunatsos,
The Airport Manager of Ioannina, Mr. Konstantinos Efstathiou,
The Airport Manager of Paros, Mr. Sarris Stella
The Airport Manager of Sitia, Mr. Dimitris Verigos
The Secretary General of the Hellenic National Tourism Organization, Mr. Andreas Fiorentino,
The Hoteliers Association of Ioannina Prefecture,
And the Head of the General Aviation Development Department of the Association, Mr. Christos Leontopoulos,
for the contribution and coordinated efforts that made this important aviation meeting possible.
