Another year went by without seaplane service for Greek islands, thanks to the bureaucracy that continues to delay the implementation of this major tourism infrastructure for the country.
Yet, seaplanes were active in the area even during the 1930’s, as proven by the following story about the remote, tiny island of Kastelorizo which was a base for seaplanes of Air France, as a stopover on their flights to the Middle East!
Sea landing port
In Summer 2011, an Air France flag dating from the early ’30s from the island of Kastelorizo ( or Castelrosso) or where there was a sea landing port for seaplanes had been given to the air company’s delegation by Ms. Kallimopoulou (whose father was an Air France representative on the island in the years 1928-1935) who had found the flag in a warehouse family and sent it to Air France. This valuable donation was transferred to the museum of Air France where Mr Jean Signoret, its president, received it with great joy.
A bit of its history :
The airline Air Orient, one of the constituent companies of Air France in 1933, opened in 1927 the first seaplane connections with Beirut. The route follows the Mediterranean coast and chooses basis according to the characteristics of the seaplanes : Marseille / Marignane, Naples, Corfu, Athens, Castelrosso and Beirut.
At Castelrosso in the bay of Mandraki, a hangar and workshops are built.
After its creation, Air France resumed the road course in the Middle East and Indochina and opens an office in Castelrosso.
Stopover to Syria
The uncle of Mrs. Kallimopoulos, Vassilis Karayiannis, leads the Air France office, assisted by his younger brother, Panagiotis. They provide refueling to the seaplanes and treatment of passengers and crew, and in case of irregularities, their accommodation. Castelrosso remains a stopover on the way to Syria until June 1940. Castelrosso agency is closed at this time.
Mr Signoret had said to Ms Kallimopoulou that he would look for the best location for the flag be displayed and he had suggested the company’s CEO office.
The flag is now in the CEO’s office.
