The latest effort to finally commence seaplane routes to various Greek isles and coastal destinations without airports will, according to reports, emanates from the new infrastructure and transports ministry leadership, with the goal being to further simplify the regulatory and licensing framework in the east Mediterranean country, naftemporiki.gr reports.
Establishing permanent seaplanes routes in Greece has been an over two-decades-old endeavor, one usually quashed by ubiquitous bureaucratic “red tape” in the country, and most recent concerns of commercial viability.
The latest “target” for at least pilot routes to begin has been set in the spring of 2020, with the ministry promising to cut the number of licenses required, while also issuing necessary joint ministerial decisions to clarify the new regulatory framework for take-off and landing points.
By all accounts, the first seaplane routes, if and when approved and launched, will be in Ionian Sea islands as well as on the western Greece mainland.
Two Greece-based companies are currently active in the country, awaiting a future “green light”, namely, Greek Water Airports – of which Aktor Facility Management controls a 55-percent stake – and Hellenic Seaplanes. Officials from the latter have claimed that they’ve already attracted private financing from domestic and foreign investors.
Greek-Mexican aviation entrepreneur Ricardo Farias Nicolopulos (Bi-National Air, Air Choice One) has also widely been cited as interested to play a key role in a burgeoning seaplane sector across the country.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
