Attempts to bring seaplanes to Greece have been going on for years. Finally, it sounds like the excitement is about to be made a reality. Recently in the port of Lavrio, which is south of Athens, Hellenic Seaplanes operated one of its first test flights, with the goal of launching regular services this summer.
Hellenic Seaplanes
Deputy Transport Minister Christina Alexopoulou was on board the test flight with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, and she was quoted saying that “today is an important day for the transport sector in Greece.” Hellenic Seaplanes plans to start this summer in western Greece with the areas that are already licensed, like Patra, Corfu, and Paxi. The timetables are not yet released.
Alexopoulou then added that Greece’s transport ministry supports the creation of a comprehensive waterway network and seaplane ports across Greece. For example, the seaplane port was approved by Greek authorities in September 2022 and plans to be the first location in Attica to make seaplane flights to the Cyclades islands.
Ticket Prices
Prices for seaplane flights with Hellenic Seaways depend on the duration of the flight. For example, a half-hour flight will cost 80-85 euros. It is also possible to charter one of their planes for a group. In total, the capacity is either 9, 12, or 19 people, depending on the size of the seaplane.
Resort Transfers
It is also possible to be taken directly to a resort, provided that the resort has the infrastructure to host seaplanes.
The Advantage of Seaplanes in Greece
Imagine that you want to get from Sifnos to Tinos in the Cyclades island group. Normally, you would take a ship, which makes the same journey in 4 hours and 20 minutes, with a stop in Mykonos as well. In contrast, a seaplane journey from Sifnos to Tinos would take 17 minutes. Seaplanes are generally useful for islands that don’t have airports, or which have rare connections via boat.
Hellenic Water Airports
Hellenic Seaplanes hopes to create what they call the Hellenic Water Airports network. In other words, this will be a network of ports in Greece that can manage seaplane traffic. Some of these Water Airports are already built, others are under construction, and others are waiting for permits. Out of the Aegean islands, there are already water ports in Tinos, Patmos, and Sifnos, with plans in place for other islands.
Where Will There be Water Airports in Greece?
Hellenic Seaplanes’s Water Airports can be split into 2 categories. The first picture below shows where Water Airports already exist. The second picture shows where permits have been granted (but there is no physical Water Airport built yet).
