No Seaplane Flights in Greece This Summer

Photo @ Hellenic Seaplanes

Seaplanes will not operate in Greece this year as the country lacks a waterways network, the president of Hellenic Seaplanes, Nikolas Charalambous, announced during a recent meeting in Athens with Alternate Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Christos Spirtzis.

According to Hellenic Seaplanes, to date, only the waterway of Corfu has a license to operate, while over 40 waterways are currently still in the licensing and implementation stage.

“If all goes well, from 2016 Greeks can fly almost everywhere in the country via seaplanes”, Mr. Charalambous said.

On his part, the alternate minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Communications said that the ministry has launched actions for the creation of waterways and to overcome bureaucratic obstacles in an effort to speed up the licensing procedures for seaplanes to begin operating throughout the country as soon as possible.

“The development of a waterways network is a project of national importance and the development and implementation of this new national infrastructure has already begun and will be a solution to the problems of connecting the coastal areas of our country”, he said.

“Seaplanes can give islands a boost, create new jobs and make it easier to connect the mainland with destinations that face difficulties in transportation.”