The first seaport in the North Aegean was licensed by a Joint Ministerial Decision and granted to the subsidiary company of Hellenic Seaplanes η authorisation of the establishment of the waterport in the port of Chios, which brings seaplanes one step closer to the North Aegean, marking at the same time a new era for the fast transport of mastic to the island.
With the approval of the establishment permit, the infrastructure is able to start the construction of the required waterport facilities in order to obtain the operating licence within the year.
Previously, the Waterways of Chios, Psara and Oinoussa IKE, a subsidiary of Hellenic Seaplanes, ran the procedures in cooperation with the Intermunicipal Port Fund of Chios in order to achieve the desired result of granting a waterway licence. In combination with the already approved water fields in Psara and Chios a small and sustainable network of infrastructure is being developed in steady steps that can serve seaplane operations for planned and charter Flights between neighbouring ports and airports as well as for flights of tourist interest.
The future of seaplanes in Chios, Psara, Oinousses and Lesvos is assured
The plan of Hellenic Seaplanes' air routes to the islands of the North Aegean and possibly to the coast of Turkey is beginning to take shape, based on the destinations that in the near future will host seaplane stations in their ports.
With the start of the construction of the land and water facilities in Chios, developments are expected for the granting of a waterport licence to Fishermen and Oenoussa as well as with the case of Lesvos which has already licensed water field at the port of Petra and is about to acquire water field in Plomari as well as a waterport in the capital of the island, the Mytilene.
All the aforementioned projects are signed by Hellenic Seaplanes, which is preparing to enter the tourist season with the launch of seaplanes from the Ionian Sea and Corfu and then expand its activity in the Aegean and the Sporades with a reinforced fleet of aircraft.
The «blue development» in the Aegean with the licensed waterway infrastructure and those coming...
Infrastructure in the Aegean unlocks new transport gateways and creates opportunities for passengers to enrich their travel habits.
In the Sporades and Central Greece the waterways of Skyros, with integrated terrestrial and aquatic facilities as well as Skopelos and Alonissos are lining up for a licence, having secured the last two islands and water fields.
In the portfolio projects for the issue of a foundation licence undertaken by Hellenic Seaplanes, following the licensing of the Volos, Kymi, Aliveri and Edipsos, the waterways take the place of waterways in Karystos and Chalkida for which the only thing pending is the drafting of the EIA by the competent ministries. At the same time the company is proceeding with the process to license the water fields in Sifnos, Alimos, Eretria, Kymi, Chalkida, Karystos and Edipsos.
Particularly important are the cases of the destinations of Tinos and Patmos.
Patmos has recently acquired the first approved water field in the Dodecanese, while Tinos is following the same path for the corresponding infrastructure, with the waterways of the two Aegean islands being very close to being granted the operating license that will allow them to bring seaplanes to their ports.
The former minister and MP for Chios κ. Mr. Notis Mitarakis said in a statement that the decision to authorise the waterport is «an extremely important step, which will further facilitate inter-island travel for residents and visitors alike, while providing yet another additional possibility and option to reach our island».
Following the announcement of the licensing of the Chios waterport in his statements, the CEO of Hellenic Seaplanes, Mr. Nicholas Charalambous he said among other things: «We are pleased to welcome to the network to the island of Chios, while at the same time enhancing the prospects of seeing seaplanes over the North Aegean soon. We believe that seaplanes can play an important role in the Chios, Psara, Oinousses and Lesvos waterports cluster as they will provide fast, comfortable flights for local and tourist passengers from both Greece and the Turkish coast. By drastically reducing the travel time to and from Chios, the island enters a new era and gets a significant tourism boost, which it deserves!
The creation of waterports on some of the country's islands that do not have traditional air transport infrastructure or regular transport services will contribute to an important number of social services of an urgent nature, such as the transport of patients and basic goods. The fast licensing process confirms the new investment activity, pointing out the multiple benefits that such an investment would mean for the Greek economy, such as job creation, regional development, infrastructure and network development as well as the positive effects it would have on the domestic tourism industry...».
