One year after his public commitments to include the extension of the runway at Kythira Airport, the Nikos Hardalias appears before the Attica Regional Council with a completely different reason, raising legitimate questions about the consistency, seriousness, and credibility of regional planning.
The official minutes and recorded interventions at the Attica Regional Council leave no room for misinterpretation. (Watch the related video)
December 2024: «I promise I will include it.»
During the discussion of the Attica Region budget in December 2024, Mr. Hardalias was categorical in his response to the regional councilors and Kythira:
«I therefore undertake that when the Municipal Council's decision requesting the inclusion of the project (...) I will include it in the program of projects to be implemented.».
The Regional Governor then explicitly requested either a decision by the Municipal Council of Kythira or a recommendation by the opposition party «Attikos Kyklos.».
The political message was clear: FThe institutional decision has been made and the project is moving forward..
And indeed, the Municipal Council of Kythira proceeded in unanimous decision, following precisely the path indicated by the Regional Governor himself.
December 2025: «There is a problem with the habitat.»
A year later, at the Special Session of the Attica Regional Council on December 19, 2025, the same Regional Governor appears with a completely different narrative:
«We believe that the expansion of Kythira Airport will create a problem in the habitat over there.».
Once again, the regional governor puts issue environmental dispute, without presenting relevant data, and given that Natura 2000 does not preclude the operation of airports in protected areas (see Larnaca, Corfu, Munich, etc.).
Formally, Mr. Hardalias reiterated that: «If the Attica Circle comes and suggests that I include it, I will include it.» (It seems that Mr. Hardalias does not remember exactly what he said last year. Fortunately, however, there are the minutes and the videos).
In essence, however, αstrengthens the work himself, is once again creating obstacles and shifting responsibility elsewhere, even though it had already received what it wanted: the decision of the local government.
What has really changed in a year? The unanimous decision that remained... in the drawers
In related reports Kythera.News we have recorded that:
- the Municipal Council of Kythira responded institutionally,
- received unanimous decision in favor of including the study,
- following the Region's instructions to the letter.
And yet, one year later, this decision did not lead to any accession, no promotion, no clear progress.
On the contrary, the Regional Governor now appears to be questioning the very issue itself and politically bypassing a unanimous decision by the elected representatives of an island.
After all this, the question does not concern only the Region.
How do the municipal councilors of Kythira and the mayor feel today?;
Do they think that the Regional Governor threw the unanimous decision of the Municipal Council in the trash, or is everything fine and dandy?;
Was it political deception or simply institutional sloppiness on all sides?;
Did the Municipality of Kythira ever formally inform the regional governor of the unanimous decision of the Board of Directors? Or did they forget to inform him that the airport would be built by the Ministry of Infrastructure?;
Because when a regional governor asks for decisions, gets them, and then changes the narrative because he is sensitive to the... habitat, then the problem is not technical. It is credibility issue.
And this time, answers cannot be given with evasiveness. Finally, the people of Kythira have the right to know., Yes or no? When, how, and by whom will the airport upgrade be carried out?;
Is another investment planned... windmills, and could the expansion create incompatible situations that cannot be changed?