The time is now counting down for the announcement of the major tender for the concession of 22 regional airports in the country, including Kythera State Airport. According to reports, the Yperta Fund has given the green light and the procedure, which has been in the pipeline for two years, is expected to be launched in the next few weeks.
A single 40-year “cluster” The competition will be international in nature, aiming to attract strong investment interest. Unlike the model followed for the 14 airports (managed by Fraport Greece), which were divided into clusters, the new design envisages that the 22 regional airports will be awarded as a single package (cluster). The duration of the concession contract is estimated to be 40 years.
Which airports are being privatised The list of 22 airports includes: Kythera, Chios, Alexandroupoli, Araxos, Karpathos, Limnos, Ioannina, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Paros, Ikaria, Leros, Sitia, Nea Anchialos, Kalymnos, Skyros, Syros, Astypalaia, Astypalaia, Kastellorizo, Kastoria, Kasos and Kozani.
The vast majority of these are small airports that may not be of huge commercial interest in isolation, but are of vital importance and have a huge social impact on the residents and economy of these areas. Exceptions are some islands with strong tourism potential, such as Chios, Syros, Naxos and Paros, where the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is already carrying out major upgrading projects from 2023 onwards. These interventions are expected to act as an additional lure for potential investors.
Closing the circle of state-owned airports
This tender is the last piece of the puzzle for the full privatisation of Greece's state-owned airports. The beginning was made in the 1990s with Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport. This was followed in 2017 by the successful concession of the 14 major regional airports to Fraport, in 2019 the new airport at Kasteli in Heraklion was launched, while the tender for Kalamata airport is expected to be completed in 2026.
The main objective of the forthcoming concession of the 22 airports remains their overall building and operational upgrade, in order to address the deficiencies in the existing infrastructure and to create a modern service environment for residents and visitors.
