Decades of Sisyphean-like efforts to commence regular seaplane or float plane routes in Greece appear on the verge of becoming a reality, with practice runs conducted on Friday by the company expected to inaugurate this type of sorely needed transport in the country.
According to reports, a Hellenic Seaplanes DHC-6 Twin Otter touched down in the water off the Sporades islands of Skopelos and Alonissos, as well as further away Skyros, all in the west-central part of the Aegean.
Nine water airports are now licensed and ready in the country, with another seven locations licensed and under construction. More than two dozen water airports are undergoing the licensing certification, including numerous island destinations.
The primary mainland amphibious plane airport is west of Athens proper, along the coast of Megara municipality (Pachi site) in the western Saronic Gulf.
Among the passengers of Friday’s first seaplane test flights were Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistocleous, a state broadcaster (ERT) television crew and Hellenic Seaplanes Managing Director Nicolas Charalambous.
Although Greece has numerous airports, many island destinations are without such facility, meaning that regular visitors can only arrive and depart by a sea vessel. Quite a few popular coastal sites on the mainland also look forward to seaplane routes. At least two lakeside cities on the mainland, Ioannina and Kastoria, both in northwest and northern mountainous Greece, also also candidates for seaplane routes, although the former hosts a national airport.
