Ground Handling Services To Open In Greek Airports

A draft bill that sees the full and final opening of ground handling services at Greece’s 34 regional airports is under preparation, Infra­struc­ture, Transports and Networks Minister Dimitris Reppas announced at a recent press conference.

According to Mr. Reppas, the opening of ground handling services would lower costs by 50 percent (or up to 30 euros per passenger); increase flights, mainly charters, to the country’s regional airports; and significantly improve the tourist flow as transport costs would be cheaper.

The draft bill also includes the rearrangement of counter services to ensure the smoother operation of regional airports.

Until 2000 Olympic Airways was the sole operator of ground handling services in all Greek airports. During the 2000-2009 period handling services were freed in the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklio, Rodos and Kerkyra.

In addition, Mr. Reppas ruled out the possibility of reducing the spatosimo tax (tax to be paid by passengers on leaving all Greek airports).