Greek Airports Deal to Go Down in Black and White

Samos Airport. Photo © Daniel541, Wikimedia Commons

The privatization agreement between the government and German contractor Fraport-Slentel for the management of 14 regional airports in Greece is set to be finalized in 10 days, the chief of the the country’s privatization fund said on Tuesday, making it the first privatization deal to go through since the Syriza government came to power.

Kos Airport. Photo © Steven Fruitsmaak / Wikimedia Commons

TAIPED (Hellenic Republic Asset and Development Fund) Chairman Stergios Pitsiorlas said the 1.23 billion euro deal would be signed within 10 days with Fraport-Slentel for 14 regional airports, including those in major tourist destinations such as Mykonos, Kos, Santorini, Kefallonia, Samos, Chania, Thessaloniki, Corfu and Rhodes, and added that nine of the 14 privatizations would be completed by early next year.

The concession contract was awarded for 40+10 years to Fraport-Slentel, the highest bidder, also operating Frankfurt, Antalya, Varna and Burgas airports.

Other projects in the privatization pipeline include major transport infrastructure, utilities, railway operators, the Greek postal services, the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization and a stake in Athens International Airport.