Thessaloniki Hoteliers Concerned About Airport Revamp Deadlines

The Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA) is voicing concerns over the need and timing of upgrade works at the city’s Macedonia Airport and of the completion dates.

Citing a joint letter by Central Macedonia Regional Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris to Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis, the THA is calling on relevant authorities to provide a clear time frame of works as well as of deadlines for completed projects.

Macedonia Airport, Photo Source: Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority

Speaking on behalf of its members, the THA is reiterating its concerns ahead of the deadline for airlines to submit winter flight programs, saying unclear plans will inevitably impact tourism to the region and is calling on authorities to provide guarantees that their completion schedules will be strictly adhered to and that all necessary measures will be taken to avoid delays and damage to tourism.

In their letter, Tzitzikostas and Boutaris are questioning the need for works on landing runways at the airport, expressing concerns that incoming tourist flows will have to be halted. The letter cites airline assessments that due to work on the runways, the number of flights will have to be reduced by 75 percent for at least four months, which will inevitably affect the city and region’s economy.

At the same time, the letter refers to Fraport Greece findings that the two runways in their current condition can continue to handle traffic for at least two decades.