Greek Transport Ministry to Subsidize 12 Remote Island Air Routes to 2024

In efforts to secure year-round transport to Greece’s remotest island destinations, the Transport Ministry invited today airlines to enter a competition for subsidies to the tune of 24.6 million euros.

More specifically, 12 routes will be awarded to participating airline companies to be serviced between 1 October  2020 and 30 September 2024 and to be subsidized by up to 24.6 million euros excluding VAT.

The competition is open for the following 12 routes: Athens – Skiathos, Athens – Ikaria,  Athens – Syros, Athens – Leros,  Athens – Astypalea, Athens – Kalymnos, Athens – Skyros, Thessaloniki – Samos, Thessaloniki – Chios,  Thessaloniki – Kalamata,  Rhodes – Karpathos – Kassos, and Rhodes – Kastelorizo.

The ministry will have the right to set the maximum fares based on route service period and minimum frequency of flights.

Recommended net fares (excluding taxes and fees) are: Athens – Skiathos and Athens – Ikaria (60-75 euros), Athens – Syros (55-70 euros), Athens – Leros and Athens – Astypalea (65-80 euros), Athens – Kalymnos (70-90 euros), Thessaloniki – Chios (70-85 euros), Athens – Skyros (50-65 euros), Thessaloniki – Samos (80-95 euros), Thessaloniki – Kalamata (85-100 euros), Rhodes – Kassos (45-60 euros), Rhodes – Karpathos (40-55 euros), Karpathos – Kassos (35-45 euros), Rhodes – Kastelorizo ​​( 40-55 euros).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set the summer months of June, July, August, and September as peak season.