Smaller Greek Airports Next in Line for Modernization

The Greek government is set to launch the next round of airport privatizations with media reporting interest by Fraport Greece and India’s GMR Airports Limited (GAL).

The announcement comes after the launch of works on the new Kastelli Airport on Crete, by GMR, and in view of nearly completed upgrades at 14 regional airports under Fraport Greece management.

The next round concerns 23 smaller regional airports, namely those of Alexandroupolis, Araxos, Astypalea, Chios, Ikaria, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Kastoria, Kozani, Kythira, Leros, Lemnos, Milos, Nea Anchialos, Naxos, Paros, Sitia, Skyros and Syros, and first in line will be those handling the greatest traffic.

First in terms of traffic – handling more than 100,000 passengers annually – are the airports of Karpathos, Chios, Kalamata, Alexandroupolis, and Araxos.

Handling 30,000-100,000 passengers are the airports of Lemnos, Ioannina, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Ikaria, and Kythira.

Meanwhile, there is limited investor interest for the country’s smallest airports (under 30,000 passengers a year) – those of Leros, Sitia, Nea Anchialos, Kalymnos, Skyros, Syros, Astypalaia, Kastellorizo, Kastoria, Kaso, and Kozani.

According to local media reports, Fraport Greece appears to be interested in Volos‘ Nea Aghialos Airport particularly after plans announced by the government for the upgrade of the coastal town’s port and in view of expected increases in passenger traffic.

Fraport Greece CEO Alexander Zinell had expressed the company’s interest in exploring a collaboration with the government for the management of the 23 smaller airports in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Greek transport ministry said it would be naming a financial advisor in the coming period in order to move ahead with the exploitation of the airports.