Greece Enters New Era of Transport with 14 Upgraded Airports

Makedonia Airport, Thessaloniki

Step by step Greece is moving in the next era of tourism and transport after upgrading 14 regional airports to meet the increasing demand.

This week, Fraport Greece, the company managing the airports, marked the completion of the project at a special event held at the newly revamped  Makedonia Airport in Thessaloniki delayed by several months due to Covid-19.

Budgeted at 440 million euros, the investment has enhanced Greek transport and tourism infrastructure with five new terminals at the airports of Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Kos and Mytilini, and included expansion and/or renovation works on the remaining facilities.

Kefalonia Airport

Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Airport was boosted by an additional 34,100m2 and now hosts the largest new terminal.

The upgrade is aimed at establishing the country’s second largest city into a leading transit and trade hub for the wider region. Fraport is expecting its flagship airport by 2026 to serve more than 10 million passengers annually, a 48 percent increase compared to the pre-pandemic 2019.

Makedonia Airport, Thessaloniki

Next in terms of size is the airport of Kos, which was extended by 24,000m2, followed by Santorini’s which now has an additional 12,900m2 area.

Kos Airport

Additionally, the airports are now equipped with new runways, ramp areas, fire stations, modernized baggage handling and security detection systems. Besides increasing airport capacity, works are aimed at improving the quality of services through more check-in stations, expanded baggage claim areas, additional gates and double security zones.

Santorini Airport

Fraport operates airports at 14 regions across Greece: on the mainland – Thessaloniki, Aktion, and Kavala – and on the Greek islands – Crete (Chania), Corfu, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Lesvos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos and Zakynthos.