Greece Opens Competition for 28 State-funded Remote Island Air Routes

Greek authorities announced this week a competition for bidding airlines interested in covering 28 state-funded domestic routes to remote islands.

Airlines operating in the EU can submit their bids by September 25, 2022, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority said.

Companies awarded the contracts will be subsidized by the state with a maximum sum of 18.18 million euros (before taxes) for each year. This is the first time a single tender concerns all remote island routes.

Airlines awarded the contracts will operate the following domestic routes starting February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2027:

Athens – Astypalaia, Athens – Ikaria, Athens – Skiathos, Athens – Kythira, Athens – Karpathos, Athens – Paros, Athens – Zakynthos, Athens – Syros, Athens – Leros, Athens – Kalymnos, Athens – Skyros, Athens – Milos, Athens – Naxos, Athens – Sitia, Athens – Kozani – Kastoria, Thessaloniki – Samos, Thessaloniki – Chios, Thessaloniki – Corfu, Thessaloniki – Kalamata – Kythira, Thessaloniki – Skyros, Thessaloniki – Limnos – Ikaria, Rhodes – Karpathos – Kasos – Sitia, Rhodes – Kastellorizo, Alexandroupoli – Sitia, Aktio – Sitia, Corfu – Aktio – Kefalonia – Zakynthos, Lemnos – Mytilini – Chios – Samos – Rhodes and Rhodes – Kos – Kalymnos – Leros – Astypalaia.

Changes this year, include the addition of Kythera and Sitia, Crete.

Remote island routes in Greece are currently operated by Greek carriers SKY express and Olympic Air (AEGEAN). SKY express operates the majority of the specific routes.