Hellenic Seaplanes: First Test Run to Greek Port of Lavrio

Hellenic Seaplanes’ first test flight from Megara to the port of Lavrio. Photo source: Hellenic Seaplanes

The first seaplane took off on a test run recently from the town of Megara to the port of Lavrio, southeast of Athens, announced the project’s key investor Hellenic Seaplanes with the aim to launch regular services this summer.

 “Today is an important day for the transport sector in Greece,” said Deputy Transport Minister Christina Alexopoulou who was on board the test flight with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Deputy Shipping Minister Ioannis Pappas and Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Andreas Nikolakopoulos.

“By summer, itineraries will have started in Western Greece, with the Patra – Corfu – Paxi line fully active given that these waterways are licensed,” she said.

Hellenic Seaplanes President and CEO Nicolas Charalambous. Photo source: Hellenic Seaplanes

Alexopoulou went on to add that the transport ministry would be supporting actions towards the creation of a comprehensive waterway network and seaplane ports across Greece which will benefit local communities and the national economy. “This initiative will significantly boost tourism to the islands while providing safe transportation,” she said.

Ioannis Pappas, Adonis Georgiadis, Andreas Nikolakopoulos, Christina Alexopoulou and Nicolas Charalambous at Lavrio Port. Photo source: Greek Transport Ministry

The construction of a seaplane port at Lavrio was approved by Greek authorities in September 2022 and is set to be the “first in Attica” to operate hydroplane flights mainly to the Cyclades islands. The permit allows six flights (inbound-outbound) daily per company as well as general flights, airlifts, firefighting, search & rescue, and emergency flights.

Late last year, Hellenic Seaplanes said hydroplane flights, charters and sightseeing tours were scheduled to kick off from Corfu in the spring. Flights from Corfu will initially make stops at Paxi, Antipaxi and the Diapontian Islands, an island cluster in the Ionian Sea. The spring launch is part of wider efforts to kickstart the entire waterway network in the summer of 2024, the company said.

Once in full swing, the company’s seaplanes will be able to cater to the needs of cruise travelers and cover off-shore excursion needs, said Hellenic Seaplanes President and CEO Nicolas Charalambous.