Kalamata Airport Concession and 22 Greek Regional Airports Tender Expected in 2024

The concessionaire for Kalamata Airport is expected to be decided upon by the end of 2024, according to Growthfund, the national fund of Greece.

Growthfund CEO Grigoris Dimitriadis announced this during a recent press conference, adding that the Greek government will retain 10 percent of the airport through the fund.

Moreover, he mentioned that Growthfund is preparing to open the bidding process for another 22 of Greece’s regional airports.

Located in Southern Peloponnese, Kalamata Airport will be leased to the highest bidder for a 40-year period, with one of its main advantages being its proximity to the Costa Navarino hotel development. Extensive tourism investments in the wider region of southern Peloponnese have contributed to Kalamata Airport consistently setting new passenger records over the past few years.

The bidding process for the concession has invited investment consortia, as:

– Egis Airport Operation-AKTOR CONCESSIONS SINGLE MEMBER SA- Aéroports de la Cote d’Azur
– FRAPORT AG – DELTA AIRPORT INVESTMENTS S.A. – PILEAS SA
– GEK TERNA SA – GMR Airports Limited
– MYTILINEOS SA – CORPORATION AMERICA AIRPORTS SA

Tenders for 22 regional airports coming soon

Regarding the additional 22 regional airports seeking investors, the bidding process will be comprehensive and not split into two phases, as was the case with the concession of 14 regional airports to Germany’s Fraport in the past.

Included among these 22 airports are top tourism destinations such as Paros and Naxos islands, as well as Ioannina in northwest mainland Greece.

The single-phase tender process currently under planning includes consideration of public sector involvement and necessary investments for airport upgrades and operations. Each airport will have a dedicated business plan developed, culminating in a master plan critical for evaluating bids.

Grigoris Dimitriadis also announced his anticipation for a draft bill to transform Greece’s Growth Fund into a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), slated for a parliamentary vote before the summer recess.