Japanese conglomerate Mitsui intends to create an extensive network of seaplane services in western Greece in cooperation with Hellenic Water Airports, starting in the spring, following test flights in the last few days off between Corfu and nearby Ionian islands.
Anastasios Govas, chief executive of Greek Water Airports, stated on Wednesday that the Japanese firm intends to operate a network that will initially cover the Ionian islands and Epirus. The next step after the test flights is to start planning for the network’s operation. Current plans see the use of up to 20 seaplanes with 10 to 20 seats each.
Besides the already licensed water airports of Corfu, Paxi and Patra, among the other destinations being considered are Lefkada, Meganissi, Ioannina and Igoumenitsa.
The plans for Mitsui’s seaplane flights formed a key part of talks that Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou had on Wednesday with the new Japanese ambassador in Athens, Yasuhiro Shimizu, along with topics such as other possible Japanese investments in Greece – in fields including energy, construction, ports and shipping as well as logistics – and the increase of high value-added Greek product exports to the Japanese market.
