The first private airport of general aviation in Greece, “Lydia”, is now a fact and is preparing to move into a new era of evolution and development with the implementation of the necessary infrastructure projects that all modern airports in the world have.

In the presence of the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christina Alexopoulos, the foundation ceremony of the new state-of-the-art facilities in Amygdaleona, Kavala, which are expected to be ready in about a year and a half, took place.

“This is a pioneering project of great symbolic and practical value, which is a typical example of successful cooperation between the public and private sectors”, emphasized Mrs. Alexopoulou, pointing out that “based on the investment plan, Lydia Airport will serve general aviation, in which includes flying activities not related to major commercial or military purposes, such as club flights, private and business flights, air shows, air sports and professional pilot training. General aviation is an industry which in Europe alone has a turnover of around €6 billion, with 40,000 private planes and 360,000 pilots. So it can be an important source of revenue for Greece as well.”

The competent deputy minister referred to the initiative of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to set up the Air Tourism Committee, with the aim of seeking and submitting proposals for taking initiatives for the development, promotion, dissemination and improvement of air tourism conditions, as well as the utilization and strengthening of infrastructure of regional airports, landing and take-off fields.

“Lydia Airport can contribute, substantially and measurably, to the development of the region, as a gateway to the Balkans. Let’s not forget, after all, that the axis of Drama – Kavala offers today the fastest access to the Aegean, for our neighboring countries”, underlined Mrs. Alexopoulou.

“The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport”, continued the deputy minister, “is working to improve transport and transportation services throughout the country, with a view to sustainable development, accessibility, safety and environmental protection. Our goal is also the harmonization of the country with the European family, an effort in which general aviation also joins, for which we are here today, establishing the first private airport in the sector, in Greece. The example of Egnatia Aviation and Lydia Airport can be the “pilot” for the introduction of general aviation to other airports in the country.”

The efforts of two visionary entrepreneurs

It should be noted that the infrastructure of the new airport will include an integrated aircraft pilot training campus, one of the most modern in Europe. Behind this very important business investment that contributed to the overall development of Kavala and Eastern Macedonia more broadly, lies the vision and effort of Giorgos Zografakis and Dimitris Lymberakis. In 2006, the two businessmen founded Egnatia Aviation in Kavala, the first aircraft pilot training school in Greece, based at “Megas Alexandros” airport in Chrysoupoli.

Today, eighteen years later, Egnatia Aviation is a group of companies with a constantly growing trajectory. With 101 highly qualified staff and with 70% of the prospective pilots who trust it and train in its facilities being from abroad.

The first pilot training school in Greece

Egnatia Aviation is the largest pilot training organization in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, with a fleet of new generation Diamond aircraft and state-of-the-art simulators, while having experienced instructors, airline specific procedures and specifications as well as comfortable training facilities.

One of the most important milestones in its development was the contract it signed about a year ago with the Ministry of National Defense for the lease, for forty years, of the old military airport in Amygdaleona, Kavala.

This plan, which was achieved thanks to the contribution of the then Minister of National Defence, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, whose role was mentioned by Mrs. Alexopoulos, gave new impetus to the business. Egnatia Aviation has really spread its wings as it is now one of the very few pilot training schools in the world with its own airport.

Among the first projects that were carried out within a very short period of time after its relocation from “Megas Alexandros” airport to Amygdaleona airport was the maintenance and complete upgrade of the airstrip and its necessary infrastructure.

Great interest from foreign airlines

Both Dimitris Lymperakis and George Zografakis, at the foundation ceremony of the new facilities, did not hide their joy and satisfaction as the efforts, efforts and pressures for the lease of the old military airport were rewarded and bore fruit. Within this one year, the interest of major airlines worldwide, as well as private individuals, in the new “Lydia” airport has increased, sending hopeful messages for the future.

Mr. Lymperakis, in his statements on the day of the foundation ceremony, emphasized that within the next year the first facilities of the new airport will be ready to operate, which – among other things – will include a new control tower, a modern administration building, state-of-the-art facilities training and hosting of prospective pilots. For his part, Mr. Zografakis underlined that Egnatia Aviation managed to prevent the prospective Greek pilots from leaving for Europe and the USA in order to be trained but to remain in Greece.

The next plans

“Already the number of our students has increased significantly,” Mr. Lymberakis pointed out in other statements and continued: “every day we receive messages from major airlines from all over the world. The operation of the airport alone – let alone the campus later, has attracted a significant number of students because the lack of pilots is a big problem all over the world and there are not too many schools that can cover this volume. We are one of them. A few weeks ago we were in Germany to join the purchase of new aircraft. Over time, the aircraft fleet will be renewed and new ones will be added. In the next two to three years our fleet will perhaps reach 30 aircraft.”

“Egnatia Aviation is no longer just a school, it is the center of general aviation in Greece on a European and global level. It’s a general aviation business that someone can turn to and take from an amateur pilot’s degree to asking us to design, organize and operate their airport. The 213 aircraft approaches to the new Lydia airport in one day is not at all insignificant, if we multiply it, we exceed in numbers or at least come close to the numbers of “Eleftherios Venizelos”, said Mr. Lymperakis.