“The priority of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is to take initiatives to maintain high performance and safety levels, as well as to encourage the transition to a ‘green’ air transport model,” said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, at the event of the Hellenic Aviation Association, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its establishment.

“All these efforts cannot succeed without the added value of human capital,” the minister stressed, pointing out the multi-level work of the Hellenic Aviation Association.

Mr. Staikouras reiterated the will of the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to further deepen the cooperation with ICAO, as well as the other international and domestic bodies, in the field of Civil Aviation.

The following is the full text of the statement of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras:

It is a great honor and pleasure to be here today, as Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, but allow me to say – also in my university capacity – at the celebratory event of the Hellenic Aviation Association, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its establishment.

The Hellenic Aviation Association, for the last two decades, has energetically served the purpose of its establishment, contributing to the progress and promotion of the science of air transport in our country.

It provides study, research and consulting work, in close cooperation with Higher and Higher educational institutions, as well as with bodies of the wider aviation ecosystem.

At the same time, it highlights the multi-level work of the aviation sector in Greece, whose contribution is significant for:

· the development of its economy,

· the strengthening of its tourism product,

· the facilitation of the movements of its citizens and visitors to domestic and foreign destinations, as well as

· the transportation of goods.

Last year, Greece recorded an all-time passenger traffic record, exceeding 72 million passengers at its airports, an increase of 14% compared to the previous year.

In the first months of 2024, the upward trend is even greater.

Based on today’s figures from the CAA, passenger traffic in the first quarter of 2024 at airports increased by 12.2% compared to last year.

However, the ever-increasing number of air travel also increases the environmental footprint of the industry.

It is therefore a priority of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to take initiatives to maintain high performance and safety levels, as well as to encourage the transition to a “green” air transport model.

In this direction, our effort revolves around four axes:

1. The new AFIR regulation, which concerns the development of alternative fuel infrastructure in all modes of transport.

2. The RefuelEU Aviation Regulation, which aims to increase the demand and supply of sustainable aviation fuels.

3. The adoption of a new strategy, which also includes vital infrastructures, such as airports, in order to adapt them to the effects of climate change, in terms of resilience.

4. The ability of airports to use renewable energy sources, through the development of policies and incentives for the transition to cleaner energy sources.

At the same time, we have undertaken specific initiatives and actions in collaboration with the CAA and the APA, with the constant aim of further strengthening the security of airports, aviation and air navigation.

Including:

· we approved the new APA Code of Conduct,

· promote the National Civil Aviation Safety Regulation and

· we implement programs to modernize air traffic management systems, communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems.

The results of our initiatives were also reflected in the inspections of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), where an increase in the levels of effective application of international safety standards was recorded from 69.1% to 74.9%, above the global average, which is at 69.3%.

And from this step, I would like to reiterate the will of the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to further deepen cooperation with ICAO, as well as the rest of the international and domestic bodies, in the field of Civil Aviation.

In closing, however, I would like to point out that all these efforts cannot succeed without the added value of human capital.

Aviation professionals and the members of the Hellenic Aviation Association, who have the specialized knowledge and experience, to contribute to the sector going even higher.

With these thoughts in mind, I wish the Hellenic Aviation Association to continue, with even greater intensity and success, its important work.