Test flights of seaplanes have begun in Ioannina and Amfilochia by the company Hellenic Seaplanes.

Mr. Nikolaos Charalambous, president of the managing director of Hellenic Seaplanes who is in Ioannina, reported to APE-MPE that the test flights are carried out in order to examine the capabilities of the plane and the pilots, the existing infrastructure and if there are any deficiencies that must be addressed.

The test flight it was from Ioannina to Amfilochia where there is the water park, next to the city, at the marina, with many approaches to the Amvrakiko gulf. As Mr. Charalambous mentions, many approaches were made to the Amvrakikos gulf to familiarize the pilots and to determine whether or not the waterway has weaknesses, whether it is ready to receive people, landings and takeoffs.

Hellenic Seaplanes uses amphibious seaplanes, because as Charalambous points out, the goal is to utilize a hybrid program, using both waterways and airports.

The company’s plan is, when the waterways in Corfu are completed, to carry out a daily flight starting from Ioannina and an intermediate station in Corfu, itineraries to Paxos, Amfilochia and the rest of the Ionian destinations.

OR Union of Hoteliers of Ioannina characterizes seaplane flights as a driver of tourism development in the region.

The former president and current member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Hoteliers of the Prefecture of Ioannina Stathis Sioutis, among others, stated: “It is very important to emphasize that the existence of a licensed watercourse on the lake of Ioannina and by extension the presence of seaplanes of Hellenic Seaplanes on it, adds a significant surplus value, as the use of this new means of transport will provide visitors to the area with an innovative and highly attractive mode of transport, giving them additional arrival and departure options. More specifically, Ioannina will be able to connect directly with Corfu, Patras, Paxos and maybe later with Croatia, Albania and Italy”.