Steps towards the revival of air tourism in Greece are being taken with the restart of the operation of landing/departure fields. In this context, following the licensing and opening of the Amygdalonas airport in Kavala, the Ministries of Transport and Tourism, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, proceeded with the concession of the Sparta airport to the Municipality of Sparta by the Joint Aviation Fund and the Ministry of National Defence for 12 plus 12 years.
The relevant agreement, which was signed on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the offices of the Air Force Mutual Fund in Athens, was signed by the President of the Air Force Mutual Fund, Rear Admiral (retired). Dimitrios Michaloliakos and the Mayor of Sparta Mr. Petros Doukas.
“Today was an excellent day for Sparta. From today our Municipality has the airport in its ‘possession’ for the benefit of the whole of Laconia”, said the Mayor after the signing of the agreement.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the President of the Share Fund, Dimitris Michaloliakos and his associates, for their speed and methodicalness, the legal advisors of the Municipality of Sparta, Olympia Maggiorou and Peggy Kostakou, the Deputy Mayor of Finance and responsible for the airport, Georgia Dedimou, the Commissioner Stavros Konstantinidis and the Head of the Decentralized Administration, Giota Triiri, for their work and professionalism. Of course now, the baton is taken over by the Deputy Mayor of Technical Services, Georgia Zacharaki, in order to start the infrastructure improvement works at the airport as soon as possible”, added the Mayor.
The signing of the contract was attended by the Member of Parliament of the Dodecanese and Chairman of the Committee of Regions and Development of Air Tourism of the Hellenic Parliament, Manos Consolas, the Member of Parliament of Laconia, Neoklis Kritikos, the Secretary General of Transport, Ioannis Xifaras, the Vice-Regional Head of Infrastructure Nikos Tzinieris, the Deputy Mayors Mr. Mr. Georgia Zacharaki, Georgia Dedimou, Dimitra Papanikolaou, Themis Patsilivas, Christos Kanakakos and the Municipal Councillor, Elias Anastasakos.
Afterwards, the members of the Municipal Authority, accompanied by the President of the Aviation Stock Fund Mr. Michaloliakos, visited the Pentagon, the Chief of the Air Force General Staff, General Themistocles Bourolias, in order to thank him for his continuous support in the reopening of Sparta Airport.
Subsequently, they also met with the Colonel and Director of Infrastructure of the General Staff/G2 Panagiotis Rokas, in order to initiate the technical works required at the airport.
