In a report from Athens, the Handelsblatt financial journal notes that the Greek government will soon be looking for investors for another 23 regional airports and that the German Fraport is interested in expanding its presence in this sector.
The newspaper recalls that since 2017, the Germans have taken over the development of 14 regional airports in Greece “for 40 years. Fraport has already paid 1.24 billion euros to enter the Greek market, while in the past four years it has invested 440 million euros for new terminals and runways, as well as maintenance projects.
Fraport completed its modernisation programme in February 2021, three months ahead of schedule.”
According to Handelsblatt, the German company is particularly interested in Kalamata airport, as “not only is it the largest of those remaining under state control, but it also has excellent growth prospects” due to the Costa Navarino.
“In order to respond to the tourism boom expected in Greece after the pandemic, the airport will have to invest €60 to €80 million to expand the current terminal and maintain the runway and surrounding area, according to a study by the Greek transport ministry. This amount will come from a private investor”.
The completion of the upgrading of 14 airports by Fraport Greece (in Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Chania, Chania airport, Kavala, Samos, Skiathos, Kefalonia, Aktion, Rhodes airport, Corfu, Kos, , Mytilene) does not mean the completion of the upgrading of the country’s airports. On the contrary, although the pandemic and the economic crisis have caused postponements or delays, the business, aviation, construction and other markets are already waiting for the ‘new generation of airports’.