Hydroplane service to
the Dodekanese
start in April

After the initial reports published by SymiGreece in July 2006, it seems that the hydroplane service to the Dodekanese is now a reality after the Greek Authorities' decision to give the go-ahead for the creation of a hydroplane terminal at the port of Lavrio, in the south of Athens.

In a statement issued by Air Sea Lines, the new terminal will enable scheduled flights to the Aegean islands starting in April 2007. Until now Air Sea Lines, which has been given the license to run and develop hydroplanes in Greece, was only serving the Ionian islands (plus Ioannina in the north of Greece) from it's base in Patras, in the west of the country. The company has announced that the first Aegean destinations will include the islands of Mykokos, Ios, Santorini and Paros in the Cyclades and the islands of Kalymnos and Kos in the Dodekanese. It is expected that the company will operate a regular bus service from Athens Airport and Syntagma Square in Athens to its new base in Lavrio.

The full service together with online bookings will be announced on the 1st of February 2007 giving passengers the opportunity for island hopping, as at least some flights will not be direct from Lavrio but stop off at various islands. The company has indicated its intention to include other Aegean islands in its schedule in the near future. Let's hope that Symi will be amongst them!