The trial operation of water runways for seaplanes begins from the Peloponnese, as decided on Wednesday during a meeting held at Tripoli, central Peloponnese, between the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Michalis Chrysochoides and the Peloponnese regional Authority head Petros Tatoulis.

Updated in a bill passed by Parliament last April, the legislative framework provides that licences to operate a water airport, would only take up to 65 days to be issued after the technical report is submitted to the Ministry of Transport and Networks and the Ministry of Shipping and Aegean accordingly. Several ports and harbour funds, among which those of Corfu, Patra, Lavrio, Herakleion, Volos, Skyros, Rethymno and Zakynthos, have already submitted applications, and once permits are issued, the respective authorities can then lease the right to operate the water airport to seaplane companies, by tender procedures.