Private helicopter flights to Santorini temporarily banned

A recent intervention by prosecutors has temporarily banned private helicopter flights to the island of Santorini, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Aegean Sea.

The ban was reportedly due to deficiencies in the helipad licensing in both the landing and take-off areas. “Until there is a licensed helipad, helicopters will not fly”“The mayor of Thira, Nikolaos Zorzos, said in an interview with state broadcaster Friday. ERT.

“There was an order from the prosecutor to check the landing and take-off sites of helicopters. I cannot confirm whether there was a direct danger from the flights, but it is clear that the problems arose mainly due to the lack of licensed sites,” – said the mayor. Zorzos noted that the island should not be unviable for tourists.

He also cited complaints from hotel owners about the inconvenience caused by the constant flights. He stressed that the only licensed helipad is at the island's airport, and that it is not enough to meet the needs. “Until a licensed helipad is available, flights will be suspended,” – the mayor noted.

At the same time, he stressed that the possibility of creating a municipal helipad to serve such needs is currently being considered in consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Speaking about the development of tourism and complaints about the overabundance of tourists, the mayor stressed the importance of preventing further expansion of construction activities on Santorini. “Let's not develop an island that is not viable for tourism. We need to stop building new hotels of all categories, from strategic investments to Airbnb all over the island,” – Zorzos claimed. He also added that “The ban on construction activity in the Caldera unplanned area is strict and not a single square metre of Airbnb should be allowed in the area.”

Thira Mayor Zorzos reiterated the importance of taking bold decisions to protect the island and effectively manage tourism flows. Santorini has survived tsunami of visitors and in the summer of 2024, with the number of tourists and cruise ship passengers sharply exceeding the number of permanent residents.

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