Corfu Airport to close again next winter
ATHENS. The projects for compliance with the European airport safety regulation issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have been granted a one-year extension.
The airport's compliance project with the guidelines of the relevant European Organization (EASA) has been extended by one year, until June 30, 2026. This means the airport will close again next winter. The work is not yet finished. Additionally, the expropriation procedures north of the runway must be completed, which includes closing the road in that area.
Since the Corfu project is part of a broader initiative covering all airports managed by Fraport, the total budget has been adjusted according to the extension decision signed on January 7, 2025, by the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, N. Papathanasis. The total budget increases from €124,738,572 to €124,766,124, while the additional expropriation costs of €9,232,166 remain unchanged.
Recently, the municipal council requested the road be routed underground before any further action, opposing the consultant's proposal to redirect the route from Eptanisos to the roundabout, and then east and south toward the National Sports Centre junction (swimming pool). If implemented, this would exacerbate the already problematic access to the town from the south.
The issue is primarily, if not exclusively, an urban planning matter, concerning road design in the area. Airport director Spyros Kostouros, speaking at a recent tourism forum, noted that the expropriation and subsequent development of the RESA zone would take two to three years, extending the timeline for the project.
It is clear that stabilising the runway and creating a protective zone to its north are two of EASA's key requirements that must be met for the airport to be certified.
Meanwhile, on Rhodes, the Civil Aviation Authority has initiated the procedures prescribed by law, preparing a compensation table for property owners. The Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport's Expropriation Department issued a decision recognising the amount to be paid for property compensation.
Specifically, "The expenditure of €264,364.44 is recognised and must be deposited with the Athens Deposits and Loans Fund, with the issuance of an equivalent deposit certificate for properties expropriated under Decision 18867/21-09-2004 (Government Gazette D' 967) by the General Secretary of the South Aegean Region for the project: 'Mandatory expropriation of properties covering 31,862.60 square metres at Rhodes State Airport, adjacent to it, for the expansion of the aircraft parking apron, as well as the modernisation and improvement of the airport facilities, Island of Rhodes, Dodecanese.'"
At "Diagoras" Airport (Rhodes), extensive works are also planned and already underway in the safety zone surrounding the runway to ensure compliance with the European airport safety regulations issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
