Hellenic Seaplanes announced that it has expanded its waterway network to include the port of Sitia, Crete. “Construction work is expected to start soon on the waterway and we believe the Sitia route will be the first to operate on Crete,” said Hellenic Seaplanes vice president Mihalis Assariotis.

“This is a project of national importance and we expect the prefectures and municipal authorities to contribute substantially and help to circumvent the delays so that we can soon have a sustainable waterway network in place that will give a new impetus to interconnecting Greece,” said Hellenic Seaplanes  CEO Nicholas Charalambous. Hellenic Seaplanes aims to connect the Greek islands with the mainland via waterways. A total of 30 routes are currently in the process of licensing. Most of them will be operational by 2015, allowing passengers to travel with hydroplanes. This will breathe life into remote islands and isolated regions and will open new jobs in the tourism sector.