Bids for the tender of the 40-year exploitation of 14 Regional Airports are to be submitted by 7 p.m.on Friday afternoon. The airports in question are located in Thessaloniki, Chania, Corfu, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Aktio, Kavala, Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos, Mykonos, Santorini, Samos and Mytilini.

Four large consortiums have reportedly shown interest in bidding for the tender:

* Multinational Greek construction group Ellaktor S.A.
* Leading international engineering contractor METKA S.A. along with Corporacion America-METKA (the Argentinean company operates 49 airports internationally)
* Fraport AG along with the Greek investment group Copelouzos
* U.S. investment group Advent International

The terms of the tender allow contractors to invest in the operation of the regional airports for 30 years with an option of another 10 years and the chance to further extend the time frame if there is sufficient interest.