Skiathos International Airport

Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport (IATA: JSI, ICAO: LGSK) is an airport on the island of Skiathos, Greece. Its 5,341-foot runway is able to accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767-200. The runway is characterised as 'short and narrow'. Because of the uneven terrain on the island of Skiathos, Skiathos Airport was created by reclaiming land from the sea between Skiathos island and the smaller island of Lazareta (a former leper colony) effectively joining the two islands into one larger island, though it was however built on land already part of Skiathos. It is named after Alexandros Papadiamantis, a Greek novelist and native of the island.

Skiathos International Airport "Alexandros Papadiamantis"

Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Σκιάθου «Αλέξανδρος Παπαδιαμάντης»
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGreek State
OperatorFraport AG/Copelouzos Group joint venture
LocationSkiathos, Greece
Elevation AMSL54 ft / 16 m
Coordinates39°10′39″N 023°30′13.23″E
Websitejsi-airport.gr
Map
JSI
Location of airport in Greece
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
01/19 5,341 1,628 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Passengers446,219
Passenger traffic change 1.9%
Aircraft movements4,179
Aircraft movements change 0.5%
Sources:Fraport Greece[1]

The airport's short runway and its proximity to an adjacent public road have made it a popular destination for planespotters. It is often compared to Princess Juliana International Airport on Saint Maarten since both airports offer the public an ability to legally experience landing approaches and takeoffs at very close range.[2][3]

History

The airport first operated in 1972.[4]

A passenger terminal and a new control tower was constructed in 1988. In 2001 the terminal was closed down by a minor earthquake, and a new passenger terminal opened in 2002, to better accommodate the growing number of passengers.

From 2019, as part of the Fraport construction works the airport has 2 current terminals. Terminal 1 was reconstructed and is currently the Domestic Terminal, and Terminal 2 is for international arrivals.

Skiathos Airport has no jetways, meaning, prior to the 2016 work, passengers walked the short distance from the aircraft to the terminal building, now, a collection of buses drive passengers the short distance.

From 2014, there was extension to the runway and a new taxiway was introduced. The runway was extended by 110 metres on the north side of the airport. An extension was added to the taxiway, for an additional 4–5 parking stands. The airport has the capacity for only 6 additional parking stands. This opened in 2016.

The island has only a roundabout at the airport, and 1 set of Traffic lights at the end of the runway.

In December 2015, the privatization of Skiathos Island National Airport and 13 other regional airports of Greece was finalised with the signing of the agreement between the Fraport AG/Copelouzos Group joint venture and the state privatization fund.[5] "We signed the deal today," the head of Greece's privatization agency HRADF, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters.[6] According to the agreement, the joint venture will operate the 14 airports (including Skiathos Island National Airport) for 40 years as of 11 April 2017.[7]

Future of Skiathos International Airport – Fraport Greece’s investment plan

On 22 March 2017, Fraport-Greece presented its master plan for the 14 Greek regional airports, including the Skiathos International Airport.[8]

Immediate actions that will be implemented at the airports as soon as Fraport Greece takes over operations, before the launch of the 2017 summer season include:

  • General re-organisation and reworking of terminal
  • Improving lighting, marking of airside areas
  • Replacing sanitary facilities with newer systems
  • Enhancing services and offering new free Internet connection (WiFi)
  • Implementing works to improve fire safety in all the areas of the airports

The following summarizes the enhancement changes that will be implemented for Skiathos International Airport under Fraport Greece's investment plan by 2021:

  • Expansion and reorganisation of the terminal building, alongside general clean-up of the apron area
  • Additional check-in desk for the current number (from 9 to 10)
  • Additional departure gate, expanding the current number of three to four
  • Addition of a brand-new security lane to the current one

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Aegean Airlines Seasonal: Athens
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna
Blue Panorama Airlines Seasonal: Bergamo, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino
British Airways Seasonal: London–City
Condor Seasonal: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart
Cyprus Airways Seasonal: Larnaca
FinnairSeasonal: Helsinki
Jet2.com[9] Seasonal: Birmingham, Bristol (begins 12 May 2021),[10] East–Midlands (begins 23 May 2021), Edinburgh (begins 27 May 2022),[11] Leeds/Bradford (begins 19 May 2021), London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne (begins 21 May 2021)
LOT Polish Airlines Seasonal: Warsaw–Chopin[12]
Neos Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa, Verona
Olympic Air Athens
Scandinavian Airlines Seasonal charter: Copenhagen[13] Gothenburg,[14] Oslo,[15] Stavanger,[15] Stockholm–Arlanda[14]
Ryanair Seasonal: Vienna
Sky Express Athens
Sunclass Airlines Seasonal charter: Copenhagen,[16] Oslo[17] Stockholm–Arlanda[18]
TAROM Seasonal charter: Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest
TUI Airways[19] Seasonal: Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands,[19] London–Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne (begins 4 May 2021)[19]
TUI fly Netherlands Seasonal: Amsterdam
Volotea Seasonal: Bari, Naples, Turin, Venice, Verona (begins 6 July 2021)[20]

Traffic figures

The data taken from the official website of the airport.[21]

Year Passengers
Domestic International Total
2009 16,470 218,601 235,071
2010 16,880 213,609 230,489
2011 20,473 226,185 246,658
2012 18,465 236,440 254,905
2013 25,216 240,557 265,773
2014 32,097 283,300 315,397
2015 34,560 318,523 353,083
2016 44,174 350,827 395,001
2017 43,740 380,366 424,106
2018 48,228 389,688 437,916
2019 55.535 390.684 446.219
2020 19.541 69.375 88.916


Ground transport

Skiathos Airport is located 4.5 km from the city of Skiathos and is accessible either from Skiathos ringroad or the coast road. The journey to and from the city centre takes about 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic. 24/7 metered taxi service is available outside the Skiathos Airport Terminal building.

See also

References

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