Kalamata Airport Concession Awarded to Consortium

The International Airport of Kalamata concession contract was awarded this week to a consortium consisting of Fraport AG, Delta Airport Investments SA, and Pileas SA.

Under the agreement, the said consortium will have the right to manage, operate, develop, expand, maintain, and exploit Kalamata Airport (KLX) “Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos” for a period of 40 years.

The airport is the main hub serving the Peloponnese and the 16th busiest in Greece handling some 300,000 passengers a year. It first opened its doors in 1959 and a new terminal was added in 1991.

Announcing the news, Greece’s Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said the deal also foresaw the construction of a new airport terminal and infrastructure upgrades as part of plans to increase passenger traffic.

Speaking during the 2nd GrowthFund (Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations SA) summit, Hatzidakis said that the concession will generate approximately 71.2 million euros in state revenues, 45 million euros of which paid in advance.

The consortium has committed to investing 28.3 million euros in the first three years in upgrade and renovation works to include IT Infrastructure, Duty Free and F&B shops.

Broken down, German company Fraport AG holds a 51% share in the joint venture, Copelouzos Group company Delta Airport Investments SA (24.5%), and Pileas SA (24.5%).

“The upgraded Kalamata Airport will give additional impetus to the development of Messinia and the Peloponnese, which is seeing tourism development,” said Hatzidakis.

Kalamata Airport is one of Greece’s many regional airports. Currently 14 regional airports are being managed by Fraport Greece.