14 Greek airports to be revamped

The European Investment Bank (EIB) invests 280 million euros in the modernization of 14 regional airports in Greece.

The 14 airports to benefit from the funding are: Aktion, Chania (Crete), Kavala, Kefalonia, Kerkyra (Corfu), Kos, Mitilini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos. Altogether, they handled approximately 25.2 million passengers in 2016. Money will be dedicated to the renovation of terminals, safety enhancement and the optimization of airfield infrastructure.

The country, much indebted as it is, was not in a position to invest. Yet, to get back onto its feet, it needed to give its tourism sector a boost. This activity representing around 17% of the national GDP, it was probably the only way for Greece to get out of its alarming economic situation. The refurbishment of the airports infrastructures is expected to create jobs, which is vital in a country where the unemployment rate reaches around 25%.