The proposed development of the airport, mainly funded by Fraport, seems to be causing a bit of disagreement and controversy in the Greek parliament. We reported back in February that it was the central government who were delaying the proposed expansion. You can read that report here but the main headline was the prediction that within 3 years, Fraport forecasted that the number of annual passengers passing through the gateway would increase from 370,000 to 800,000. Wow.

But things do not appear to going smoothly in Athens. The good news is, if you support the proposal, that the concession agreement for Kalamata airport was approved by the Plenary Session of parliament yesterday.  To quote Tharros News: “The draft law of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance for the Ratition of a concession agreement for the right to administer, manage, operate, develop, expand, maintain and exploit the Kalamata International Airport “Captain Vas. Constantakopoulos was voted by a majority.”

“New Democracy voted “in favor” of the bill on the Authority and in its entirety. PASOK voted “present”, while all other parties voted against it.”

But some politicians are not happy, depending on their political persuasion.

“We cannot fail to listen to the opinion of civil society and adhere to what each of us believes. The people of Messinia have taken a positive position on the specific investment, they demand better infrastructure, a better airport, but you, it seems, know better than them and are voting against this contract,” said Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Dimitris Markopoulos, aiming his criticism at any MP who voted against the plenary bill (as he would do as a member of the current government).

 Miltos Chrysomallis, one of the 5 MP’s for Messinia went straight for the jugular, despite being  New Democracy- “Today’s step was very late, just as almost all infrastructure proposals in Messinia has been very late. The most important issue that still remains open for Kalamata Airport is the expansion of the runway , without which it still has limitations that place it in the category of regional airports, unlike other airports in other prefectures that are being fully upgraded, such as the new airport in Kastelli . With the 2800 meters of runway, it cannot serve wide-body aircraft, thus limiting the ability to directly connect Messinia and the Peloponnese with high-value markets, such as North America, the Middle East and Asia”. He also sees that a longer runway would open up international markets for agricultural products produced in Messinia and the whole of the Peloponnese. Ambitious thinking? “The people of Messinia are not asking for privileges. They are asking for infrastructure worthy of the capabilities of our country. They are asking for an airport that can serve the needs of the coming decades , an airport that will not only be a gateway for visitors, but also a gateway for Greek products to the entire world.”

So, what happens next? I have no idea but watch this space….