Fundamental role in the growth of air transportations and tourism in our country has undeniably the Service of Hellenic Civil Aviation. The procedures of H.C.A.A are based on the international rules expressed by the international Organism of Civil Aviation (ICAO). It provides guarantee for the safety of flights and for the national interests. The construction of however airport contributes stills more in the economic growth of place mainly if this place belongs in islander cluster.

1948 : The foundation of airport in Samos comes back . Afterwards the war, the transports,  in Samos island, was   under a chaotic situation. Then the member of Parliament and deputy of Samos, Nikolaos Vliamos, asked from the Minister of Aviation the foundation. of an airport in Samos. They began to indicate various places to locate the airport. So, it had been selected the centre of the Country. In this place, there was  already a rudimentary airport from the period which Samos was an occupied country from Italians, made from special material PSP.  The study delayed because it will be caused much grief. The airports constructions had not been included in the Marsal plan and the discovery of resources was difficult. 

1950 : The government  decided to enclose the space that had been selected. Certain villagers reacted for the expropriation of their properties. The local beginnings visited the villages of region and excluded the value of airport. 

The local church of Holy Metropolis of Samos and Holly Abbeys after demands of the Government and the local government, accepted cheaply the concession to the Greek State of 500 acres of Holy Abbeys of Samos of Timiou Stavrou, Panagias, Zoodochou Pigis and Agias Zonis, which was given to build the Airport with the same or even more price value, (they exist relative files of estimates in the Metropolis Samos). After this energy of local church of Samos, began the construction of Airport (contracts 9434/51 and 9580/52).

1954 : Technicians came  in Samos island in order to examine the ground and the direction of wind to map out the runway. 

1956 : Then the minister of Public Works signed agreement with Aristotle Onasis to  undertake the air transports of Country. 

1959 :  The bad weather, during the winter, destroyed all the works which had already finished. The Government asked the revision of study of completion and the  construction used modern datas. 

1960 :  the works started again and Aviation undertook to finish these.  

November 1962 : the works had been completed. 

June, 23 1963 : The openings of airport (almost two decades from then that the works started). The type of aircrafts, that they had been undertake, was "Ntakota"  twin-engined  type  with three flights per week. The cost of the  ticket was 380 Drs. 

1968 : The government  decided to extend and widen the existing runway, in order to be possible the landing of four-engined aircrafts but also to be possible the approaching indepentely of the meteorological conditions.

For the above reason the church of Samos yields 100 acres more of the holy Abbeys of Timiou Stavrou, Panagias yielded with a symbolic always price. This was another big offer of local church of Samos.

1971 : The works of runway extension had been completed.  Airport classified as International cat B and  it accepted International flights. 

May 1976 : the first charter with Danish tourists landed in Samos International airport . This event celebrated with a lot of ceremonies. The flights increased up to 80%.  Olympic Airways used  a BOEING 737 with 120 seats to cover this passengers number increment.

1995 : Prefectoral Council was decided the construction of  a new Terminal. 

January 2001 :  the construction of the new terminal started. 

June 23, 2003 : Inauguration of the new terminal area 7.500 m². Also, nine (9) more aircrafts stands added to the aerodrome area.

The offer of Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority in the local Government and generally in the society is really important. The HCAA provides air services to the Airport with experienced and specialised personnel, serves critical sectors of our national safety, growth of air transportations and tourism. Greece is considered a hub for air transportations because it is the gate of the European Union.

The construction of the airports, mainly in the islands of Greece, has the fundamental role of the tourism growth.

From the foundation of airport of Samos on 1963 until today, daily flights are available from/to Athens, weekly from/to Thessalonica, Rhodes, Chios, Mytilini, and Lemnos. Also, during summer period, a lot of charter flights are available daily from/to various countries of Europe and particularly from England, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and all the Scandinavian countries.

The airport of Samos is always ready to accept International or domestic flights from more other destinations.

Transhipment Centre

The geographical location of Samos is advantageous against the other islands of Aegean, because it is found in the means of Eastern Aegean and can constitute a hub for the domestic aircrafts movements. In regard of the international flights, it could be constitute in the future an intermediate turning-point for technical landings of aircrafts that continue their flights Easternly.

The social and economic role of airport

The airport serves also sanitary flights. The personnel is activated immediately to serve flights of EKAV or other insurance companies to transfer patients inside Greece as well outside, independently of airport operation schedule.

Also, it serves fire fighting aircrafts contributing in the fire safety of island forests. During the summer period (April - October) there are always available two manned fire fighting aircrafts of military aviation in a specifically shaped place. So, all the necessary material is immediately available for the fires extinguishments.

Hellenic Civil Aviation finances the cost of necessary big or smaller works of the airport, as well the necessary material for the airport operation. These works and the supply of maintenance and installations material are materialized first by local enterprises contributing with this way in the reinforcement and growth of local market.

Tourism

The airport handles 500,000 passengers per year according to the statistics with a scope for increasing the next years.

Old terminal

A part of the old terminal was used this year, for first time, for exposition of prefecture Samos formative arts with and it will be used also for other events in the future in order to promote of Samos island.

Aero club and Air sports

The airport can be provided each possible help in the new established aeroclaub and to contribute in the air sports in the island.

Today, a new modern airport with a lot of facilities is in full operation, upgrading Samos island in respect of tourism. 
 

Editorship
I. Staikouras - Samos airport manager 
X. VOYROS - Chairman of Association of workers of Samos Airport 

Bibliography
Samos Airport History by X. VOYROS Chairman of Association of workers of PICK  
Special edition "EPIPLEON" of "CHARAVGI" newspaper